A Marriage To Murder For: A page-turning cozy murder mystery from E.V. Hunter (The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries)

by E.V. Hunter

'A thrilling murder mystery that kept me turning the pages. Well worth a read' T.A. Williams

The high society wedding…

Social media influencer Crystabel Hughes is determined her wedding to Giles Preston Smythe will be the talk of the town. No matter the cost or the upset, nothing will stop this wedding!

A cheating groom…

But for Alexi Ellis and the rest of the staff at Hopgood Hall, Crystabel’s demands are becoming increasingly extreme. And when Alexi spots the groom getting up close and personal with one of the bridesmaids, she fears trouble is only a bouquet toss away.

A killer bride caught red-handed?

And Alexi’s fears are confirmed when the groom is found dead on the night before the wedding, stabbed through the heart - the person holding the dagger. his beloved bride-to be Crystabel.

Hopgood Hall doesn’t need any more bad press, but the race is on to find the killer and close the case before Crystable live streams her dilemma.

Can Alexi, Jack and Cosmo find out why Giles was killed? And, more importantly, can they stop the killer before they strike again?

A cosy murder mystery perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Frances Evesham and Emma Davies.

Readers love the Hopgood Hall series!

'A brilliant read that hooked me from the outset. I couldn’t tear myself away!' Gemma Rogers

'If you want to dip your toe into the cosy crime genre then this is the book for you! It is incredible. I loved every word and Cosmo the cat is just hilarious' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

'The author certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

'With an engrossing and twisty plot and lots of red herrings to confuse the reader, this is a book incredibly easy to get lost in and enjoy' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

'The mystery unfolds in a deliciously paced way, taking the reader on a fascinating and exhilarating journey' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review

• ISBN13: 9781804835838
• Publish Date: 7 September 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Boldwood Books Ltd
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Marriage to Murder For is the third Hopgood Hall cozy by E.V. Hunter. Released 3rd Feb 2023 by small press indie Boldwood Books, it's 268 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The other books are also available on KU and the fifth book in the series is due out middle 3rd quarter 2024 from the same publisher. 

This is a well written, engaging, and finely constructed amateur sleuth mystery pairing a former investigative journalist (and boutique hotel co-owner) with a handsome PI trying to keep a summer wedding event on a smooth footing during a blistering summer. There's a strong side element of romance, so readers who prefer romance in their cozies will likely enjoy that aspect of the story. The characters are well rendered and mostly believable and the pacing and plot are well done and the denouement and resolution of the various plot threads are satisfyingly wrapped up by the end of the book. It's a continuing series, so if read out of order, some of the character developments and relationships will be spoiled, but otherwise it works fine as a standalone.

Spelling and vernacular are British standard English, but won't pose a problem for readers in context. 

Four stars. A fun continuation of a nice light series. With four books extant in the series, and a fifth due out in Aug '24, it would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.