A Killing at Smugglers Cove by Michelle Salter - Book Review

Series: Iris Woodmore Mystery #4 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 10th July 2023

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

4.3 Stars 

One Liner: A good combo of history and mystery

*****

July 1923, Walden and Dawlish 

Iris Woodmore, Percy Baverstock, and Millicent Nightingale travel to Dawlish (on the coast of South Devon) for a holiday and to attend Iris’s father’s wedding to Katherine Keats. The trio explores Smugglers Cove on a private beach and stumble upon a dead body (rather skeletal remains). 

The police reveal that the remains belong to a smuggler who went missing a few years ago. However, Iris and her friends know the case has too many inconsistencies. Iris decides to investigate it herself. She can’t help but wonder how her would-be stepmother is tied to the case. When a new murder occurs, Iris knows she needs to find the truth and possibly save her father’s life. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Iris Woodmore. 

My Thoughts

I can happily say that the series is getting better. While this one can be read as a standalone, it will work better when read in order (or at least after book one). One of the main themes of the book is how Iris deals with her father’s remarriage, and the context in previous books will help understand her emotions. 

The book uses the historical setting to enhance the main and the subplots. From bathing machines and swimming stockinettes for women to the changes brought by the railways, smuggling, the impact of war (WWI), the lives of Belgium and Dutch refugees, etc., are seamlessly incorporated into the plot. 

Iris’ character is growing well. She is a rebel but still bound by societal restrictions on women. She cannot resist being inquisitive until she learns the truth. While this leads to some strained relationships, she does her best to balance the two. 

The case introduces new characters Iris knew in her past. This book has a lot of characters to track, but it won’t be an issue if you are familiar with the recurring ones. They already have distinctive personalities and are easy to remember. 

Despite the seriousness of the themes, the overall tone is light-hearted and suits the genre. The case throws a few twists and red herrings too. It took me a while, but I could figure out the mystery correctly. 

There’s a small revelation at the end, which seems like a surprise, but it does tie up with the contents until then. We just have to pay more attention. I don’t think this will have a huge impact on the coming books anyway. It might come in handy if necessary. 

True to the premise, the wedding is not the central point despite it being a crucial element. I like how everything works together cohesively so that the case is solved, new information is revealed, and there’s character development. 

In fact, this one gets better with the pacing too. It’s a few pages smaller than the previous books and has the right pacing. No dragging in the middle or going around in circles. I hope the same continues throughout the series. 

To summarize, A Killing at Smugglers Cove is an entertainer that deftly combines the historical setting and an intriguing mystery. I like that Iris is taking her stand about her love life without giving in to pressure from everyone around her. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #AKillingatSmugglersCove

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P.S.: the author’s note at the end is quite interesting.