BLOODY HAM REVIEWS AND WHERE TO BUY

Lights! Camera! Action!... Murder!
A rollicking puzzle and a turmoil of personal
relationships, some happy, some doomed,
some downright evil.

BLOODY HAM NOW AVAILABLE ! AMAZON. BEWRITE BOOKS.

Ham House is considered to be one of the haunted houses in Surrey, Great Britain, as well as being a historic Jacobean mansion from the 17th Century. Now Belinda and Hazel are invited to the famed home where Hazel will provide some antique pieces to add to the authentic setting and Belinda actually along the way is asked to act a small part. (in a film)

But the reader is quickly pulled into the palpable tension between producers, directors, actors, actresses and their spouses. The flip and sometimes tawdry jealousies between stars who want to become rich and those who can make or break them becomes drama paralleling the history of Ham House.

Alarm begins to spread when one famous actress collapses and dies and later an actor is found stabbed to death. Belinda and Hazel are drawn into the mystery while Belinda meanwhile has to decide between her recent lover and an older lover from Australia.

Brian Kavanagh continues to be a master of a quick-paced but interesting plot that tenaciously holds the reader's interest to the very taut but satisfying end. Bloody Ham is definitely the best of the whole series he has written.

Well done, indeed, Brian Kavanagh!!!
BLOODY HAM
www.bewrite.net
ISBN: 9781905202539
Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on November 11, 2007

CRYSTAL REVIEWS LINK

**** ½ An Interesting Setting with Entertaining Characters. Recommended. For those who like an old-fashioned British mystery, rife with night scenes on the Thames, a Jacobean mansion, quirky, entertaining characters and a cutting wit, Bloody Ham is for you.
Kavanagh uses his insider knowledge of the film industry to bring Hollywood to London, with all the big screen politics, film star egos, sexual affairs and (literally) back-stabbing during the creation of an English period piece.
Into this mix comes Belinda Lawrence and her cantankerous friend, Hazel Whitby. Hazel is leasing period silverware to the production company and Belinda gets enlisted as a stand-in for the female lead. Two murders occur on set and Belinda, Hazel and their men friends work, sometimes together, sometimes at odds with one another, to solve the mystery. As an interesting side story, Belinda brings her own personal love interests into the mix. Will she go with the freewheeling Australian, Brad, or her long time, proper, British gentleman, Mark?

I liked the fact that, while one of the murders was solved, the other death (Was it a murder?) was left unresolved. Did someone else get away with something sinister? That is left up to the reader to determine.
I would have given this five stars if I wasn’t nonplused by one of the character’s blabbing to Belinda about her witnessing one of the murders. In my mind, I couldn’t justify the reason except as a device to set up the ending. I wish the author would have come up with a more clever way of leading Belinda to the solution of the mystery.

Bloody Ham is the third book in the Belinda Lawrence series. It is an interesting setting with entertaining characters and I recommend it to all those who like a good solid mystery story. To find out more about the author and his work, visit www.beekayvic.tripod.com. Review by Douglas Quinn, Author of Blue Heron Marsh, etal. www.douglasquinn.com

The third in the Belinda Lawrence series is as tight and well paced as the first two. The friendship between Hazel and Belinda is very believable and one that grows ever forward. Stories and legends about Ham House are deftly woven into the mystery and very enjoyable. I recommend this book for a great visit to an interesting place with fascinating characters and a dash of mayhem on the side.
Mary Fairchild
MYSTERY LOVERS CORNER

http://www.sleuthedit.com/BrianKavanagh/BloodyHam.html

This is Kavanagh's BEST so far. Mystery readers will enjoy it to the last word on the last page. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Reviewed by Nancy Madison, author of Whispers, a tale of suspense and her new historical novel, World Enough and Time others. (Cambridge Books)
http://authorsden.com/nancysmadison

AMAZON REVIEW:
***** Compulsive Page Turner, September 14, 2007
By Cyril Thomas (Dundee, Scotland)

After "The Embroidered Corpse" and "Capable of Murder" Brian Kavanagh just cooked Bloody Ham and it is delicious for the voracious reader. For the fans of Belinda and Hazel this delightful book is something to cherish. Kavanagh is a master of ingenuity and cerebral humour. The characters in Bloody Ham, are dexterously delineated and the book is a scream from beginning to end. A great murder mystery and drama with a touch of humour. Just go out and get the book...

