When I tell people I live in a castle, they blink and then squint at me, as if I must be lying. Yes, it’s true. My family built Ravensea Castle, on the Yorkshire coast, in 1138. Somehow we’ve managed to hold onto it, despite wars and rival heirs, plagues and inheritance taxes.

Money is tight. There’s always a tower that needs new roof tiles or a battlement that requires repointing. We haven’t refurbished some rooms for centuries and the loos, well, they’re pretty antiquated. At least we have indoor plumbing and electric lights thanks to a brief period of prosperity in the early 1900s. My most recent brainstorm is converting the castle to a bed and breakfast. We have three rooms fit for guests and if we do well, I’ll refurbish more.

I’m an apothecary by trade, so early mornings at the castle find me in the medieval physic garden. This is my happy place. I’m usually joined by the castle cat, Ruffian, and our English mastiff, Rolf. He’s finally learning to stay out of the flowerbeds, although both he and Ruffian like the catnip. After planting or weeding or plucking, I go inside for breakfast.

We’re blessed at Ravensea to have Janet and Guy Fagan as housekeeper and groundsman. They’ve been with us since I was a child. Janet is also an incredible cook so she takes the lead in feeding family and guests. For breakfast, we often do a full English: eggs, sausage, bacon, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, hash browns, toast, and baked beans. Guests who prefer lighter breakfasts can dine on fruit, locally made yogurt, and scones or muffins. There’s plenty of hot tea and coffee as well.

After breakfast, I help Janet with the dishes and then go upstairs to tidy the rooms. I keep a big cart in the linen closet with all my supplies and I wheel it along the corridor with its antique Persian carpet to the King’s, Queen’s and Knight’s Chambers. Family portraits hang on the velvet-flocked wallpaper and the furniture is all genuinely antique. But we do have something extra to offer. a feature that isn’t included on lodging checklists or rating sites.

Ghosts. Yes, Ravensea Castle is among Britain’s most haunted places. We’re so used to them, they’re like family to us. But it wasn’t until we opened for business and a woman who opposed our plans was murdered in my garden that they became more than ambiance and atmosphere.

I live in a castle and our resident ghosts help me solve mysteries. That’s pretty unusual, don’t you think? I’m still figuring how to incorporate that in our marketing. Meanwhile, it’s time to make beds and clean bathrooms.

Bodies and Battlements – A Ravensea Castle Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

The first in a new cozy mystery series by Elizabeth Penney investigates a suspicious murder in a haunted British castle-turned-bed and breakfast.

Herbalist Nora Asquith is delighted to welcome Ravensea Castle’s first guests to the picturesque village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. After a thousand years of ownership, her family has decided to convert the castle into a bed and breakfast. But when Hilda Dibble, a self-appointed local luminary, is found dead in the knot garden the next morning, Nora’s business is not only at risk—she’s a prime suspect.

Hilda had opposed the hotel plan every step of the way, and although she didn’t succeed in stopping the venture, her disagreements with Nora seem to only further her motive. One of Ravensea’s guests happens to be Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who is new to the area and now finds himself with a murder case in his lap.

Nora and her actress sister Tamsyn decide to investigate for themselves. They look into the entangled dealings of their newly arrived guests, while also getting hints from Sir Percival, one of the castle ghosts. As they learn, Sir Percival’s tragic death centuries ago sheds light on present-day crimes. Surely they can get to the bottom of this mystery while keeping their new business afloat . . .

About the author
Elizabeth Penney is the Edgar-nominated author of numerous mysteries, women’s fiction and romantic suspense novels. Her series for St. Martin’s Press include the Ravensea Castle, Cambridge Bookshop, and Apron Shop series. She lives in the wilds of New Hampshire where she tries to stay warm and grow things.