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depizan's review against another edition
3.0
This is a bit of a hard one to rate, as the mystery was quite good right up to the explanation of who dun it - part of that hinged on something I just don't believe, and that kind of made the whole thing fall apart. That is, that you can definitely tell someone's age - with the two ages being 45 and 60. I've had a number of customer service jobs, and I can tell you flat out that there are 45 year olds who look far older than 60 and 60 year olds who could be mistaken for 30somethings. So the whole conceit of the 45 year old with lined skin and white hair not having the "trappings of age," whatever that's supposed to mean, just doesn't fly. That he convincingly passed for 60, yes. That the detective and a bunch of other people were suspicious, no.
There were also a hecking lot of coincidences, but that's kind of par for the course with mysteries. It was also a bit "of its time," if you know what I mean. Though, not as badly as some I've read.
There were also a hecking lot of coincidences, but that's kind of par for the course with mysteries. It was also a bit "of its time," if you know what I mean. Though, not as badly as some I've read.
anjana's review
5.0
I have read one other book by the author Fire in the Thatch by E.C.R. Lorac and while I enjoyed that tale, this book was a lot more fun to read and to dissect. This story spans a very short time with a lot of overworked policemen doing a lot of leg work. This aspect of hunting for the truth is discussed in excruciating detail and while I enjoyed every minute of it, it is something to keep in mind if one is not inclined to enjoy the finer details. Classic crime books have the discussion of human nature in droves, this book is no exception. The murder occurs in matchlight with more than one witness, one or more of them might have a personal stake in the entire episode. We start off with the man who wandered aimlessly into the park and actually witnesses the murder. The other is a man with no good reason for being under the bridge where the murder occurred and few more get added as the investigation progresses. This is London during the blackout time and this adds a whole layer of atmosphere since the murder and the detection occurs in literal (and figurative)darkness. Inspector MacDonald is tired but courteous as he keeps re-engaging with the people who shared the lodging of the murdered man. Each of these people is stranger than the other and they make fascinating reading. This is not a large book but there is a lot packed into it.
On the whole, I think if given a chance I would read more books written by this author. The preface by Martin Edwards as usual provides deeper insight into the time and place and an added depth of emotion to the reading experience. This kind of preface should never be skipped. It could probably be the reason I enjoyed the book enough to give it a full five stars!
On the whole, I think if given a chance I would read more books written by this author. The preface by Martin Edwards as usual provides deeper insight into the time and place and an added depth of emotion to the reading experience. This kind of preface should never be skipped. It could probably be the reason I enjoyed the book enough to give it a full five stars!
eloise's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism
Period-typical disdain for pacifistsannarella's review against another edition
5.0
I love Ms Lorac books and I think this the best I read so far.
It's full of twists, turns, red herrings and keeps you guessing till the end.
I was happy to meet again Chief Inspector MacDonald and follow him while he solves the mystery.
It's a very intriguing and enthralling plot, I read it in two setting and couldn't let it down.
The historical setting is very interesting as it pictures London during the Blitz and gives a lively and realistic picture of what should have been living under the bombs.
I hope to read other books by this author soon.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC
It's full of twists, turns, red herrings and keeps you guessing till the end.
I was happy to meet again Chief Inspector MacDonald and follow him while he solves the mystery.
It's a very intriguing and enthralling plot, I read it in two setting and couldn't let it down.
The historical setting is very interesting as it pictures London during the Blitz and gives a lively and realistic picture of what should have been living under the bombs.
I hope to read other books by this author soon.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC
melissadeemcdaniel's review against another edition
4.0
Murder by Matchlight is a cleverly plotted, old-fashioned police procedural set in London during the Blitz. Bravo to Martin Edwards and the Poisoned Pen Press for resuscitating these old books, which remain very satisfying 75 years after their initial publication.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
pgchuis's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
This novel is set during WWII, which is both integral to the plot and provides a very specific, interesting and well-defined historical setting The murder is carried out in a park which is accessible because the railings have been removed for use in the war effort, and the murderer's face is visible only by the light of a match because of the blackout. There are references throughout to bomb shelters and rationing and the blackout is relentless.
I thought this was well-plotted and really quite fast-moving, especially in the middle section. The police officers were measured and likeable and I was kept guessing as to who the killer might be. It is very much of its time in containing a few examples of racial stereotyping, but otherwise it was a good read.
