Title:	A Mischief of Rats
	Author:	Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
	Published:	February 28,2023, Embla Books
	No. of Pages:	272
	Cover Price:	$4.70

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If you’re into ecology and tree-hugging, as well as a “woke” agenda, then you’ll enjoy reading A Mischief of Rats. by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, the third novel in the Dr. Nell Ward Series. This murder mystery is set in the small village of Finchmere in the UK, and the protagonist, Dr. Nell Ward, a very wealthy heiress is in charge of the annual classic car event sponsored by her family. She is an ecologist, and her boyfriend, Rav, is also an ecologist and works closely with her. While checking on the newts in a local pond, Nell discovers a car submerged in the pond and inside is the body of a very arrogant, irritating and womanizing driver, Jack Rafferty who is kept on the racing team because of his famous father who broke dozens of racing records. There are several suspects including his new wife who is sick of his cheating, as well as the members of the racing team who all hate Jack Rafferty.

Yarwood-Lovett does a good job of developing the characters; they are believable and fit well in the story. The story goes back and forth in the different chapters from the ecology stuff (absolutely boring), and the racing which is fun to read. There are also family problems: Rav’s parents don’t approve of Nell even though she has done nothing wrong. As the story progresses to the dénouement there is some suspense that builds, but the suspense is lost during the ecology chapters. There is surprise ending, not only as to who the murderer is, but readers are left with a cliffhanger that will need to be resolved in the subsequent novel.

Readers who are into “saving the newts” will enjoy this novel, but those of us who aren’t into hugging trees should probably skip this one.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.