False witness

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Severn House
Publication Date
2024.
Language
English

Description

The restoration of a stately home takes a deadly turn in the gripping new Bea Abbot mystery. 

No one had been moresurprised than Julian to find he was the heir to Marston Hall, a stately homein the Home Counties. His hitherto unknown relatives had done their best toensure he didn’t live to inherit, but with his ill-wishers in jail, Julian andhis wife Polly celebrated the birth of their son and heir and set about theuphill task of restoring the neglected Tudor mansion to its former glory.   

 

Bea Abbot is called inwhen yet another attempt is made on Julian’s life and the corpse of a woman isfound in the stables at the Hall. Could the relatives who targeted Julianbefore be behind this murder, and what is the link between the dead woman andthe Marston-Lang family? Something wicked is afoot at Marston Hall, and Bea isdetermined to get to the bottom of it.

More Details

ISBN
9781448312566

Discover More

Also in this Series

Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Set in England, these cozy mysteries both star smart female detectives who are as kind as they are steely. Avoiding the customary violence, these novels concentrate on their complex protagonists, intricate plotting, and a big cast of secondary characters. -- Mike Nilsson
Though the Claire DeWitt mysteries are billed as hardboiled fiction and the Abbot Agency mysteries are considered cozy mysteries, both series star smart female detectives and are less about the mystery and more about the intriguing, offbeat characters. -- Mike Nilsson
These series have the appeal factors offbeat, sardonic, and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women private investigators," "murder investigation," and "abbot, bea (fictitious character)."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; the subjects "women private investigators" and "private investigators"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These series have the appeal factors fast-paced and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women private investigators" and "murder investigation."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "murder investigation" and "murder."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women private investigators," "murder investigation," and "women retirees."
These series have the appeal factors offbeat, witty, and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women private investigators," "murder investigation," and "murder."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; the subjects "women private investigators," "murder investigation," and "murder"; and characters that are "flawed characters."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; the subject "women amateur detectives"; and characters that are "likeable characters."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "inheritance and succession," and "family secrets."
These books have the appeal factors amusing and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "women retirees."
These books have the appeal factors intensifying and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; the subjects "women amateur detectives," "murder," and "murder suspects"; and characters that are "likeable characters" and "well-developed characters."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "murder"; and characters that are "likeable characters."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subject "women amateur detectives."
NoveList recommends "Claire DeWitt mysteries" for fans of "Abbot Agency mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors amusing, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "inheritance and succession," and "murder."
These books have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives" and "murder."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "murder," and "family secrets."
These books have the appeal factors amusing, upbeat, and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "gentle reads" and "cozy mysteries"; and the subject "women amateur detectives."
NoveList recommends "Harriet Martens mysteries" for fans of "Abbot Agency mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Heley and Dams write cozy mysteries that feature senior sleuths who are nosy, feisty, and clever. The stories have good supporting characters who are usually younger and clever plotting with numerous clues and red herrings. These older women use their age and experience to solve the crimes. -- Merle Jacob
Myers and Heley write cozy mysteries that feature likable characters, village atmosphere, and intricate plotting. The sleuths tend to be older women who are observant, kindly, and extremely sharp. The stories move quickly with many red herrings and plot twists. -- Merle Jacob
In their cozy mysteries, Kathryn Wall and Veronica Heley feature middle-aged widows who open their own detective agencies. These strong-willed women and their quirky friends and family find themselves drawn into murder. With fast pacing, intricate plots, and well developed characters, readers are quickly drawn into the stories. -- Merle Jacob
These authors' works have the appeal factors strong sense of place, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "murder investigation," and "women private investigators."
These authors' works have the appeal factors offbeat and strong sense of place, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "inheritance and succession."
These authors' works have the appeal factors offbeat, sardonic, and strong sense of place, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "villages."
These authors' works have the appeal factors amusing, strong sense of place, and intricately plotted, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "villages"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These authors' works have the appeal factors offbeat and sardonic, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "middle-aged women."
These authors' works have the appeal factors amusing and upbeat, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "villages."
These authors' works have the appeal factors amusing, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "middle-aged women."
These authors' works have the appeal factors amusing and strong sense of place, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "women private investigators," and "villages."
These authors' works have the appeal factors strong sense of place and atmospheric, and they have the genres "cozy mysteries" and "gentle reads"; and the subjects "women amateur detectives," "murder investigation," and "women private investigators."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Bea Abbott has known Julian since she rescued him when he was a poor orphan. To his shock, Julian learns he is the son of a wealthy aristocrat and has inherited the family's country estate. So far, though, his inheritance has been no fairytale. Julian's uncle Frederick mismanaged the estate, Frederick's son tried to kill Julian, and Frederick siphoned the money Julian's grandfather left him to an inaccessible offshore account. Julian has incurred the enmity of the locals who lost their jobs at the estate after he was forced to close it for health and safety reasons, and there's a whole cast of distant relations who resent him for "stealing" their inheritance. So when Julian asks Bea to help find out who's trying to kill him--again--she naturally says yes. Not one to be baffled or stymied, Bea employs her keen intelligence, strong intuition, no-nonsense approach, and tenacity to unravel the mystery and expose a dreadful but deadly plot. Heley's latest in her popular Abbot Agency series (after False Name, 2023) is sure to please fans who enjoy clever heroines, complex plots, gentle humor, and danger.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

