Seasonal Historical Mystery: Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman

 

Join Lily Adler as she solves her latest mystery in Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman. 

The widowed Lady Adler is a guest at a neighborhood Christmas ball in Hertfordshire thrown by Mrs. Grantham. Excited to spend time with her late husband's family, she is glad to see her old friend Jack Hartley and his family in attendance. However, she is disturbed to hear that Jack's sister Amelia has been the topic of neighborhood gossip and is unwilling to explain anything about what happened. 

An intense snowstorm forces many guests to spend the night with their host, and after Lily overhears an argument, she is certain all won't be well this holiday season. When the man who is scandalously linked to Amelia is found shot to death the next morning in the poultry yard, Sir John Adler asks for Lily's help in figuring out who is responsible. 

What could be better than a mystery set during Christmas? Not much if you like Christmas and mysteries as much as I do. Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman is the fourth book in her Lady Adler Mystery series, but you won't feel like you missed a beat since this is a total standalone novel. 

Admittedly, this plot took a while to set up, so if you are looking for a dive right into the action novel, this won't work. However, once the murder takes place, you are fully invested alongside Lily to uncover who the culprit is. And I encourage you to stick with it, because it is worth it in the end. This is a fabulous locked room historical mystery that will keep you guessing through all the twists and turns and numerous suspects. You'll need to have a keen eye to log some of those details that will reveal the identity of the murderer and why they resorted to such extremes as murder. There is a romantic element to this story, but it plays a backseat to the mystery most of the time. 

If you enjoy historical mysteries with great attention to historical details, locked room mysteries, or stories with female sleuths, you will want to pick up Murder at Midnight. I look forward to reading past and future Lady Adler mysteries.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQLKMDJR
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (September 19, 2023)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 19, 2023
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1379 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages
• Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1639104321

I received a digital copy of this novel from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas Historical Mystery Review: A Christmas Carol Murder by Heather Redmond

 

A fascinating historical mystery awaits you in A Christmas Carol Murder by Heather Redmond. 

In the third book of Redmond's reimagining of the life of Charles Dickens, the young reporter must find a murderer and find an orphaned infant a home, that is unless he becomes the next victim. 

Charles Dickins is out caroling with his fiancée Kate and friends when a body plummets out an upper window from a house. It is identified as Jacob Harley, the business partner of the home's resident, Emmanuel Screws, an unpleasant codger who owns a counting house. 

Before Charles can get to the bottom of this dastardly deed, Harley's corpse is stolen. Then Charles is visited by what seems to be Harley's ghost. Kate and he are at odds over Mr. Screws' ability to toss his partner out the window, but their relationship is tested in a new way by the unexpected arrival of an orphan when Charles feels he must find a home for the poor babe. Can Charles find the murderer and renew Kate's faith in him?

I will be the first to admit I requested this book because of its connection to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickins. It is my favorite holiday story. I had no idea, therefore, that A Christmas Carol Murder by Heather Redmond is the third book of a series featuring a young Charles Dickens and Kate Hogarth. That said, I didn't feel I missed much since this is a total stand-alone novel. 

This refreshing twist on Dickens' classic novel is a murder mystery that engages the reader from the very beginning. It has a slow and steady pace, which I expected considering the time period and the book which it harkens back to, though there are a few heart-racing moments. It wrapped up nicely, and I hope the author has more stories planned for this historical character; an Oliver Twist or maybe a David Copperfield adaptation? I am eager to go back and read the previous two installments in Redmond's A Dickens of a Crime series.

This review first appeared at The Book Connection. I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

First Chapter Review: Persephone Cole and the Christmas Killings Conundrum/Iced Diamonds by Heather Haven

The first chapter of Persephone Cole and the Christmas Killings Conundrum was sent to me by author Heather Haven. Since it was published in 2012, the author has opened her own publishing house, rereleased this book, and changed the title to Iced Diamonds, along with giving it a new cover.

BLURB: In late December, 1942, Persephone (Percy) Cole, one of Manhattan's first female PIs, has been hired to find out who killed a Santa Land elf and left the body in the storefront window of a swank 5th Avenue jewelry store. Was it the spoiled heiress whose big buck handbag was found on the scene? Or was it the rat who broke out of the big house to settle a score? Shortly after, the corpse of the Christmas Angel is discovered stuffed in Mrs. Santa's workshop. Will Santa Claus be next? With a penchant for Marlene Dietrich suits, pistachio nuts and fedora hats, this working mother finds diamonds to the left of her, diamonds to the right, and skullduggery aplenty. Armed with her noodle and a WW I German Mauser, Percy is determined to solve these crimes or it just might be the 'kiss off' for Christmas.

COVER: I absolutely love when a cover is designed that captures the essence of a book. So many of the details from the first chapter make their way onto this cover, that I already feel like I know Percy and where she lives.

FIRST CHAPTER: Percy receives a phone call from the owner of Waller and Sons Jewelry. An elf has been found dead in his storefront window, and he wants to know why. Though the police are already on the scene, Waller wants to talk to Percy face-to-face about hiring her, which would be great since Pop is laid up with a broken leg, and Percy is the sole support of her family right now.

KEEP READING: You betcha. In this first chapter, Haven manages to create a cast of characters you immediately connect with and care about: from Percy a street-smart, sarcastic dame with a penchant for Marlene Dietrich-style pant suits and pistachios to her boy-crazy younger sister Serendipity to her daffy mother and more. I don't always like so many characters introduced right away, but Haven did a fine job of giving them just enough interaction that the reader isn't confused.

The other thing I felt the author did well was add in the right amount of detail so that the setting and time period were clear without having to read the book blurb first. I had to chuckle at the plethora of ashtrays around the house to hold pistachio shells. Why it struck me funny I don't know, but it did.

I am eager to see how this mystery plays out. I hope to make time to read this entire book soon. Haven's style of humorous private eye stories continues with this latest endeavor. And I love it!


File Size: 372 KB
Print Length: 185 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Books We Love Ltd. (October 10, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B009OUMNMA


This review first appeared at The Book Connection. This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.