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Markham Sisters #1
The Appleton Case
Please note that this is a novella length story (around 25,000 words). The story is complete, no cliffhanger ending.
Janet Markham enjoyed meeting Bessie Cubbon on the Isle of Man when she and her sister, Joan, were on holiday there. (See Aunt Bessie Decides.) Janet especially enjoyed hearing about the different investigations Bessie had been involved with over the previous months.
Now back in Derbyshire, Janet and Joan have just purchased a small bed and breakfast, Doveby House, but Janet finds herself doing her own investigating. Just how did the previous owner, Margaret Appleton, die? Margaret's son isn't happy that he was left out of his mother's will, but what's he so desperate to get inside Doveby House to find? And are there really ghosts in Janet's bedroom, the library and the coach house?
This new series of novella length stories will be quick reads with lighter story lines (and a lot fewer bodies) than the Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Series by the same author. This is the first novella in the series. They are best read in alphabetical order, like the Isle of Man Cozy books. You do not have to read that series to enjoy this one.
Janet Markham enjoyed meeting Bessie Cubbon on the Isle of Man when she and her sister, Joan, were on holiday there. (See Aunt Bessie Decides.) Janet especially enjoyed hearing about the different investigations Bessie had been involved with over the previous months.
Now back in Derbyshire, Janet and Joan have just purchased a small bed and breakfast, Doveby House, but Janet finds herself doing her own investigating. Just how did the previous owner, Margaret Appleton, die? Margaret's son isn't happy that he was left out of his mother's will, but what's he so desperate to get inside Doveby House to find? And are there really ghosts in Janet's bedroom, the library and the coach house?
This new series of novella length stories will be quick reads with lighter story lines (and a lot fewer bodies) than the Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Series by the same author. This is the first novella in the series. They are best read in alphabetical order, like the Isle of Man Cozy books. You do not have to read that series to enjoy this one.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2015
306 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Diana Xarissa
183Ìýbooks254ÌýfollowersDiana has lived in several US states, the north of England and the Isle of Man.
Currently in the US, she misses the stunning scenery, wonderful people and fascinating history that make the Isle of Man so unique.
Currently in the US, she misses the stunning scenery, wonderful people and fascinating history that make the Isle of Man so unique.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 59 reviews
December 7, 2018
Set in England in the 1990s as two retiring spinster sisters decide to set up shop as bed-and-breakfast owners in a historic estate home. I loved how it’s squeaky clean, and it really put me in the mood for some of the English crime shows like Rosemary and Thyme. I could almost hear the accent in the way the sentences are worded when the sisters are speaking to one another.
The crime is very cozy, nothing gruesome.
The crime is very cozy, nothing gruesome.
December 8, 2018
*edited 8/6/17 to reflect a conversation with the author as well as to edit my mistakes*
My GR friend (Hannah, I believe?) kindly alerted me to this author to help me complete my personal challenge of reading authors alphabetically from A to Z. X is for Xarissa! Woo hoo!
The Appleton Case (2015, *Vellum) is first in the Markham Sisters series of cozy mysteries by . This novella is set in 1998 in Doveby Dale, a fictional town in Derbyshire, England.
*This book was "created with Vellum," which appears to mean that Diana Xarissa self-published this book.
In the author's notes, Ms. Xarissa shares that the Markham sisters first appeared in , which is book four in her Isle of Man series of cozy mysteries. Apparently, all of the Markham Sisters novellas begin and end with a letter to Bessie, "without giving away any details from the Bessie series."
I actually read this story in , figuring I'd have the option of reading up to four novellas within my August loan from the Kindle Lending Library. I have actually moved on to , but will be unlikely to finish the rest since I'm now behind on my reading schedule!
Rating: 3 3/4 stars
The plot: This series centers around Joan and Janet Markham, two sisters who are both retired schoolteachers from their local village school. They purchase a bed-and-breakfast and must decide whether to keep it going as a B&B or to make it solely their personal home.
