💥💥 Due to be published 28-Nov-2023 💥💥
Description from Goodreads:
"Someone is killing fairy godmothers in Cinderella... Can Miss Clara Vale crack the case before the clock strikes twelve?
1929, December: Snow is falling, and Miss Clara Vale is wrapped up against the cold as she braves the icy streets of Newcastle in her latest investigation.
When a young actress from the touring pantomime of Cinderella arrives at her door, Clara isn't sure what to make of her request. Sybil Langford, the legendary fairy godmother in their production, has mysteriously vanished. Could Clara help track her down?
But a few days into Clara's search, Sybil's body is pulled from an icy river, and Clara finds herself in the middle of yet another murder mystery.
With scheming stepsisters waiting in the wings, handsome princes who aren't all they seem, and clues as elusive as glass slippers, Clara will need every one of her scientific skills to catch the killer...
And when Sybil's replacement meets her own tragic end, Clara is in a race against time before the murderer sends a third cast member to their unhappily ever after..."
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After having listened to the audiobook of the first in this series and absolutely loving it, I just had to get my grubby little mitts on the second one and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. If you haven't read or listened to the first one, don't worry, this can easily be read as a standalone but I would recommend it.
Set in December 1929, the story follows Clara as she continues to get used to major changes in her life having inherited a detective agency from her late uncle. Having already become embroiled and helped to solve a couple of murders, she now finds herself with two more cases to solve; a spate of thefts occurring at a department store and the disappearance of the fairy godmother from the Cinderella pantomime cast.
Both cases provide a host of characters from all different walks of life and bring with them a snapshot into the social norms and conditions of the time which is enlightening. Clara is a strong and independent woman which is a challenge in 1920's Britain where women are mostly seen as feckless and only good for marriage and having children - Clara is most definitely not in that group and she is not afraid to challenge this perception sometimes to her peril.
With a great plot and sub plot, written at a good pace and with excellent characters - I can't wait to see how Clara and her new assistant Bella, work together on future cases. This is a really good cozy murder mystery which is perfect for people who prefer a more genteel read rather than the in-your-face all violence and action of other murder mystery books.
Thank you to the author, Embla Books and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this latest outing from Miss Clara Vale.
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