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A Body at the Dance Hall, by Marty Wingate
London 1922. Mabel Canning belongs to the Useful Women Company and also runs the amateur sleuth section. She is hired to act as a companion to a young woman from America, escorting her to the sights of town. But on a night out at the Palais dance hall, Mabel and her charge are implicated in the death of a man…
A Body at the Dance Hall is the third book in the London Ladies’ Murder Club series centred on Mabel Canning. I have read and reviewed the first book in the series, A Body on the Doorstep, but need to catch up on the second. There are no spoilers about events in previous book although relationships between characters have developed over the earlier books.
Mabel accepts the role of companion to 18 year old Roxanne. But on their first night out to a dance hall, Mabel is locked up by a man who claims he is also there to keep an eye on Roxy. When she escapes the lcoked room, the man is dead and Roxy is covered in blood. Mabel sets to work to discover more about the victim so that she can find his killer.
Mabel is supported by her friends and neighbours, including Gladys the dog, but I felt this book didn’t quite have the spark of the first book. Park continues to make her heart flutter as well as helping with the case due to his police knowledge and contacts. The tone of the writing is light hearted despite the murderous content.`I enjoyed the historical detail that brings the 1920s to life. Attitudes to women and class are explored over the course of the book and Mabel is quite modern in outlook.
A Body at the Dance Hall is an enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.
Book Description:
1922. Amateur sleuth Mabel Canning is surrounded by the bright lights of London as she chaperones a young American woman to a dance. But when someone is murdered, a deadly tango begins…
Meet plucky woman-about-town Mabel Canning, leader of the London Ladies’ Murder Club and trusted assistant to gentlewomen. When she is tasked with accompanying Roxy, a fun-loving heiress, on a glamorous night out, Mabel can’t wait to sip champagne and practice the foxtrot. But just as Roxy sashays out of sight, a mysterious man warns Mabel that the feisty young redhead is in danger. And someone is dead before the music stops…
Roxy was the last person to see the victim alive, and she stumbles into Mabel’s arms with her daffodil-yellow dress splashed with blood. Determined to protect her ward, Mabel gathers her dashing beau Winstone and her pals from the murder club. Together they trace the weapon back to the ballroom, but when its twin goes missing, it is clear time is running out to prevent another murder on the dance floor…
The police conclude the killer is in Roxy’s family, but Mabel finds herself spinning between a motley troupe of suspects. Mr Bryars, the anxious ballroom manager, is constantly tripping over himself to hide his secrets. But would he kill to protect his reputation? And young Ned Kettle may have looked dashing while waltzing around with Roxy, but he was once a notorious thief. Is the sticky-fingered rogue also a dab hand at murder?
Just as Mabel and her murder club friends quickstep closer to the truth, Roxy is kidnapped, and Mabel comes cheek to cheek with the killer. Can she save poor Roxy and herself? Or has she danced her last dance?
A delightfully witty and utterly addictive whodunnit absolutely bursting with 1920s sparkle, from USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey.
Author Bio:
Marty Wingate is a USA Today best-selling author of both mysteries and historical fiction. Marty enjoys weaving humor into her books and creating characters—from quirky and loveable to sinister and duplicitous—that leap off the page. Before embarking on her series about the London Ladies Murder Club with Bookouture, Marty published three contemporary cozy mystery series (the Potting Shed, Birds of a Feather, and First Edition Library books). She has also published two standalone books of historical fiction and found stories of the past to be compelling. She’s delighted to combine her penchant for both mysteries and histories to bring her readers more satisfying stories. Marty currently resides near Seattle, Washington.
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Buy Link:
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Murder on a Country Walk, by Janice Frost
Jane Bell is hoping for a quiet Halloween as she patrols the streets. But a call out concerning a Dracula brandishing a knife leads to a chase that is halted when her partner collapses and almost dies. The next morning Jane is devastated to be informed that the escaped Dracula went on to stab two women…
Murder on a Country Walk is the 4th police procedural book to feature Special Constable Jane Bell and her colleague DI Steph Warwick.
It’s a dramatic start to the book as Jane and her partner race after Dracula. The likelihood is that the knife is fake but they have to pursue the suspect. Jane is horrified as her partner crumples to the floor with a heart attack and the chase is abandoned. Shortly afterwards two women are attacked on the street and one is repeatedly stabbed to death in front of her daughter. Jane feels guilty that she couldn’t catch the killer and resolves to investigate by staying with her partner in the village where the two women lived. She uncovers a host of secrets and motives, and more death follows…
I felt a little lost at the start of the book as we are introduced to a range of characters and the connections and relevance isn’t immediately clear. The murder case then begins and Jane starts to gather background information about the victim. The plot shifts focus when another character, seemingly unconnected, disappears from the village and Jane wonders if there is a link between the cases.
Jane and Steph continue to have an uneasy working relationship. Both are utterly committed to their police work but the difference in rank and responsibility leads to tension. Jane is a bit nosy and oversteps her role, treading on Steph’s toes. But Steph needs Jane’s insight and easy going manner which helps others confide in her.
Murder on a Country Walk is an enjoyable police procedural with strong lead characters.
MURDER ON A COUNTRY WALK by Janice Frost
A TOTALLY GRIPPING BRITISH CRIME MYSTERY FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR JANICE FROST.
It begins as a Halloween prank. It ends in cold-blooded murder.
Halloween. One of the busiest nights of the year for Lincolnshire police. Special Constable Jane Bell is called out to reports of someone in a Dracula mask terrorising the residents of a nearby estate with a replica knife. She races to the scene — but the man in the mask flees into the night.
The next morning, Detective Steph Warwick turns up on Jane’s doorstep. There’s been a murder. Dracula went on to attack two women, retired schoolteacher Susan Gedney and her daughter Gina. Susan died at the scene, Gina survived. The knife turned out to be all too real.
Then another young woman disappears from the picturesque village where Susan and Gina lived. She was last seen out on a country walk — but she never returned.
Three woman targeted from the same small village. This is no coincidence.
Detectives Steph and Jane are faced with the most baffling case of their careers.
This unputdownable mystery full of twists is the perfect read for fans of Angela Marsons, Helen H. Durrant, Rachel McLean and Michael Hambling.
READERS LOVE THE WARWICK & BELL SERIES:
‘I love this series . . . Gripping from start to finish.’ Booklover Bev
‘Filled with twists and turns aplenty.’ Valleri M.
‘Read it in one sitting. Loved it.’ Aileen G.
‘An unputdownable mystery full of twists . . . Had me gasping out loud.’ Paula H.
‘An excellent thriller that keeps the reader enthralled until the final pages.’ Rita H.
‘This book had everything! It has suspense, intrigue . . . and so many crazy twists and turns. Well worth reading!’ Debbie B.
MEET THE DETECTIVES
SPC Jane Bell is in her mid-forties, a widow of three years following the premature death of her husband, Sam. She has two grown-up children, Patrick and Norah, who are pursuing careers in London. After Sam’s death, Jane makes some changes to her life. She downsizes from their large family home in the country to a cottage in Lincoln.
DI Stephanie Warwick is in her mid-thirties. She left school at eighteen and worked in a bank before joining the police force. She is haunted by her ex-boyfriend, Cal. He attempted to kill her twelve years ago, and murdered her best friend.
ALSO BY JANICE FROST
WARWICK & BELL SERIES
1: MURDER AMONG FRIENDS
2: MURDER ACROSS THE LINES
3: MURDER AGAINST THE ODDS
4: MURDER ON A COUNTRY WALK
THE COMPLETE MERRY & NEAL MYSTERIES
1: DEAD SECRET
2: DARK SECRET
3: HER HUSBAND’S SECRET
4: THEIR FATAL SECRETS
5: DIRTY SECRETS
6: MURDEROUS SECRETS
STANDALONE NOVELS
THE WOMAN ON THE CLIFF
The New Son, by Iain Maitland
TRIGGER WARNING: adoption, miscarriage
Nina is recovering from a miscarriage when the son she gave up for adoption 19 years ago arrives on her doorstep. He makes her re-evaluate her life and relationships, and her partner Gary is not happy at all with the new arrival…
The New Son is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Poor Nina has had a rough life. She got pregnant at 16 and lost her true love Ryan as well as giving away their child, Now she is with the awful Gary and she has just had a miscarriage. Liam’s arrival seems like a miracle to her but Gary is angry that he has competition for her love but more importantly her money.
