Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh - Book Review

Series: A Morwenna Mutton Mystery #2 

Publication Date: 11th April 2024

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3.2 Stars 

One Liner: A nice read 

The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrived in Seal Bay and is all set to perform the Cornish version of King Arthur. Morwenna and the townsfolk are excited. 

The stage is set, and the play is in progress when the actor and director, Daniel Kitto, falls dead for real. Turns out that Daniel has many enemies, and his death could benefit many actors from the theatre company. 

Though the police have closed the case, calling it a natural death, Morwenna is determined to find the truth. Soon, her investigation takes her on dangerous paths. Can the sexagenarian librarian and amateur sleuth expose the killer without getting killed? 

The story comes in Morwenna’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts a few months after the end of the previous one. It should work as a standalone, though there are a few references to that case. Nothing that connects with this mystery, though. 

There are many characters to track (villagers and the actors), so it might be better to read book #1 first (not that I remember all of them, but I could get into the flow without difficulty). 

The pacing is slow, which I expected. However, there is some sort of plot development to keep the story going. We also have Morwenna’s personal track to follow, so the story doesn’t drag. 

The mystery is well done and keeps the reader guessing. There are a couple of red herrings and twists, though everything falls into place by the end. 

I enjoyed the family dynamics in the first book. This had similar elements, though I didn’t find it as endearing as before. It could be due to some decisions Morwenna takes, which seem odd. Don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but the general vibe I get from her is of someone who is bored despite her active lifestyle and wants to latch on to this mystery. She seemed a bit too possessive about the case (this is MY case vibes). 

PC Jane doesn’t get much space, which is another issue for me. I like her stability and determination. The police have almost no role until the end. While this is not uncommon in the genre, there are enough instances for the police to be involved, and Morwenna can still solve the case. 

I love how the FMC is a 60+ woman who bikes her way through the hills and Seal Bay roads. However, I don’t particularly like her indecisiveness. Yeah, it is necessary for the subplot. Yet, I can’t help but say that if she allotted 10% of her sleuthing time to truly explore her feelings, things would be a lot better. This is a personal preference. I’m not a fan of indecisive characters. 

Elowen is a treat to read. She is 6+ in this book and knows her mind (learn from her!). The kid wants a dog, a Labrador, and will take every opportunity to ask for one. Such an adorable sweetheart!

Lamorna, Tamsin, and the side characters are well done. Some are not rounded, but that’s fine. They do the job. We still have the ghost subplot as strong as ever. I will read book three if it deals with the ghost. I hope it does since we have a lead here. 

To summarize, Bloodshed on the Boards is a nice mystery with interesting characters and a great setting. The story has its merits, though I have the same feeling as I did with book one. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC.  

#NetGalley #BloodshedOnTheBoards