This novel is set during WWII, which is both integral to the plot and provides a very specific, interesting and well-defined historical setting The murder is carried out in a park which is accessible because the railings have been removed for use in the war effort, and the murderer's face is visible only by the light of a match because of the blackout. There are references throughout to bomb shelters and rationing and the blackout is relentless.
I thought this was well-plotted and really quite fast-moving, especially in the middle section. The police officers were measured and likeable and I was kept guessing as to who the killer might be. It is very much of its time in containing a few examples of racial stereotyping, but otherwise it was a good read.
tonstantweader's review against another edition
5.0
Murder by Matchlight is a classic whodunnit with a bit of howdunnit as a bonus. It takes place in World War II London when the Germans were bombing the city. There was a tenuous quality to life and it is deeply present in the story–the obvious risk that at any moment your home or your life may be lost to a bomb. The murder happened at night in the darkness of the London blackout and was witnessed by two people. Their separate stories were outlandish and reported from very different perspectives, but tallied in ways that led Chief inspector MacDonald to think they might be telling the truth, unlikely as their truths seemed.
Figuring out how they could be telling the truth is the howdunnit and MacDonald and his team hit upon a possible solution rather quickly but that doesn’t necessarily lead to the killer. Meanwhile, through the hard slog of interviews and canvassing, they find out more and more about their murder victim, hoping to find the solution in his history. This was a story about fact-finding, but also intuition. MacDonald was presented with more than one easy solution that would, in lesser hands, result in an arrest, even conviction thanks to circumstantial evidence, no further investigation, and complete injustice. Today, police infamously stop investigating as soon as they find enough evidence to hang it on someone…and they make a lot of work for the Innocence Project for that reason.
I found myself loving Murder by Matchlight for several reasons. First, it was scrupulously fair, but not the least bit easy to solve. Second, there was plenty of misdirection with more than one motive, more than one suspect, and reasons for suspecting one and all. Third, Lorac did not once try to make it cute. The war was serious and murder was serious. Fourth, in a great rejection of vigilantism, when one person suggests perhaps the death of a ne’er-do-well was not that important considering the War, he is soundly rebuked by the argument that vigilantism is the road to fascism. Fifth, the mystery was complex and multi-layered. It was thoroughly satisfying even though I did not begin to suspect the resolution until it was just about in hand.
It was not flawless, one character took the revelation of who the killer was with far too much equanimity, but other than that, I loved this book for its seriousness of purpose and detailed attention. It had the right mix of investigation and intuition, which should always be mostly investigation. I hope there are several more to read.
I received a copy of Murder by Matchlight from the publisher through NetGalley.
Murder by Matchlight at Poisoned Pen Press
E. C. R. Lorac at Wikipedia
★★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/03/20/9781464210938/
Figuring out how they could be telling the truth is the howdunnit and MacDonald and his team hit upon a possible solution rather quickly but that doesn’t necessarily lead to the killer. Meanwhile, through the hard slog of interviews and canvassing, they find out more and more about their murder victim, hoping to find the solution in his history. This was a story about fact-finding, but also intuition. MacDonald was presented with more than one easy solution that would, in lesser hands, result in an arrest, even conviction thanks to circumstantial evidence, no further investigation, and complete injustice. Today, police infamously stop investigating as soon as they find enough evidence to hang it on someone…and they make a lot of work for the Innocence Project for that reason.
I found myself loving Murder by Matchlight for several reasons. First, it was scrupulously fair, but not the least bit easy to solve. Second, there was plenty of misdirection with more than one motive, more than one suspect, and reasons for suspecting one and all. Third, Lorac did not once try to make it cute. The war was serious and murder was serious. Fourth, in a great rejection of vigilantism, when one person suggests perhaps the death of a ne’er-do-well was not that important considering the War, he is soundly rebuked by the argument that vigilantism is the road to fascism. Fifth, the mystery was complex and multi-layered. It was thoroughly satisfying even though I did not begin to suspect the resolution until it was just about in hand.
It was not flawless, one character took the revelation of who the killer was with far too much equanimity, but other than that, I loved this book for its seriousness of purpose and detailed attention. It had the right mix of investigation and intuition, which should always be mostly investigation. I hope there are several more to read.
I received a copy of Murder by Matchlight from the publisher through NetGalley.
Murder by Matchlight at Poisoned Pen Press
E. C. R. Lorac at Wikipedia
★★★★★
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/03/20/9781464210938/