‘The Body at Rookery Barn’ by Kate Hardy

Published by Storm Publishing,
12 September 2023.
ISBN: 978-1-80508084-8 (PB)

Following the death of her husband Stephen, Georgina Drake moves to Little Wenborough in rural Norfolk. To supplement her income, she rents out her converted barn as a holiday cottage to holidaymakers.  Her current tenant Professor Roland Garnett, an arrogant and unpleasant man had booked the cottage for three weeks which had terminated this morning.  As she walks to the cottage to change the linen and clean the cottage for the next arrivals, she hears a female voice say, ‘I wouldn’t go in there if I were you’. 

The voice had a local Norfolk accent but wasn’t a voice Georgina recognised.  It continued, ‘Call the police and Ambulance’.  Looking around her Georgina cannot see anyone. Maybe, she thinks it is her new hearing aids, that have somehow picked up a radio. Ignoring the voice, Georgina lets herself into the cottage and immediately picks up a smell of strong stale vomit.  ‘I did tell you not to open the door,’ said the voice plaintively. 

Leaving the kitchen door open, Georgina checks each room. Clearly the professor hadn’t left as his things were strewn over every room. He was in the bedroom and dead. In panic and struggling to breathe Georgina dials 999. 

While waiting she asks the voice to show herself. ‘That’s a bit tricky says the voice’. 

The first police response is a Sergeant Kennedy, followed by Inspector Colin Bradshaw.  Pathology rules that Roland Garnett was poisoned. The news in the village travels fast, no doubt helped by Jodie, who does the cleaning of the guest cottage for Georgina. 

Although none of the villagers liked Roland Garnett, as in his short stay in the area he managed to offend most of them. But as a relative newcomer to the village, Georgina is suspect No I.  So, she feels that she has no choice but to investigate herself. In doing so she finds an unlikely team to help her, aristocratic gardener, Sybbie, Francesca and Jodie.  But Georgina in her endeavours to clear herself of the crime finds herself in the killer’s firing line. 

And what of the disembodied voice? Just who is it? 

A fascinating and gripping cosy crime novel. Recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Kate Hardy started writing stories about ponies and dogs, moved onto ghosts and history, and then into local history and romance, and is now thoroughly enjoying her new life of crime!  She loves learning new things, which is why you'll always discover something different in a Kate Hardy book. She lives in Norwich with her husband