Tag: Anne Cleeland

Murder In Mistake by Anne Cleeland

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Murder in MistakeBarbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Doyle & Acton Mystery
Publication Date: 2/25/26
Period: Contemporary London
Number of Pages: 202

I always look forward to each new entry in this quirky, well-written, and excellently paced series. The characters are unique, engaging, and simply fun to get to know. Doyle is a by-the-book, working-class member of London’s police establishment who also happens to be just a touch fey. Acton, on the other hand, is an aristocrat with a title who wields authority with confidence—and occasionally takes justice into his own hands. When these two marry… well… Katie bar the door!

In this delightful installment, we are introduced to Mary, the newest addition to their family—and, at last, one of the children seems to have taken after Doyle. I loved that touch!

During her latest pregnancy, one of Doyle’s light-duty assignments is speaking at a school Career Day. One young boy stands out to her, as he asks each speaker the same unsettling question: have they ever killed someone? Intrigued—and more than a little concerned—Doyle decides to follow up with a visit to the child, setting a tangled investigation in motion. With twists, turns, and plenty of red herrings, the mystery keeps you guessing about the who, how, and why. This case proves to have many layers, including corruption, cover-ups, and carefully hidden truths.

I highly recommend this fun and quirky series, which blends satire and humor with a well-paced mystery. As always, there are intriguing hints about future character developments and mysteries yet to come. While the central mystery in this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, readers will get the most out of the humor, relationships, and ongoing story arcs by starting with the earlier books in the series.

Happy reading!

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Murder In All Patience by Anne Cleeland

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Murder in All Patience

Barbara’s rating: 3.8 out of 5 Stars
Series: Doyle & Acton #22
Publication Date: 10/2/25
Period: Contemporary London
Number of Pages: 210

OMGoodness!!! Acton is master-minding and plotting again in this wonderfully written, excellently paced contemporary mystery set in London. Of course, Acton can plot all he likes, but the quirky, human lie detector, Doyle, is going to throw a spanner in the works. I have read and loved every book in the series, and this one is no exception. Although this is part of an excellent series, it can be read as a standalone. However, to get a true feel for the character dynamic between Doyle & Acton, you should probably read at least the first couple of books. Besides, it is a great series, so why not read them all?

One of Detective Sergeant Kathleen Doyle’s first clues that her aristocratic husband, Chief Inspector Michael Acton, was plotting something was his decision to hold a charitable gala at his ancestral home, Trestles. Acton doesn’t like visitors to Trestles, and he certainly never hosts events there. So, what is he up to? Is it something that goes back to the black market art theft ring? Perhaps it has to do with Lestrade trying to blackmail him – or something even more sinister.

I loved that part of the plot involved putting on a skit based on The Hound of the Baskervilles, featuring Sherlock Holmes, because Acton is very similar to Sherlock in many ways. Very eccentric and very, very smart. The author has cleverly woven in many similarities to the Sherlock story while keeping this story uniquely Doyle and Acton.

If you are looking for a quick, entertaining, yet interesting mystery, I suggest you might enjoy this one. It is filled with quirky, unique characters you’ll love, and the mystery is well written, interesting, and keeps you guessing about Acton’s plot until the very end! Happy Reading!

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