AMAZON REVIEW LINK

Are you a movie fan? Do you enjoy a good mystery? If so, this is one you won't want to miss.
Belinda Lawrence and Hazel Whitby find themselves up to their ears in movie making and murder when Hazel rents out some of her valuable antique silver as part of the set for a historic movie. Belinda is drawn into the actual making of a film as a stand-in for one of the stars. And find themselves involved in a murder when Belinda's fingerprints are found on a murder weapon.
Add to their worries over this, some romantic troubles and you have the perfect blend for a fun tale with ghost stories thrown in for extra flavor. Will Belinda actually be accused of murder? Does she have a motive?
With a realistic look at how filming is done and a cast of characters whose antics will have you smiling at times or wondering just how dangerous some of them might be, this is a story you will enjoy. Talented author Brian Kavanagh keeps us on our toes as the plot quickens and thickens with personal agendas and motives for murder are acted out against a setting you can see. You'll wish you could be there.
This is a book I'm happy to recommend as a fun read to any mystery buff or reader who enjoys a great tale. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards Mystery Fiction 11/08/07

MYSTERY FICTION LINK

“Brian Kavanagh has done it again. In this third book of the Belinda Lawrence Cozy Mystery series, Brian brings Hazel Whitby to center stage where she assumes the position as leader in the investigative team.”
“As a result, Belinda is asked to play stand-in to the American actress taking the place of the murdered star. She feels this position provides an opportunity for her to investigate the murder and obtain some evidence. When a second murder takes place, her new role as stand-in tests her ability to act when she faces off with the murderer.”
“Brian Kavanagh's superb job of juggling the clues and keeping the mystery a mystery until the very end has produced another great story.”
“He is truly an author to watch.”
Lucille P Robinson Alternative-Read.com

ALTERNATIVE READ LINK

“Rated: B+ Enjoyable ... I'd recommend it
Opening sentence "...In the darkened cinema, Hazel Whitby's fingers transmuted into an unctuous bejewelled spider, Jungle Red fingernail's covertly testing the chocolates for hard or soft centres..."
“I adore Belinda. She is a strong and independent character – in total control of herself. She is in charge of her romantic life, and does not bat an eyelid when Brad turns up in England and she has dinner with him and her English beau, Mark. Since her first appearance in CAPABLE OF MURDER Belinda has grown as a character. Growth is good. Hazel has also changed; at the end of this book she is questioning the way she lives her life. She is questioning just who she is hurting by her love ‘em and leave em attitude? Author Brian Kavanagh doesn’t dwell on the relationship issues of the two women. The issues are there, but the emphasis is on solving the mystery. In this wonderful story twists, turns, suspects, ghosts, romance, and red herrings abound before a satisfactory conclusion.”
“Kavanagh knows the film industry, and BLOODY HAM is an authoritive, and humorous, peep behind the scenes.”
S.Roddom Reviewers Choice Oct 07

REVIEWERS CHOICE LINK

“Bloody Ham is a well-written cozy mystery with likeable and unique “detectives.” They read like real people, complete with petty jealousy, commitment issues, and odd obsessions.”
“One particularly impressive thing was Kavanagh’s use of setting – both the crazy Hollywood set as well as the actual location of Ham House. The two are at odds with each other and yet Kavanagh blends them together seamlessly and manages to use both to commit and solve the crimes. It adds flavor to the story that would be lacking if either element were removed.”
“Armchair Interviews says: Bloody Ham is a fun, unique read and we look forward to more of Belinda and Hazel in the future.”

ARMCHAIR INTERVIEWS LINK

An ancient English mansion, rich in history and filled with an acting cast ends up being a different kind of drama. A true mystery involving murder.

Belinda and Hazel are protecting the silver props, when the leading lady dies. Belinda is hired as a backup to the new actress brought in to replace the deceased.

Drama on film and in life, leads to more drama. While trying to solve not one, but two murders to save her own skin, Belinda has a personal drama. She has to make a decision about the men in her life.

A well written tale that comes at you from several different levels.

Review by Wanda C. Keesey (author of Lost In The Mist release date May 2008) www.wandakeeey.com

REVIEW BY WANDA C. KEESEY

There is plenty of action in Bloody Ham as well as some interesting history. Bloody Ham is the third book in the Belinda Lawrence series and by far the best yet in this reviewers opinion. The characters are interesting and fun and the story line is good. Pat Reid - RAM Books 'n' Bytes

The third adventure for Belinda and Hazel continuing the pace and humour that readers have come to acknowledge and appreciate.
Excitement and tension begin on the first day of filming a Restoration drama on location at the historic Jacobean mansion, Ham House in Surrey when one of the leading players collapses and dies. With the death ruled non-accidental the director, producer and members of the cast are all suspects.
An award winning Hollywood star is brought in to replace the dead actor and Belinda is employed as her stand-in. When another member of the crew is found stabbed to death, Belinda is forced to prove her innocence.
In all this tumult, Belinda finds herself torn between her long-time English lover, Mark and the energetic and exuberant Australian, Brad she met again on a trip to Australia.
Title: Bloody Ham
Author: Brian Kavanagh
ISBN: 978-1905202539
Page count: 180
Format: paperback, eBook
Release Date: 24th September 2007
Price: UK £6.99, USA $13.99, Ca $14.99. Eu €10.50
Category: mystery, cosy mystery, fiction
Distributors: Bertram Books, Gardners, Baker & Taylor, Ingrams
Publisher: Cait Myers at BeWrite Books.
32 Bryn Road South, Wigan, Lancashire,. WN4 8QR, UK
0044 7787 351 262

BEWRITE BOOKS LINK

To purchase click on links below or ask at your favourite book store. (or ask your library to obtain it!)