Joan is the older of the two sisters. She's slender and more serious, cooks all the meals, and likes to follow the rules by the book. Janet, over sixty, "was plump and always smiling." She's very curious and is not above snooping! Joan and Janet both love books and are thrilled that the library full of books was included in the house.
From Janet's letter to Bessie: "Joan and I actually had a similar experience lately, looking into a mysterious death here in Derbyshire. It all started just after we returned home from our holiday, when Joan, usually the sensible one of the two of us, had a rather startling idea."
Christian elements: I can't think of anything to include here except that Joan is the more upright of the two. Janet doesn't stray far from the path of right overall, but wants to satisfy her curiosity. She snoops where she shouldn't.
Is it clean/chaste? Yes!
What I liked:
*The mystery is extremely cozy. No gore here! In fact, it was definitely an atypical mystery, and I appreciated that.
*This book followed English spelling conventions and included a glossary at the back of the book for the English terms. The biggest surprise for me as an American was that the term pudding was a general term meaning dessert! Another surprise was that while "ground floor" predictably translates to first floor in American English, the "first floor" is what would be the second floor to an American! Some other new-to-me terms include boot (which is the trunk of a car) and trolley (which is a shopping cart)!
What I didn’t like:
*Although the spelling and grammar were fine, I found the occasional awkward sentence. I wrote to the author, and she said she would incorporate some edits for the handful of problems I caught. Also, I did notice an improvement in book two and don't remember noticing any issues in that book.
*This is not QUITE a dislike but is worth noting - ghosts are mentioned in this book.
*
The bottom line: This is a super-clean and super-cozy mystery, and I recommend it to fans of such. (It's really quite tame!) I started reading and will decide afterwards whether I'll continue with this author.
My GR friend (Hannah, I believe?) kindly alerted me to this author to help me complete my personal challenge of reading authors alphabetically from A to Z. X is for Xarissa! Woo hoo!
The Appleton Case (2015, *Vellum) is first in the Markham Sisters series of cozy mysteries by . This novella is set in 1998 in Doveby Dale, a fictional town in Derbyshire, England.
*This book was "created with Vellum," which appears to mean that Diana Xarissa self-published this book.
In the author's notes, Ms. Xarissa shares that the Markham sisters first appeared in , which is book four in her Isle of Man series of cozy mysteries. Apparently, all of the Markham Sisters novellas begin and end with a letter to Bessie, "without giving away any details from the Bessie series."
I actually read this story in , figuring I'd have the option of reading up to four novellas within my August loan from the Kindle Lending Library. I have actually moved on to , but will be unlikely to finish the rest since I'm now behind on my reading schedule!
Rating: 3 3/4 stars
The plot: This series centers around Joan and Janet Markham, two sisters who are both retired schoolteachers from their local village school. They purchase a bed-and-breakfast and must decide whether to keep it going as a B&B or to make it solely their personal home.
Joan is the older of the two sisters. She's slender and more serious, cooks all the meals, and likes to follow the rules by the book. Janet, over sixty, "was plump and always smiling." She's very curious and is not above snooping! Joan and Janet both love books and are thrilled that the library full of books was included in the house.
From Janet's letter to Bessie: "Joan and I actually had a similar experience lately, looking into a mysterious death here in Derbyshire. It all started just after we returned home from our holiday, when Joan, usually the sensible one of the two of us, had a rather startling idea."
Christian elements: I can't think of anything to include here except that Joan is the more upright of the two. Janet doesn't stray far from the path of right overall, but wants to satisfy her curiosity. She snoops where she shouldn't.
Is it clean/chaste? Yes!
What I liked:
*The mystery is extremely cozy. No gore here! In fact, it was definitely an atypical mystery, and I appreciated that.
*This book followed English spelling conventions and included a glossary at the back of the book for the English terms. The biggest surprise for me as an American was that the term pudding was a general term meaning dessert! Another surprise was that while "ground floor" predictably translates to first floor in American English, the "first floor" is what would be the second floor to an American! Some other new-to-me terms include boot (which is the trunk of a car) and trolley (which is a shopping cart)!
What I didn’t like:
*Although the spelling and grammar were fine, I found the occasional awkward sentence. I wrote to the author, and she said she would incorporate some edits for the handful of problems I caught. Also, I did notice an improvement in book two and don't remember noticing any issues in that book.
*This is not QUITE a dislike but is worth noting - ghosts are mentioned in this book.
*
The bottom line: This is a super-clean and super-cozy mystery, and I recommend it to fans of such. (It's really quite tame!) I started reading and will decide afterwards whether I'll continue with this author.
October 9, 2020
This is a fun little novella, a cozy mystery that finds two retired sisters making the decision to purchase a bed and breakfast and solve some mysterious happenings in their new surrounds.
Light reading that amuses is certain to attract me again for another dose.
Kindle Unlimited
Light reading that amuses is certain to attract me again for another dose.
Kindle Unlimited
January 4, 2017
I think this book is probably the most user friendly UK book I've ever read. You see, English isn't my first language and the difference between the US English, UK English and Australian English complicates my development in the language greatly. And since most of the English books available in my country is in American English, sometimes I just get really confused when reading UK or Australian literature.
Words like biccies, biscuits and cookies. Words like potato chips, chips and fries. Pudding and dessert.
And this book just provided all these complicated words and I just feel oh so grateful. And the story isn't half bad either!
I really enjoy this kind of short and enjoyable reads when I'm tired reading big books.
The thing is this book managed to give us a twist even if it's only 112 pages long. It also has this kind of pattern: each book has 1 main mystery (usually criminally involved) and the second mystery is usually something totally irrelevant yet interesting. It kind of makes me want to read other books just for the sake of understanding the writer's thought and style of writing.
Definitely will read the next book!
Words like biccies, biscuits and cookies. Words like potato chips, chips and fries. Pudding and dessert.
And this book just provided all these complicated words and I just feel oh so grateful. And the story isn't half bad either!
I really enjoy this kind of short and enjoyable reads when I'm tired reading big books.
The thing is this book managed to give us a twist even if it's only 112 pages long. It also has this kind of pattern: each book has 1 main mystery (usually criminally involved) and the second mystery is usually something totally irrelevant yet interesting. It kind of makes me want to read other books just for the sake of understanding the writer's thought and style of writing.
Definitely will read the next book!
July 10, 2015
Very cute short story and a great first in a new series.
Written by the author of the "Aunt Bessie" cozy series, The Appleton Murders follows 2 elderly sisters first mentioned in one of the Aunt Bessie books.Ìý The sisters, Joan and Janet, decide to buy a B&B in a nearby town. There was no murder in this book, and I confess that I wondered just what the mystery was (which was very effective in keeping me turning pages!) but I quite liked that the mystery was quite different than anything I've ever read, very refreshing and enjoyable.
Ìý
This would've been a 5 star read, but I spent too much of the book trying to figure out which sister was which.Ìý Their names are so similar, and there wasn't much to differentiate who was speaking.Ìý Other than that, a cracking good read and I look forward to the next.
Written by the author of the "Aunt Bessie" cozy series, The Appleton Murders follows 2 elderly sisters first mentioned in one of the Aunt Bessie books.Ìý The sisters, Joan and Janet, decide to buy a B&B in a nearby town. There was no murder in this book, and I confess that I wondered just what the mystery was (which was very effective in keeping me turning pages!) but I quite liked that the mystery was quite different than anything I've ever read, very refreshing and enjoyable.
Ìý
This would've been a 5 star read, but I spent too much of the book trying to figure out which sister was which.Ìý Their names are so similar, and there wasn't much to differentiate who was speaking.Ìý Other than that, a cracking good read and I look forward to the next.
October 18, 2015
Janet and Joan are retired primary school teachers. They are sisters who have always lived together and they decide to buy a bed and breakfast property and take in paying guests. But the property they buy is reputed to be haunted and the previous owner's son claims there is something still in the house that his mother intended him to have even though she left the property and all its contents to a charity.
This is an interesting start to a series of mysteries for the two sisters. I liked the characters - especially Joan and Janet themselves and the local long suffering policeman. The book was an entertaining read on a wet afternoon but not quite up there with the best books in this genre. The dialogue seemed a bit stilted at times and the story didn't quite flow as it should. I may read the next one and see if the series improves.
