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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
I'm gonna start this off by being completely honest and say I'm not a regular mistery&thriller reader. So you can take my opinion with a grain of a salt if you please considering I'm not an expert on the subject. However, I'm never wrong about anything (you can ask my friends, they'll vouch for me).
This was a cozy and rather interesting and captivating read. I was hooked from the get go trying to figure out the culprit and how it was done.
Let me paint you the scene. This all happens in 1924, in the old England, in a little town called Maybury-in-the-Marsh. The Phelps', the richest family in town (and not only) are down to 3 close relatives - Amy Phelps, the aunt, that owns all the estate and the actual wealth of the family; Murray, the nephew and only man, who runs the businesses; and Phyllis, the niece, that doesn't run or own anything. Now, during the summers (when this all takes place), Amy usually gets in her house (the Old Forge) two good friends - Cora, an old friend for very long years; and Reggie, someone who was her brother' very good friend and then her own as well.
During this faithful summer, strange things start to happen and Amy starts believing she's being haunted by a ghost. With this she turns to Arbie - the town's now famous author and 'ghost hunter' - so he can catch her ghost and help her out.
Arbie isn't very interested at first but then her good childhood friend, Val (the vicar's daughter), buts in and, not only does she convince him to help out, she also wants to do it all with him.
After a few days of turns and circles and some observations and obstacles and revelations, Amy Phelps shows up dead in her own room. Who did it, why, and how? Well, that's just what they all want to find out.
At every sentence, every page, every chapter, I was more and more intrigued. I kept trying to guess who did it and then something would be said that would make me turn my head in another direction. And this kept happening consecutively. At the end of it all I was shocked! I could've never fully guessed the answer to all those questions. I had some idea about it, yes, but no certainty.
This book will give you a very good mistery while also keeping you fully entertained with Val's and Arbie's antics, with Arbie's inventor uncle and everything in between. I laughed and I gasped and I honestly had such an incredible time reading it there's really nothing left for me to say expect - go read it. What are you waiting for?
And now I just wanna give a huge thanks to netgalley and HQ Digital for giving the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a cozy and rather interesting and captivating read. I was hooked from the get go trying to figure out the culprit and how it was done.
Let me paint you the scene. This all happens in 1924, in the old England, in a little town called Maybury-in-the-Marsh. The Phelps', the richest family in town (and not only) are down to 3 close relatives - Amy Phelps, the aunt, that owns all the estate and the actual wealth of the family; Murray, the nephew and only man, who runs the businesses; and Phyllis, the niece, that doesn't run or own anything. Now, during the summers (when this all takes place), Amy usually gets in her house (the Old Forge) two good friends - Cora, an old friend for very long years; and Reggie, someone who was her brother' very good friend and then her own as well.
During this faithful summer, strange things start to happen and Amy starts believing she's being haunted by a ghost. With this she turns to Arbie - the town's now famous author and 'ghost hunter' - so he can catch her ghost and help her out.
Arbie isn't very interested at first but then her good childhood friend, Val (the vicar's daughter), buts in and, not only does she convince him to help out, she also wants to do it all with him.
After a few days of turns and circles and some observations and obstacles and revelations, Amy Phelps shows up dead in her own room. Who did it, why, and how? Well, that's just what they all want to find out.
At every sentence, every page, every chapter, I was more and more intrigued. I kept trying to guess who did it and then something would be said that would make me turn my head in another direction. And this kept happening consecutively. At the end of it all I was shocked! I could've never fully guessed the answer to all those questions. I had some idea about it, yes, but no certainty.
This book will give you a very good mistery while also keeping you fully entertained with Val's and Arbie's antics, with Arbie's inventor uncle and everything in between. I laughed and I gasped and I honestly had such an incredible time reading it there's really nothing left for me to say expect - go read it. What are you waiting for?
