‘Murder at the Folly’ by Jane Adams

Published by Joffe Books,
2 December 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-80573387-4 (PB)

The latest episode in the long-running TV series featuring amateur sleuth, Lydia Marchant, played by actress, Rina Martin, is being filmed on location at Septon Hall. Rina’s co-star, Grace Sweeting, is playing the murderer. The production is not going well, and constant delays are causing tension among actors and crew alike, which is not helped by Grace’s difficult behaviour, constantly finding fault. 

A poison pen letter addressed to Grace arrives at Septon Hall, witnessed by the show’s leading man, Phil Perry. Things come to a head between the two of them, when an unpleasant scene breaks out onset. Phil misses his cue resulting in Grace storming back to her dressing room. The next morning Phil’s body is discovered on the floor of the wardrobe room with a brooch stuck in his neck. The brooch was last seen on the lapel of the Victorian costume coat worn by Grace during the previous day’s filming. 

Grace immediately becomes the prime suspect. Afterall, as all his colleagues are keen to tell the police, Phil was a pleasant guy who got on with everybody. No one else would have cause to harm him. Only Rina has doubts about Grace’s culpability. If justice is to be done, it’s up to Rina to track down the real culprit. 

This is book 11 in Jane Adams’s series featuring Rina Martin. New readers will soon get to grips with the large cast of characters and there is plenty of action to keep them turning the page. Murder at the Folly ticks all the boxes for those who like a cozy whodunit – interesting, well-drawn characters; lots of suspects; a fast-moving plot with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings; interesting remote location; all written in an easy, straightforward style.   
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Reviewer: Judith Cranswick
http://www.judithcranswick.co.uk   

Jane Adams was born in Leicestershire, where she still lives. She has a degree in Sociology and has held a variety of jobs including lead vocalist in a folk rock band. She enjoys pen and ink drawing; martial arts and her ambition is to travel the length of the Silk Road by motorbike. Her first book, The Greenway, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award in 1995 and for the Author's Club Best First Novel Award. Jane writes several series.  Her first series featured Mike Croft. Several books featuring DS Ray Flowers. Seven titles featuring blind Naoimi Blake, and eight titles featuring Rina Martin. Her most recentt series is set between the two World Wars and featuring Detective Inspector Henry Johnstone and his Sergeant, Micky Hitchens. Jane has also written several standalone novels. She is married with two children. 

janeadamsauthor.com  

Judith Cranswick was born and brought up in Norwich. Apart from writing, Judith’s great passions are travel and history. Both have influenced her two series of mystery novels. Tour Manager, Fiona Mason takes coach parties throughout Europe, and historian Aunt Jessica is the guest lecturer accompanying tour groups visiting more exotic destinations aided by her nephew Harry. Her published novels also include several award-winning standalone psychological thrillers. She wrote her first novel (now languishing in the back of a drawer somewhere) when her two children were toddlers, but there was little time for writing when she returned to her teaching career. Now retired, she is able to indulge her love of writing and has begun a life of crime! ‘Writers are told to write what they know about, but I can assure you, I've never committed a murder. I'm an ex-convent school headmistress for goodness sake!’

http://judithcranswick.co.uk/