Murder at the Priory Hotel (Flora Steele #4) by Merryn Allingham

Murder at the Priory Hotel (Flora Steele #4) Reviews

• 
  Phrynne

  This is the fourth outing for Flora Steele, bookshop owner, and Jack Carrington, author currently suffering from writer's block. With the other residents of the village of Abbeymead they are attending a concert to celebrate the opening of the Priory Hotel when the lead singer dies on stage. For various reasons the local police make a poor effort at discovering the killer so Flora and Jack decide to give it a try themselves.
  
  I am enjoying this series and I very much like the characters of the two amateur sleuths. So far their potential romance has been very tentative but there was a step forward in this book. Abbeymead sounds like the best kind of English village and one I would like to visit if it were real.
  
  A fun, easy read and I look forward to #5.
• 
  Brenda

  Flora Steele and Jack Carrington were attending their friend Sally's re-opening of the Priory Hotel, something that Sally was excited about. They had invited the whole village and along with a band - Tutti Frutti - they had table-loads of food for everyone. The lead singer in the band, Beverly Russo, had a wonderful voice, although she wasn't well liked. But it was as the concert was about to begin that Beverly collapsed in front of them all. She was dead...
  
  Superintendent Alan Ridley was called away not long after the investigation began, so Flora and Jack, intrepid sleuths of previous cases, began to search for evidence. And when they found it, they handed it to the chap in charge while Ridley was away. But this case had many suspects, and Flora and Jack had trouble removing any from their lists. It was when a second person was murdered that Flora started to put things together. But could they get the perpetrator before it was too late?
  
  Murder at the Priory Hotel is the 4th in the Flora Steele Mystery series by Merryn Allingham, and I enjoyed it very much. Jack and Flora work well together - Flora owns a bookshop "All's Well" while Jack is a crime writer, struggling with his next book. The few characters from the village who are in each episode are lovely to catch up with each time. Murder at the Priory Hotel is an excellent cosy mystery which I recommend highly.
  
  With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Bharath

  It took me a couple of books to get used to the writing style and characters. This is the 4th book in the Flora Steele – Jack Carrington series, and is yet another cozy mystery.
  
  The Priory hotel has new owners in Sally and Dominic, who have raised considerable money to renovate and launch the hotel with a new look. Flora Steele (book shop owner), Jack Carrington (writer), and much of the town is at the inauguration. The lead singer of the band engaged for the inauguration, Beverly, suddenly totters and falls, as she holds the mike. Those in attendance are shocked to find that she is dead immediately. A heart attack, poison or electrocution? – all seem possibilities. As with the previous books, the police make no headway, and Flora & Jack step in to help Sally. There are a number of suspects as they consider the possibility of foul play.
  
  The sleuthing as in the previous books is casual & easy. I found the story and plot to be good, though a touch far-fetched with a more complex plot in comparison to the previous books. This is a good book (as the previous ones) to relax with as Flora & Jack are loveable characters, there is no bad violence and the pace is decent.
  
  My rating: 3.75 / 5.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture & the author for a free electronic review copy.
  
• 
  Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore

  My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
  
  Murder at the Priory Hotel is the fourth entry in the Flora Steele series of mysteries by Merryn Allingham set in 1950s England, and one of the few series I’ve kept up with from the start. Flora is a young woman in her twenties who lives in the small village of Abbeymead in Sussex and runs a book shop, the All’s Well, left to her by her aunt who had brought her up. In the events of the first book, a reclusive author of mysteries, Jack Carrington, had found a body in the shop when he arrived to collect his order as his errand boy was sick. This was a start of a ‘partnership’ between Flora and Jack who have since teamed up to solve other mysteries. Both have suffered heartbreak in the past, and so even while interested in each other, they have so far only remained friends.
  
  While Flora and Jack’s last outing had taken them to Cornwall, where Jack was doing research for his novel, in this one they are back in Abbeymead and the scene of their first mystery. The Priory, formerly the village manor, had been sold and converted into a hotel in Murder in the Bookshop, after the events of which it had had to be shut down. Now, it has been purchased by Flora’s friend Sally (who helped run the bookshop when Flora was away in Cornwall), with a partner, Dominic Lister, whom Sally’s aunt (also Flora’s friend), and cook at the Priory, Alice doesn’t trust. The Priory is being prepared for a grand reopening; a marquee has been set up, a magnificent tea almost ready, and for entertainment, somewhat incongruent to local tastes, a rock and roll band, Tutti Frutti has agreed to play. Guests have assembled and the band is playing, as its lead singer, Beverly Russo, glamorously dressed, makes her way to the stage. But as she picks up the mic and opens her mouth to begin her song, she falls to the ground—dead!
  