And now I just wanna give a huge thanks to netgalley and HQ Digital for giving the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know why I thought it was set in winter, it’s set in the summer
You can tell the author is a fan of/is hoping to emulate Agatha Christie
Set in the 20’s in a rural village in England
I wasn’t expecting the second perspective of Val. I thought we would just be viewing the story through Arbie, the amateur detective’s eyes. But the narration is THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT which lets you into the minds and perspectives of whichever characters the author wants. I’m not sure how affective that will be in a mystery.
It is reading quickly, which is nice.
I don’t particularly find Val likable. I found her character kind of insufferable.
Certain parts seemed to deviate and give rambling info that didn’t really add to the plot or mystery
The subplot with the uncle seemed really unnecessary
The “ghost” resolution made me roll my eyes. It was such a wasted red herring
The in text mentions of Agatha Christie when this was so obviously inspired by her writing style was really ham-fisted and cringe.
I did guess the culprit pretty early one. One off-handed item is said that completely gives it away and not in a subtle way.
The ending is very abrupt. And what was the point of Val if that’s how it ended?
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
If you’re in the mood for a cosy murder mystery, with plenty of humour and likeable characters, then Murder by Candlelight is a good choice! The book transports us to the Cotswold, where reluctant ‘author’ Arbie and his sort-of-friend Val are asked to help a local woman who is worried that her home, the Old Forge, is haunted. Soon, ghosts aren’t the problem – murder is…
I liked the characters in this book. Arbie is great fun, as is his friend Val, and their interactions together were very entertaining. I also warmed to the cast of characters around them, many of which were also fun to read about – though I did feel Arbie said ‘old bean’ a bit too much!
I found the story a bit slow to get going, as it took a while for the titular murder to take place. The solution, when it came, felt well-constructed and easy to follow – I just felt that the middle chunk of the book dragged a little, and I started to lose interest. However, it really picks up again towards the end, when the solution is revealed (it was clearly explained and felt cleverly constructed – often the solutions can feel a bit of a letdown, but not this one!). I enjoyed reading about Arbie, Val and the local police force trying to piece together the clues to work out who the culprit was. Together with the great characters, this made Murder by Candlelight a book that’s well worth a read.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Quite good and lighthearted
1924 Cotswold, England
Maybury-in-the-Marsh is a quaint little village with some interesting personalities. Amy Phelps of the Old Forge comes from old money and has a dominant presence. However, she has been uncertain the past few days and contacts Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift for help.
Young Arbie, though the author of the best-selling book The Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost-Hunting, wants nothing to do with hard work. He is happy to be idle and stay away from others’ lives. However, with Amy’s insistent appeal and Val’s (his friend and the vicar’s daughter) determination to help, Arbie has no choice but to do what is expected of him.
Soon, Amy Phelps is dead, and Arbie knows it’s not natural. Someone murdered her. Despite his reluctance, Arbie and Val join heads to solve the case and find the killer.
The story comes in the third-person omnipresent POV.
My Thoughts:
The book is written like it would have been in the 1920s. This works to an extent, and we get a more realistic feel of the setting, language, and people. However, a few phrases (old bean, stiff upper lip, etc.) feel repetitive. Still, I like that the book tries to recreate the Christie and Wodehouse ‘feel’.
Arbie and Val might give vague Tommy and Tuppence vibes, though they are very much different. Arbie is a typical 20-something lad who hates the idea of work. Val is the daughter of an impoverished vicar and a force of nature. Nevertheless, Arbie manages to create a better impression by the end. He is a bit of Bertie Wooster (with no Jeeves to help).
Though the mystery begins early, the murder doesn’t happen in the first quarter. But this adds to the intrigue as I wanted to see when it would happen. That said, waiting that long wasn’t a good feeling.
The suspects are easy enough to track and have varied personalities. However, they don’t get much character development. The setting and main characters have potential, so this could very well become a series. In fact, given the extent of detail we get, this is bound to be followed by more books (I’d be disappointed otherwise).
