Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Cozy

  • Murder at Christmas

    Murder at Christmas

    When Dan Armtrongs’ phone rings early one December morning, he is very surprised the number is Selena Gardener’s, a very high-profile Hollywood celebrity, and friend of both he and his wife Anna, who is asking not only a huge favour, but is issuing an invitation to spend three or four days in in the Italian Alps at a very private location.

    As so begins another intriguing mystery from TA Williams, Murder at Christmas set in the beautiful Valle di Mezzo, high in the Italian Alps. From the minute Dan and Anna walk in the door, accompanied by Oscar, who is discovering snow for the first time in his life, they realise not everything is as it appears.

    Their host Bartolomeo Viviani, Head of the Aquila Sports empire, is highly strung, affable and drinking heavily, the rest of the family members are anything but relaxed and overly welcoming.

    Bartolomeo is worried that after the death of his long-time friend and business parter Vincenzo Mazzini, he will be the next one, as he believes Vincenzo was murdered. When a death occurs, Dan is not convinced it is murder, maybe an unfortunate accident, until a series of events has him wondering about everyone and everything that has been occurring.

    As he and Oscar, begin to dig deeper into the background of the members of the family and staff gathered there, he realises that there are many, many hidden layers, some seriously unsavoury, that need to be carefully worked through before any conclusions can be reached.

    Can a family find some sort of peace before Christmas or will their entire world collapses as Dan and Oscar race to discover the truth behind so many of the closely held secrets which has seen one person die and another teeter on the edge of suicide.

    TA Williams has once again delivered an excellent read with Murder at Christmas set just days before Christmas in a stunningly beautiful, snow-clad region which has also learned over the centuries to hold it secrets close.

  • Murder in the Reading Room

    Murder in the Reading Room

    Cozy Murder fans will enjoy the latest and final intrigue in the Golden Age Mystery series, Murder in the Reading Room from Anita Davison. A man is murdered in the Reading Rooms of the British Museum; a man who is an expert in Renaissance Art and a regular attendee at the reading Rooms.

    Why a man who was a quiet, self-contained man should have been murdered sees Hannah Clifford, Aunt Violet and the indomitable Matilda Gilmartin, ably assisted by Aiden Farrell, recently retired from Scotland Yard, set out to discover why a bronze statue known fondly as Lucrezia, owned by the Fraser family for more than 100 years, should call for murder to be committed.

    Set at the end of the First World war, when London was still recovering from a brutal War, the Spanish Influenza is killing many and women have finally been given the right to Vote, the formidable team of ladies find they are perplexed as every lead they follow comes to nothing.

    They are aware people are not being altogether truthful, lies are being told and the Police are in awe of dealing with the upper end of Society, which is not helping. This is personal, as Theodore Prynne was well known to Aiden, which makes them all determined to dig deep to find a killer and what is now the missing bronze.

    A little on the slow-moving side, Murder in the Reading room comes with a certain warmth, of familiarity, making it an ideal read for a lazy day, when crime solving should not be at all hurried, but carefully  worked out over a good cocktail or two, Aunt Violet style.

  • The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair

    The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair

    We left Eliza Baker and Theodore Sharpe planning to attend Agatha Christie’s Wedding to Max Mallowan, something they, along with Dorothy L Sawyer were looking forward to as it was a carefully kept secret, but an exciting one.

    The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair sees Eliza and Theo arriving on the Isle of Skye in the worst possible weather to discover they are not the only ones, other than Agatha and Dorothy, residing at Dunmara Lodge: there is a hunting party led by Lord Hector Blackwood, a loud, overbearing man, his wife and friends.

    The four friends, of which they now are, having shared a number of life-threatening adventures, are somewhat puzzled by this and as the storm continues to rage about the Lodge, they are all wondering what the real intent is behind Lord Blackwoods last minute visit to the Lodge.

    They are there to hear the Bans read for Agatha before journeying on to Edinburgh for the wedding; the hunting party seem to be there for many, many other reasons and it is not long before one of these reasons become apparent, or does it?

    The Minister is behaving in a very odd manner, stumbling terribly over the reading of the Bans, Maisie, the young woman looking after the Lodge is on edge and Iain, Maisie’s father is trying somewhat desperately to make everything appear as normal. It is very apparent they know Lord Blackwell and do not appear to like him.

    After the first hunt Lord Blackwood appears to have either disappeared deliberately or been murdered; if so why and who did it are of a concern in this closed knit little community of Dunmara Lodge as it is possible one of them has committed a murder.

