Murder on Milverton Square Review: A Cozy Mystery That Quietly Breaks the Mold

Read time: 3 minutes

🎧 Listened in audio | 📢 Narrated by Philip Battley
⏱ Duration: 6 hours
🏷️ Published by: Tantor Media & self-published by the author
📅 Published: November 8, 2022
🕯 Genre: Cozy Mystery

Book Blurb:

Addison Harper is abruptly summoned to the small town of Milverton by a deeply unpleasant lawyer. Expecting a quick visit, Addison instead finds himself unexpectedly charmed by the town’s eccentric residents, and by Sergeant Jake Murphy. The pleasant detour turns deadly when the lawyer is found murdered, and Addison’s fingerprints place him squarely at the scene. As suspicion closes in, Addison must navigate Milverton’s busybodies, baked goods, a disdainful ginger cat, and a slow-burn romance to uncover the truth. Set against the backdrop of New Zealand scenery, Murder on Milverton Square launches a cozy mystery series full of charm, warmth, and intrigue.

Let’s talk … murder!!!

We all know the trope: city woman lands in a small town, resists it, stumbles into murder, gets swept up by quirky locals, and never leaves. Murder on Milverton Square has every cozy ingredient you could ask for: nosy neighbors, baked goods, an adorably demanding cat, but what makes it truly special is how lovingly G.B. Ralph reimagines it. Instead of another small-town ingénue, we get Addison Harper: sharp-witted, messy, and refreshingly sure of who he is. His queerness isn’t highlighted. It’s lived. And that’s what makes this book sing.

This is a story that celebrates love from every angle: romantic love that grows carefully between Addison and Sergeant Jake Murphy, communal love from a town that folds itself around him, and self-love quietly rediscovered between cups of tea and moments of trust. Milverton shines as more than just a cozy setting; it’s almost a character itself with a warm, meddlesome, and utterly endearing manner.

Philip Battley’s narration brings that love story to life, grounding Addison’s dry humor with genuine heart. The pacing moves like a lazy Saturday afternoon: unhurried, full of laughter and connection. It’s the kind of story that doesn’t just solve a mystery. It solves something softer in the reader too.

This isn’t a “modernized cozy” checking boxes. It’s a timeless cozy expanded with honesty, representation, and care. Comforting, character-driven, and joyously queer, Murder on Milverton Square is the perfect Valentine to love, in every form it takes.

I just don’t understand why G. B. Ralph had to self-publish this gem of a book!!!

Would I recommend it?

If you enjoy classic cozy mysteries but are craving something that feels familiar and quietly progressive, this is an easy recommendation. This one’s a warm hug in audio form. The charm is real, the mystery works, and the character development gives this series legs beyond book one. A small-town mystery with heart, humor, and beautifully grounded queer representation. Addison Harper is a character I already miss. I’m genuinely looking forward to where Addison’s story goes next, and that’s always the best sign.

If you liked this book, try:

• A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske: Magic, manners, and queer romance done exquisitely.
  Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
• Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A chaotic, love-filled cozy with found family at its core.
  Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
• The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood: Classic cozy structure with a slightly refreshing twist on the expected formula.
  Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
• The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun: A romantic comedy full of conviction, care, and confusion, in the best way.
  Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
• Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall: Baking, humor, and queer authenticity—pure joy.
  Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy

What’s your cozy love story?

This Valentine’s season, which book made you fall for its world as much as its romance? Does a fictional town ever feel like home? I’m officially head over heels for Milverton, how about you?

Book Links:

Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders.
#SupportLocal

• Indiebookstores.ca
• Bookshop.org
• Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
• Follow G. B. Ralph author page for latest on Addison’s story
• Check out more books from Tantor Media