The (locked room) mystery is interesting, though I wish it was handled better. The middle has filler content, which I skimmed through. The story would read better if the whole thing ended in 300 pages or less.
You see a cat’s silhouette on the cover. That’s Empress Maud, a well-fed, fluffy black feline with tiger stripes. She has a role to play, though not much.
There are quite a few references to Christie and Holmes by the characters. Not that annoying for me, but others may not like it. Also, despite the references to ‘Victorian’ the book is more of a Golden Age mystery.
To summarize, Murder by Candlelight is an entertaining mystery with a good dose of humor. It would read even better if it were not buried under filler content.
This is my first book by the author, though I heard a lot about her mysteries. The book isn’t great, but I will happily read more books in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and HQ, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderbyCandlelight
This novel offers an intriguing spin on the accidental detective and tangled inheritance affairs of so many country house mysteries. The amusingly named accidental hit author Arbuthnot Lancelot Swift—a Wodehouse/Dorothy Sayers reference? Wonderful literary overtones!—and the vicar's daughter Valentina Olivia Charlotte Coulton-James, pair up to help solve first an apparent haunting, and then a murder that definitely wasn't committed by a ghost.
Even if you don't know Faith Martin as an accomplished, longstanding crime author, there's lots here to show her love for the genre, which are a pleasure for the reader. Not only are there Golden Age echoes, but plenty of nods further back. For example, there is an air of The Adventure of the Speckled Band early on in Chapter 3, and Amy Phelps’ anxiety about being watched in bed, which shouldn't slip by those attentive readers who want to take a shot at solving the mystery before the end. And the supernatural threat that materialises into a prosaic, venal one is very The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Set in the 1920s, Murder by Candlelight captures the little frictions generated by class inequalities not only amongst the pool of suspects (old friends and a niece and nephew, all enjoying the murdered lady's largess), but also between Arbie and Val themselves. There are plenty of blind alleys offered, both to us and to them, and I really enjoyed the initial set-up of investigating a haunting, particularly appropriate for an October read.
I haven't given this five stars, as it is a little over-written and under-finished, especially early on, as Martin tries to establish the period stylistically in her prose. This is understandable for the start of a series, but the effect could have been achieved with a tighter edit. For example, early on, when Arbie is left for the night to watch out for ghosts, Martin tells us: “He watched his hostess climb the stairs, a lone and lonely figure. For all her wealth and position, it struck him suddenly what a tragic figure she made.” It is de trop. (Of course she is alone. She has let him in secretly and is now going upstairs to leave him to the watch! The empathetic streak in Arbie could be better displayed in other ways.) I do think Martin could expect slightly better of her publisher both with the editing but also with the proofreading. (There is a “piece of mind” instead of a peace of mind, a “then” for a “than”, “immediately family” rather than “immediate family”.) But I'm really looking forward to any future instalments!
I'm grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Even if you don't know Faith Martin as an accomplished, longstanding crime author, there's lots here to show her love for the genre, which are a pleasure for the reader. Not only are there Golden Age echoes, but plenty of nods further back. For example, there is an air of The Adventure of the Speckled Band early on in Chapter 3, and Amy Phelps’ anxiety about being watched in bed, which shouldn't slip by those attentive readers who want to take a shot at solving the mystery before the end. And the supernatural threat that materialises into a prosaic, venal one is very The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Set in the 1920s, Murder by Candlelight captures the little frictions generated by class inequalities not only amongst the pool of suspects (old friends and a niece and nephew, all enjoying the murdered lady's largess), but also between Arbie and Val themselves. There are plenty of blind alleys offered, both to us and to them, and I really enjoyed the initial set-up of investigating a haunting, particularly appropriate for an October read.
