MURDER AT MERIVALE MANOR by ELLA STRIKE.
Genre ... 1920s Cozy Mystery
Publication Date ... 24th November 2024
Estimated Page Count ... 155
Standalone First Book in the Kitty Goring Investigates series
Purchase Link ... https://mybook.to/ZRrM
London, 1923
Kitty Goring seems to have it all—lavish nights at London’s finest clubs, elegant soirées, and a parade of charming bachelors vying for her hand. But despite the glamour, Kitty longs for something a little more… thrilling.
In a bid for excitement (and to avoid her mother’s constant reminders that she really ought to be searching for a husband), Kitty dreams up the perfect diversion. A playful mock robbery at her family’s grand estate, Merivale Manor. It’s all meant to be fun—until one of the guests turns up very much dead.
With a real killer on the loose in quaint little Hampstead Village, Kitty’s keen instincts kick in. Forget matchmaking—Kitty’s determined to unmask the culprit before anyone else falls victim. With a sharp wit and a flair for mischief, she dives headfirst into the investigation. But getting to the truth won’t be easy, especially with the brooding Detective Inspector Henry Burton underestimating her at every turn.
Murder, mystery, and a dash of romance—Kitty’s got her hands full in this charming whodunit!
Murder at Merivale Manor is the delightful first book in the Kitty Goring Investigates historical cozy mystery series.
Great cover and a promising synopsis; with only 176 pages, a relatively short read in which I enjoyed identifying who the true murderer was {quicker than Kitty who rather frustratingly accused just about everyone, mostly on the flimsiest of grounds}, I had such high hopes for this book and Katie in particular and yet ...
A big fan of feisty female characters, Katie was such a huge part of this book that alas I couldn't help but be heartily disappointed that she failed to materialise as the strong female protagonist I'd both hoped for and expected.
That her mother proved to be disagreeable was one thing {after all how many 'disagreeable' characters have made a book a great read for me?}, that she proved to be uninteresting as a character was quite another.
These two aside, speaking for myself, if only there had been one strong character the book might have been more to my taste but, as it was, the only character I could vaguely get behind was the gruff but handsome Detective Inspector Henry Burton.
Still, set in 1920's London, a book that will doubtlessly be enjoyed by many fans of period cozy mysteries with a dash of romance {I know its proving popular with the members of my reading group}. For myself, whilst the characters are yet to be fully fleshed out there are enough spoilers pointing to the fact that this isn't the last we'll be hearing of Katie and DI Burton that I'm hopeful that in time we'll see them and the others develop and become more fully rounded.
Ella Strike, cat lover and author of historical cozy mysteries, lives in London with her husband and twins. When she’s not penning murder mysteries or drinking copious amounts of Earl Grey, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or listening to true crime podcasts as she cooks.
Her stories are a mix of history, a dash of intrigue, and a whole lot of cozy, old-world charm.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellastrikeauthor/
With thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for organising a paper copy. One of several bloggers participating in the Blog Tour of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
As well as on Pen and Paper this review {or links to it} has been shared on my personal FB page, other book sites on FB, Pinterest and GoodReads
{Information here}Book 12/52. PROMPT 3: TITLE STARTS WITH 'M'.Other Prompts It Might Have Been Used For ...Prompt 43: Explores Social Class.
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