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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Recommended by Sonia (5 stars) and Andrea (4 stars). Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Smurder%20at%20the%20mill%20shaw__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
The annual Christmas Eve party given by author Dom Wetherby and his wife Ariadne is eagerly attended by Hazelford locals as well as television celebrities and the media. This year’s attendees include artist Iris Grey who is renting Mill Cottage on the Wetherby estate. Iris is taking a break from a troubled marriage and focusing on her painting. She is commissioned to paint the charismatic Dom’s portrait and in her dealings with the family learns there is another side to the members of the Wetherby family than what they show to the outside world. The morning after the party, Dom’s young son Lorcan tests his remote control boat in the Itchen River and discovers a body. Iris doesn’t agree with the direction the police investigation is going and is surprised to learn that in addition to her skills as an artist, she seems to have a talent for sleuthing.
The book begins with the scene in which Lorcan discovers the body, then flashes back two months. This method is effective because the reader is introduced to several characters, which creates tension as you are left wondering which one of these characters you’re getting to know will be the victim. About a third of a way into the book, the story goes back to the present and Lorcan’s gruesome discovery. When Iris is asked to look for clues by a member of the Wetherby family, she has her work cut out for her. There are many secrets within the highly dysfunctional Wetherby family which has far-reaching effects for them as well as their friends and colleagues so there are plenty of suspects. As the story continues, the author really keeps you guessing as to the motive of the crime and the identity of the killer.
I liked Iris more and more as the book progresses. She is smart, determined, and sympathetic even to those who may not seem to deserve the benefit of the doubt. The motive for the murder is more complicated than it seems at first and the outcome of the case isn’t what Iris or the reader expects. However, all of the events from the past and present result in a strong conclusion to an interesting novel. In a Question and Answer section at the end of the book, the author has promised a sequel, and I would definitely be interested in reading more mysteries featuring Iris Grey.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Minotaur Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
The book begins with the scene in which Lorcan discovers the body, then flashes back two months. This method is effective because the reader is introduced to several characters, which creates tension as you are left wondering which one of these characters you’re getting to know will be the victim. About a third of a way into the book, the story goes back to the present and Lorcan’s gruesome discovery. When Iris is asked to look for clues by a member of the Wetherby family, she has her work cut out for her. There are many secrets within the highly dysfunctional Wetherby family which has far-reaching effects for them as well as their friends and colleagues so there are plenty of suspects. As the story continues, the author really keeps you guessing as to the motive of the crime and the identity of the killer.
I liked Iris more and more as the book progresses. She is smart, determined, and sympathetic even to those who may not seem to deserve the benefit of the doubt. The motive for the murder is more complicated than it seems at first and the outcome of the case isn’t what Iris or the reader expects. However, all of the events from the past and present result in a strong conclusion to an interesting novel. In a Question and Answer section at the end of the book, the author has promised a sequel, and I would definitely be interested in reading more mysteries featuring Iris Grey.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Minotaur Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Now this is my kind of Christmas read - not too cheesy, not too overly christmassy and some good old fashioned murder amidst the tinsel. That might sound wrong said in the wrong context of course, but in a book review this means good stuff!
My copy was called Murder at the Mill but whatever its name, it's a good one and a fun fine read!
My copy was called Murder at the Mill but whatever its name, it's a good one and a fun fine read!
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Iris Grey needs a quiet place to work on her art and decide what to do about her failing marriage. She finds just what she needs in Mill Cottage, deep in Hampshire and even featuring a picturesque stream nearby. Things are going pretty well until Christmas time. That's when the neighbors plan a big holiday party that ends with a body being found floating in the previously mentioned stream.
Iris is right in the middle of events. She was present at the holiday party and has been drawn deep into the neighbors secrets. Now she has to figure out what's going on before she dies too.
I liked this mystery, but from the description I was imagining a 1930s style house party with servants and sleuths and all. However, this is set in present day. I did enjoy this story and I quite like Iris. However the mystery wasn't all that hard to solve and I'm not sure I would feel compelled to read another in this series.
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.*
Iris is right in the middle of events. She was present at the holiday party and has been drawn deep into the neighbors secrets. Now she has to figure out what's going on before she dies too.
I liked this mystery, but from the description I was imagining a 1930s style house party with servants and sleuths and all. However, this is set in present day. I did enjoy this story and I quite like Iris. However the mystery wasn't all that hard to solve and I'm not sure I would feel compelled to read another in this series.
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.*
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I seem to be on a bad roll with the audio books I've listened to lately. This is the latest that I did not finish.