I haven't given this five stars, as it is a little over-written and under-finished, especially early on, as Martin tries to establish the period stylistically in her prose. This is understandable for the start of a series, but the effect could have been achieved with a tighter edit. For example, early on, when Arbie is left for the night to watch out for ghosts, Martin tells us: “He watched his hostess climb the stairs, a lone and lonely figure. For all her wealth and position, it struck him suddenly what a tragic figure she made.” It is de trop. (Of course she is alone. She has let him in secretly and is now going upstairs to leave him to the watch! The empathetic streak in Arbie could be better displayed in other ways.) I do think Martin could expect slightly better of her publisher both with the editing but also with the proofreading. (There is a “piece of mind” instead of a peace of mind, a “then” for a “than”, “immediately family” rather than “immediate family”.) But I'm really looking forward to any future instalments!
I'm grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Murder by Candlelight is a quaint murder mystery set in a small Cotswolds village in the 1920s - and it never lets you forget it with the number of genre tropes stuffed into this book.
The main character, Arbie, is the popular author of A Gentleman's Guide to Ghost Hunting, and off the back of this fame he is persuaded to investigate some spooky happenings in a large old manor house in the village. Unfortunately for him, he seems to have bitten off more than he can chew, when the lady of the house is found dead in a LOCKED ROOM with NO OBVIOUS EXPLANATION.
I felt like the story was badly-paced - the murder happens far too late, and then the explanation and reveal of whodunnit comes very suddenly and close to the end of the book. There are a couple of red herrings but they don't really work too well, and to be frank I found the relegation of Val to purely a sidekick (and one who gets forgotten at the end of the book) to be quite disappointing. Still, if you like this type of book, it wasn't too bad - it was definitely funny at times and when the plot got going I was definitely intrigued.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The main character, Arbie, is the popular author of A Gentleman's Guide to Ghost Hunting, and off the back of this fame he is persuaded to investigate some spooky happenings in a large old manor house in the village. Unfortunately for him, he seems to have bitten off more than he can chew, when the lady of the house is found dead in a LOCKED ROOM with NO OBVIOUS EXPLANATION.
I felt like the story was badly-paced - the murder happens far too late, and then the explanation and reveal of whodunnit comes very suddenly and close to the end of the book. There are a couple of red herrings but they don't really work too well, and to be frank I found the relegation of Val to purely a sidekick (and one who gets forgotten at the end of the book) to be quite disappointing. Still, if you like this type of book, it wasn't too bad - it was definitely funny at times and when the plot got going I was definitely intrigued.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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:
No
Two likeable and unlikely sleuths try to solve a locked room murder. Set in the Cotswolds in the mid 1920s it has a feel of Agatha Christie but for a modem reader.
A nice set up with plenty of twists and turns to keep you entertained and a cast of characters that may just be the killer. I didn’t work out who but I did work out how but it was clever.
Enough of a good story to encourage me to try other books by Faith Martin.
A nice set up with plenty of twists and turns to keep you entertained and a cast of characters that may just be the killer. I didn’t work out who but I did work out how but it was clever.
Enough of a good story to encourage me to try other books by Faith Martin.
I really liked this English murder mystery that takes place 100 years ago in a quaint village! It does take a chapter or two to get used to the language (at least it did for me), and then I was "all in."
Arbie has attained some success with his ghost-hunting book, and he's approached by spinster Amy Phelps to search for ghosts/beings at her home Old Forge. His friend Val tags along, and the reader can see how taken with Arbie that Val is. We learn that Miss Phelps is loaded, and there are a group of folks who are in the vicinity (the housekeeper, the nephew, the cousin, etc.), and we learn that Miss Phelps has recently changed her will. On their second trip to Old Forge, tragedy strikes, and Miss Phelps is found dead in her bed with the door to her room locked. Val and Arbie were in the hallway the entire night. How did the killer do it?
The pacing was good. The characters were interesting. I liked the interplay between Val and Arbie. There was an investigator, but the ghost-hunter was instrumental to solving the murder. This is a fun murder mystery with a whole lot of atmosphere, perfect for a fall evening! I don’t think it’s a perfect book (the reason it’s not 5 stars), but it’s a good mystery romp.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.