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A Christmas Murder

The Isle of Wight Killings, Book 3

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A BRAND NEW cosy Isle of Wight mystery perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Faith Martin and LJ Ross.

Susan didn’t plan on being an amateur sleuth and, after two successful investigations, she’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas.

So, when local businesswoman Meera is in desperate need of help, Susan agrees rather reluctantly.

The task should be easy enough. The infamous press mogul Duncan Fern is coming back to the Isle of Wight, the scene of his family’s childhood holidays, to celebrate Christmas with his grown-up children and their partners, his new glamorous wife Kirsten who is forever dripping with diamonds, and the spiky editor of his paper the Morning Flame, Antoine. The newly-refurbished luxurious Bishopstone Manor is the perfect setting for a festive break and all Susan has to do is help Meera host.

But when a snowstorm descends over the island, and the following morning a body is found, Christmas at the Manor takes a darker turn. Can Susan get to the bottom of the mystery before the murderer strikes again…

'I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing mystery set in a beautiful location with deliciously menacing undercurrents.' Frances Evesham

'A fascinating whodunnit to stimulate even the most demanding of amateur sleuths.' T.A. Williams

©2024 Mary Grand (P)2024 Boldwood Books Cosy Crime Fiction Crime Thrillers Mystery Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Christmas Winter Fiction
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This could have been so much better, it just seemed to drag along. A pity because in outline plot in the story was good.

A dragging Tale

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I enjoyed this book and the narration. I did find it a bit slow in places but liked that I wasn't sure whodunit. I would recommend this.

The characters and ending

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The setting was cosy with good mix of characters. The story started off nicely however,I lost interest about halfway through. I’m not sure if it was the slightly boring plot, or the narrator’s style (which reminded me of a newsreader) but I was pleased when I got to the end.

Started off well but I’d lost interest by the end.

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If you’re a newspaper mogul with a diamond-draped new wife, the expensively renovated Bishopstone Manor on the Isle of Wight would seem just the place for your extended family Christmas. Enveloped in bracing sea air and offering a dizzying array of fine food and wine what could possibly go wrong there?

With Susan he local amateur sleuth helping out her friend who is organising the celebrations, and a family obviously riven by quarrels and nastiness, we know a lot will go wrong. No time is lost. Next morning Duncan , the deeply unpleasant mogul already on medication, is dead and the police are satisfied he has died from natural causes.

Of course Susan won’t accept that and of course she’s right, but it’s the intricacies of strained relationships between these Christmas revellers which keep us guessing. Who would trust slippery Antoine, the editor of Duncan’s newspaper? What is the terrible secret surrounding the death of Duncan’s first wife and mother of his impossibly fey and damaged daughter and his apparently duplicitous son? Who is trying to silence Susan as her investigations inch further towards finding the truth. (Isle of Wight readers might not want to take part in the Boxing Day swim after this!)….

As in Mary Grand’s previous murder mysteries in this series, the island setting gives the story a magical edge. The ferries have ground to a halt in the bad weather and whilst the party is trapped, Susan’s dogs celebrate their freedom on the beach and downs.

Karen Cass is a good narrator, injecting just the right amount of energy and suspense into her voice.

A murderous family Christmas!

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loved the discreption of the snowy countryside and the interesting content also kept interest until the conclusion.

belieable characters good storyline

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