‘The Langdale Legacy’ by Rebecca Tope

Published by Allison & Busby,
17 Sept. 2026.
ISBN: 978-0-74903465-8 (HB)

Persimmon, known as Simmy, is out for a walk with new baby, George, and her dog when she meets two other dog walkers. Before long, she learns that the couple, Thea and her brother Damien, are up in the Lake District for a few days and that they have a mutual friend in Ben Harkness. Ben works for Simmy’s husband at his auction house. Simmy suggests that they all meet up for a meal, and she learns that the couple are in the area for a few days hoping to find out more about the unexplained disappearance of their great-grandfather, John Armstrong who went missing as a young man. Thea suspects he was murdered, but Damien is more interested in finding out about a medal that he was awarded for bravery.

Ben is only too happy to help. He agrees to use his IT skills to research the family’s past history, leaving Thea and Damien to visit long lost relatives to learn what they know about John Armstrong, and if they can shed light on what happened, which might explain his sudden disappearance.   

Simmy would like nothing better than to help in the investigation but any contribution she might make can only be severely limited. All her time is taken up trying to cope with baby George who demands her constant attention. Ever since his birth seven months ago, George’s waking moments have been filled with fits of screaming. She is convinced he is in pain, but the nurses at the baby clinic assure her that all babies cry. Any spare time she does have, she feels compelled to spend with her three-year-old son, Robin, so that he doesn’t feel neglected.

Not everyone is pleased with the discoveries the investigation is revealing as Simmy discovers when an unexpected caller arrives at her door to warn her off. 

This is the seventeenth book in Rebecca Tope’s series of novels set in the Lake District. Her fans will recognise all the familiar characters who are involved in the story including Ben, girl-friend Bonnie who also works in Simmy’s flower shop, and Simmy’s parents. This novel also includes Thea Slocombe, the protagonist in her equally popular Cotswold Mysteries.   

As always, Tope’s skill at describing the landscape of this area of the Lake District and capturing its atmosphere is readily apparent.
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Reviewer: Judith Cranswick   

Rebecca Tope is the author of four popular murder mystery series, featuring Den Cooper, Devon police detective, Drew Slocombe, Undertaker, and Thea Osborne, house sitter in the Cotswolds. More recently her series set in the Lake District features Persimmon (Simmy) Brown, a florist. Rebecca grew up on farms, first in Cheshire then in Devon, and now lives in rural Herefordshire on a smallholding situated close to the beautiful Black Mountains. Besides "ghost writer" of the novels based on the ITV series Rosemary and Thyme. Rebecca is also the proprietor of a small press - Praxis Books. This was established in 1992. 

www.rebeccatope.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/