The Pantomime Murders (Miss Clara Vale Mysteries #2) by Fiona Veitch Smith

 

💥💥 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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Read my review of the audiobook of Clara Vale's first outing:

The Picture House Murders (Miss Clara Vale Mysteries #1) by Fiona Veitch Smith [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Fiona Veitch Smith and Hannah Genesius 🎙🎙🎙
 

Description from Goodreads:

"Murder is no occupation for a lady... or is it?

1929: Miss Clara Vale is a woman ahead of her time. Rather than attending Oxford to bag an eligible Duke (as her mother, Lady Vale, so desperately hoped), she threw herself into a degree in chemistry, with aspirations to become a scientist in her own right.

But the world isn't ready for Clara. Unable to land a job in science because she's a woman, she is stuck behind the desk at a dingy London library.

Until her estranged Uncle dies suddenly, leaving her his private detective agency, and laboratory, in his will.

Clara couldn't become a detective, could she?

The decision is made for her when one of her uncle's old clients comes to her for help with a case surrounding the local picture house and invites Clara to see the latest show, before they discuss the details.

But during the film, a fire suddenly engulfs the picture house, with tragic consequences.

It seems at first an accident, but Clara soon begins to question if it was in fact a carefully orchestrated murder.

She's suddenly in the middle of a deadly mystery and will discover her scientific skills make her a sleuth to be reckoned with... Can she catch the killer before they strike again?"

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I don't usually read or listen to books of this genre or set in this time period but I was looking for something a bit different and chanced upon The Picture House Murders and, wow, am I pleased.  What an absolute revelation!  I loved it and was totally hooked from the very first word.

Clara is a young woman who is living in a time where woman have little to no control over their lives; yes they have now got the vote but they aren't taken seriously and can't be trusted to run their own lives without the backing of a man!  When Clara finds out she has inherited a business, property and money from her uncle, she has some big decisions to make.

The business she has been left is a private detective agency; Clara has to decide whether to sell it or keep it on but her interest is piqued when one of her uncle's clients comes to her for help and with Clara's background as a scientist with an inquisitive mind, she can't help herself.  However, things soon become more sinister when there are break-ins and a mugging followed by another fire and Clara has to use all her knowledge and acumen to get to the bottom of things.

With a fantastic cast of characters (I absolutely love Clara), an intriguing plot and with narrators that absolutely nailed it, I can highly recommend this audiobook and am looking forward to the next instalment in this new series.

Many thanks to the author, Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Picture House Murders.

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The Vanishing of Margaret Small [Audiobook] by Neil Alexander

 

Narrated by Annie Aldington and Rachel Atkins

Description from Goodreads:

"Meet Margaret Small: 75, plain spoken and a Cilla Black super fan. Shortly after the death of her idol, Margaret begins receiving sums of money in the post, signed simply 'C'.

She is convinced it must be Cilla, but how can it be? To solve the mystery of her benefactor Margaret must go back in her memories almost 70 years, to the time when she was 'vanished' to a long-stay institution for children with learning disabilities."

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Oh my word!  This is a debut novel for Mr Alexander and what a debut it is.

I absolutely love Margaret ... what a likeable and strong character she is despite what she experienced in her young life.  She has every reason to dislike her fellow human beings but she is much better person than most ... she is kind, thoughtful and understanding.

The book is told in two timelines, the past and the present.

The present:  Margaret is 75 and living independently with the support of her excellent support worker Wayne.  Margaret loves Cilla Black and she likes nothing more than listening to Cilla's autobiography but when she starts receiving notes and gifts from someone who signs them with "C", Margaret thinks Cilla is back from the dead but it can't be so who is it?  The notes revive memories from Margaret's past.

The past:  Margaret's story starts at 7 years old when she is "vanished" into a long-stay institution called St Mary's where she lives for the majority of her life.  I won't say she is 'cared for' as what she endured is not care in any way, shape or form but Margaret endures it with innocent acceptance of knowing it's not right but being powerless to do anything about it.  There are scenes which broke my heart but others that also warmed it.

Both timelines are equally captivating and enthralling but the past had me in bits at times at the cruelties of how children and adults who are "different" were treated but through it all, was the voice of Margaret who I can only describe as being a beautiful person.

I listened to the audiobook and I can highly recommend it; the narrators are just brilliant particularly the voice of Margaret ... oh my, she was brought to life for me; it was like she was sitting right next to me telling me her story myself ... just brilliant.

Margaret is a fictional character however, her story is based on the experiences of 'real' people the author has met during his working life which makes this book even more powerful and I must thank Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Vanishing of Margaret Small.

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The Midnight Man by Caroline Mitchell

 

Description from Goodreads:

"If you open your door to the Midnight Man, hide with a candle wherever you can. Try not to scream as he draws near, because one of you won't be leaving here...

On Halloween night in Slayton, five girls go to Blackhall Manor to play the Midnight Game. They write their names on a piece of paper and prick their fingers to soak it in blood. At exactly midnight they knock on the door twenty-two times - they have invited the Midnight Man in.

It was supposed to be a game, but only four girls come home.

Detective Sarah Noble has just returned to the force, and no one knows more about Blackhall Manor than her. It's a case that will take Sarah back to everything she's been running from, and shake her to the core.

Will she be ready to meet the Midnight Man?"

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Deliciously creepy and full of tension.

I haven't read anything by Caroline Mitchell before but I was initially drawn by the cover and then intrigued by the blurb which sounded like something I would enjoy and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.

There are some great characters and a fabulous plot which combines urban legend, creepy house, serial killer, murder mystery, police procedural and the paranormal.  The pace is pretty good and the twists and turns provided suspense from the start.

This is a good spooky read and certainly made a nice change to the usual crime thrillers and I have to give a thank you to Embla Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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