Murder on a Winter Afternoon

A snow-covered cottage is nestled in the hills, all ready for Christmas… but inside a body lies dead upon the floor.

Melissa Craig is enjoying winter in the Cotswolds, taking brisk walks through the snowy fields and basking in the winter sunshine. The only thing Melissa is plotting is her Christmas shopping.

But after the unexpected death of local writer Leonora Jewell, Melissa is asked to complete Leonora’s final book. However, on her first visit to the cottage, she finds a gruesome object overlooked by the police: a metal bar covered with dried blood.

Terrified, Melissa rushes to the nearest telephone box to call the police. But by the time they reach Leonora’s cottage, the murder weapon has mysteriously vanished.

With no murder weapon, the detective in charge of the case scoffs at Melissa’s suspicions. Furious and frustrated, Melissa focuses on finishing Leonora’s novel. But as she reads Leonora’s notes for the book, she starts to wonder… did Leonora accidentally plot out her own murder?

As Melissa does some investigating of her own, she uncovers some pretty suspicious local characters. But with the police unwilling to help, can Melissa solve this vicious crime alone? By hook, by crook, or by the book, Melissa must find the killers before they strike again…

If you adore Faith Martin, Joy Ellis and P.D. James, you’re in for a treat with this unputdownable mystery novel!

This book was previously published as Deadly Legacy.

What readers are saying about Murder on a Winter Afternoon:

‘Fantastic to read! The story is gripping and full of tense moments. Twists and turns await every page! I really enjoyed reading this a lot and can highly recommend it.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘Betty Rowlands just goes on giving with this new Melissa Craig mystery, with a murder, a little romance and some spills and thrills this book is a very enjoyable cozy read… good plot and storyline. Enjoyed it very much.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘I am absolutely loving this series.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Readable, cosy mysteries are my go to winter reading and I really enjoyed this one… A great story with some interesting characters and an intriguing mystery.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Amazing… This book is fun to read, engaging and entertaining. I loved the plot that kept me guessing till the end and I wasn’t able to stop reading. Highly recommended!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Amazing!… for a rainy afternoon, or snowy even! Enjoy! I recommend!’ Carol in Tallahassee

‘I loved it… I will definitely recommend this book and happily give it 5 stars.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Another fantastic story from Betty Rowlands… A very easy read. Looking forward to more from this author and Mel’s antics.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Another good read in the Melissa Craig series… This author does a fantastic job with the details of the scenery, so you really feel like you are there.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘A gentle slow burning story… recommend it for anyone who likes a cosy mystery to read in one or two sittings. Each book in the series stands alone but I have thoroughly enjoyed reading each of the five titles re-released so far.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘The Melissa Craig series is fabulous for fans of cozy mysteries, they are just a delight to read and everyone is quite different… Twisty and brilliant.’ Postcard Reviews