Review: Betrayal at the Old Hall

Betrayal at the Old Hall by H.L. Marsay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Lucy Hanley's errant husband Rupert went missing on the first day of the COVID lockdowns and hasn't been seen since. She's been trying to manage a crumbling stately home and her son alone ever since. Her husband's estate manager, Max, a local boy with pretensions, is helping her to find new tenants for two cottages on the estate which may help with cashflow.

Lucy's best friend is Rachel, the local primary schoolteacher and Max's sister-in-law. She's been madly in love with Lucy for years, but Lucy is oblivious.

Dr Meera Kumar and her young son move into one cottage, her husband is back in India and they have separated, although her family have trouble believing it.

The other cottage is taken by Detective Sergeant Jo Ormond, a former London detective she made a big mistake and rather than be demoted she accepted a sideways move, not realising it would send her to a small Yorkshire town where nothing much happens.

Despite their different backgrounds the four women become friends, but they each have secrets and when Rupert's body is discovered Jo has to decide between what could be her ticket back to London and her friends.

I received an ARC of the third book in the series and really enjoyed it, so when I saw that this was free (sadly no longer), I picked it up. Despite knowing what really happened the night Rupert disappeared I enjoyed the build up and seeing the characters get to know each other. On to the second book now!

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