A review by kate66
Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Moncrieff

4.0

Murder at the Theatre Royale is a proper old fashioned murder mystery a la Christie or Allingham. In fact I was almost disappointed that there was no school marm issuing an invitation for a game of "jolly hockey sticks".

There is a link to Christmas in that it's set around that time of year and the murder occurs at rehearsal of A Christmas Carol but it's not rammed down your throat.

The story follows Daphne King, a bit slovenly but an intrepid reporter and investigator. Daphne is desperate to unshackle herself from writing the agony aunt column at The Chronicle so when a chance to interview the cast of A Christmas Carol she jumps at it.

Thankfully she gets more than she bargained for and soon finds herself investigating the murder of Scrooge himself whilst milking her association with the useless detective in charge of the case. She also manages to recruit helpers along her way to uncovering a much more complex case than she first thought.

Ada Moncrieff gives us a proper old school murder mystery. It is the sort of story I like, having no mutilated corpses, over the top violence or swearing detective. A true old fashioned, gentle but interesting story. I read it in 2 sittings so make of that what you will. Its certainly easy reading.

I would recommend this for anyone who wants a nice, easy, murder mystery with a few twists along the way.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.