    As time moves onward matters come to a head when Maisie’s son and Agatha’s daughter also disappear from an outing to the beach. Answers to questions are few and far between, and it is clear that time is of the essence as the weather is once again fast becoming a storm.

    Told through the eyes of Theo who is terribly in love with Eliza, The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair looks at love in its many guises, to create an absolutely engrossing fourth book in the ‘A Detection Club’ series from Kelly Oliver.

    Cozy Murder fans will love this one set on the stormy Isle of Skye against a wild and windswept backdrop.

    Footnote: The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair is based on the life of Agatha Christie who did indeed marry Archologist Max Mallowan in Edinburgh on 1 September 1930. They remained married until her death in 1976.

  • Murder in Rome

    Murder in Rome

    Dan Armstrong is approached by British TV Celebrity Tamsin Goodfaith regarding the recent death of her Uncle Phil, a man of immense wealth, who, according to the Police in Rome, committed suicide, by falling from the top of a tower, the largest tower of his Castle.

    He has been recommended to Tasmin by a good friend of his in Scotland Yard, should she decide to investigate her Uncles’ death.

    Invited to stay at the Casello del Lago, in the southern sector of Rome, Santa Rita, he and Oscar set off for what looks like a few days in a beautiful location, living in a very formidable Castle, while trying to piece together the series of events which  lead up to Phillip Hastings, CEO of ASH Finance, death.

    Tamsin is concerned that the family in residence for their summer sojourn in Rome do not know that Dan is Private Investigator. It is not long after Dan and Oscar arrive,  he becomes aware of some very deep family tension, which immediately sets him to wondering, could it have been murder rather than suicide.

    A second death occurs, which is indeed murder, and when Dan is almost killed, along with Roger Hasting, the new CEO of the Company, he really does begin to believe that someone in the family is committing murder, but who and why is the question that needs answering.

    Another death raises yet more unanswerable questions but also sets the remainer of the family at odds with one another, as it really is apparent that one of them is ruthless and utterly unscrupulous.

    Is it possible that the history of the Castello and the region could have something to do with the murders, but if so, what? And what is it that makes Oscar seriously question the suit of Armour in the entrance to the Castello?

    Murder in Rome from TA Williams, book 15 in the Armstrong and Oscar Murder series, is another excellently executed  cozy murder with so many carefully created layers, a murderer well hidden in plain sight with the twists and turns within the plot line such that it could be any one of the people at the Castle, except perhaps, the Ghost of the Unknown Knight, buried in the garden. Well maybe!

    It will certainly keep you guessing!

  • The Widows’ Guide to Last Orders

    The Widows’ Guide to Last Orders

    A Widow’s Guide to Last Orders begins with a map which proves to be most useful as you join Ginny and her friends in the small country town of Little Shaw. The ladies are at a quiz night held at the local pub, The Lost Goat, which ends in serious verbal abuse of the local Detective Inspector James Wallace, whose team just happened to win, again!

    Ginny and her friends, the team of Merry Widows was nonplussed about the reaction from people who were normally respected members of the community. Nathan the bar attendant who set the quiz questions was looking overwhelmed at the aggressive reaction and volunteered to go to the cellar to change the keg.

    He is murdered, the police are calling it accidental, but Ginny and her friends simply can’t help thinking otherwise, but who would do such a thing over quiz questions sets the town alight with gossip,

    Having felt the wrath of James Wallace on a previous case in which they became entangled, the Merry Widows realise this time they will need to tread carefully, that is if they survive the get fit regime organised by JM, as DI Wallace seems to be otherwise occupied and more surly than usual.

    As the local librarian, Ginny considers there may be a clue in the last books Nathan borrowed as to what may have led to his death. Going through the books she comes across an old photo with what appears to be a code on the back.

    Loving to solve a puzzle, the ladies set out to use their collective wits and skills to try and discover what was behind Nathan’s death. A cast of very colourful locals, some with a past sunk deep in crime, but who are reformed and now elderly gentlemen, and a secret almost hidden in clear view, sadly sees the death of another community member before the killer can be discovered.

    Excellent for a day on the couch indulging and cozy murder, A Widow’s Guide to Last Orders, book 4 in The Widows’ Detective Club will appeal to the hidden detective in us all.