The owner of a domestic agency expands her definition of domestic problems to include murder. Inheriting his family's country estate has been a mixed blessing for Sir Julian Marston-Lang and Polly, his young wife. The place promises plenty of space and a good income if the pair can ever get the neglected property into working order. In the meantime, local villagers are angry at Sir Julian because he closed down the estate's decrepit farm and the adjacent amusement park, costing many their jobs. The couple is living temporarily in the Tithe Barn with their infant son while a feckless band of local workmen try to repair the ancient plumbing and electrical systems in the main house. But Sir Julian's struggles with his employees are only one reason he summons Bea Abbot to his estate. Someone's been trying to kill Sir Julian, taking potshots at his head and spooking his horse, causing a fall that's left him badly injured. Even worse, a woman's been found hanged in his stables. Since Bea intervened successfully the last time his life was in danger, Sir Julian naturally wants her to use her magic touch again. Bea's happy to oblige, since her husband, Piers, is off painting a portrait "some place in the Balkans," and her agency's in the capable hands of her London staff. Although this new threat to Sir Julian's life seems more diffuse and nebulous than the earlier one, Bea is still the established champion of the vulnerable. And who could be more vulnerable than a young nobleman trying to protect his wife, his child, and the local villagers? Heley's heroine does her best, but the perils faced by those titled Brits strain credulity. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Powered by Syndetics

Booklist Reviews

Bea Abbott has known Julian since she rescued him when he was a poor orphan. To his shock, Julian learns he is the son of a wealthy aristocrat and has inherited the family's country estate. So far, though, his inheritance has been no fairytale. Julian's uncle Frederick mismanaged the estate, Frederick's son tried to kill Julian, and Frederick siphoned the money Julian's grandfather left him to an inaccessible offshore account. Julian has incurred the enmity of the locals who lost their jobs at the estate after he was forced to close it for health and safety reasons, and there's a whole cast of distant relations who resent him for "stealing" their inheritance. So when Julian asks Bea to help find out who's trying to kill him—again—she naturally says yes. Not one to be baffled or stymied, Bea employs her keen intelligence, strong intuition, no-nonsense approach, and tenacity to unravel the mystery and expose a dreadful but deadly plot. Heley's latest in her popular Abbot Agency series (after False Name, 2023) is sure to please fans who enjoy clever heroines, complex plots, gentle humor, and danger. Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.
Powered by Content Cafe

Reviews from GoodReads

Loading GoodReads Reviews.

Staff View

Loading Staff View.