This is an interesting start to a series of mysteries for the two sisters. I liked the characters - especially Joan and Janet themselves and the local long suffering policeman. The book was an entertaining read on a wet afternoon but not quite up there with the best books in this genre. The dialogue seemed a bit stilted at times and the story didn't quite flow as it should. I may read the next one and see if the series improves.
November 26, 2020
Two sisters begin to experience odd occurrences after purchasing a supposedly "haunted" bed and breakfast. Are ghosts real or do these strange happenings stem from a more mortal origin?
The story sounds like it would be fun to read, but it actually ended up falling flat. I know this is a novella, but I had read some really great ones before. The Appleton Case, however, didn't have a lot going on. I had expected there to be more of a mystery, but there really wasn't. Mainly there was just the son of the now deceased woman who had previously owned the B&B wanted something of his mother's. I had hoped for a few more layers to the plot. Not only was the story lackluster, all of the characters seemed off to me. Their reactions to events were unnatural and their behavior was plain weird at times. The writing also didn't grab me and seemed too straightforward and choppy. Overall this book didn't grab me, and I was glad that it was only 105 pages long.
The story sounds like it would be fun to read, but it actually ended up falling flat. I know this is a novella, but I had read some really great ones before. The Appleton Case, however, didn't have a lot going on. I had expected there to be more of a mystery, but there really wasn't. Mainly there was just the son of the now deceased woman who had previously owned the B&B wanted something of his mother's. I had hoped for a few more layers to the plot. Not only was the story lackluster, all of the characters seemed off to me. Their reactions to events were unnatural and their behavior was plain weird at times. The writing also didn't grab me and seemed too straightforward and choppy. Overall this book didn't grab me, and I was glad that it was only 105 pages long.
November 14, 2023
I've read all the Aunt Bessie mysteries and have really enjoyed them. Consequently I was disappointed in this first book of the Markham Sisters' series.
What I particularly didn't like was that one of the sisters did something stupid which no intelligent person would do. (If this was a slasher film she would have been heading into the dark, foggy woods after having sex.). This is a crappy way to move a story ahead.
I'm going to try one more book with the hope that this one was just a beginning stumble. Will come back here to add a comment on #2.
January 23, 2018
Delightful!
August 14, 2024
I had forgotten so much about the Markham sister's beginning, how and why they purchased Appleton's home. How Ms. Appleton didn't leave her son, Gavin, anything! I plan to re-read the series because it's so fun and all of the books are super short and perfect for a challenge, Turf Wars. I figured it's best to start with book 1 to refresh my memory since I originally read this in 2019, a little over 5 years ago. What I love is that the Markham sisters, Janet and Joan, just feel like family.
May 25, 2020
Dull
Focus is on the mundane, boring, minutiae of two dull characters lives.. the "case" is all but nonexistent.. they uproot their lives on a total whim and buy a property in record time without the requisite searches, surveys and legal timescales.
Joan is unlikeable, Janet is more interested in biscuits than anything else.. however many did she buy that she had to have help to get them in her car? It's just nonsense!!
The people they come across are just as dull and boring. It's going nowhere.. there's no logical reasoning why the policeman refuses to explain how the previous owner died either.. he tells them to ask the son at a point where they couldn't possibly do so.. all rather silly really.
Lots of things are just ignored and no explanation given.. the ghosts.. the getting locked in.. where the keys go.. just left hanging..
Surely the next will improve??!!
Focus is on the mundane, boring, minutiae of two dull characters lives.. the "case" is all but nonexistent.. they uproot their lives on a total whim and buy a property in record time without the requisite searches, surveys and legal timescales.
Joan is unlikeable, Janet is more interested in biscuits than anything else.. however many did she buy that she had to have help to get them in her car? It's just nonsense!!
The people they come across are just as dull and boring. It's going nowhere.. there's no logical reasoning why the policeman refuses to explain how the previous owner died either.. he tells them to ask the son at a point where they couldn't possibly do so.. all rather silly really.
