Jane Bettany – författare

‘I read this in one sitting and loved every minute of it. The detective story reads like an episode of Vera.’ 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer No secret can stay buried forever… As the Whitworth family begin renovations on their new home, their plans are brought to an abrupt end when they discover a body buried in the back garden.DI Isabel Blood and her team are called to investigate, but as she approaches Ecclesdale Drive, a feeling of unease settles in her gut.The property cordoned off is number 23. The house she used to live in as a child…The forensic team estimate that the body has been in the ground for up to forty years – coinciding with the time Isabel’s family lived in the house.Isabel’s father vanished without a trace when she was fourteen years old. And with her mother remaining tight-lipped about her father’s disappearance, Isabel can’t escape the unnerving sense of dread that it’s his body, buried in the garden. Fans of Vera, Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths will love In Cold Blood! Readers love In Cold Blood!“A gripping police procedural thriller that had me engrossed from the first page. The storyline had me intrigued, so much so that I read it in one day.” 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer“Isabel Blood is a great character and I really enjoyed getting to know her. I’m a great fan of police procedural novels and this was an excellent read! The case was a fascinating one and the story was cleverly plotted… with numerous twists and turns and some rather surprising revelations!” 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer“If you’re looking for a cosy crime novel that is packed with suspense, then this is the book for you. A fantastic debut novel that I have no hesitation in recommending.” 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer“This is a fabulous debut crime novel!” 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer“I loved this book from beginning to end and cannot wait to read more from Jane Bettany.” 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer

‘This was such a brilliant whodunit thriller that I didn’t want to put down. I picked it up in the morning and by lunchtime I was finished.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ You can cover up the truth, but every murder leaves a trail… The rain was relentless. It stung Ruth Prendergast’s face as she dashed towards her house, desperate to escape the cold and settle down for an early night. But upon entering her bedroom, she finds a man, lying on her bed – a knife buried in his chest.When Detective Isabel Blood and her sergeant arrive on the scene, Ruth claims she’s never laid eyes on the victim before. But with no sign of a break-in, how did the killer gain access to the house?Then Ruth disappears, leaving Isabel and her team to fear the worst. Has their lead suspect escaped, or is Ruth in danger herself?Forensic evidence at the crime scene is sparse, and it’s proving impossible for Isabel to make a breakthrough. With Ruth still missing, time is running out. But how can you catch a killer that doesn’t leave a trace? Uncover the mystery and solve the crime alongside Derbyshire’s best detective. This utterly gripping, unputdownable whodunit will have you hooked and reading long into the night! Fans Val McDermid, Elly Griffiths and ITV’s Vera will love Without a Trace! Readers LOVE Without a Trace!‘To say that reading ‘Without A Trace’ became addictive is a huge understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter… but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over an hour later.’ Ginger Book Geek, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A must read of this year… I loved it. It’s wowsome.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A 5 star novel. Great characters. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. All you need for a perfect thriller.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A crime novel to devour in one sitting…’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I was hooked from page one… completely loved the storyline.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A really good, interesting read with lots of clues and red herrings.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is a cracking page turner with twists galore. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking of this book trying to work out what was going on.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fans of Vera, Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths will love Last Seen Alive! When Anna Matheson fails to collect her son from the babysitter after a works party, the police are swiftly called. Anna is a stickler for time and a good mother – she would never abandon her baby. Her disappearance is totally out of character and DI Isabel Blood and her team soon suspect foul play.CCTV footage shows Anna was last seen at precisely 11.11pm, as she collected her coat to leave the party. But the cameras outside the venue have failed to pick up her exit from the car park – how could she have vanished in plain sight?Rumour has it that Anna was set to make big changes in the workplace, and Isabel can’t help but think someone wanted her out of the way.Everyone at the party is a suspect, and all the clues point to murder…Readers LOVE Last Seen Alive!‘Just superb. Well written and so easy to read. Characters were well drawn and I just can’t tell you how good the end was. Brilliant!