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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Cotswold village of Maybury-In-The-Marsh, England, Summer 1924. Arby Swift - author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Ghosts, has found himself roped into a session of ghost investigation with his childhood friend Val. Together they are tasked with detecting a family ghost at the residence of Miss Phelps, a wealthy woman in her 60’s whose fortune was amassed through the family's smithy business. However the day after Miss Phelps changes her will, she is discovered poisoned within the confines of her locked bedroom. Arby and Val find themselves instead, thrust into the roles of amateur sleuths and tasked with unravelling the tangled web of motives and secrets that surround the mysterious murder.
Murder by Candlelight is a classic quaint murder mystery with a great blend of suspense, humour, and nostalgia. This is an uncomplicated, cosy tale filled with intrigue and deception. It's the perfect book to unwind with.
The narrator did a great job and their voice compliments the style and tone of the narrative.
Murder by Candlelight is a classic quaint murder mystery with a great blend of suspense, humour, and nostalgia. This is an uncomplicated, cosy tale filled with intrigue and deception. It's the perfect book to unwind with.
The narrator did a great job and their voice compliments the style and tone of the narrative.
This is very much a traditional Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, and I had a good time with it. I really liked the added element of the main character (and eventual amateur detective) being a somewhat unwilling and disbelieving ghost hunter - it was a unique way to bring him into the story and I enjoyed the discussion of ghosts and alternative explanations for eerie phenomena.
Not everything worked for me. The book is written in third person omniscient, switching between different people's thoughts from one paragraph to the next, which is a writing style that always frustrates me. Additionally the secondary main character Val was rather annoying and I hope (probably in vain) that if there is a sequel she isn't in it or at least isn't there as a love interest for Arbie.
The final reveal was nicely satisfying. The locked room mystery was explained in a way that not only made sense but left me wondering how I hadn't figured it out by myself. The identity of the murderer was surprising and did seem a bit unlikely, but their motive was clear.
Overall a decent, compelling whodunnit which is well worth a read.
Not everything worked for me. The book is written in third person omniscient, switching between different people's thoughts from one paragraph to the next, which is a writing style that always frustrates me. Additionally the secondary main character Val was rather annoying and I hope (probably in vain) that if there is a sequel she isn't in it or at least isn't there as a love interest for Arbie.
The final reveal was nicely satisfying. The locked room mystery was explained in a way that not only made sense but left me wondering how I hadn't figured it out by myself. The identity of the murderer was surprising and did seem a bit unlikely, but their motive was clear.
Overall a decent, compelling whodunnit which is well worth a read.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Format: Audio
Having gotten into the ‘cosy mystery’ genre through the proliferation of books with ‘older’ sleuths recently, it was really nice to see a book in this area doing something different: younger characters, a 1920s setting and some ghostly goings on.
I had a very enjoyable time listening to this book. I really liked the interaction of the characters – especially Arbie and Val – and I found the locked door mystery to be very clever. I most definitely did not see the ending coming so I am very glad the author didn’t go with the obvious and kept me guessing throughout the book. I also can’t see any indication currently that this is due to become a series and actually I think it works really well as a standalone, but I will definitely be checking out the author’s other books to see if any interest me.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Although I was slightly hesitant at the start of this novel, I'm incredibly glad that I continued reading! It was an intriguing locked room mystery with a twist and interesting characters that are neither perfect nor dull. I was somewhat disappointed by the end, however - not the grand reveal of who the murderer was, but rather at the very final chapter which left many unanswered questions and the future of many characters uncertain. The mystery itself was complicated yet easily explained in the end in a satisfying and realistic way.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was so excited to listen to this novel. I was super intrigued by the locked room and the tongue in cheek nod to the popularity of supernatural elements in the UK in the 1920’s. Faith Martin (author) and John Hopkins (narrator) did not disappoint with this one! It was such a charming novel with some genuinely funny and sweet moments. It is my first experience with Faith Martin and I am now looking forward to reading more from this author. The plot was well thought out and I did not figure out who the murderer was or even that the murderer was definitely human (wink, wink, nudge,nudge). The moment I realised who the murder was a moment I gasped out loud! Personally, as a reader I am a sucker for characters I can love with my whole heart… Arbie and Val had great interactions and they became real to me… This is my favourite element of this novel. A close second was the description of the environment. It felt very realistic even in the wilder moments it was very believable. Where I would say that it sits very much in the mystery genre there were a couple of scenes that edged into thriller territory which was very enjoyable too!
With reference to the narrator. I felt they did a fantastic job. They’re voice was very well placed for the atmosphere of this novel and although their attempt at female voices was not quite as convincing… it was not a problem. I was not pulled out of the world at all. I will look out for this narrator again as I really enjoy their narration.
Set in the Cotswolds in the middle upper/upper classes in 1920's Britain where the class divide is evident, our two young and single male female protagonists Arbie and Val embark on a mystery of a haunting that develops into a locked room mystery when the rich heiress is murdered.
This cosy crime is written with tally ho humour with a jolly good fellow here and a steady on there and is an easy escapist read, There is more scope for this likeable duo to embark on more mysteries together.
With thanks to #NetGalley and HQ publishers for this preview read of #MurderByCandleleight.
This cosy crime is written with tally ho humour with a jolly good fellow here and a steady on there and is an easy escapist read, There is more scope for this likeable duo to embark on more mysteries together.
With thanks to #NetGalley and HQ publishers for this preview read of #MurderByCandleleight.
A cozy mystery set in the Cotswolds in 1924, in a quaint little village full of gossip and now also ... MURDER!
The lady of the house has been murdered - with cyanide nonetheless - and Arbie Swift finds himself in a sleuthing position, together with the vicar's daughter Val. The two youngsters act under the watchful eye of the local detective and they uncover clue after clue in search of the culprit.
All in all, it is a very nice cozy, ticking all the boxes required in the genre: a sleepy village, the manners and etiquette of the upper classes, adorable characters, funny dialogue and a locked room mystery. What's not to like?
Although very well written, this is no grand literature but in its genre it is perfectly well done and a welcome distraction from more serious books.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, HQ Harper & Collins and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The lady of the house has been murdered - with cyanide nonetheless - and Arbie Swift finds himself in a sleuthing position, together with the vicar's daughter Val. The two youngsters act under the watchful eye of the local detective and they uncover clue after clue in search of the culprit.
All in all, it is a very nice cozy, ticking all the boxes required in the genre: a sleepy village, the manners and etiquette of the upper classes, adorable characters, funny dialogue and a locked room mystery. What's not to like?
Although very well written, this is no grand literature but in its genre it is perfectly well done and a welcome distraction from more serious books.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, HQ Harper & Collins and the author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.