  • Murder on a Frosty Night

    Murder on a Frosty Night

    Murder on a Frosty Night is the latest cosy murder from Verity Bright and once again presents a very tough case to solve. As the snow falls and the temperature plummets, Ellie, Hugh and Clifford are at what appears to be a complete dead end, when a simple clue presents itself resulting in a case conclusion with an astonishing ending.

    It’s almost Christmas again and Lady Eleanor Swift, her husband Hugh and the stalwart Clifford are getting ready to celebrate their first Christmas together at Henley Hall.

    Ellie is doing her best to get all her gits wrapped, with help from Tompkins and Gladstone, in time to attend a function at Little Buckford, but somehow it is not coming together as it should. Hugh is in his office trying to finish work required in his new position as a consultant to Scotland Yard.

    Even though it is the festive season the lack of work for the new Byron Detective Agency is causing some worry and when a  telegram arrives with the promise of Three Hundred pounds as a retainer and a further six hundred to follow, they make the hasty decision to travel to Waketon Court, Yorelow in Westhamshire, arriving as directed, before the final stroke of Midnight.

    Once there they being to seriously wonder just what it is they have undertaken as they find the body of the client draped over a grave, the residents of the Village secretive, holding grudges that go back many years and the staff at Waketon Court behaving in a very unusual manner.

    Time is a crucial factor in attempting to discover what has been going on and exactly what was the murder weapon used to kill not once but several times with a ruthlessness that leads them to believe there is far more to what has occurred in Yorelow than first meets the eye.

    Combining forces with the local Constabulary, and with the arrival of the ladies from Henley Hall, it seems they may have a wonderful Christmas after all, if only they can find the killer before they kill again.

    Gripping and most intriguing Murder on a Frosty Night is one case that will keep you guessing until the last snowflake falls on Yorelow, Westhamshire.

  • Murder at the Royal Palace

    Murder at the Royal Palace

    Change is very much in the air coupled with immense excitement in the latest Lady Eleanor Swift Cozy Murder, Murder At The Royal Palace, as both Clifford and Lady Eleanor wait in the magnificent Ballroom of Buckingham Place to witness Hugh, her beloved husband of barely one month, receive his Knighthood from King George.

    When a recipient waiting to receive his award for Services to the King, catches her eye, she is much struck by his immense pallor; when he stumbles, almost falling she instinctively goes to help until the Place security men come to assist the man.

    Sir Leonard Dalrymple, Head of Palace Security makes himself known to Ellie, Hugh and Clifford, much to Hugh’s chagrin. Ellie considers this could be the break they need to start their very new Detective agency and is prepared, up to a point, to let bygones be gone!

    Accepting the death of the man who collapsed at Buckingham Place was unusual, he was also Sir Leonard’s brother, they agree to investigate his death much against their better judgement.

    Clifford and Ellie find they will need to go undercover in the Tower of London, while Hugh is doing his best to finish up his massive pile of paperwork before he leaves Scotland Yard for good, and with more than one or two strange occurrences happening Ellie, Clifford, Hugh and the Ladies find themselves up against a very careful, ruthless killer.

    Murder At The Royal Palace is steeped in the bloody history of the Tower of London, the superstition that surrounds old buildings with a long history, the small town inside the walls of the Tower, which is home to the Beefeaters, (Yeoman Warders, Guardians of the Tower) as well as the Tower Ravens. When all these factors combine you have the perfect setting for a very grizzly series of murders which will plunge Ellie, Hugh and Clifford into immense danger.

    The research that has gone into the background of Murder At The Royal Palace is formidable which has resulted in creating a captivating murder but also offers a slice of British history many readers will enjoy.

    Highly recommended for lovers of a good murder mystery.

  • The Seaside Murders

    The Seaside Murders

    Having read many of Helena Dixon’s Miss Underhay Murder series I was interested to discover book two in the new series The Secret Detective Agency, The Seaside Murders.

    Slow to begin, with the timeline set in 1941, once the characters are introduced and the plot begins to be constructed, it is extremely easy to become immersed into the clandestine world of one of the many secretive divisions of the British Government during World War II.

    Jane Treen is a young woman of character who works undercover to solve anomalies that do occur during times of war. When summoned to Brigadier Remmington-Blythe’s office, she is given the task of discovering why a man’s naked body appears to have been washed up on the beach, near to her family home of Ashbourne Village.

    She reluctantly accepts the assignment. When she discovers she will be working with Arthur Cilento and his manservant Benson, she is relieved to be working with them again. She has undertaken clandestine work with them before, successfully.

    But there is more involved in the situation just a than a dead man, an Italian prisoner of war, there is also the appalling issue of black-market racketeering in the area that is progressively getting worse.

    Neither Jane or Arthur is particularly happy about the ‘special mission’ but it is only a matter of days after their arrival at Ashbourne House, when they realise that they are up against a well organised group of ‘smugglers’ and that indeed murder has been committed.

    Are the two events connected and if so how, create an interesting storyline in the Helena Dixon style of Mystery Murders.

    It will be interesting to see how this new series evolves in book three as Jane and Arthur develop their reputations for solving dangerously challenging issues within the constraints of secrecy and war.

  • Murder on the Cornish Coast

    Murder on the Cornish Coast

    An unsolved murder, a daughter left battered with little recall of the events and a man who should be dead, but it would seem may not be, sees Kitty Bryant and her husband Matt become deeply involved in a situation that just seems to get more complicated by the hour, in Murder on the Cornish Coast, another complex murder from Helena Dixon.

    Following on from Matt and Kitty’s return to England from New York, Matt decides he needs to further investigate the death of his Army friend Redvers Palmerston, a man whose funeral he had attended. He is positive he saw him in the waiting crowd when their ship docked.
    Meanwhile Kitty has a visit from a distressed young lady, Lady Cordelia Hedges, who is convinced someone is trying to kill her. Her father, Sir Victor Hugo had been murdered at St Mawes and she had also been viciously attacked on the same night. No one has been arrested for either incident.

    She is looking for answers and invites Matt and Kitty to a weekend event at Highcliffe Hall to mark her return to the place where she was attacked. Her therapist thinks it could help her unlock memories of the terrible events that occurred there.

    But all is far from what it seems at Highcliffe Hall, with secrets apparently being kept, personalities clashing and a string of events occurring that make absolutely no sense at all.

    Kitty and Matt find they have no easy answers. Kitty eventually decides perhaps the downstairs staff are able to share some information that may help, as servants know almost everything that goes on, even behind closed doors!

    Matt considers this a somewhat drastic step, but knows once Kitty is determined to follow instinct, it is best to let her get on with the task. When another murder occurs, Kitty begins to think that perhaps there may be a clue in what has tragically occurred.

    Murder on the Cornish Coast book 19 in the Miss Underhay Mystery series is an intriguing and intricate murder mystery that keeps the killer well-hidden and will keep you guessing who did it, until the final tragic reveal.

  • A Whisper of Death

    A Whisper of Death

    Left for dead on the streets of London Hadrian Becket, Earl of Ravenshurst wonders in the days of his long recovery, why he was stabbed and why, even more worryingly, he now appears to be having visions, which terrify him and leave him with a blistering headache.

    Matilda Wren is not of the usual style for a well bought up young lady, as she does not want to marry, but wants to be a Detective, following in her beloved father’s footsteps; that of a London Policeman.

    When the household funds are stretched to the absolute limit Tilda decides to go and see her cousin Sir Henry, in regard to advancing her Grandmother some more funds, but when she arrives at his home there is a funeral wreath hanging on the door. Sir Henry has succumbed to a heart attack.

    Leaving the bereaved household, she sees a well-dressed man standing starring at the house; a most arresting man, obviously a man of wealth, possibly nobility who is also looking for Sir Henry and is equally surprised to discover he is dead.

    They discuss such matters as why, how and when this happened and realise that maybe they can be of assistance to each other, as there is definitely something not quite right about the situation. And so the unlikely partnership of Raven and Wren is formed to try and discover what is behind a series of stabbings, leaving the Earl still alive, but two other men dead.

    As the body count rises, with more murders committed, along with a devastating fire, the pressure is on them to find out who is behind the deadly plot and where the money has gone that Sir Henry was supposed to have been managing for Tilda’s grandmother. The more they discover about Sir Henry’s affairs, it seems that the deaths, the money and the fire are all laced tightly together.

    Danger levels rise as they dig into the past of the deceased men, taking them both down pathways neither of them ever expected to travel, with both Hadrian and Tilda having to face some truly shocking truths about their families.

    Darcy Burke has written a captivating novel in A Whisper of Death with an unlikely pair of detectives that charm their way across the page’s, both of whom have vowed never to marry, both of whom love to solve a mystery and both of whom accept each other for who they are, not their standing in society.

    A Whisper of Death is Book one in what is going to be a series of incredible charm and murder mystery as Raven and Wren come back together again in A Whisper at Midnight due out in February 2025. I for one can’t wait!