The Blackout Murders

A Homefront Sleuths Mystery (The Homefront Sleuths Cozy Mystery Series, Book 1)

De: Anna Elliott, Charles Veley

Narrado por: Iona Campbell

Five friends, one sleepy village, and a mystery brimming with dark secrets.

England, 1941. The tranquil village of Crofter’s Green seems like a haven from the chaos of wartime. But when a local air raid warden is found dead in the village churchyard, five villagers--some getting on in years and none of them policemen--decide they need to uncover the truth.

Introducing the Homefront Sleuths:

• Evie Harris, a newly arrived tea shop owner, seeking a fresh start after losing her husband.
• Alice Greenleaf, the village herbalist, who has her own quiet strength and wisdom.
• Blake Collins, a war-wounded schoolteacher, struggling with the scars of battle.
• Harry Jenkins, a sharp-eyed retired detective from London, who thought his sleuthing days were over.
• Dotty Baker, a resourceful young mother, juggling the demands of wartime life.

Together, they will form a close-knit circle, a found family in a world turned upside down. As they dig into the village’s secrets, they uncover more than just the identity of a killer—they discover the power of friendship and community in the face of adversity. But can they solve the mystery before the shadows of war claim another victim, and will Evie discover her inner culinary capabilities?

The Blackout Murders is a heartwarming, suspenseful tale perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and wartime intrigue. This first installment of the *Homefront Sleuths* Series offers a rich tapestry of characters, historical detail, and the enduring strength of human connection. If you enjoy The Marlow Murder Club or cozy mysteries by Rhys Bowen, T.E. Kinsey, Jacqueline Winspear, or Susan Elia MacNeal we're sure you'll enjoy this series.

Scroll up, grab your copy, and join the Homefront Sleuths as they embark on their first case!

©2024 Charles Veley and Anna Elliott (P)2024 Charles Veley and Anna Elliott

A good listen!

My mother was a Wren (Women’s Royal Navy) in WW2 England, stationed in Dover, just across the English Channel from Nazi-occupied France. Before that, she was living in her family home in Liverpool, one of the most heavily bombed cities in the country.

Her years of constant fear are unimaginable to me, so I appreciate reading and listening to good stories about that time and place, to better understand her experience. This mystery centers in a “safer” part of England, but the everyday lives would have sounded very familiar to her — rationing and blackout curtains and not knowing if overhead planes were friend or foe.

I really enjoyed this mystery, and never guessed the villain. I thought at first that I wouldn’t like the narrator, but she turned out to be very good. I’m off to listen to the next installment!

excellent

Very good. interesting story, great setting and characters. I'm looking forward to knowing more about Evie's background as the series continues.

Narration is perfect.

An ‘OK’ mystery

I stumbled across this new series recently and looked forward to reading it because I enjoy mysteries based in the WW2 era. The authors do a great job creating a realistic atmosphere of the time. You could feel the tension, the strain, and the weariness brought on by the war. As well as the close knit community of the English Village. The narrator did an admirable job with the many characters.

However, 1/4 of the way through, I grew weary of the plot. Maybe it was the constant switching between the five sleuths that grew tiresome, coupled with the plot being predictable. I soon became impatient to get through it and skipped forward to the end. I realized that even though I skipped to the end, I really didn’t miss much in between.

I’m happy that this was included in the plus catalog and therefore I didn’t have to use a credit.

Loved the voice of the reader

Very interesting, learned about some history, I never knew, and and cannot believe so many had to go through!!

Historical Review

I thoroughly enjoyed this series! The characters and story lines are very entertaining. I had a hard time turning it off. The historical information at the end of each book is insightful and educational. Narration is perfect!
Thank you!

Quite a surprise

I was surprisingly captivated by this book. Even though I did suspect the culprit before the end, I couldn’t put it down. Well done all concerned.

Do Yourself A Favor...Listen to All of These!

I've listened to all of the books prior to writing this review. Like taking a walk into the past.... Interesting characters, developing story keeps you wanting more.

Story line, character development.

Good story line, great characters. Setting and the unfolding as it develops. Kept me guessing until the very end. History lessons of how people can and should live together.

Characters came to life

I’m listening again to Books 1-4 , ( only because audible didn’t have 5 yet). First, thank you to Bo authors for making these complimentary or I probably wouldn’t be writing a review.
These books have excellent character development, ——makes you feel you know them. Secondly, the plots demonstrate a maturity in writing that you might not expect in a new cozy mystery surrounded/set in the bleakness of war,
The plots of all the books carry several stories simultaneously which the author does smoothly make it all feel like “life” .
Definitely worth listening to!

Interesting and Keeps You Invested

As a book in series, it felt like half the book was spent building the scenery and giving uou a feel of the characters. Some people might find this slow and get bored; but i quite enjoy the set up and slow build to quick action. The characters felt real but not indepth enough to really care tor them but created interest in where their collective storywill go