Synopsis:
Beyond the village of Raven’s Edge stands the Gateway to the Dead – a crumbling stone arch marking the site where a long-ago battle raged and the dead were buried where they fell. But it’s the forgotten mansion hidden in the trees behind it that holds the real mystery…
Lady Peony has lived at Blackheath Hall for decades, invisible to the world – until a ghostly soldier begins knocking at her door. But Lady Peony is no fool. In her experience, where there are spirits, there are schemers. And someone wants her out of that house.
As DI Ben Taylor and DS Harriet March begin their investigation, bitter winds howl through Raven’s Edge and strange mists curl around the battle site. Harriet must untangle what’s real from what’s imagined. Is there truly a ghost haunting the old house, or is someone very much alive using supernatural tales as cover for their own deadly agenda?
Atmospheric, chilling and deliciously gothic, this cosy mystery wraps ancient legends and murder into one unputdownable story. Perfect for fans of Fiona Leitch, Agatha Christie and readers who like their crime with a shiver down the spine!
Shop The Book: Murder At Raven’s Gate
Shop My Stack: 2026 Books Read
Murder at Raven’s Gate had me at the title alone. The cover, the synopsis, the promise of something gothic and paranormal and I said yes immediately. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on this tour.
The Story
Murder at Raven’s Gate follows two storylines running parallel to each other. The first centers on Lady Peony and Rose at Blackheath Hall, a mysterious old mansion surrounded by folklore about soldier spirits and a crumbling stone arch called the Gateway to the Dead. Someone wants them out of that house and is using supernatural tales to do it. The second follows DI Ben Taylor and DS Harriet March as they investigate the strange happenings in the village of Raven’s Edge, trying to untangle what is real from what is imagined.
Reading Experience
This book leaned more police procedural than gothic paranormal, which is wonderful for readers who love a procedural mystery. I personally was hoping for more of the spooky haunting elements. That said, as a mystery it absolutely worked and there were parts of this book that delivered exactly the atmospheric gothic energy I was looking for.
What I loved most about the writing is that we were never quite sure throughout the entire book whether the hauntings were real or some kind of elaborate trick being played on people. That uncertainty gave the whole story a genuinely eerie paranormal vibe even within a grounded mystery framework. The story is told through multiple POVs and it was really interesting to see how different characters either leaned into the folklore and the supernatural or rejected it completely as nonsense. There is also this layer of historical fiction woven through, events from the past that turn out to be deeply relevant to the present day mystery, and I loved that dimension of the storytelling.
Characters
I did not connect as strongly with DI Ben Taylor but Harriet March won me over completely. I loved how she investigated. I loved that she brought her emotions and her compassion for people into her detective work rather than leaving them at the door. She felt real and human in a way that made her easy to root for.
Lady Peony and Rose were my absolute favorites. I loved everything about their storyline, their spooky haunted house, the history and mystery of Blackheath Hall, the knocking at the door, the folklore surrounding the soldier spirits. That whole thread of the book was atmospheric and gothic and exactly what I came for.
Themes and Tone
This is a well constructed, atmospheric mystery with genuine gothic charm and I think it would absolutely delight readers who love procedural mysteries with a supernatural edge.
Final Thoughts
Murder at Raven’s Gate is a charming and atmospheric gothic mystery that delivers beautifully on the procedural side and has genuinely eerie moments woven throughout. If you love cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, compelling detective characters, and a storyline rooted in folklore and history, this one is absolutely for you. Louise Marley builds a world worth spending time in and Harriet March is a character I would happily follow into another book.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this virtual book tour Rachel’s Random Resources .
My 2026 Book Stack:
https://amzn.to/3YQVeZC
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ashleykbooks
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/ashmandak
About the authorMost of my stories are set in small villages filled with quirky characters. These are partly inspired by the places I’ve lived in over the years, although the characters are straight out of my imagination! I currently live in Wales, close to a famous library and two ruined castles. My husband thinks we moved here by accident.
My first published novel was Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, which was a finalist in Poolbeg’s Write a Bestseller competition. As well as ten novels, I’ve written short stories for women’s magazines. Before becoming a full-time writer, I worked as an administrative officer for the police.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy visiting big old houses, which I use as inspiration for the houses in my novels, and reading other people’s books when I ought to be writing my own…
Social Media Links –
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarleyAuthor
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMarley/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisemarleywrites/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@louisemarleywrites Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/louisemarley.bsky.social
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