  The police are called and the body sent for medical examination. Flora believes that the death is natural for she knew that Beverly suffered heart trouble, but it turns out that this wasn’t the case and Beverly was in fact electrocuted. Sally, all of whose life savings are at stake in the hotel asks for help, but this time in a role reversal, it is Jack who is keen to help while Flora feels that since the police are on the case this time (unlike previously when they seemed to write murders off without looking into them), there is no need for them to get involved. But of course, the police don’t move at the pace expected and are also distracted by other matters, and Flora and Jack are eventually drawn in. There are numerous suspects for, while she had a beautiful voice, Beverly was constantly playing up to one or the other members of the band, stirring up trouble with the others. Nearly all of them bore her a grudge, and it wasn’t the band alone for she managed to make trouble elsewhere too. Who was it that killed Beverly? Do Flora and Jack find out and save Sally’s business?
  
  What I enjoy about this series of stories are that they are light-hearted and gentle mysteries with not too much blood and gore (may be a little), and keep the reader engaged. We also have fairly likeable main characters in Flora and Jack with a continuing storyline with developments in their lives (Flora with running her bookshop, and Jack struggling with writer’s block [wondering about a return to his former career as a journalist or even opening a detective agency], and a ‘romance’ thread), glimpses of country life, as well as side characters like Kate who runs a small café, the Nook, in the village, Alice, and Jack’s errand boy, Charlie Teague whom we keep up with as well.
  
  This was the case with Murder at the Priory Hotel, too. We have an interesting mystery, with quite the list of suspects, both those who seem directly linked to Beverly as well as others who seem to have little connection but act suspiciously all the same. All of them have strong motives and one wonders which of them it could have been who did the actual deed. There are plenty of clues that Flora and Jack uncover, together and separately, and the one that I thought was relevant and worked out an explanation around didn’t turn out to be the right one after all, so I rather enjoyed the denouement.
  
  In this one, as I mentioned, there is a bit of a reversal in roles initially with Jack more interested in solving the mystery, while Flora wants to concentrate on her bookshop since Sally made a rather good job of it when Flora was in Cornwall, and she wants to do the same. But soon, she gets involved and begins to be her usual self, browbeating Jack to take advantage of his police connections to investigate clues.
  
  In the book, we also get a chance to travel with Jack to Portsmouth and Brighton, and while not a ‘proper’ tour of these places (as we got of Cornwall in the previous book), it was interesting learning about some of Brighton’s buildings and get a sense of Portsmouth as well. While in the previous books, I felt we didn’t get as strong or good a sense of time as we do of place, in this one, I thought the author has given us some feel of the period, with references to popular culture and social mores (for instance, Flora’s reluctance to wear jeans, etc.). I also enjoyed the look into village life that we get in the book, from Flora and Jack ‘competing’ over their gardens to village events like the Saturday market to raise funds for the church, and of course how fast ‘news’ spreads in a small place.
  
  The ‘romance’ thread also takes a step forward in this one, with Flora and Jack acknowledging their interest to themselves, and then a development forward at the end, the consequences of which we will have to wait till the next book to see.
  
  An enjoyable read overall, and I’m interested to see where their next adventure takes them!
  
  3.75 rounded off
• 
  Tahera

  Murder At the Priory Hotel returns the seat of the action to the Priory Hotel which now has a new owner in Sally Jenner and her business partner Dominic Lister. Sally's hope for a grand reopening turns into a grand debacle when the lead female singer of the band hired to perform at the opening dies of electrocution.
  
  I have so far only read the first book in the series. I do have books 2 and 3 but have not read them which I hopefully will before the fifth book publishes. What I do remember from the first book is how good a sleuthing team Flora Steele and Jack Carrington made and they prove it yet again in this book. There are quite a few red herrings in this plot and it is only right at the end of the book that the real culprit is unmasked mainly due to Flora's meticulous skills at connecting the dots. At one point in the book, the detective sergeant who is clueless at how to proceed with the investigation, hints that Jack and Flora should become private investigators and frankly, they should!
  
