A Deadly Affair (The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries)

by E.V. Hunter

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Deadly Affair is the fifth Hopgood Hall cozy by E.V. Hunter. Due out 18th Aug 2024 from indie press publisher Boldwood Books, it's 270 pages and will be 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. 

This is a well written, engaging, and finely engineered amateur sleuth mystery pairing a former investigative journalist (and boutique hotel co-owner) with a handsome PI trying to keep life on a smooth footing despite having solved FOUR murders (she's getting a reputation like Jessica Fletcher's! (Murder She Wrote)). This time around, awful gossip Polly Pearson has arrived at the hall begging for Alexi's help proving her own innocence in the death of her (Polly's) partner Gerry. 

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 five books extant in the series, it would make a good choice for a long(ish) binge or buddy read. Language is clean throughout and there's no graphic content.

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