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Clare Chase
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Murder on the Marshes: A completely unputdownable cozy mystery novel (A Tara Thorpe Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Clare Chase (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 6,638 ratings
The sun rises on a lush stone courtyard, where birds sing and ferns shade an ancient, burbling fountain. But in the fountain’s murky depths, a young woman’s body grows cold…

Samantha Seabrook – an ambitious young woman with a chequered past – is found drowned in the ornamental fountain of a locked Cambridge courtyard. The only clue is an antique silver chain wound tightly around her throat.

It’s local reporter Tara Thorpe’s job to discover what happened to Miss Seabrook – but the case becomes personal when she learns that Samantha had been receiving threatening messages… rather like the one that landed on the doorstep of Tara’s cottage the night the woman died.

Together with Detective Inspector Garstin Blake, Tara follows a lead that takes her to the deep and watery fens on the outskirts of the city. But there’s something Tara can’t quite admit to Blake about her past – and it could make all the difference to whether they crack the case before the killer strikes again.

If you love mysteries by Faith Martin, P.D. James and Agatha Christie, you won’t be able to put this series down!

The Tara Thorpe Mystery Series:
Book 1 – Murder on the Marshes
Book 2 – Death on the River
Book 3 – Death Comes to Call
Book 4 – Murder in the Fens

Readers absolutely love Murder on the Marshes:


'Wow what a book! One of the best mysteries I have read! Loved it from start to finish and couldn't put it down! A masterpiece! Plotting perfection! The writing is brilliant and flows off the page, the characters stay with you. A thoroughly satisfying, absolutely stunning book! I cannot wait to read more by this amazing author!’ Renita D’Silva

‘Literally couldn't put it down!! This was an excellent thriller with well-developed characters and great twists!! From the first page until the end… a great ride of mystery, suspense and murder… Excellent thriller and crime read!!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Fast-paced, twisty… I just ripped right through this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I have to say that I loved this book.’ Jen Med’s Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘I absolutely loved this book… grabbed me by the throat from the opening chapter and refused to let go until the very end… The story was a fantastic puzzle... all set against the beautiful backdrop of Cambridge and the menacing emptiness of the surrounding Cambridgeshire fens.’ A Little Book Problem, 5 stars

‘Clever, twisty stories, with great characters.’ Kate Rhodes, author of Hell Bay

‘You'll enjoy her books including this one if you like Joy Ellis, L. J. Ross, and Faith Martin… I absolutely adored the setting here. It reminds a little of the sort of setting in Midsomer Murders – quaint and idyllic with some very shady characters. The twists in the plot were plentiful and I liked the relationship and dynamic between Thorpe and Blake.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A tense, exciting read with plenty of twists… an addictive read.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A whip-smart read that had a good many surprises and twists… I'd definitely recommend this to fans of procedural mysteries. It was like an Inspector Morse/Midsomer layer cake with Christie for the frosting. I'm awaiting my next slice.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A darned good read.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Reminds me of Agatha Christie. Grabbing me straight from the start… will keep you guessing until the very end… A perfect gripping who-dunnit story, fans of LR Ross will love it.’ Chelle’s Book Reviews
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    A Tara Thorpe Mystery
  2. Print length
    346 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 31, 2018
  5. File size
    3.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. She’d learnt a long time ago that you couldn’t always eliminate what threatened you, yet somehow you had to find a way to carry on. That meant learning to cope – both practically and emotionally. You got power from knowing you hadn’t been beaten. And from learning how to protect yourself.
    Highlighted by 178 Kindle readers
  2. Samantha Seabrook, Professor of Childhood Inequality at the Cambridge Institute for Social Studies.
    Highlighted by 158 Kindle readers
  3. Now he was sitting between his sergeants, Patrick Wilkins and Emma Marshall, listening to his boss, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Fleming.
    Highlighted by 114 Kindle readers
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CSVHKRM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (July 31, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 31, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 6,638 ratings

About the author

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Clare Chase

Clare Chase

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

Her debut novel was shortlisted for Novelicious’s Undiscovered Award, as well as an EPIC award post-publication, and was chosen as a Debut of the Month by LoveReading. Murder on the Marshes (Tara Thorpe 1) was shortlisted for an International Thriller Writers award.

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.

You can find Clare's website and blog at www.clarechase.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
6,638 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this mystery novel for its suspenseful plot with plenty of twists, believable characters, and well-written prose. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with one customer describing it as a page-turner. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding the plot excruciatingly slow. The interest level is also mixed, with some customers finding it uninteresting.

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78 customers mention "Story quality"66 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery novel, praising its suspenseful plot with plenty of good twists.

"I loved this book. The storyline kept you guessing who it could be. The characters are well detailed. Great mystery keeps you guessing till the end." Read more

"The author writes a good suspenseful murder mystery. I was not able to figure out until the very end...." Read more

"...where they struggle to find their perpetrators and this story was no exception. I'll read more by this writer." Read more

"I have rated this book a four Star. It was quite an interesting read. Wondering why the two women were killed who could have done it and why ??...." Read more

43 customers mention "Character development"35 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting its multi-layered approach and varied cast of suspects.

"...The storyline kept you guessing who it could be. The characters are well detailed. Great mystery keeps you guessing till the end." Read more

"...All the characters were believable and I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. Brilliant stuff, really." Read more

"...The writing was well done and the characters were given a good in-depth development...." Read more

"...All of the characters are fully developed, leading up to an exciting finish. Very highly recommended!" Read more

39 customers mention "Readability"39 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and entertaining, with one describing it as a page-turner.

"I loved this book. The storyline kept you guessing who it could be. The characters are well detailed. Great mystery keeps you guessing till the end." Read more

"...It finally stared to fall into place. It was a fun read. It was quite a page turner that's for sure." Read more

"This was a good and I'd say, pretty realistic read..." Read more

"One of the best books I've read in some time. The story is intriguing and really kept my interest...." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive5 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting how the author gently guides the reader, while another highlights the superbly written environmental knowledge.

"...The writing was well done and the characters were given a good in-depth development...." Read more

"...And that's the creepy part. This one is a well written read." Read more

"At first I had a hard time getting into the story. It seemed confusing...." Read more

"...I had it figured out about half way so I just enjoyed the writing. Already started on the second book of the series." Read more

9 customers mention "Interest"5 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's interest, with some finding it uninteresting, while one customer mentions it kept them reading into the night.

"...Great read. Kept my attention from beginning to end. Will read others for sure." Read more

"...But there is a lot of unnecessary fluff that really didn't add anything to the story." Read more

"...Easy relaxing read! I will read another of her book. It kept me interested and entertained." Read more

"...I found it dull and Tara's investigative work didn't capture my attention. The book just rambled on till the end...." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive10 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book slow, with multiple reviews noting that the plot moves excruciatingly slowly.

"...The story was thought-provoking, but I had trouble with the pacing...." Read more

"I think the author got bogged down and repetitive investigations and two people doing the same thing over and over...." Read more

"...It's a slow read, a lot of dragging on. Hard to keep track who's talking and who's who . Very odd story line." Read more

"Though it did seem to start a bit slow, it picked up, & I couldn't put it down. Wish the audible was free... only reason for 4 stars...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Leann Brown
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book I couldn't put it down.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. The storyline kept you guessing who it could be. The characters are well detailed. Great mystery keeps you guessing till the end.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The author writes a good suspenseful murder mystery. I was not able to figure out until the very end. But there is a lot of unnecessary fluff that really didn't add anything to the story.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Grace
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    At first I had a hard time getting into the story. It seemed confusing. But after a couple of chapters I got used to the writers writing and then I couldn't put the book down. Looking forward reading another story of Tara Thorpe.
    Helpful
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  • Maijaquips2
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the layout of the land. I also prefer detective stories where they struggle to find their perpetrators and this story was no exception. I'll read more by this writer.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer Linda Lettau
    4.0 out of 5 stars A page turner:
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I have rated this book a four Star. It was quite an interesting read. Wondering why the two women were killed who could have done it and why ??. Slowly getting to know each character there childhood. It finally stared to fall into place. It was a fun read. It was quite a page turner that's for sure.
    Helpful
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  • N.Mitchell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good mystery!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This was a good and I'd say, pretty realistic read (aside from Tara's disregard for her own well-being sometimes... though that might be explained away using the fact that she was a journalist who was relentless in pursuing a story).

    All the characters were believable and I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. Brilliant stuff, really.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Cozy Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    My wife has read the Tara Thorpe mysteries and thought they were well done. Never having read a "cozy" mystery myself, I gave it a shot. The writing was well done and the characters were given a good in-depth development. The story was thought-provoking, but I had trouble with the pacing. There were times I felt I was reading two distinct stories that were going to merge somehow. This said, the storyline and the characters make me ready to read the next one. A 4.1 out of 5 rating.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer TBear
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a great mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best books I've read in some time. The story is intriguing and really kept my interest. All of the characters are fully developed, leading up to an exciting finish. Very highly recommended!
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Steve and Deb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Murder Mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A great read really enjoyed the twists and the main character Tara a reporter and the chemistry between Tara and Detective Inspector Garstin Blake who had his own problems.
    This gets you hooked from the first page and I look forward to reading more.
    I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
    Report
  • Tia-Rose Anthony-Charles
    5.0 out of 5 stars exciting read with a surprising twist
    Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book. A great read that was well written, as someone who grew up in The Fens and lived in Cambridge I could picture the scenes in my head.

    I started with the last book before realizing this was a series, so I was familiar with the characters. Side note, some aspects of the last book made sense now that I have read the first one.

    The twist that came at the end took me by surprise and I couldn’t just stop.. I had to finish. A great murder mystery with some nice characters/character developments
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, mystery to the end
    Reviewed in Australia on March 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My first Clare Chase novel and she had me from the first chapter.
    Report
  • L.D. Lil
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in France on January 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Realy enjoyed this book and loved all the characters, especially, of course , Tara. So will definitely get the next one in the hope it is as good. Highly Recommend
    Report
  • bluevapo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Too much violence for me.
    Reviewed in Australia on February 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    A crime novel where there are no clues, just crimes. The reason doesn't surface until the very end. Not badly written, but ii just didn't grab me.
    Report

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