  My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Merryn Allingham for the e-Arc of the book.
• 
  Helen

  Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this opportunity to review Murder at the Priory Hotel. All opinions and comments are my own.
  
  Everyone is helping out at the grand opening of the Priory Hotel, owned by Flora Steele’s friend Sally as Murder at the Priory Hotel, the fourth in Merryn Allingham’s series featuring bookshop owner Flora and her friend and confidante Jack Carrington, a crime fiction writer, begins. The books are set in 1956-era Sussex.
  
  The grand feast is being spread out, drinks are chilling and the band is getting ready to perform. Only the lead vocalist is screaming at the lead guitarist. Not a good start to the day. And when said vocalist steps up to the mic and immediately drops dead, it’s really not a good start to the big shindig. So, was it heart failure, and does the medication she was taking (which figures large in the investigation) mean something? Awfully young for heart failure, though. Jack thinks she was electrocuted, and lo and behold -- she was. Who did the diva in?
  
  Sally asks for their help, and who can refuse a friend? Author Allingham makes sure there are plenty of suspects, including Dominic, co-owner and Sally’s light of her life. Everybody else thinks the guy is rather smarmy, but who’s counting? And all sorts of tidbits emerge about the bandmembers. No angels, they.
  
  Of course, we have side stories; our regular characters have grown throughout the books. Sally’s money woes continue, and now that the hotel is closed because of the murder, are getting bleaker. Jack’s lost his confidence, as a writer, and wonders what his future holds -- perhaps a life as a private detective? Our girl Flora is happy with her bookstore, but unhappy with what she should do with Jack. The gentle romance that started way back advances a bit in “Murder at the Priory Hotel”, and Flora and Jack continue to grow as “people.” These little “side steps” as it were, add personality to what we’re reading, and bring the book to life.
  
  We have another dead body -- killed in a rather interesting manner (a small bone of contention here: the method of dispatch was “not” something that would have been recognized and known (nor described that way) in the late fifties. The “particular instrument” weren’t popular until the late sixties in the States, much less England). The identity of the corpse throws off Flora’s investigation, but only for a while. For revenge, and jealousy, and loyalty are strong motives for murder. Ms. Allingham ties it all together in a rather neat bow, with lots of little tidbits that should keep you guessing.
  
  So, the Priory Hotel can re-open again, and all’s right with the world. It’s Jack’s birthday, and things are looking up. Flora and Jack do make a good couple. I do wish there was more of a 1950’s “feel” to their background; I never really feel that we are “there” in time, other than a gentle softening of tone --- these are never gritty, modern crime stories. Maybe that’s all we need right now. I certainly intend to find out what body they’ll stumble across next.
• 
  Robin Loves Reading

  Join Flora Steele, amateur detective extraordinaire, as she finds herself in position yet again to solve another murder. While Flora and Jack, who are good friends - although Jack apparently wants more - are set to enjoy the grand re-opening of the Priory Hotel. The hotel has had its troubles, but the re-opening is being celebrated with a musical performance. One of the singers suddenly drops dead - literally. The singer's manner of death is more than shocking, leaving some to wonder if it was perhaps a sudden heart attack. However, could it have been more, more meaning foul play was behind her death?
  
  When Beverly Russo's performance definitely proves that someone succeeded in killing her, Flora plans on leaving no stone unturned as she start her own investigation. With very little faith in the police solving this curious murder, Flora begins digging deeply, only to discover that Ms. Russo was woman that was not well-liked by many, leaving more than one suspect in this newest case where Flora shines when it comes to uncovering secrets and lies. With Jack by her side also looking for clues, the pair prove indomitable when it comes to finding answers when even the police fall short.
  
  However, one of the subjects is also found dead, and the weapon appears to be a musical instrument, leaving no doubt that the two deaths are both murders that are connected. Not only must Flora act even more quickly, she must avoid falling into the killer's crosshairs. Meanwhile, Jack is glad he is there at the hotel, as he feels that it is time for his relationship with Flora to be defined.
  
  Murder at the Priory Hotel is an enjoyable addition to an engaging cozy mystery series. Since Jack is so distracted by his writing, these murders take a lot of his time. One thing that leads Flora and Jack in their pursuit of clues is the fact that Beverly Russo's ruby ring appears to be missing. That clue is the first of many in this intriguing entry of a series that I thoroughly enjoy.
  
