Welcome to England’s New Forest, where clinging mists hide many a secret. Step beneath the towering pines — on any twisty heathland path — and you’ll soon realise there’s more to this place than meets the eye . . .
Detective Elinor Saxby leaves the city for a crooked little cottage near sleepy Lyndhurst village. It’s not exactly her dream home, cut off from everything and everyone she’s ever known. But Elinor will do anything to leave her troubled past behind.
She can run from her demons. But she can’t hide.
The very next morning, Elinor gets a call from her new sergeant.
A woman’s been found dead. Drowned in the pool of her luxury woodland spa. Her silk gown is ruined. Her perfect skin marred by livid red hand prints.
But it’s not these details that send Elinor spiralling in panic. It’s the victim’s name. Because the dead woman is no stranger to Elinor. She texted just last night to ask Elinor one last favour.
Now the only favour Elinor can do her is to find her killer.
Death In The New Forest by Linda Mather is published by Joffe Books on 14 May 2026 and you can find out more about the book on Amazon, Goodreads and Storygraph
I am sharing my review today as part of the Virtual Book Tour hosted by Zooloo’s Book Tours which takes place 14 – 20 May 2026. Check the Book Tour Schedule and follow along to discover what other readers have to say about this new release.
Thank you to the author, publisher and, of course Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on this book tour and for providing a digital edition of this murder mystery.
Linda Mather
Linda Mather is the author of the Jo and Macy Mystery series. The 6th book in this series is The Perfect House For Murder, published in August 2023.
Her Jo and Macy Mystery books are Forecast Murder, A Sign for Murder, Murder as Predicted, The Hanged Man and A Future Murder, all published by Joffe Books and available on Amazon. They feature Jo Hughes and her private investigator boss David Macy. Jo is an astrologer, who also works as a PI and whose tenacious inquiries lead her to twisty resolutions.
The Jo and Macy Mysteries series is set in the West Midlands and Cotswolds. A sense of place is really important to Linda. She likes to research the places she writes about by visiting when she can to absorb the atmosphere, weaving the details into the stories.
The idea for her latest book came to her during lockdown during many canal walks. The cottages with their flower-filled window boxes and the idyllic pubs along the canal path are so pretty and perfect that it looks as if nothing bad could ever happen there. Linda saw this as a challenge.
Linda has recently landed a contract for 3 books in a police thriller series and is currently writing the first of these, which is set in the New Forest.
She also has plans for the next Jo & Macy Mystery.
My Review
This was my first book by Linda Mather, and I was completely drawn in from the very first pages. There’s something about her writing style that just pulls you straight into the atmosphere—moody, immersive, and quietly unsettling in a way that makes it almost impossible to step away.
What really stood out to me was how effortlessly the story unfolded. Even with a wider cast—something that can sometimes feel overwhelming in police procedurals—every character was introduced with purpose and clarity. I never once felt lost, which meant I could stay fully absorbed in the investigation as it developed.
And what an investigation it was. The tension builds steadily, with each thread feeling carefully placed and meaningful. I genuinely didn’t know who was responsible, and I loved that constant sense of uncertainty—it kept me questioning everything and everyone. I couldn’t stop reading; I needed to know what was going on, and there was absolutely no chance I was getting any sleep without finding out who was behind it all.
Nothing felt rushed or thrown in for effect—it all felt deliberate and well thought out, which made the whole experience even more satisfying.
But beyond the mystery itself, it’s the characters that have really stayed with me—especially within the police team. There’s a clear sense that there’s so much more beneath the surface, across all ranks, and that we’ve only just scratched the surface of who they are. I’m already invested, and I can’t wait to learn more about them in future books.
I read this in a matter of hours, completely forgetting about everything else for the day—which always says everything. As soon as I finished, I went straight onto my Kindle and bought Linda Mather’s previous series, because I already know this is an author I’ll keep coming back to.
#DeathInTheNewForest #LindaMather #NewForestMurderMysteries
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See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. DISCLOSURE: I received a review copy of this book via Zooloo’s Book Tours. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
© [2026] [MoMoBookDiary]
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