Bodies and Battlements

What a great start to a new cozy mystery series! Elizabeth Penney’s Bodies and Battlements is the first book in the Ravansea Castle series. Herbalist Nora Asquith has worked hard to convert part of the family home into a bed and breakfast. Only three suites are available for now, but the first guests are arriving today. The castle overlooks the village of Monkwell in Yorkshire, England.

The day after the guests’ arrival, Nora finds Hilda Dibble dead in the castle’s knot garden. Hilda had opposed the bed and breakfast plan vehemently. It turns out that one of the guests is the new detective inspector, Finlay Cole. Nora and her actress sister Tamsyn decide to investigate themselves.

The characterization is well done. Nora is hardworking, good at small talk, protective of her family, and skilled at digging in her heels when opposed. She also operates Castle Apothecary and sells products to local businesses. Tamsyn can be dramatic and difficult, but she has good instincts. She also resists overt displays of affection. Their father is somewhat eccentric and is researching the family history. They have an English mastiff and a cat. Finlay is orderly, observant, and has a passion for his profession. He also has a rescue dog. The secondary and tertiary characters have an appropriate amount of depth for a first book in a series.

Filled with suspense, occasional action, and memorable characters, this was a fun read. While readers mainly follow the amateur sleuths Nora and Tamsyn, they also see aspects of the police investigation. The plot is somewhat straight-forward, but with a few twists and red-herrings, and one big surprising twist near the end. Themes include murder, friendship, family, greed, relationships, betrayal, romance, and much more.

The world-building and atmosphere were terrific. I was easily transported to the castle by the sea overlooking the picturesque village. There are also a few extras thrown in such as the resident ghosts, especially Sir Percival Asquith, a knight and ancestor of the family, as well as a couple of potential romances. However, the main storyline is the solving of the murder with a few other crimes along the way. The ending is satisfactory and sets up a possible thread for the next book in the series.

Overall, this book was a fun and enjoyable read. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with great atmosphere and memorable characters, then look no further than this novel. I’m looking forward to reading book two.

St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Elizabeth Penney provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025.