  I love that each book in this series stands on its own, but I really enjoy the continuity that reading this series in order brings, especially as Flora and Jack's relationship takes a slow turn from friendship to possibly more, and this leaves me more than eager for the next book in the series.
  
  Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
  
  A very small side note - this book is a year or so too early for the "official" name of the frisbee. Although the disc in its plastic form was invented in 1948, the round disc wasn't called the frisbee until around mid-1957.
  
  Please enjoy my YouTube video review as well -
  https://youtu.be/TfrqQvgCc4E
• 
  Srivalli Rekha

  Publication Date: 8th July 2022
  
  3.8 Stars
  
  One Liner: Good continuation to the series; light cozy mystery
  
  Sussex, 1957:
  
  Flora Steele and Jack Carrington are back in the fourth installment of the series. The Priory Hotel is being reopened by Sally and Dominic, her business partner. On the day of the reopening, the lead singer, Beverly, of the rock n’ roll band Tutti Frutti drops dead in front of the crowd.
  
  With a not-so-positive history, the hotel suffers from canceled bookings. Sally is worried that her investment will sink into nothing. When Flora and Jack have no option but to investigate the case, they come across information that puts just about everyone on the suspect list.
  
  Will the duo solve the case and save Priory Hotel from losses? Are they putting themselves at risk yet again?
  
  My Observations:
  
  We are back at Priory Hotel, but the book keeps the case interesting. Despite the same setting (as in the first book), the story doesn’t feel repetitive or boring.
  
  Flora and Jack have a slight change of characters, with Jack being more eager to solve the crime. Of course, we need Flora to find the clues for us.
  
  The writing seemed a little slower than in the previous books. It could also be that I was more tired (which I was), and that affected my reading.
  
  We have enough red herrings and suspects in this one, but the danger quotient is slightly less. I like how it has been incorporated into the story.
  
  There’s a development in Flora and Jack’s friendship, and I’m hoping it will continue in the coming books.
  
  As always, we meet the recurring characters, and some of them have developments in their lives. I always like it when side characters’ lives are also given importance.
  
  The book works as a standalone, but the reader might be confused about the range of characters introduced in the first few pages. There are references to previous cases, though none of them affect the current case.
  
  To sum up, Murder at the Priory Hotel is a light cozy mystery and a little less dangerous than the previous ones. Looking forward to the next book.
  
  Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
  
  #NetGalley #MurderatthePrioryHotel
• 
  Bookworm86

  BLOG TOUR REVIEW
  
  Review for 'Murder At The Priory Hotel' by Merryn Allingham.
  
  Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
  
  Publication date 8th July 2022.
  
  This is the fourth book I have read by this author. It is also the fourth book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series. I have previously read 'The Bookshop Murder' which is the first book in the series, 'Murder At The Pier' which is the second book in the series and 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' which is the third book in the series and all of them I highly recommend, although this can be read as a standalone.
  
  I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis for this series stated that this series is 'A delightful cozy crime novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!' I am a huge fan of all three of those authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Merryn and if this is half as good as 'The Bookshop Murder', 'Murder On The Pier' and 'Murder At Primrose Cottage' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
  
  This novel consists of 30 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
  
  This book is based in Sussex, Portsmouth and Brighton, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in Sussex on many occasions including this year and next year again so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
  
  This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Flora Steele ad Jack Carrington. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
  
  Another fantastic success by Merryn!!! Absolutely devoured this book in one sitting!!
  
  This book was extremely well written and I do believe alot of research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1955. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the storyline along with Flora and Jack.
  
  Well I must say this is yet another explosive book in an absolutely addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and very fast paced. I absolutely love the fact that the main characters (Flora) owns a Bookshop and Jack is an author. I always look forward to meeting them and am gutted to come to the end of each book as they have become like friends to me. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. I loved that this book is based in Sussex, Portsmouth and Brighton as the atmospheres suit the book perfectly. Not only is this a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!!
  
  OMG!!!! THAT ENDING!!!! LOVE, LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVED!!!! 😍 😘 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ WELL DONE MERRYN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! DID I MENTION I LOVED IT???!!!!!
  
  A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery. Clear your schedules as you won't be able to put this book down!
  
  Although this is the fourth book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
  
  I am thoroughly invested in the characters and really enjoyed meeting Flora and Jack again both with their fantastic and quirky personality!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. Some of the characters I was glad to see the back of but what fun would there be if we got along with them all. A perfect mix of strong and realistic characters to make an addictive storyline.
  
