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lavins's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed this mystery book. It had all the good elements of the regency times and it was a pretty quick to listen book.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
I really enjoyed this mystery book. It had all the good elements of the regency times and it was a pretty quick to listen book.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
bibliocamera's review against another edition
4.0
This book ticked a lot boxes for the kind of mystery I really enjoy. Historical details, Intriguing characters, so many different suspects & potential motives, plus a fascinating amateur detective in Mr. Quayle.
edlib's review against another edition
4.0
This book ticked a lot boxes for the kind of mystery I really enjoy. Historical details, Intriguing characters, so many different suspects & potential motives, plus a fascinating amateur detective in Mr. Quayle.
robertod2004's review
4.0
With thanks to the author, publishers BooksGoSocial Audio, and NetGalley, for providing me with an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
A classic early 20th-century English murder-mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie!
In the midst of a birthday party being thrown for his niece at his estate by Lord Unsworth, the body of a young woman is found. She was not an invited guest, and none of the other party-goers seem to know who she is or where she came from. Lord Unsworth's secretary, Mr. Quayle, is tasked with solving the mystery on his behalf, and must operate between Lord Unsworth's extended family and Scotland Yard, neither of whom is particularly happy with his assignment. When the finger of guilt appears to point to a family member who then vanishes, Mr. Quayle must work fast to overcome obstacles at every turn and uncover the true identity of the killer!
The author did a great job of keeping the story moving forward at all times, and the characters were well-developed and engaging while the plot was sufficiently well woven to keep me guessing as to the killer's identity until practically the end. I enjoyed the setting of this story as well as its timeline, where the range of modern forensic techniques was not available and detectives had to rely on good old-fashioned policework to solve crimes
I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the characters were represented wonderfully by the narrator, Rafe Beckley.
Overall a very enjoyable experience, and I look forward to the next installment in the Mr. Quayle mystery series!
A classic early 20th-century English murder-mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie!
In the midst of a birthday party being thrown for his niece at his estate by Lord Unsworth, the body of a young woman is found. She was not an invited guest, and none of the other party-goers seem to know who she is or where she came from. Lord Unsworth's secretary, Mr. Quayle, is tasked with solving the mystery on his behalf, and must operate between Lord Unsworth's extended family and Scotland Yard, neither of whom is particularly happy with his assignment. When the finger of guilt appears to point to a family member who then vanishes, Mr. Quayle must work fast to overcome obstacles at every turn and uncover the true identity of the killer!
The author did a great job of keeping the story moving forward at all times, and the characters were well-developed and engaging while the plot was sufficiently well woven to keep me guessing as to the killer's identity until practically the end. I enjoyed the setting of this story as well as its timeline, where the range of modern forensic techniques was not available and detectives had to rely on good old-fashioned policework to solve crimes
I listened to the audiobook version of this work, and the characters were represented wonderfully by the narrator, Rafe Beckley.
Overall a very enjoyable experience, and I look forward to the next installment in the Mr. Quayle mystery series!
kirstensviews's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
johnw613's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An English country house murder mystery set in 1929 but written nearly a century later. All the classic elements we love from reading the masters of the golden age, Christie and Sayers and Allingham and Tey, are here in this deftly plotted cozy that one hopes will herald a renewed flowering of the genre.
saltygalreads's review
5.0
This mystery novel has all the classic elements required for the quintessential murder mystery experience: a rambling country manor house, an aristocratic family, an old family riddle, missing heirloom diamond necklace, secret passages and a mysterious unknown murdered girl. Finally, enter the amateur detective with the trust of the family.
This cracking mystery novel is so satisfying for all the lovers of classic British detective stories. It is reminiscent of the best British detectives and borrows on the popularity of those books while still managing to feel original and fresh. It was so fun to read a book that felt so familiar but still creative and new. As an Anglophile and hardcore British murder mystery fan, this novel delivered and I thoroughly it. So much thanks to the author and to Book Sirens for allowing me to read it.
This cracking mystery novel is so satisfying for all the lovers of classic British detective stories. It is reminiscent of the best British detectives and borrows on the popularity of those books while still managing to feel original and fresh. It was so fun to read a book that felt so familiar but still creative and new. As an Anglophile and hardcore British murder mystery fan, this novel delivered and I thoroughly it. So much thanks to the author and to Book Sirens for allowing me to read it.
organchordsandlightning's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
5.0
A really strong quaint little mystery that did exactly what it set out to do. The protagonist detective was a delight to read.