The reviews I read about this book made it sound Agatha Christie-ish, and that was certainly a draw for me. But I did not find that at all. Christie's books pulled me in almost immediately, with both characters and plots that I couldn't step away from. That was not the experience I had with this book at all.
First and most importantly, literally every single character in this book is either selfish and nasty, or sad and pathetic. There was nobody here - including main character Iris Grey - that I could relate to, like or root for at all. I got to Chapter 5 before I accepted that I was not into this in the slightest, and I simply could not justify taking any more time with any of these people.
Fortunately, I got this from the library, so it cost me nothing but a day of time before I gave up on it. On to the next. Here's hoping the next audiobook will be better for my interests.
The reviews I read about this book made it sound Agatha Christie-ish, and that was certainly a draw for me. But I did not find that at all. Christie's books pulled me in almost immediately, with both characters and plots that I couldn't step away from. That was not the experience I had with this book at all.
First and most importantly, literally every single character in this book is either selfish and nasty, or sad and pathetic. There was nobody here - including main character Iris Grey - that I could relate to, like or root for at all. I got to Chapter 5 before I accepted that I was not into this in the slightest, and I simply could not justify taking any more time with any of these people.
Fortunately, I got this from the library, so it cost me nothing but a day of time before I gave up on it. On to the next. Here's hoping the next audiobook will be better for my interests.
Murder at the Mill by M. B. Shaw was my Christmas season read this year, and I think a murder mystery was just what I needed to get me through the holidays. It’s out now, so you can grab yourself a copy if you’re not done with Christmas vibe stories yet, but first check out my review below.
Iris Grey is a portrait artist commissioned to paint a famous local author, Dom Wetherby, in a small, quiet Hampshire village and rents the quaint Mill Cottage for her time there, which is on the Wetherby’s property. After being there for a few weeks — DUN, DUN, DUN, someone is murdered! The police are pointing fingers in all the wrong directions, so it’s suddenly up to Iris to figure out whodunit. Yep, that’s my summary of the book because how in the world am I supposed to summarize a murder mystery without giving away important clues you need to figure out for yourself?! I just won’t.
Anyway, this was a fun read and I enjoyed playing unofficial detective with Iris and unraveling the drama surrounding this rich celebrity family in the English countryside. Iris Grey doesn’t come off as an overall brilliant mind with outstanding observational skills — she seemed witty, but overall average. In my mind while I read this, the vibe this book gave is it’s a Nancy Drew book for women in their 30s. It didn’t quite have the Agatha Christie effect I was expecting because Iris didn’t seem particularly keen, but she seemed genuine and her personal life was relatable, so I appreciated that.
I loved it, but there were some predictable bits and the police investigator in this book sucked so much that once or twice that it seemed unrealistic. Those were my only qualms with it though, so overall a four-star read!
Iris Grey is a portrait artist commissioned to paint a famous local author, Dom Wetherby, in a small, quiet Hampshire village and rents the quaint Mill Cottage for her time there, which is on the Wetherby’s property. After being there for a few weeks — DUN, DUN, DUN, someone is murdered! The police are pointing fingers in all the wrong directions, so it’s suddenly up to Iris to figure out whodunit. Yep, that’s my summary of the book because how in the world am I supposed to summarize a murder mystery without giving away important clues you need to figure out for yourself?! I just won’t.
Anyway, this was a fun read and I enjoyed playing unofficial detective with Iris and unraveling the drama surrounding this rich celebrity family in the English countryside. Iris Grey doesn’t come off as an overall brilliant mind with outstanding observational skills — she seemed witty, but overall average. In my mind while I read this, the vibe this book gave is it’s a Nancy Drew book for women in their 30s. It didn’t quite have the Agatha Christie effect I was expecting because Iris didn’t seem particularly keen, but she seemed genuine and her personal life was relatable, so I appreciated that.
I loved it, but there were some predictable bits and the police investigator in this book sucked so much that once or twice that it seemed unrealistic. Those were my only qualms with it though, so overall a four-star read!
To be quite frank, I fucking loved this book. When I finished it felt like a little death of my own because there was no more to read. In fact, I've already re-read it. (Highly recommend the audiobook as the narration is great with all the different dialects)
I found Iris to be a relatable character, even if she is 20 years my senior. Shaw does a good job of not turning Iris into a nosey butt-in character and creates natural ways for her involvement in the mystery.
Basically, if this book were a real person I would clasp them to my bosom forever.
I found Iris to be a relatable character, even if she is 20 years my senior. Shaw does a good job of not turning Iris into a nosey butt-in character and creates natural ways for her involvement in the mystery.
Basically, if this book were a real person I would clasp them to my bosom forever.