The Body in the Ice: A gripping historical murder mystery perfect to get cosy with this Christmas: 2 (A Hardcastle and Chaytor Mystery) - Tapa blanda

An enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour. -- Tracey Warr * Historical Novel Review * A welcome addition to the genre... I know if the next book in the series had been published I would be reading that now. I'll have to look forward to it but in the meantime, I thoroughly recommend this to all * hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.co.uk * A gripping, atmospheric page turner... The plot itself is extremely clever...The Body on the Doorstep is fresh and exciting in addition to being skilfully written. * The Bookbag * An enjoyable murder mystery with engaging characters, nicely observed historical detail and gentle humour * Historical Novel Review * This is an enjoyable read, lots of interesting historical detail, engaging characters and plenty of twists to the plot. There is definitely potential for a series based on these characters and setting, I would like to read more * A Good Read Blog * This is a most impressive debut from a new writing team. The setting pre-dates most of the war between England and France, i.e.. pre-Bonaparte, but is beautifully realised with lots of understanding of both the politics and everyday life. The plot is cleverly put together with differing explanations and characters and motives that may or may not be true. All in all a terrific book and I want to read more! * Plucked Highbrow * A clever and gripping atmospheric page turner, with engaging and believable characters, plenty of twists and turns, nicely observed historical detail and touches of gentle humour...The characterisation throughout is superb. The artist JMW Turner makes an interesting and sympathetic appearance and even the minor players appear authentic and individual. The background is impeccably presented and the pace picks up as the story progresses. If the showdown owes more to Christie than Le Carre it is nonetheless in keeping with the overall tone of a quite brilliant and traditional period novel * Crime Review Book Blog * Richly atmospheric and wonderfully written, with just the right proportions of domestic and national politics, murder and polite conversation. The ending put me on the edge of my seat. * For winter nights - A bookish blog * Everything about The Body in the Ice is perfect. * The Books and the Bees *

A twisting tale of murder, mystery and eighteenth-century England by a dramatic and gripping new voice in the genre. On the frozen fields of Romney Marsh stands New Hall; silent, lifeless, deserted. In its grounds lies an unexpected Christmas offering: a corpse, frozen into the ice of a horse pond. It falls to the Reverend Hardcastle, justice of the peace in St Mary in the Marsh, to investigate. But with the victim's identity unknown, no murder weapon and no known motive, it seems like an impossible task. Working along with his trusted friend, Amelia Chaytor, and new arrival Captain Edward Austen, Hardcastle soon discovers there is more to the mystery than there first appeared. With the arrival of an American family torn apart by war and desperate to reclaim their ancestral home, a French spy returning to the scene of his crimes, ancient loyalties and new vengeance combine to make Hardcastle and Mrs Chaytor's attempts to discover the secret of New Hall all the more dangerous. The Body in the Ice, with its unique cast of characters, captivating amateur sleuths and a bitter family feud at its heart, is a twisting tale that vividly brings to life eighteenth-century Kent and draws readers into its pages.