  Congratulations Merryn on yet an absolutely fantastic book in an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
  
  Overall an page turning, perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive addition to an addictive series!!!
  
  Genres covered in this novel include Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Crime Thriller, Police Procedural, Murder Mystery and Crime Fiction amongst others.
  
  I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, Joy Ellis, Verity Bright, Clare Chase, Dee MacDonald, Fliss Chester and anyone looking for a historic cosy mystery!!
  
  269 pages.
  
  This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
  
  Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
  
  Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
  
  #MurderAtThePrioryHotel #Bookouture #MerrynAllingham #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #MurderAtThePrioryHotel
  
  @MerrynAllingham @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
  
  
  https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
• 
  Bridget

  Flora Steele owns a bookshop called "All’s Well" that she inherited from her Aunt Violet. All's Well is located in Abbeymead, a picturesque, quiet English village in Sussex. Sally Jenner, the niece of a good friend is re-opening the Priory Hotel, and a band Tutti Frutti will be playing from 2 o'clock after the speeches and the jellies and ice creams are ready. But it's not long before the band's female singer, Beverly Russo suddenly drops and collapses; is it an accident or murder?
  
  Set in the 1950s, this intriguing mystery had me guessing until the end. Flora and Jack make a great team and I remain keen to see where Merryn Allingham will go with their relationship. The secondary characters are good in their respective roles and there's a trove of buried secrets to be unveiled and a missing ruby ring to be found. I really enjoyed spending time with Flora and Jack and I hope to be with them soon in book five. If you love a historical cozy mystery, I recommend giving this series a shot.
  
  I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
• 
  Mystica

  It is the year of writing that draws me in to this kind of detective fiction. 1957 Sussex countryside very engaging characters - a small share of villains but generally everyone peaceful, minding their own business but at the same time being a village everyone knows everyone. A time that is
  not going to come back going by present day times. A certain innate sense of goodness seems to prevail in these stories.
  
  A musical group has arrived for the opening of a renovated hotel and everyone is rooting for its success. The group is rather flashy but it is hoped that it will interest the youngsters to give the hotel a try. When the lead singer is electrocuted on stage at the opening song, it smells of doom for
  the hotel especially when it seems that it was deliberate and therefore a murder. Flora and Jack friends of Sally the present owner are amateur sleuths and they privately start looking around for clues as to how Beverley was murdered.
  
  Like in their previous escapades, they have to work secretly so as not to get the local Constabulary all hot and bothered and the duo soon discover hidden depths to whatever was benign on the surface. Flora is the owner of a bookshop and Jack is a struggling crime writer and the relationship works well for detection alongside the other characters which appear in the series.
  
  The story is a good example of a cosy mystery, set in a countryside atmosphere with engaging characters and good detection skills.
  
  
• 
  Elaine - Splashes Into Books

  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this cosy mystery
  Complete with its sense of history.
  Set back in 1957 in the village of Abbeymead
  It could well be the next book that you need!
  
  Flora Steele is attending the Priory Hotel
  Hoping everything at the re-opening will go well.
  She, along with everyone else there, had a nasty surprise
  As they witnessed the lead singer's untimely demise.
  
  A missing ruby ring, lots of suspects and secrets galore
  Flora and Jack Carrington are on the case once more!
  Can they find clues that will help to reveal
  Whatever someone is wanting to conceal?
  
  A taste of village life, a possible romance,
  A murder to solve if they're given the chance!
  What an engrossing, fun read it proved to be
  Now future books I just can't wait to see!
  
  For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
  As I share with you this, my honest review.
• 
  Janet

  Sussex, 1957: When Flora Steele and handsome crime writer Jack Carrington attend the grand re-opening of the Priory Hotel in their beautiful little village of Abbeymead, their day out is cut short when Beverley Russo, the flame-haired female singer in the band suddenly drops dead before their eyes. Flora is stunned by the unexpected turn of events and immediately deduces foul play. The first clue in the extraordinary case is Beverly’s missing ruby ring. As Flora & Jack make their enquiries, they discover that Beverly wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea and there’s more than one person in Abbeymead who had reason to dislike her. Then one of the suspects is found dead in the woods near the Priory Hotel. The murder weapon – a musical instrument.
  This is the fourth outing for Flora & Jack, whilst it could be read on its own the characters both main & secondary have developed over the series so I’d recommend reading in order. I really like both Flora & Jack & their relationship shifts in this book as it’s Jack not Flora who is more invested in solving the case to begin with plus the ending is surprising but welcome & I can’t wait to see how things progress in the next book. A well written easy to read cosy mystery with plenty of suspects but also of red herrings & twists & turns. The setting is well described as is life in the 1950’s, one thing though were frisbees around in 1957?
  My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
  
• 
  MeWriter

  Another delightful installment in the Flora Steele series! Although a cozy mystery there is lots going on here with twists, turns and perhaps some romance? Wonderful read!
  
  Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
• 
  Nicola “Shortbookthyme”

  I have not read the previous books in this series. I had no problem reading this as a standalone though I would like to read the previous books. I think getting the backstory of the main characters would help me.
  Murder and secrets abound with reading Murder at the Priory Hotel.
  The characters are engaging and likeable.
  Overall, a enjoyable read.
  Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
• 
  Hannah Page

  This is the 4th instalment of the Flora Steele mystery books, and was my first!
  
  The story sets out in 1957 Sussex at the Priory Hotel’s grand reopening. The reopening takes a turn of events when one of the bands members who are scheduled to play, suddenly dies! With the main police inspector away on other business Flora & Jack take the investigating into their own hands to crack down on what really happened that afternoon.
  
  Frustratingly this book took me soo much longer to read than I wanted! I just found it far too easy to put down. The story didn’t grip me like I hoped it would and the style of writing just wasn’t for me.
  
  It’s certainly the type of “cosy” book which you could curl up with on the sofa on a winters evening.
  
  I loved the historical setting of the book, and the whole “whodunnit” mystery, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
  
  Thank-you to Bookouture & NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
• 
  StrictlySue

  This is the fourth in the Flora Steele mysteries, and the best yet. When the lead singer of the rock and roll group, Tutti Fruiti is murdered at the grand opening of the Priory Hotel, owned by Flora’s friend Sally and Dominic, Sally’s new love interest, Flora and Jack get roped in to help solve the murder. What follows is mystery, uncovered secrets, lies and murder!
  The story keeps you guessing until the end, with plenty of red herrings along the way. You don’t need to have read the previous Flora Steele books, as this is a stand alone story, however if you like a cosy crime story, set in an English village in the 1950’s, then this will be right up your street! I look forward to reading the next book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• 
  StinaStaffymum

  Returning to the sleepy village of Abbeymead in Sussex, MURDER AT THE PRIORY HOTEL is the fourth outing for amateur sleuths Flora Steele and mystery writer Jack Carrington. Having returned from their research sojourn to Cornwall, where they were faced with yet another murder (of course), the dynamic duo are looking forward to some down time...especially since Jack has a deadline to meet and Flora still has the All's Well bookshop to run.
  
  The Priory, which had been converted into a hotel and then had to be shut down after the sudden death of its owner, is now under new management. Flora's friend Sally Jenner, who'd kept the All's Well running whilst she and Jack were away in the seaside climes of Cornwall, has sunk all of her inheritance from her parents and her savings and purchased it alongside new business partner and potential love interest Dominic Lister. Having undergone a major revamp, the Priory is now ready for its grand opening for which a marquee has been set up, a scrumptious spread of food laid out and an up and coming rock and roll band Tutti Frutti is providing the entertainment.
  
  Flora and Jack are front and centre as events unfold as well as being on hand for any assistance required to help their friends. Guests have started arriving, the band is beginning to play and the lead singer Beverly Russo makes her entrance in a sparkling number and takes hold of the microphone stand to begin the afternoon's entertainment. With her mouth open, her body convulses...and Jack yells for the power to be shut off. Then Beverly falls to the floor...dead.
  
  The police are called as Beverly's body is removed from the public's view before being taken away for a post mortem to determine the cause of death. However, Jack doesn't need a PM to tell him it was electrocution..and neither did I, to be honest. I saw the same thing happen in a Midsomer Murder episode in which Suzi Quattro's character was bumped off in the same way. At any rate, everything had to be examined closely as Beverly had a diagnosed heart condition for which she took medication before it could be ruled out.
  
