Scan barcode
marcirenee1974's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
This was a fun read and I am looking forward to when Mauris and Lady Bella begin their crime-fighting careers together! I also can't wait until Lady Bella jettisons Gilly, what an insufferable bore. This was my 1st read by Benedict Brown but I am now adding all of his books to my TBR!
#MurderatEverhamHall
#NetGalley
#MurderatEverhamHall
#NetGalley
jessgwill's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ssejig's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Marius Quin is a bestselling author. He is now working on "Glimpse of a Blood Moon." Well, he's trying to work on it. The first chapter has been written but he's now struggling with a massive case of writer's block. His publisher won't advance him any more money (he has to be guaranteed of a product, after all) but has invited Marius to a Boxing Day party.
Outside the office, Marius slips and falls. It is then that his childhood sweetheart, Lady Isabella "Bella" Montague shows up. He falls again - instantly back into love. It's been ten years since they've seen each other. In that time, Marius's father has gone missing, the war happened, and he has slipped into some financial distress.
With some surprise, he accepts an invitation from her to a party at Everham Hall, where a friend of hers, Cecil Sinclair, a famous actor, is throwing a party on New Year's Eve. He goes and takes his basset hound, Percy, with him.
Marius realizes almost instantly that this party will be as awkward as all heck. It seems that this Cecil is a diva of the first order becoming childish and petulant when drunk. His paramour, Poppy, is someone that no one likes. There is a film director, Anton, and his wife, an actress called Alma. There is also Bella's beau, Gilbert, whom Marius instantly dislikes. Cecil's father, Ross, and Edith, who Marius pegs as Ross's innamorata.
Marius pulls Bella aside to ask why she invited him to this house. He had hoped to reignite their romance; she says that she wanted to help reignite his imagination. She is more successful than he is at the end.
Of course, there is a murder and, since the police can't get there, Marius is elected to solve teh crime. As a mystery writer, he is (according to the other characters), the most likely to be able to solve the crime.
I haven't made it to that book yet but it appears that Marius has crossed paths with Lord Edgington, another of Brown's mystery series. If you like that series, I believe that this one will be enjoyable as well.
Outside the office, Marius slips and falls. It is then that his childhood sweetheart, Lady Isabella "Bella" Montague shows up. He falls again - instantly back into love. It's been ten years since they've seen each other. In that time, Marius's father has gone missing, the war happened, and he has slipped into some financial distress.
With some surprise, he accepts an invitation from her to a party at Everham Hall, where a friend of hers, Cecil Sinclair, a famous actor, is throwing a party on New Year's Eve. He goes and takes his basset hound, Percy, with him.
Marius realizes almost instantly that this party will be as awkward as all heck. It seems that this Cecil is a diva of the first order becoming childish and petulant when drunk. His paramour, Poppy, is someone that no one likes. There is a film director, Anton, and his wife, an actress called Alma. There is also Bella's beau, Gilbert, whom Marius instantly dislikes. Cecil's father, Ross, and Edith, who Marius pegs as Ross's innamorata.
Marius pulls Bella aside to ask why she invited him to this house. He had hoped to reignite their romance; she says that she wanted to help reignite his imagination. She is more successful than he is at the end.
Of course, there is a murder and, since the police can't get there, Marius is elected to solve teh crime. As a mystery writer, he is (according to the other characters), the most likely to be able to solve the crime.
I haven't made it to that book yet but it appears that Marius has crossed paths with Lord Edgington, another of Brown's mystery series. If you like that series, I believe that this one will be enjoyable as well.
kmbooky's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
5.0
Wow this book was absolutely amazing. I loved every second of this book. I did not see the ending coming and had no idea who the murderer was until it was finally revealed. I had guesses the whole time but was totally wrong. This book was so good. It wasn't a graphic or gross murder mystery book which I like. This was a great mystery with still being clean. I highly recommend this book and I know I will be looking for the next book in the series.
yvo_about_books's review
2.25
Finished reading: October 23rd 2023
"It's easy enough to solve a murder when I choose the killer from the beginning, but writing books didn't prepare me for the real thing."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
It's true that I don't usually read a lot of cozy mysteries, but I do love a 1920s setting and there was something about the blurb of Murder At Everham Hall that intrigued me. Add a comparison to Agatha Christie and I couldn't resist adding this first book of a new series to my shelves. Now that I've had the chance to read it, I'm sad to say that I ended up struggling quite a bit with this story and it wasn't the positive reading experience I thought it was going to be. I'll try to explain briefly what did and didn't work for me.
First of all I do have to say that I still like the premise of this story, with the 1920s Everham Hall setting, the locked room vibe and the fact that the characters are snowed in and decide to investigate the murder while they wait for the police. This all had such an Agatha Christie feel to it, and it's probably the main reason I kept reading. Sadly the plot twists and 'surprise' suspects were actually all quite predictable though, and as a result the story fell rather flat for me. I was also disappointed to hardly find any 'real' investigating going on; instead it was mostly clumsily performed interrogations/conversations.
My main issue is with the main characters though. I never warmed up to Marius Quin, and having to spend time with his thoughts as well as his actions started to irritate me more and more. I didn't feel the chemistry with Bella either, and as a result this amateur duo wasn't able to charm me nor were they able to convince me they were up to the task. The worst part is probably the romance itself, with both the very present love triangle, jealousy and pining. It's such a shame there was so much focus on the romance instead of the mystery, because it really ruined the story for me.
I did like the bookish element, with the main character being an author and trying to write his next book. The Everham Hall setting is also well described, and the winter weather added the right atmosphere for this story. The dog Percy was likewise a nice touch, although he was a bit too passive to add much to the story. The rest of the characters were mostly built out of cliches, and I wish they would have been fleshed out more to help add more dept to the story. As it is, I felt like I never got to know any of them.
In short, unfortunately Murder At Everham Hall and me didn't get along as much as I hoped. There were elements I liked, but between the romance, characters and disappointing plot twists there were too many things that somehow didn't work for me. I seem to be in the minority so far though, so it might just be the pesky reading slump acting up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Infidelity, Addiction, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and War
jackievdmwe78's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Great mystery. Gripping read. Love the era it is set in. Couldn't stop reading.
vesper1931's review
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
1927. Mystery writer Marius Quin is invited to a New Year's Eve party by childhood friend Lady Isabella Montague at Everham Hall, hosted by owner actor Cecil Sinclair. But when the host is shot dead, Marius and Isabella decide to investigate as the guests (suspects) are snowed in.
An entertaining and well-written cozy historical mystery with its cast of diverse personalities, and likeable main character. A good start to this new series.
An entertaining and well-written cozy historical mystery with its cast of diverse personalities, and likeable main character. A good start to this new series.
pickpoppies's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
My first Netgalley read.
Set in one of my favorite time and place, 1920’s England. I have read the first book in the Lord Edgington series and if you like that one, you’ll probably like this one as well.
It’s the first book in a new series so there’s some back story at first but I would have loved to get to the mystery sooner.
It reads a little on the juvenile side, main focus on interviews and not physical clues to puzzle together.
Didn’t really take to the main character.
Favorite character: Percy (the dog)
Did I solve it: Nope
Set in one of my favorite time and place, 1920’s England. I have read the first book in the Lord Edgington series and if you like that one, you’ll probably like this one as well.
It’s the first book in a new series so there’s some back story at first but I would have loved to get to the mystery sooner.
It reads a little on the juvenile side, main focus on interviews and not physical clues to puzzle together.
Didn’t really take to the main character.
Favorite character: Percy (the dog)
Did I solve it: Nope
More...