Betty Rowlands has 27 audiobooks on Listento.it, narrated by 11 narrators, with an average listener rating of 4.5★ across 1,334 ratings. The most-rated is The Obesity Code.
Death Under the Apple Tree
Summary
A summer garden party is in full swing at a grand old house, but under a gorgeous apple tree laden with ripe fruit...a body is discovered. Sukey Reynolds is treasuring the late-summer sun, taking long walks in the countryside, and enjoying the golden views across the Cotswold hills. At home, she’s busy cooking up feasts for her growing teenage son - amateur sleuthing is definitely off the menu. When she is called to photograph a crumbling manor, the day suddenly turns cold. In the charming garden, the body of beautiful Una May has been discovered, and all fingers are pointed at the tempestuous owner of the house, who was overheard arguing with Una that morning.... But who is the rotten apple in this beautiful orchard? The party was supposed to celebrate a painting of the residents and staff. When the picture is found slashed, the police close in on the landowner, but Sukey is sure they are barking up the wrong tree, and she decides to do a bit of snooping. Which likeness hides a villain? Could it be the lustful lord, the aloof artist, or perhaps the heartbroken housekeeper? Despite her sleuthing, Sukey is no closer to catching Una May’s killer, until she finds a pair of shoes covered in mud from the orchard. With the police convinced they’ve caught the right man, Sukey must solve this baffling case alone. But to find the killer holding the poisonous fruit, she may have to delve deep into the garden.... If books by Agatha Christie, P. D. James, or Faith Martin have you hooked, then you will love this murder mystery by the queen of cozy crime! This audiobook was previously published as Party to Murder.
©2005, 2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture
Death at the Mariners Hotel
Summary
At the stately Mariners Hotel, a breathless man rushes into the lobby and dashes upstairs to see a dapper guest. But moments later he discovers that his friend has been murdered.... When Sukey Reynolds receives news of a death at the elegant Mariners Hotel, she is intrigued. Who could possibly have wanted to hurt Dr. Whistler, a shy and retiring archaeology professor? The dusty documents he was carrying couldn’t possibly be of value, could they? You would never expect this sophisticated establishment to be home to murder. What secrets are hiding inside the charming Mariners Hotel? Sukey’s superiors are convinced that Dr. Whistler’s visitor is his killer, but Sukey isn’t so sure and decides to do a little side-sleuthing. Someone in the hotel has a secret, but who is it? The bewildered bellboy, the meddlesome manager, or the reclusive receptionist? A mysterious phone call leads Sukey to the truth, but as the rookie in the team, will anyone believe she has what it takes to solve this baffling mystery? Do you love cozy mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, and Joy Ellis? If so, make this twisty whodunit your next listen! This book was previously published as Alpha, Beta, Gamma…Dead.
©2007, 2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture
Death at Sycamore House
Summary
Cream tea, a curious cat...and a rather mysterious murder? It’s been a quiet few weeks on the crime front in Somerset and Sukey Reynolds is starting to wonder if all the villains have gone on holiday. Although Sukey loves solving crimes, she’s happy to have a bit of extra time to spend with the handsome journalist who lives just around the corner.... But when she is summoned to charming Sycamore House, it seems that Sukey has tempted fate. Sitting amongst well-tended grounds bordered by trees, with a view of rolling hills in the distance, this stylish set of apartments is usually home to little more than spirited disagreements between members of the neighbourhood committee. Until the body of Fenella Tremaine, one of their residents, is discovered by the caretaker in the garden.... The police quickly close in on Marcus Ellerman, a neighbour and colleague of Fenella’s, with whom she often crossed swords, both in and out of the office. When his distinctive ornamental dagger is found to be the murder weapon, the case seems closed. But Sukey has a hunch that the police are barking up the wrong tree and decides to dig deeper into Fenella’s past. Sukey’s investigations turn up an estranged daughter, Fenella’s secret affair with the owner of a local care home, and a neighbour’s cat with a sixth sense for danger. But who is the killer? Can Sukey unmask the true villain of Sycamore House, before any more lives are lost? Can’t get enough of murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, P. D. James, and Faith Martin? Then you’ll love this whodunnit from the queen of cozy crime! This book was previously published as Unnatural Wastage. "OMG I loved this book! A proper whodunnit with great characters and a fabulous plot. This reminded me of the Agatha Christie mysteries I used to read as a child.... Excited for the next in the series!" (Mrs Roadley Reads, 5 stars)
©2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture
Death at the Library
Summary
Toasted crumpets, a country house…and a curious murder? Sukey Reynolds is invited to an evening at her local library to hear Jennifer Cottrell, a noted novelist, speak about her latest book. But instead of an interesting event attended by the author’s fans, a woman in the audience, Wendy Downie, accuses Jennifer of killing her lover. Before a shocked Sukey can go after her, she flees into the night. The very next day, Jennifer is found dead.... The police chase after Wendy, convinced she must have attacked Jennifer. But they find that she too has been killed - in the grounds of Jennifer’s beautiful manor. Why was she at Jennifer’s house? Are all of their suspects going to disappear? With the police running around in circles, Sukey decides to do some sleuthing on her own. Looking closely at Jennifer’s household and acquaintances, Sukey wonders who could have wanted her dead? The homely housekeeper, the gloomy groundsman, or the secretive secretary? A dog’s lead and a pair of dirty boots direct Sukey to the truth, but will she be able to let her detective colleagues know who the culprit is, before the devious villain realises they’ve been rumbled? A murder mystery for fans of P.D. James, Faith Martin, and Joy Ellis from the queen of cozy crime. This book was previously published as Smokescreen.
