Book Review: Death in the New Forest by Linda Mather

 Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Joffe Books via their Joffe's Arc program, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own

Welcome to England’s New Forest, where clinging mists hide many a secret. Step beneath the towering pines — on any twisty heathland path — and you’ll soon realise there’s more to this place than meets the eye . . .

Synopsis:

Detective Elinor Saxby leaves the city for a crooked little cottage near sleepy Lyndhurst village. It’s not exactly her dream home, cut off from everything and everyone she’s ever known. But Elinor will do anything to leave her troubled past behind.

She can run from her demons. 

But she can’t hide.

The very next morning, Elinor gets a call from her new sergeant.

A woman’s been found dead. 

Drowned in the pool of her luxury woodland spa. Her silk gown is ruined. Her perfect skin marred by livid red hand prints.

But it’s not these details that send Elinor spiraling in panic. It’s the victim’s name. Because the dead woman is no stranger to Elinor. She texted just last night to ask Elinor one last favour.

Now the only favour Elinor can do her is to find her killer.


Review

We all know it's not easy changing jobs, but when your first case at your new station involves someone you KNOW from your old job, suddenly the world feels VERY small. As Elinor investigates she realizes two things-a) she didn't know the deceased very well at all and b)not everyone wants her to solve the murder. As she tries to work with her new team and learn their ways, she is also pushing them to in unexpected ways. A roller coaster read, with some hooks you won't see coming,  I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

About the Author:

Author of the best-selling Zodiac Murder Mystery series and The New Forest Murders-this is the debut book of her new police investigation series, released on 14 May 2026. Linda was also long-listed for the Margery Allingham short story prize 2025.

Linda remains extremely very grateful for all your reviews, messages and feedback.

Linda is a board member of the Crime Writers Association UK and leads for the CWA on National Crime Reading Month. She is President of the UK/EU chapter of Sisters-in-Crime. She is a qualified coach, runs writing retreats and is a Smithsonian expert speaker