katiya's review against another edition
4.0
Beth Haldane just landed her dream job - assistant archivist at a venerated public school in London. Unfortunately, her boss has just been murdered. It's also unfortunate that she was the one to discover his body. Now, as a newcomer to the school scene, Beth must prove her innocence to keep her job and her freedom.
Gosh, I liked our heroine, but sometimes I wanted to thump her with the insert from a paper towel roll. She had no sense of self-preservation and rushed into danger anytime she could. I would hate to see what she'd be like in a horror movie; I bet she'd try to confront the axe murderer in the attic. However, as frustrating as she is, Beth became a good friend, and I enjoyed her attempts at detection.
I'm stoked to find a fun new series. I can't wait to read more of Beth's adventures.
Gosh, I liked our heroine, but sometimes I wanted to thump her with the insert from a paper towel roll. She had no sense of self-preservation and rushed into danger anytime she could. I would hate to see what she'd be like in a horror movie; I bet she'd try to confront the axe murderer in the attic. However, as frustrating as she is, Beth became a good friend, and I enjoyed her attempts at detection.
I'm stoked to find a fun new series. I can't wait to read more of Beth's adventures.
saskialeach's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
dogearedtatty's review against another edition
3.0
You need to bear in mind with cosy mysteries like this, that they are not going to be the same as say a Christie or McDermid murder mystery. And both have their merits, you just need to accept them for their own style. This started quite promisingly - Beth has a new job as assistant archivist at a prestigious London school in Dulwich, and her boss gets murdered in he first morning. The mystery itself isn’t too bad (though there’s nothing really to suggest the actual motive… leching at women is hinted at, but a big step away from what actually is revealed…). Beth and Katie are quite likeable, as is Detective York.
And this leads me on to the few niggles.
1) this book is what I’m now going to call a “goldfish” book, where the author assumes you have the attention span of said fish, and therefore repeats things over and over. I lost track of how many times Beth’s fringe was mentioned - the thickness, floppiness, peering out, eye brows shooting up under it, her pushing it aside… it was practically a character on its own. Dial it down, please
And this leads me on to the few niggles.
1) this book is what I’m now going to call a “goldfish” book, where the author assumes you have the attention span of said fish, and therefore repeats things over and over. I lost track of how many times Beth’s fringe was mentioned - the thickness, floppiness, peering out, eye brows shooting up under it, her pushing it aside… it was practically a character on its own. Dial it down, please
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I've been reading cozy mystery for ages and was curious to read this series. i discovered it was printed some years ago but I think it aged well.
Beth is an interesting character: witty, down to the earth, very different from Dulwich social butterflies. i like how she's a women who must work, pay for her credit card. She hope for the better future for her child and her first day at the local top school could help.
Thinks never works in the proper way and she finds her boss killed.
This is the start of Beth's career as amateur sleuth and I had fun following her investigations.
This is a humorous cozy and there's plenty of funny moment even if the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I liked the well developed and relatable characters and the witty and sharp social remarks by Beth.
It's the good start for a cosy series and I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Beth is an interesting character: witty, down to the earth, very different from Dulwich social butterflies. i like how she's a women who must work, pay for her credit card. She hope for the better future for her child and her first day at the local top school could help.
Thinks never works in the proper way and she finds her boss killed.
This is the start of Beth's career as amateur sleuth and I had fun following her investigations.
This is a humorous cozy and there's plenty of funny moment even if the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I liked the well developed and relatable characters and the witty and sharp social remarks by Beth.
It's the good start for a cosy series and I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
vixen13's review against another edition
The opposite of gripping. Boring. Someone teach this author to show not tell. 😞
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
Excited by her new job as assistant archivist, Beth Haldane, widow and mother to son Jake, finds herself in a strange predicament. She has just stumbled over the body of her new boss Alan Jenkins, and it is quickly assumed that she is responsible for his murder, all in attempts to take his job over. Not only has Beth clearly not killed Alan, she doesn’t feel that she can leave it to the police to sort this out. In fact, she takes her research skills to a new level in order to investigate Alan‘s life and to see who could’ve been that wanted him dead.
During the course of her investigation she finds that her office has been ransacked, and this helps her to clearly see that there is more going on than she expected. Something else becomes clear to Beth. The school itself must be hiding a secret, and her knowledge of this fact just might place her in the murderer’s crosshairs.
While being an archivist might be Beth’s latest job, it is clear that she is also rather adept when it comes to amateur sleuthing. The Murder Mystery is the engaging first book in the London Murder Mystery series. Beth is a delightful character who isn’t afraid to ask questions, is skilled at finding the right answers and never forgets her responsibilities.
During the course of her investigation she finds that her office has been ransacked, and this helps her to clearly see that there is more going on than she expected. Something else becomes clear to Beth. The school itself must be hiding a secret, and her knowledge of this fact just might place her in the murderer’s crosshairs.
While being an archivist might be Beth’s latest job, it is clear that she is also rather adept when it comes to amateur sleuthing. The Murder Mystery is the engaging first book in the London Murder Mystery series. Beth is a delightful character who isn’t afraid to ask questions, is skilled at finding the right answers and never forgets her responsibilities.
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