Lots of things are just ignored and no explanation given.. the ghosts.. the getting locked in.. where the keys go.. just left hanging..
Surely the next will improve??!!
July 25, 2017
Diana Xarissa starts a new series featuring two of Aunt Bessie's nieces who are now becoming involved in mysteries. Janet and Joan, two retired teacher spinsters, have decided to buy a bed and breakfast. They find the perfect one in the small town of Doveby, but are soon involved with the previous owner's son who has been disinherited and tells Janet and Joan that he needs some things he left in the house. With ghostly sounds at night and other highjinks going on, the two sisters find themselves in the midst of problems.
This is the first novella mystery I have read and I have to say that Xarissa did a very good job of fleshing out the characters, mixing up the clues, and solving the mystery in a short number of pages. I enjoyed the books in the Aunt Bessie series that I have read, and this looks to be another enjoyable, clean mystery series.
This is the first novella mystery I have read and I have to say that Xarissa did a very good job of fleshing out the characters, mixing up the clues, and solving the mystery in a short number of pages. I enjoyed the books in the Aunt Bessie series that I have read, and this looks to be another enjoyable, clean mystery series.
July 1, 2017
The Markham sisters have decided to buy an old country bed and breakfast. Not planning to be on call for guests 24/7 365 but rather a Bed and Breakfast for their friends to visit and maybe rent out to friends of friends when they need additional income.
Two ex-school teachers, Joan loves to bake and is very prim and proper; while Janet is one who likes to know and doesn’t mind a little snooping. This first book of the series revolves around discovering what the son of the previous owner wants to find in the house.
A relaxing read reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Miss Marrple. This is a cozy mystery and though the clues may be there they are just glancing references with little specifics.
Two ex-school teachers, Joan loves to bake and is very prim and proper; while Janet is one who likes to know and doesn’t mind a little snooping. This first book of the series revolves around discovering what the son of the previous owner wants to find in the house.
A relaxing read reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Miss Marrple. This is a cozy mystery and though the clues may be there they are just glancing references with little specifics.
April 28, 2019
The mystery in the Appleton Case is intriguing, but not terribly mysterious. The book's villain is very obvious very early, which was a little disappointing. And I was sort of hoping the ghost(s) that kept getting mentioned would play a bigger part in the story. However, even with those quibbles, I enjoyed this one. It's an extremely fast read (I dashed through it while my husband watched the last quarter of a basketball game on TV) and the Markham sisters are a delight to get to know. I could definitely read more of this series.
April 1, 2020
This is a sort of spin-off from Ms. Xarissa's "Aunt Bessie" series. The Markham sisters, Joan and Janet, were visiting the Isle of Man in "Aunt Bessie Decides." Now they have purchased Doveby House in Derbyshire, England, and are considering turning the seventeenth century manor house into a bed-and-breakfast or something similar. But first they have to deal with Gavin Appleton, the son of the house's deceased owner. He claims he wants some letters left in the house ... but is that all he wants?
May 31, 2020
APPLAUSE for the Appleton Case. As would be expected in a first book of an intended series, there is considerable description of how the Markham Sisters came to own “Doveby House� and its description. One only hopes however that all this material is not again used to bolster the pages in succeeding novellas of this series, as has been frequently the case in two other series written by the author.
Once the story commences, it is delightfully paced, and intriguing enough to keep the reader interested.
Once the story commences, it is delightfully paced, and intriguing enough to keep the reader interested.
April 25, 2025
I really enjoyed getting to know these sisters who cracked me up with their good-natured argue/bantering. I hadn’t read anything else with them in it but like the author said in the beginning note, it didn’t seem like I’d missed out on anything like backstory. Janet was pretty darn brave to’ve wandered into accidentally getting some criminals put away but she was probably secretly loving it. I enjoyed the opening and closing letters to Bessie which seemed to be a good way to kick off the story and end it. I’ll be reading the next book soon I hope!
