Many thanks to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for letting me see an advance reader’s copy of Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown.
This is the first book in a new (to me) series from an author (also new to me) who already has a solid track record in writing mysteries. I enjoyed meeting the characters and experiencing a 1920s festive season with them all in this ‘golden age’ mostly cosy mystery. It was a nice, gentle read that wasn’t too taxing. And it was a page-turner that kept me reading.
Marius Quin is a mystery writer with writer’s block, even though the phrase wasn’t much in use at the time. He’s suffering a bit from imposter syndrome. Plus, his first book was so successful, he isn’t at all sure he can carry it off a second time. His publisher is breathing down his neck and his bank manager is breathing down his bank balance. Marius Quin needs to earn some money quick in order to pay for the expensive lifestyle he finds himself living following his earlier triumph.
I found the opening chapters a little slow and thought we were going to get the entire novel of Quin’s, chapter by chapter. Fortunately, that didn’t happen, but I do think this could have been accelerated a little.
There were a couple of continuity issues, like one minute Bella was wearing a purple woollen coat but the next Quin was describing her jade skirt, then another she’s wearing a silk kimono over her dress and the next we can see the golden dress. The snow started to melt twice. And I was more worried about the whereabouts of the dog than the dog’s owner seemed to be at one point.
Names got a bit confusing, as there were a few starting with the same initial: Percy, Poppy, Philip, Perkins, Pemberton, Penelope; Cecil, Carl, Cavendish; Anton, Alec, Alma.
But once I’d got myself over all of that, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to reading more in the same series.
Four stars.
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