  Sally cannot believe this has happened to her grand opening. Almost at once she goes to Flora and begs for her and Jack to investigate but for once Flora is reluctant, citing it's best left to the police. And in a complete role reversal, it is Jack who is keen to intervene and help their friend but Flora believes the police have everything under control. She couldn't be more wrong and the wheels of investigation turn much too slowly before she is eventually drawn in, taking Jack with her.
  
  Teeming up, they hash out possibilities and motives and opportunities of all the likely suspects. Bit by bit, the eliminate them or rule them back in till even they feel as if they are headed nowhere. It seems the victim wasn't very well liked, causing trouble where ever she went, and there are no shortage of suspects.
  
  But can Flora and Jack uncover the villain before they can escape justice? And save Sally's fledgling business in the process?
  
  MURDER AT THE PRIORY HOTEL is an easy read reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and her own sleepy village St Mary Mead. It's a delightful cosy series that is lighthearted and easy to read, with a little humour peppered throughout and this time there is even the hint of romance. I really enjoy this series, though it may be a little far fetched at times, it is just something light to pop in and out of if you're too busy to devour an edge of your seat read in one sitting.
  
  As with all books in this series, MURDER AT THE PRIORY HOTEL is perfect for relaxing and enjoying a revisit to Abbeymead and all the regular characters we have come to know and love.
  
  Overall, a nice gentle easy read perfect for cosy mystery fans.
  
  I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MurderAtThePrioryHotel in exchange for an honest review.
  
  This review appears on my blog at
  https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
• 
  Annie

  Originally posted on my blog:
  Nonstop Reader.
  
  Murder at the Priory Hotel is the fourth
  Flora Steele bookshop historical cozy by
  Merryn Allingham. Due out 8th July 2022, it's 269 pages and is available in 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free (along with the rest of the series).
  
  I love small-town cozies, historical mysteries, and light British crime. This one ticked a lot of boxes for me. It's capably written with an intelligent and appealing young bookstore owner investigating a murder yet again in the company of her crime writer friend. The story is satisfyingly twisty with numerous disparate plot threads intertwining ever closer into a satisfying denouement and resolution. The action does move resolutely forward, and it never drags, so although simple, it's an enjoyable and engaging read. There is no bad language or triggering content. It has a nice historical nostalgic and safe vibe and was a relaxing and fun read.
  
  Four stars. This is an enjoyable historical bookshop cozy. Fans of the genre will find a lot to like here. With four books extant, it also makes a good candidate for a weekend binge read. The mystery and resolution are self contained and the necessary back-story is written into the story so readers won't have any trouble following along with the plot if they hop in here.
  Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
• 
  June Price

  How far would you go to help a friend? Would you risk your own life? How much are you willing to give of yourself?
  
  That's the situation facing Flora Steele. She's even invited Jack to help. That alone is enough to make her wary. She's been dancing around her relationship with Jack for awhile. As the book opens, however, their focus is on helping their friend Sally prepare for the grand re-opening of the Priory Hotel in Abbeymead. Everything seems to be going well until, well, it isn't. The singer of the band hired to entertain drops dead on stage in front of an audience. She's been electrocuted. The main police inspector is away and Sally, who has everything she owns tied to the success or failure of the hotel, turns to Flora and Jack for help.
  
  As intriguing as it is to watch them set out to find the murderer, it's even more fascinating to contrast the tools available to them in 1957 to now. They are forced to rely on good ol' fashioned sleuthing, talking to people and gathering evidence that isn't always as helpful as it might be in this day and age. I mean, Jack doesn't even have a telephone in his residence yet, let alone the instant communication and reference ability a cell phone offers us today. Flora rides a bicycle she calls Betty which, a bit of research tells me wasn't that unusual in the area during the time period depicted. In fact, Abbeymead was largely green fields until nearly the 1970s and was still recovering from the damage of World War II in 1957. I also noted, excuse me detour into research, that many of the real streets had bird names, too, just as in the book. In other words, the author knows her stuff. I'll spare you my other detour into knot gardens, which are mentioned, but that mention added another element of historical reality to the setting.
  
  As for the mystery, it seems slow going at first. Flora is reluctant not because she doesn't want to help Sally but, well, because she fears losing more of her heart to Jack if they come together to investigate. Despite this, a sense of responsibility to her friends wins out and they begin. It's slow going at first, with few clues. Jack even ventures to another town to talk to a suspect's mother, something difficult given the then fuel shortages, while Flora remains at home, asking questions and listening. She's even willing to consider Sally a suspect, however unlikely. That's what "real" detectives do, consider everyone until they can be eliminated. It takes a frustratingly long time, however. Then a second murder occurs. Eliminate one suspect.
  
  I like Flora and Jack both apart and together. It's pretty obvious I find the setting in the Gloucestershire area, researching it a bit more each book. I find it fascinating to figuratively watch the wheels in Flora's brain spin, spinning at an almost dangerous pace as she zeroes in on the culprit. She's impulsive, yes, but Jack is right there with her.
  
  I'm looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes from here. I'm also looking forward to not just more history of the area in future books but to seeing where the events in this book take Jake and Flora.
  
  Thanks again, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back into Flora's world. I think it's my ancestors from the Gloucestershire area would applaud my taste in books.
• 
  Scilla

  Flora Steele's friend Sally has bought the Priory Hotel with Dominic. She has put a lot of money into refurbishing and also has a loan. They are now getting ready for the grand opening, have hired a band, Tuti Frutti, to play before a meal, and most of the town is invited. Shortly before the band is to play, Flora hears an argument between the lead singer, Beverly, and the head of the band, Tommy May. The band comes on stage, and Beverly grabs the microphone; her mouth starts to shake. Jack yells to switch the microphone off, but Beverly is dead. Jack rushes to get the doctor, and a band member takes Beverly to to a first floor suite with Flora following. Flora notices that although Beverly had been wearing a large ruby ring on her left hand, it is now missing.
  
  Sally can't open the hotel until the murder is solved, and the police don't seem to be getting anywhere, so Flora and Jack must solve it before Sally needs to pay her first loan payment. They have a tough job, because there are several suspects. The doctor has been acting funny; the four members of the band hadn't seemed to get along very well, and none of them really like the band's agent. Dominic is also acting funny. A second murder then makes things even more difficult!
  
  I thought this was a fun addition to the series, and Flora and Jack just might be getting closer. I thank Netgalley and Bookoutour for the ARC of this book.
  
  
• 
  Jane Hunt

  We return to the Priory Hotel for the fourth book in the Flora Steele Mystery series. Invested in its success as one of the owners is a friend of Flora's, she is distressed when there's a suspicious death on opening night. As the police seem willing to accept the death isn't suspicious, it falls to Flora and Jack to discover the truth.
  
  I love the 1950s village setting and the cast of characters. Flora and Jack are great amateur sleuths, and the underlying menace always ramps up the suspense. Another enjoyable cosy crime mystery with a clever mystery and great characters.
  
  I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
• 
  Krysztyna

  There are huge inspirations here from Cormoran Strike novels (i.e. in all the books). However, they're bearable and even good. Although the whole plot of this particular book isn't really gripping, it was a good read and I really, really like the ending. The only problem is, the author could extend more some of the events etc. to build tension. Among several crime books I read this isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, so to speak. Good for an evening read when you've got not much time and what to just dive into a cozy mystery.
• 
  Kathleen Brunnett

  Just love these little light hearted mysteries.
• 
  Tracy Wood

  The Priory Hotel on the outskirts of Abbeymead has had a chequered past, at least recently, and so most of the villagers are looking forward to it finally reopening as a high class establishment once again. With her friend, Jack Carrington, local book shop owner, Flora Steele is excited to help ready the hotel for its re-opening, especially as her friend Sally Jenner is one of the new owners. 
  
  As they begin to relax and enjoy the day, listening to the speeches and preparing to tuck into head chef, Alice Jenner's, sumptuous desserts one of the entertainers collapses in front of them. Although the local police are sure it is an unfortunate accident nothing can convince Flora and Jack it is anything but murder and once again set out to prove it. Nothing is clearcut however, and with a large number of potential suspects they will definitely have their work cut out!
  
  This series seems to have always been around, even though this is only book 4. Once again Jack and Flora are satisfying main protagonists with a supporting cast who are an eclectic and realistic addition to the plot. My only bugbear is the location of the murder, which has been the same for two out of the four storyline so far. Hopefully there will be a new place of interest in book five.
  
  Once again, despite the regular murder site, the mystery was multi faceted with a selection of red herrings to hinder the reader and investigators alike. Without spoilers the ending was very satisfying and I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.
  
  I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much but would recommend starting at the beginning of this very good series.
• 
  R. Jetleb

  I love this series, and the 1950s time period. Always an.enjoyable read, and loving the slow burn romance between Jack and Flora.