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Jane does it again with another gripping read. I read this one in 24 hours and had me engrossed from page 1.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Great story, thought I had it all worked out, turned out I hadn't. Thoroughly enjoyed it, once I got into it, did not see that ending coming.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A cracking read with great characters.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book was very good. Great storyline so many twists in each chapter. I didn't see the conclusion coming at all. Was so well written. Would recommend this book to others.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This was an easy read with plenty of twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A well written and thoroughly enjoyable read congratulations to Jane Bettany for a great read.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Welcome to Merrywell. Population: small. Secrets: aplenty. ‘Murder in Merrywell is an entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ – Clare Chase Ex-journalist Violet Brewster is keen to make a good first impression in her new community, having just moved to the small village of Merrywell. When Violet hears about the mystery of Helen Slingsby, who disappeared from the village forty years earlier, she decides to help uncover what happened. But despite Violet’s best efforts, she can find no trace of the missing woman.As Violet talks to the other residents, it becomes apparent that something sinister is lurking beneath the village’s idyllic exterior.When a villager is found dead in their home, Violet becomes convinced that the murder is connected to Helen. Did Helen ever really leave Merrywell? Who in the village is hiding something? And can Violet finally solve this forty-year-old mystery before someone else gets hurt? An utterly gripping and page-turning English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands. Readers LOVE Murder in Merrywell!'A perfect cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully-drawn setting.' Roz Watkins‘If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache‘Violet Brewster is everything you could want in an amateur sleuth; empathetic, determined, and ruthless in her quest for truth… A must read!’ Charlotte Baker‘Interesting characters, and the story is funny, thrilling and touching. A very good combination.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Murder in Merrywell has moments that will make you laugh out loud! I recommend to all readers.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wow, what a read! Great plot and characters. Everything you want in a mystery. This series gets better with every book' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When a body is found at the Merrywell Book Festival, amateur sleuth Violet Brewster must leave no page unturned to solve the mystery… The small and idyllic village of Merrywell is getting ready to host its first ever book festival, and Violet Brewster is delighted when she is asked to interview the star author.Leonie Stanwick, now a bestselling romance author, is the featured guest of the festival. She was born in Merrywell, but abruptly left when she was 18 years old and never came back.But the festival takes a dark turn when Leonie is found murdered; her return to the village had clearly shaken someone up. When a shocking secret about Leonie’s past is revealed, Violet’s suspicions must turn to her own neighbours. Who in the village was intent on making sure Leonie could never leave the village again? An utterly gripping and unputdownable English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands. Readers LOVE Murder at the Book Festival!‘An enjoyable cozy, with plenty of twists and turns, and a fun glimpse into village life.’ Clare Chase‘Jane Bettany delivers a cozy with a dash of sass – thoroughly enjoyable and utterly irresistible.’ Peter Boland‘A murder mystery with a blossoming romance… what more could one ask for? Delicious!’ Katie Gayle‘Murder at the Book Festival is a delightful cozy mystery… I can't wait to follow Violet and her friends in their next adventure!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Another enjoyable and entertaining mystery in a well imagined and delightful setting, a credible and deftly drawn cast and a solid mystery at its very heart.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A thoroughly good read. Cosy crime at its best.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't miss Murder on Bluebell Hill, the next book in the series, available to pre-order now! 'Perfect cozy mystery.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'An interesting story by an excellent writer…I look forward to more.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Maple Grange is the perfect place to retire for the residents of Merrywell. But when a murder investigation unfolds on its grounds, Violet Brewster must dust off her sleuthing skills once again! Violet Brewster has just finished a project at local retirement village Maple Grange, when she learns that one of the residents, Phyllis Gibson, has passed away suddenly.Violet is surprised that Phyllis left her a beautiful jewellery box in her will. When she goes to collect it, Maureen Bond, Phyllis’s best friend, tells Violet that Phyllis had become paranoid during her last days, and was convinced that someone was trying to kill her.When Maureen is pushed off her balcony, it becomes clear that something ominous is happening at Maple Grange. Violet is certain that the clues lie within the jewellery box. As the dangerous occurrences continue, can Violet unlock its contents and uncover the killer, before someone else gets hurt? Don't miss the third book in the Violet Brewster Mystery series, perfect for fans of Clare Chase and Fiona Leitch! These books can be read as part of a series or as standalones. Praise for Jane Bettany:‘A thoroughly enjoyable and suspenseful story’ Daily Mail‘An enjoyable cozy, with plenty of twists and turns, and a fun glimpse into village life.’ Clare Chase‘Jane Bettany delivers a cozy with a dash of sass – thoroughly enjoyable and utterly irresistible.’ Peter Boland‘A murder mystery with a blossoming romance… what more could one ask for? Delicious!’ Katie Gayle‘Murder at the Book Festival is a delightful cozy mystery… I can't wait to follow Violet and her friends in their next adventure!’ Reader reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Another enjoyable and entertaining mystery in a well imagined and delightful setting, a credible and deftly drawn cast and a solid mystery at its very heart.’ Reader reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If it’s cosy crime you’re after, this has all the essential ingredients' Daily Mail 'Clear your diaries for another marvellous Merrywell mystery!' Clare Chase 'Kept me guessing right until the end' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'If you’re looking for a cosy murder mystery then I 100% recommend this book.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In a quaint village in the Peak District, murder is brewing… Violet Brewster is settling into the quiet life in Merrywell. The last thing she needs is to get mixed up in a police investigation…When a snazzy tearoom opens at the local garden centre on Bluebell Hill, residents flock to visit the establishment. But not everyone is happy about the new business venture…Matters escalate when the owner of the tearoom is found dead on the premises. As Violet unwittingly finds herself at the centre of another murder mystery, can she shift suspicion away from those closest to her and find the true culprit? Praise for the Violet Brewster series: 'An entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ Clare Chase'A perfect cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully-drawn setting.' Roz Watkins'If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache

'Mistletoe and murder, friends, family and deceit — this has it all' FAITH MARTIN 'I LOVED this book! I practically inhaled it within a few hours. This was such a cosy read and it’s put me in a very festive mood' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A cosy, festive murder mystery to curl up with in front of the fire, for fans of Clare Chase and Katie Gayle. In the charming village of Merrywell, an exciting new Christmas Market is bringing festive cheer and bustling crowds. But as the stallholders celebrate in the village bookshop at the end of a successful first day, someone rushes in to announce that a body has been found.Once again in the wrong place at the wrong time, Violet Brewster is on hand to offer the police her astute – if perhaps unwelcome – opinion on the crime. While the police dismiss the death as an accident, Violet senses that there’s more to this tragedy than meets the eye.Determined to uncover the truth, she must navigate a maze of secrets and lies before the killer strikes again. As the festive season unfolds, can Violet solve the mystery before it’s too late?Readers love A Christmas Murder in Merrywell!:'A gentle, absorbing mystery which I enjoyed so much that I'm now going to go back to the beginning of Violet Brewster's adventures and acquaint myself with books 1-4' DEBBIE YOUNG'Full of twists and turns … gripping and unputdownable' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A story that feels both comforting and compelling – perfect for curling up with on a frosty evening' ⭐⭐⭐⭐'Another excellent adventure in this great series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don’t miss this cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Liz Fielding and Merryn Allingham. Pre-order now! Former rockstar Tarquin Gold thought he had left his wild days behind when he traded in his glamorous lifestyle to become a farmer, but his dreams of a peaceful life come crashing down when murder rocks his newly opened glamping site.As fate would have it, amateur sleuth Violet Brewster is also a guest at the Clover Farm glampsite – and, finding herself once again at the centre of a crime scene, she can’t resist getting involved in the investigation.Is the killer a random stranger, or does one of the campers have a hidden agenda? Can Violet solve the mystery and restore peace to Tarquin’s tranquil retreat before the killer strikes again?Praise for Jane Bettany:'Mistletoe and murder, friends, family and deceit — this has it all' Faith Martin'An entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ Clare Chase'If it’s cosy crime you’re after, this has all the essential ingredients’ Daily Mail‘Jane Bettany delivers cosy with a dash of sass – thoroughly enjoyable and utterly irresistible’ Peter Boland‘A murder mystery with a blossoming romance … what more could one ask for? Delicious!’ Katie Gayle‘Completely compelling from the get-go, I didn’t want to put it down! Brilliant cosy mystery at its most charming best.’ Jonathan Whitelaw‘A perfect cosy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully drawn setting’ Roz Watkins'If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache'A cosy mystery to keep you guessing' My Weekly