Happy Publication Day to Clare Chase on the publication of Mystery at the Old Mill, Book 4 in her popular Eve Mallow Mystery series.

About the Book

When the calm of Saxford St Peter is disrupted by a deadly fire at the Old Mill, amateur sleuth Eve Mallow finds herself investigating a most surprising mystery!

Everyone in Saxford St Peter is desperate to know more about Harry Tennant, the newcomer who owns the Old Mill. He usually keeps himself to himself, but he’s finally invited the villagers round for drinks, and Eve Mallow isn’t the only one looking forward to having some questions answered.

But two days before the party, a terrible fire sweeps through the mill, and Harry is found dead. When Eve passes the burned remains of his beautiful house, she can’t resist the call to investigate. Especially when it turns out quiet, charming Harry was living a double life as the famous advice writer Pippa Longford. Eve has to wonder what revelations were contained in the letters he received… and whether one of them was worth killing for.

Accompanied by her reliable dachshund sidekick Gus, Eve starts digging. She soon realises Harry was at the centre of a web of lives – and lies. There’s an uncle desperate to inherit, two women who thought they were his one and only, not to mention everyone who shared their darkest secrets with him. Was one of those strangers much closer to home than Harry knew? And can Eve untangle the truth before she finds herself face to face with a killer?

About the series

• 

• 

• 

If you’ve yet to start this series, here’s Clare explaining where the inspiration for the series came from.

My new heroine, Eve, is an obituary writer. The idea for her came after listening to a fascinating interview with Margalit Fox, who fulfilled that role for the New York Times. It got me thinking about the unique insight obituary writers must get into a dead person’s personality and how they were viewed by others. It seemed like the perfect profession for an amateur sleuth! The Suffolk (UK) setting harks back to happy childhood holidays. My grandmother lived there, by the sea, and Eve’s dog Gus is based on her wire-haired dachshund, Huw.

For anyone who knows Suffolk, I’ve created a fictional village – Saxford St Peter – for the series, but I’ve pinched elements of Blythburgh, Dunwich and Walberswick.

What readers say about the Eve Mallow series

‘Utterly delightful!… I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the perfect cosy murder mystery to become immersed in… Keeps you on your toes!… I highly recommend this to the armchair detectives of the world!’ The Two Quills

‘Stepping into the pages of a new Eve Mallow mystery is like stepping into your favourite well-worn comfy slippers… Eve now feels to me like a trusted (if fictional!) friend that I can’t wait to catch up with… Deliciously moreish… If you haven’t already discovered this series then what are you waiting for???’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Every one has been a winner!… Kept me on my toes throughout… Ticked every box! A cracking addition to one of my now favourite series.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Lots of red herrings, suspense, and plot twists as well as the usual interesting characters. Of course I stayed up way too late just to finish it!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Stunning… Loved the story and the pacing and just everything about it… A great story that I couldn’t put down… The twists and turns were great.’ Crossroad Reviews

‘Plenty of plot twists, red herrings, and misdirection. Kept me in suspense. I loved it!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of my favourite series of cozy crimes… Twists aplenty and more suspects than you can shake a stick at!… They never disappoint.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I really enjoyed reading this! Loved the typical English village location and the very Jessica Fletcher-type protagonist… I am anxious to read more of this character soon!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Delightful and charming… I absolutely adore this series… Just keeps going from strength to strength’ Once Upon a Time Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Why do we need the police when sleuths like Eve are around? This series is getting better and better… 5 stars’ B for Bookreview, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I thoroughly enjoyed it… Loved the setting… I was reminded of a modern-day Miss Marple.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Keeps you glued to the pages. Thoroughly delightful. A cosy murder mystery to sink into’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the Author

Clare Chase writes classic mysteries. Her aim is to take readers away from it all via some armchair sleuthing in atmospheric locations.

Like her heroines, Clare is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked in settings as diverse as Littlehey Prison and the University of Cambridge, in her home city. She’s lived everywhere from the house of a lord to a slug-infested flat and finds the mid-terrace she currently occupies a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people’s books.

If you would like to get in touch, Clare would love to hear from you. You can follow her on Twitter, and find her on Facebook