#BlogTour Mystery at the Abbey Hotel by Clare Chase #MysteryattheAbbeyHotel @ClareChase_ @bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookReview

Eve Mallow’s stay at the luxurious Abbey Hotel takes a turn for the suspicious when the owner is murdered – leaving Eve surrounded by suspects!

Saxford St Peter is Eve Mallow’s beloved home, but she can’t resist the chance to spend a weekend in the nearby Abbey Hotel, famed for its glamorous owner Debra Moran and an array of celebrity guests. For a confirmed people-watcher like Eve, it’s perfect: she can observe the rich and famous while sipping tea in the gardens, her faithful dachshund Gus by her side.

But her relaxing break takes a shocking turn when Debra is found lying dead in the shadowy woods around the hotel. One of Eve’s fellow guests didn’t come to the Abbey for fine food and delightful décor – but to kill.

When the investigation gets underway, Eve finds herself trapped with a wide range of suspects. Could it be Debra’s new friend Harper, who inherits everything? Her ex-husband Chester, still seething over their messy divorce? Or her estranged sister Amelia, who came hoping for reconciliation, only for Debra to shut the door in her face?

As Eve roams the hotel, searching for clues and hunting down alibis, she uncovers a whole host of secrets. But can she find the truth before the killer brings her holiday to a deadly end?

Mystery at the Abbey Hotel is a well-plotted cosy murder mystery, with a traditional feel but a modern style. And a beautiful cover!

The story gets going straight away, the set-up is clear and the closed circle of suspects and motives are easy to follow. Eve is a warm and likeable protagonist and the rest of the characters are clearly drawn and distinct, their personalities and foibles all well-written and cleverly sprinkled throughout the book. Clare Chase describes the Abbey itself in stunning detail and I would now like to stay there please!

Although this is the first book of this series that I have read (and in fact my first book by Clare Chase), it was very easy to pick up Eve’s story, and that of the regular characters. I liked getting to know them, and particularly Gus, Eve’s smart canine companion. (Cute pet = a win for me 🙂 ) Overall it gave me a Midsomer Murders vibe: quirky and enjoyable.

This is a great cosy mystery and a fab new author find. I will definitely be reading more from Clare Chase. Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of the book and my spot on the tour.

About the author

Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.

Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.

Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.

You can find Clare’s website and blog at www.clarechase.com | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook