annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Death in Castle Dark is the first book of a new cozy murder mystery series by Veronica Bond. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a fun and engaging series introduction set in a creepy and atmospheric Gothic style castle built in Illinois and with an ensemble cast of actors who perform intricately plotted murder mystery dinner theater with audience participants (who play the part of Inspector). One of the performers turns up stabbed (with the dagger, in the chapel). Was it the gardener? The ingenue? The hippie earth mother costumier? There are lots of twists and turns and intertwined backgrounds. Main protagonist Nora is appealing and honest and likeable, and she makes a good amateur detective.
The actual mystery and story are told interposed with the dramatic scenes and acted scenes which provide a good counterpoint for moving the plot along. Much of the theater dialogue is over the top and reminiscent of Poirot or Wimsey providing a nice contrast to the everyday interactions of the cast and characters. Many of the troupe live on-site in the castle, so there's a fair bit of touring the castle itself, library searches, secret passages, and hidden rooms.
The language is squeaky clean and there's no sexual content. There is a fairly strongly romantic element included. Most of the violence is off-scene; and the on-page violence is brief and fleeting and used in context. There are multiple kittens and a large dog (named Hamlet, because of course he is).
The denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying. This is a promising and fun to read cozy mystery series starter and I'm looking forward to the story continuing for Nora and co.
Four stars. This would be a good selection for library acquisition, book club cozy, or for fans of murder mysteries.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Death in Castle Dark is the first book of a new cozy murder mystery series by Veronica Bond. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a fun and engaging series introduction set in a creepy and atmospheric Gothic style castle built in Illinois and with an ensemble cast of actors who perform intricately plotted murder mystery dinner theater with audience participants (who play the part of Inspector). One of the performers turns up stabbed (with the dagger, in the chapel). Was it the gardener? The ingenue? The hippie earth mother costumier? There are lots of twists and turns and intertwined backgrounds. Main protagonist Nora is appealing and honest and likeable, and she makes a good amateur detective.
The actual mystery and story are told interposed with the dramatic scenes and acted scenes which provide a good counterpoint for moving the plot along. Much of the theater dialogue is over the top and reminiscent of Poirot or Wimsey providing a nice contrast to the everyday interactions of the cast and characters. Many of the troupe live on-site in the castle, so there's a fair bit of touring the castle itself, library searches, secret passages, and hidden rooms.
The language is squeaky clean and there's no sexual content. There is a fairly strongly romantic element included. Most of the violence is off-scene; and the on-page violence is brief and fleeting and used in context. There are multiple kittens and a large dog (named Hamlet, because of course he is).
The denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying. This is a promising and fun to read cozy mystery series starter and I'm looking forward to the story continuing for Nora and co.
Four stars. This would be a good selection for library acquisition, book club cozy, or for fans of murder mysteries.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
beardedbarista's review against another edition
4.0
First, thanks to PRHAudio for this complimentary audiobook!
This was about as easy going of a murder mystery as one could ask for! And that is nice every once in a while. Almost could be a YA dinner theater kind of murder mystery. If you want something to read with your mom and your grandma this is one to buy a few copies of :)
This was about as easy going of a murder mystery as one could ask for! And that is nice every once in a while. Almost could be a YA dinner theater kind of murder mystery. If you want something to read with your mom and your grandma this is one to buy a few copies of :)
peggyemi's review against another edition
4.0
Death in Castle Dark is the first book in Veronica Bonds' Dinner and a Murder Mystery series. I was excited to read this book because it is a new series for author Julia Buckley under a pen name. It is a great nod to the gothic mystery. Set in the midwest, this story takes place in a gothic castle that has been turned into a dinner theater. It is a great setting that adds to the overall enjoyment of the story. Nora, our main character, has relocated from Chicago to take an acting position with the dinner theater troupe. As she starts to settle into her new life, Nora stumbles across the body of a co-worker during a performance. There is a good group of diverse secondary characters, including members of the acting troupe, the owner of the dinner theater company, and Nora's family. Some romances developed among the cast, but it does not detract from or overpower the story.
The mystery is well done. As I mentioned it is a nod to the gothic mystery. There are some creepy incidents and the dark halls of the castle add to the gothic ambiance. The author gives her readers plenty of twists and turns as Nora tries to help the police with clues to uncover the killer's identity. There is a nice reveal and I did not guess the culprit.
I am looking forward to more books in this series to see where the author takes her characters.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
The mystery is well done. As I mentioned it is a nod to the gothic mystery. There are some creepy incidents and the dark halls of the castle add to the gothic ambiance. The author gives her readers plenty of twists and turns as Nora tries to help the police with clues to uncover the killer's identity. There is a nice reveal and I did not guess the culprit.
I am looking forward to more books in this series to see where the author takes her characters.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
misskate96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
4.0
karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
A murder mystery dinner production set in a castle experiences a death of their own amongst the crew.
This is such a fun cozy mystery with an intriguing back drop & vast character list to make unraveling the mystery an enjoyable ride.
Highly recommend for autumnal reading🍂
This is such a fun cozy mystery with an intriguing back drop & vast character list to make unraveling the mystery an enjoyable ride.
Highly recommend for autumnal reading🍂
alliegutie's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun mystery with a unique premise! I loved the setting of a castle/dinner theater cast.Â
I am BEGGING these mystery writers to stop making the cop the love interest though.Â
I am BEGGING these mystery writers to stop making the cop the love interest though.Â
jitterbun's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bigotterbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars. Super unusual setting-Nora gets a job as an actress in a murder/mystery venue called Castle Dark. The twist? It is an actual real castle! So, a spooky setting but not too scary since it's not an ancient castle but a constructed castle in Illinois. The first two chapters dragged but once it got going, wow, this was a good book. The actors live in the castle, patrons show up and wander around trying to solve the mystery and it's such fun I wish it was real. Then, as usual, a real murder occurs. There are secrets, rivalries, a dog and CATS! The plot moves right along and there is a very scary part that was unexpected but extra awesome to turn up the heat on the whodunnit and why. There were some draggy parts in the middle and quite a few characters to keep track of but not too bad. The romance parts were cute and well done; they made sense within the story line. I was all smug that I figured it out before Nora, nope, I was wrong and the actual wrap up was great. Book two is on hold at the library and I can't wait to visit Castle Dark again. Well done.
spess's review against another edition
2.0
I didn’t think this was a very compelling mystery. It seemed like the author would periodically drop the plot for unnecessary scenes that didn’t add anything to the story or characterizations.
It also felt like a self-insert fantasy for someone with dreams of stardom because everyone was constantly fawning over how talented the protagonist is. Multiple characters suggest/request that she sing and play the piano. She plays some showtunes and cries during her own performance! Also, multiple characters are completely overawed by her performance to an unreasonable degree. Maybe I haven’t been around enough theater people, but I’ve just never met anyone who cared that much about someone else’s singing.
I hated that the author included the trope of a woman learning to fight from her brothers, but it was even more egregious here because the adult heroine learned self-defense from her teenage brothers. I rolled my eyes pretty hard at that.
Finally, I was pretty unimpressed that the culprit turned out to be the only unlikable person we meet. It came across to me as an author who got too attached to her characters and didn’t want any of them to be bad. Worst of all, the murderer is portrayed as being mentally ill or somehow mentally unhinged during the big reveal. I think it’s just really irresponsible.
Spoilers for the ending for those who aren’t invested in finishing the book but still want to know the answer:
It also felt like a self-insert fantasy for someone with dreams of stardom because everyone was constantly fawning over how talented the protagonist is. Multiple characters suggest/request that she sing and play the piano. She plays some showtunes and cries during her own performance! Also, multiple characters are completely overawed by her performance to an unreasonable degree. Maybe I haven’t been around enough theater people, but I’ve just never met anyone who cared that much about someone else’s singing.
I hated that the author included the trope of a woman learning to fight from her brothers, but it was even more egregious here because the adult heroine learned self-defense from her teenage brothers. I rolled my eyes pretty hard at that.
Finally, I was pretty unimpressed that the culprit turned out to be the only unlikable person we meet. It came across to me as an author who got too attached to her characters and didn’t want any of them to be bad. Worst of all, the murderer is portrayed as being mentally ill or somehow mentally unhinged during the big reveal. I think it’s just really irresponsible.
Spoilers for the ending for those who aren’t invested in finishing the book but still want to know the answer: