The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley

The Murders at Fleat House

by Lucinda Riley

The Murders at Fleat House is the suspenseful and utterly compelling crime novel from the author of the multimillion-selling The Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Riley.

'A cleverly woven mystery to savour' – Sunday Express

The sudden death of a pupil in Fleat House at St Stephen’s – a small private boarding school in deepest Norfolk – is a shocking event that the headmaster is very keen to call a tragic accident.

But the local police cannot rule out foul play, and the case prompts the reluctant return of high-flying Detective Inspector Jazmine ‘Jazz’ Hunter to the force. Reunited with her loyal sergeant, she enters the closed world of the school and begins to probe the circumstances surrounding Charlie Cavendish’s tragic death.

When staff at the school close ranks, the disappearance of a young pupil and the death of an elderly classics master provide Jazz with important leads. But, while snow covers the landscape, a suspect goes missing.

As Jazz must confront her personal demons, a grim discovery at the school will make this the most challenging murder investigation of her career. Fleat House hides secrets darker than even Jazz could ever have imagined . . .

'A thrilling whodunit for crime fans. Another Lucinda Riley legacy to treasure' – Lancashire Post

Reviewed by annieb123 on

4 of 5 stars

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Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Murders at Fleat House is a well written British crime procedural by the late author Lucinda Riley. Released 26th May 2022, it's 344 pages (print) and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

This is a well constructed British murder police procedural featuring an intelligent and strong female lead. The characterisations are nuanced and believable, the plotting is especially twisty and engaging with several disparate subplots in flashback which are not explained in context but intertwine throughout the book to a very well done climax, denouement, and one of the best (and most satisfying) resolutions I've read in a while.

This would have been a very promising start to a new series, but was unfortunately released by her family posthumously.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, as well as for fans of modern British procedurals. Spelling and vernacular are British English, but won't pose problems for readers who are outside the UK.

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

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