A characterful crime drama that builds into a thrilling, Agatha Christie style whodunnit, The Mystery of Four is compelling, clever, and packed full of interesting personalities. I would not be surprised to see an adaptation of this out soon!

This is a Christie-esque novel which is character driven and does indeed have the feel of a golden age cozy mystery. Tess Morgan has fulfilled a dream by renovating Kilfenora House , County Wicklow and it’s about to open the doors of the Tudor Manor to the public. However, the first sign that her well laid plans are about to go awry is an accident that befalls an actor in the production of Dr Faustus to be performed in the Manors ballroom. This triggers multiple rumours especially about the so-called Kilfenora curse but to Tess it feels personal. Who is targeting Tess and trying to implode her plans for the future? Sadly the accident is just the start and the body count mounts. Are these tragic accidents or cold blooded murder?

First of all, the start is without doubt slow. This is principally because we are introduced to a lot of characters, many of whom are quirky which I like but you do get somewhat bamboozled. However, you can see why the author chooses to do this and it enables you to understand the character dynamics which are visible via things such as the play rehearsals and the village online forum.

The last third is by far the best as this is when the pace picks up, there’s plenty going on which is fuelled by rumours and it builds to a good tense ending where it all joins together satisfactorily.

One of the most effective parts of the storytelling is the terrific setting with the house and grounds taking centre stage and if you add in the role of Merlin the cat it gives plenty of atmosphere!

Overall, it’s a bit too much of an of a slow ambling pace for me but it’s still a good read and an enjoyable one with plenty of undertones to keep the interest. If you like Cozy mysteries then this is for you.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books/Corvus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

A terrible accident on the opening week for Kilfenora House and gardens spells trouble for Tess Morgan.
Is the house haunted as legend says or does someone have it in for Tess?

I really couldn’t get into this book, I’m not too sure why, it just didn’t fully gage my attention or interest at any point. I didn’t take to any of the characters nor did I really absorb what was actually happening. I’ve given two stars as there will be some people who enjoy it, however I personally wouldn’t recommend to friends.

This has a very old school who dun it feel to it which I personally don't tend to favour. Its a good story and certainly has an array or original and unusual characters but it just felt a bit slow to me and dragged a bit. It's very character driven so of that's your thing and you like that old fashioned type of murder mystery then you'll probably really enjoy this. It kind of reminded me of cluedo

A very gentle story, that was slow to start. To say there was a murderer seeking revenge, it did not have the suspense that you would expect. It was more like a modern Agatha Christie, with its own Miss Marple. I was not gripped!

Really enjoyed this one, I didn’t think k would! It was definitely one that I wanted to finish to get to the end! Written really well and loved the characters too.

An enjoyable mystery where the main character has bought and restored a country house. Days away from its grand opening to the public accidents and deaths start piling up. What is going on? Definitely has the feel of an old-school golden-age mystery which its vivid country-house setting.

Murder is easy ... when it doesn't look like murder

Tess Morgan has finally made her dream of restoring beautiful Kilfenora House and Gardens into a reality.

But during rehearsals for the play that forms the opening weekend's flagship event, her dream turns into a nightmare when a devastating accident looks set to ruin her carefully laid plans.

There are rumours that Kilfenora House is cursed, but this feels personal, and becomes increasingly terrifying when more than one body is discovered. Could someone be closing in on Tess herself?

Clarissa Westmacott, ex star of stage and screen, certainly believes so, particularly when she learns that purple-flowered aconite has been picked from the Poison Garden. And Clarissa will stop at nothing to protect the friend she has come to see as a daughter...

Read in one sitting really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Atlantic Books
I just reviewed The Mystery of Four by Sam Blake. #TheMysteryofFour #NetGalley

The Mystery of Four by Sam Blake

Tess returns to Ireland after working overseas after her fiancée is killed in a hit and run on the day she gets engaged, she buys a huge stately house , Kildenora, it’s a house which has ghosts and curses attached to it..

Tess decides to open the house to the public and starts organising a huge opening day to draw people to the house, this includes a play performed in the ballroom, but then the accidents start happening and then the bodies start appearing. ..


Hmm.. this mystery book got me like hmmm.. I liked it.. I did but I think that I liked the last quarter of the book more than the rest of it.. the book started with too many characters and honestly too many deaths happening all at once and it seemed a long slog to get to that point but when the bodies had been found and we were really concentrating on Clarissa ( a character I really liked and yes I want to grow up to be her!) I found the book to be quite enjoyable.

I did like the book, it had a good mystery and the killer is unmasked at the end in a rather satisfying way but the book felt like it was missing something.

I am sure mystery readers will enjoy this book but it was not my favourite, it’s a solid mystery with all the ends tied up at the end but not for me.

#TheMysteryofFour #NetGalley #Ireland #mystery

This was a good read, in spite of it being quite predictable. It was a good thriller with some very creepy moments. The true joy of this book is in it’s setting, a remote house in county Wicklow. The detail will convince you that you are actually there.

This was quite a creepy and mysterious book. It is incredibly well written, and the characters have real depth. It had unsuspected elements too

Tess Morgan is back home and making her dream of restoring Kilfenora House and Gardens into a reality. As the young amateur dramatists of the village rehearse a play for the weekend’s flagship event, however, not everything is going to a plan. Unless, of course, you’re the person who’s got their mind set on wrecking everything that Tess has worked so conscientiously for. It all gets a bit grim very quickly and as her nearest and dearest try and protect her, Tess tries to reassure herself that rumours of the house being cursed are merely speculation. It’s difficult to see how you wouldn’t be worried though, as a series of fatalities only serves to heighten tension and fear. And what is so special about interest in a pretty purple flower? Sam’s books are always so well plotted and this is no different: Kilfenora House is so vividly described that you could almost touch its walls, and know you’re going. Tess is a hardy character but we defy you to root for her BFF’s mother, Clarissa.

A great setting, a stately country home in Ireland with restoration of house and garden almost completed. The grand opening just days away when threats start plaguing the new owner followed by a serious accident and deaths. Multiple interesting and quirky characters. Sure to please many readers. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

Well written, well paced, creepy setting and well developed characters. Enough twists and unpredictability to keep me guessing. Really enjoyable.

I really enjoyed the last Sam Blake book which probably influenced my expectations of this which is a good slow burn murder mystery but lacking the thriller element I was hoping for. The characters are overall good with an odd cliche thrown in which fits the style of book well, the location is fantastic and the play rehearsals add a good consistency in the day to day story and the deaths keep coming in a crazy lead up to the house opening. This is a quirky read overall and all ties together well in the end.

I love love love a country house story and this is just that. I adored it. I felt the characters were great. It was well written and flowed so easily. It was shades of Agatha Christie- brilliant