August 23, 2018
Enjoyable Afternoon
I truly enjoyed spending an afternoon with the Markham sisters. The characters and setting were well developed for the novella format while still allowing the The story to come through.
The writing was very good and I felt as if I was in the English countryside watching everything taking place in front of me.
I truly enjoyed spending an afternoon with the Markham sisters. The characters and setting were well developed for the novella format while still allowing the The story to come through.
The writing was very good and I felt as if I was in the English countryside watching everything taking place in front of me.
November 30, 2019
I enjoyed this story as it was the first in the Markham Sisters series when Janet and Joan first move to Doveby House to set up a B&B. I liked the two sisters and the interaction between them and the very patient local policeman made me smile.
The crime was rated G. There was no murder but the mystery was well-written and kept me guessing. A good start to a cute series.
The crime was rated G. There was no murder but the mystery was well-written and kept me guessing. A good start to a cute series.
February 11, 2020
Mystery Novella
When sisters Joan and Janet Markham retire from teaching school, they decide to buy a beautiful old house in Derbyshire and open a B&B. The old B&B seems to come equipped with resident ghosts, a pushy son who didn’t inherit and some question as to what killed the previous owner. Fun Novella.
When sisters Joan and Janet Markham retire from teaching school, they decide to buy a beautiful old house in Derbyshire and open a B&B. The old B&B seems to come equipped with resident ghosts, a pushy son who didn’t inherit and some question as to what killed the previous owner. Fun Novella.
September 19, 2017
Good read
This is well written and very interesting from the first paragraph. The descriptions of sisters, Joan and Janet are sounding mush bloke many sister teams I have known. This was a good introduction to a new series for me, and I am anxious to start the next.
This is well written and very interesting from the first paragraph. The descriptions of sisters, Joan and Janet are sounding mush bloke many sister teams I have known. This was a good introduction to a new series for me, and I am anxious to start the next.
May 15, 2020
An adventure at a new venture
Two sisters, retired schoolteachers, buy a B&B. The son of the previous owner wants something but what? The curious sister needs to find out.
Interesting characters, good story.
Two sisters, retired schoolteachers, buy a B&B. The son of the previous owner wants something but what? The curious sister needs to find out.
Interesting characters, good story.
June 10, 2020
This gets a 3.5. The editing is just awful. There were some funny scenes, and some unbelievable scenes. I do like that the reader gets to see characters from one series developed in another. I like this author so I'll try the next book to see if it's any bv better.
March 13, 2021
Easy read
Janet and Joan are starting a new life by buying a bed and breakfast property. But this first book seems to be the start of their adventures in the business and their investigations. Fingers crossed their adventures will be just as amusing.
Janet and Joan are starting a new life by buying a bed and breakfast property. But this first book seems to be the start of their adventures in the business and their investigations. Fingers crossed their adventures will be just as amusing.
March 28, 2021
Very sweet with a fun little mystery. I want to know so I couldnt put it down. Now, on to B book and I am sure I will feel the same way. I like all the developed characters of this small town and cant wait to see what they discover in the house.
March 24, 2023
Fun!!
Diana Xarissa is one of my favorite authors. The two sisters who are the main characters are immediately likeable . Everything is completely credible. I especially appreciated the mystery behind the death of the previous owner of the bed and breakfast inn. Bravo
Diana Xarissa is one of my favorite authors. The two sisters who are the main characters are immediately likeable . Everything is completely credible. I especially appreciated the mystery behind the death of the previous owner of the bed and breakfast inn. Bravo
October 1, 2023
Okay
Wasn't sure what to expect, but this was like a narrative with no people who are interacting with each other. So the narrative style isn't my favorite. But I wanted to try a shorter book by this author to see if I could get interested in her writing. Still not my jam.
Wasn't sure what to expect, but this was like a narrative with no people who are interacting with each other. So the narrative style isn't my favorite. But I wanted to try a shorter book by this author to see if I could get interested in her writing. Still not my jam.
January 23, 2018
It was a good book with characters i met from the Aunt Bessie series. It is a great quick read with a interesting ending.
May 16, 2018
Quick read, and a fun start to a series. :-)
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