Series: Iris Woodmore Mysteries #5
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/christmasclosesocial
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209336338-a-corpse-in-christmas-close
Publication Date: 24th August 2024
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A decent read
Book Blurb:
When a pantomime turns deadly, Iris
investigates a cast of killers…
Christmas, 1923: When reporter Iris Woodmore is sent
to cover the Prince of Wales’s visit to historic Winchester, she discovers more
than just royal gossip.
The leading lady in Winchester Cathedral’s charity
pantomime is found dead in mysterious circumstances. And the chief suspect is
Cinderella’s handsome prince, played by Percy Baverstock’s younger brother,
Freddie.
For the sake of the Baverstocks, Iris must
investigate the murder, even though it means confronting an old enemy. And as
the line between friend and foe blurs dangerously, she’s ensnared by someone
she hoped she’d never see again…
Everyone’s favorite amateur sleuth
returns for a Christmas mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, Claire
Gradidge and Emily Organ
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Iris’s first-person POV.
I was happy to see the next book in the series set during Christmas. Walden does sound good in winter. The festival doesn’t have a major role in the plot, though. Don’t look for a proper Christmas mystery here.
As always, we have to deal with a large cast of
recurring characters and new ones related to the case. While the book works as
a standalone, it can be overwhelming to remember who is who without prior
knowledge. I enjoyed the presence of the recurring characters, though not all.
The pacing is steady, and we get a clue or tidbit as
the story progresses. How it fits the bigger picture is for us to guess. There
are a few lighthearted moments too, which I quite enjoyed.
The mystery started out well with a couple of
subplots to thicken the plot. However, the reveal could have been better. No
issues with who the killer is but I did want the method of solving the mystery
to be more detail-based.
I like how the social situation of the period is
woven into the plot. With many characters in business and politics, we get more
than enough feel of the time.
While I like Iris’s determination to do the right
thing when it comes to the cases she solves, her disregard for ethics in her
personal life is worrying. Sorry but not sorry. No amount of feminist talk can
make her look good in this aspect. Her pathetic track record in men has to
break somewhere.
That said, I am excited for the next book and hope a
scandal knocks sense into her silly mind. The MC could do with a reality check
about her life. At the same time, I want the nemesis to be put in place. He
shouldn’t get away for what he did (is doing).
To summarize, A Corpse in Christmas Close is a
decent addition to the series even if isn’t the best. The book does take the
story forward, so I’m hoping the next one will be a much better read.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and
Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest
opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
About the Author – Michelle Salter
Michelle Salter writes historical cozy crime set in
Hampshire, where she lives, and is inspired by real-life events in 1920s
Britain. Her Iris Woodmore series draws on an interest in the aftermath of the
Great War and the suffragette movement.
***
This has been a stop on the #ACorpseInChristmasClose blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like an interesting read!
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