Ooh Gary had me mad! He is sponging off Nina constantly and I honestly saw no redeeming features to him at all. I was so pleased when Liam sparks such hope and joy for NIna after her recent tragedy and the hideous way she is treated by Gary and his equally repugnant daughter.
The plot takes a darker turn as emotions reach boiling point. Nina has accepted second best for so long and let others order her around. I understood Nina’s dilemma as she tries to protect her son but she is still letting others dictate her life. Adding to the tense atmosphere, there are some violent imaginings and nightmares which are quite unpleasant and vivid. The ending is dramatic and unexpected.
The New Son is a tense and engaging psychological thriller.
Book Links
Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209313244-the-new-son
Buy Links : https://mybook.to/thenewson-zbt
Book Blurb
Nina always wanted a child of her own. Now she has one.
Nina feels trapped. Her partner Gary is controlling, his daughter hates her, and she’s recently suffered a miscarriage. Just as her life seems hopeless, Alex, the son she gave up for adoption nearly 20 years ago, shows up at her door. Somehow, he has tracked her down.
Their reunion is everything Nina has hoped for. Now she has a child of her own, someone in the family who really cares about her.
But honeymoons are brief and this one is no exception.
Far from welcoming him, Gary is hostile to Alex and as their arguments become increasingly vicious, it soon becomes clear that Nina must choose between them.
But how will the abusive Gary react if she rejects him? And can she trust Alex? Is he really the loving son he seems to be – or does he have a sinister agenda of his own?
Iain’s Bio
Iain Maitland is the author of three previous psych thrillers for Inkubator Books: The Soulmate, The Perfect Husband and The Girl Downstairs.
Iain is also the author of two memoirs, Dear Michael, Love Dad, a book of letters written to his eldest son who experienced depression and anorexia, and (co-authored with Michael) Out Of The Madhouse.
He has also written a semi-autobiographical novel, The Old Man, His Dog & Their Longest Journey.
He is an Ambassador for Stem4, the teenage mental health charity. He talks regularly about mental health issues in schools and colleges and workplaces.
Find out more about Iain at www.iainmaitland.net and twitter.com/iainmaitland
Iain’s Links
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/iain.maitland.31
Twitter : www.twitter.com/iainmaitland
Website : www.iainmaitland.net
A Death In Venice, by Verity Bright
Lady Eleanor Swift, her staff and her pets are enjoying the sights of Venice when she witnesses a murder. Could a family feud have been reignited and is Ellie safe?
A Death In Venice is the 17th book in the Lady Swift series of historical cosy murder mysteries.
Ellie is spellbound by the beauty of Venice but she finds herself in the midst of a centuries old family feud and a murder investigation. Following an accidental collision with another woman, Ellie is left holding a glass heart and wants to track down the true owner who promptly vanished. But the murder and the heirloom could be connected and Ellie herself is placed in danger.
The lighthearted tone softens the drama and murder elements of the book. Once again Ellie has brought butler Clifford and ‘the ladies’ of her staff along and this adds opportunities for humour. Gladstone the dog and Tomkins the cats are also travelling with Ellie and add to the melee! We are also introduced to a range of other characters with comedic effect, for example Kip who wants to replicate Byron’s escapades. Poor Hugh, Ellie’s fiance, is stuck at home at the other end of an intermittent telephone connection and feeling very jealous.
The murder and heirloom mystery start early on and then retreats a little as the focus stays on Ellie’s experiences while she makes connections between events and enjoys the scenic beauty of the city. Her title offers her opportunities but she is constrained by being a woman. The history and geography of the setting underpin the plot and characters and have been well researched.
A Death In Venice is an enjoyable murder mystery.
