Ashhurst Village Voice book review: Murder on Milverton Square

Ashhurst is a town with a population of about 3,500 residents, located just ten minutes’ drive up the road from me. Unfortunately, Ashhurst had to go, so I wiped the town from the map. But why? To make way for my fictional town of Milverton! I couldn’t have two small towns just across the river from each other, right?

I like to think of Milverton as the greatest hits of small-town Manawatū, Tararua, and Wairarapa – borrowing the best bits from each and mixing them all together into something entirely new but still very familiar.

Fortunately for me, if this review is anything to go by, then at least one local resident hasn’t held Ashhurst’s annihilation against me! You can read the full review in the November 2024 edition of Ashhurst Village Voice magazine.

I’ve included the relevant excerpts in the image below. Or, if you’d prefer to view the full-sized digital version (and also read about slugs!): head to their website, scroll down to ‘Files available’, click through to the November 2024 PDF, and scroll down to pages 5 and 6.

Ashhurst Village Voice magazine excerpts including the book review for Murder on Milverton Square by G B Ralph.

More about the book

If you’ve read the review and want to know more about Murder on Milverton Square, I’ve included the blurb below. And if you’re local and want to grab a copy for yourself, head to Bruce McKenzie Booksellers in Palmerston North.

Murder on Milverton Square by G B Ralph. Book cover image and book blurb.

Addison Harper is abruptly summoned to Milverton at the behest of an abrasive lawyer. He plans to be in and out, back to the city lickety-split. Instead, he finds himself charmed by the small town with its delightful and eccentric residents, not to mention the rather easy-on-the-eye Sergeant Jake Murphy.

Despite the rocky start, Addison admits he’s had a pleasant day out. That is, until returning to find the prickly old lawyer on the floor, and very much dead. Worse, it looks like murder, and Addison’s fingerprints are all over the crime scene.

Murder on Milverton Square by G B Ralph. Book cover image and book series blurb.

Murder on Milverton Square is the first in a wonderful new cosy mystery series set in an enchanting small town nestled amongst stunning New Zealand scenery. The Milverton Mysteries features a chaotic cast of local busybodies, delicious baked treats, a demanding and disdainful ginger cat, a very slow-burn romance with a rather appealing policeman, and of course… murder!

Buy Murder on Milverton Square

Kindle / ebook

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon AU (NZ)

Also available in Kindle Unlimited.

Paperback

Order online or browse in store:
Bruce McKenzie Booksellers (Palmerston North, NZ)
Wardini Books (Hawke’s Bay, NZ)
Huck & Puck Books (Los Angeles, USA)

Can’t find your preferred store? Ask your local bookseller to order a copy for you.

Audiobook

Audible US | Audible UK | Audible CA | Audible DE | Audible AU (NZ)