©2008, 2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture
Death in the Village
Summary
In the sleepy village of Over Hampton lies a small cottage with a picture-perfect garden...but inside the ivy-covered walls a woman is dead on the bathroom floor. The warm summer weather is giving Sukey Reynolds a chance to enjoy the stunning English countryside around her new home. She has met a handsome local journalist, and there might be a new romance on the cards. Everything is quiet at work too. So when the village doctor calls, saying he is sure there is something fishy about one of his patients’ deaths, Sukey follows up his claims. Well-liked and kindly Adelaide Minchin was found by her milkman, and appears to have died in a fall. Sukey can find no evidence to the contrary, but promises the doctor she will keep his theory in mind. Meanwhile, the police force is suddenly very busy after two young girls go missing in the very same village. It’s all hands on deck to bring them home safely, but as Sukey investigates the last place the girls were seen, she realises it was very close to Adelaide’s cottage.... Is it possible that the cases are linked? Sukey’s colleagues are not convinced by her hunch, so she does some sleuthing in her spare time, determined to prove them wrong. In the close-knit village she has no shortage of possible suspects: was it the benevolent builders, the frazzled new father, or the muddled milkman...? And can she find the real culprit, and bring the girls back home, before any more innocent lives are lost? A one-sitting listen, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, and Joy Ellis! This book was previously published as Miss Minchin Dies.
©2010, 2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture
Murder in Langley Woods: A Completely Addictive Cozy Mystery Novel
Summary
A body is found near a picture-perfect Cotswolds village...but the upstanding local residents couldn’t possibly be involved, could they? Murder is the very last thing on Melissa Craig’s mind when one of her neighbors pops in to complain loudly about a minor local robbery. She’s far too busy thinking about her next book.... But when the evening paper lands, there is a shocking headline. A young woman’s body has been found in the nearby woods, and it seems the local robbery may offer a crucial clue. Suddenly the whole village is talking about the murder, but none of Melissa’s neighbors have come forward to say they know who the victim is. Convinced that the police have got the wrong end of the stick, Melissa can’t resist doing some more digging. When she finds a photograph of the dead girl at her former family home, she realizes this is the clue she needs, if only she can find out who took the picture.... Melissa finds an exciting new lead and rushes to follow it. But might she be walking into a trap? Can she work out the truth before she puts herself in harm’s way? If you love novels by Joy Ellis, Faith Martin, or Agatha Christie, you won’t be able to pause this twisty murder mystery! This book was previously published as The Cherry Pickers.
©1998; 2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture
Death at Sandy Bay
Summary
A manor house hotel, a musical weekend...and a mysterious murder? Spring has arrived in the Bristol countryside, and Sukey Reynolds is enjoying the fine weather and lovely views from her quaint apartment. She has found love with an intrepid crime reporter, and they are busy planning a romantic weekend in London. During her time away, she is determined to avoid any more amateur sleuthing. But life is never quiet for Sukey, and one night before her holiday, she is summoned to the charming Dallington Manor, a country house hotel nestled on the coast in Sandy Bay. She arrives at the starlit grounds to find a terrible tragedy has occurred. Lance Rainbird, a guest at a weekend gathering, has been discovered murdered in the lake. Her superiors close in on a suspect, the man who hosted the party, but Sukey can’t shake the feeling that they’ve got this case completely wrong. During her weekend in the city, she follows a hunch, pokes around Rainbird’s house, and finds an address book that might just be the golden ticket to clearing an innocent man and nailing the true villain. As Sukey examines Rainbird’s acquaintances, she finds old flames, combative colleagues, and an estranged brother, but no one with an obvious motive for murder. He had a reputation for being difficult, but who could have wanted him dead? Then, Sukey finds a name in the address book that shouldn’t be there. Suddenly, she knows who the killer is, but can she convince her boss he’s got the wrong suspect before it’s too late? If murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, and Joy Ellis have you gripped, then you’ll love this twisty whodunit from the queen of cozy crime! This book was previously published as The Scent of Death.
©2019 Betty Rowlands (P)2019 Bookouture