This was another enjoyable outing for Judith and co. I liked the character development in this instalment - I feel like we got to know our lead characters better and therefore I was more invested in them by the end of the book.

The mystery itself was good fun to try to solve. I liked the idea of it being an 'impossible crime' and the end reveal was clever and satisfying.

You do have to massively suspend disbelief at how utterly useless the police are, but I'm happy to do so for the sake of the story.

It’s winter and deep, dark January and yet Mrs Judith Potts STILL wild swims during the day to give her zing and pep! When she returns home after mistakenly startling both a swan and a family on the banks of the Thames her telephone is ringing. It’s wealthy Sir Peter Bailey who is getting wed tomorrow and invites Judith to a celebratory drinks party that afternoon. Their subsequent conversation prickles if not ignites Judith’s interest and curiosity so despite the greater allure of afternoon tea and crumpets at home, off she goes accompanied by her friend Suzie Harris. Becky Starling being the vicars wife and all, is already there and dressed jolly smartly too. Somethings afoot and so the Three Musketeeresses are on high alert particularly after an altercation between Sir Peter and his son Tristan. Shortly after this a loud crash is heard and to everyone’s shock and horror the body of Sir Peter is found beneath a very large cabinet inside a locked room. How intriguing. Obviously, DS Tanika Malik investigates along with the three friends, also obviously. So, it all boils down to olive oil, it certainly will become twisty and there may be cross words too. It doesn’t start well for Tanika when her SIO bubble is burst when DI Gareth Hoskins returns to work from sick leave and resumes the position and it may pop Judith’s bubble too and, he’s not terribly bright either, poor lad!

I enjoy this one a lot more than the first maybe because the characters feel more familiar and more like pals but mostly because I think the plot is way better. This one really does feel very reminiscent of the Golden Age mainly due to the jaunty style it’s written in but which is especially evident in the ending that is not only ingenious and clever, it’s definitely in the Agatha vein.

I love the Marlow setting which is easy to picture and there are some really good small town nods that are enjoyable. The dialogue is crisp and funny at times and the characterisation is good throughout. Poor Tanika with these three especially Judith who is a tour de force. It’s a good intriguing puzzle of who killed Sir Peter and why and how, there are pieces that don’t fit together but never fear, they’re on the case even if they have to go rogue. The novel jogs along at a brisk pace, there’s never a dull moment, it’s full of fun and plenty of snap, crackle and pop.

Overall, it’s a pleasure to be back in Marlow with such a tasty plot.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Delightful follow up to The Marlow Murder Club which sees our three heroines, Judith, Suzie and Bex investigating another murder with the help of their police detective friend, Tanika.
When Judith is called up by a local member of the aristocracy, Sir Peter Bailey and invited to his pre wedding party she accepts and asks her friends Becks and Suzie to accompany her. Apparently Sir Peter is remarrying after being divorced for many years. However it is a strange telephone conversation making Judith wonder if there is more to it than a simple invitation and she is intrigued as to why she has been invited.
Whilst at the party Sir Peter is killed when a large cabinet falls on him in his office. It seems like an unfortunate accident as there is no one else in the locked room- the key is in Sir Peter’s pocket!
However Judith suspects foul play and resolves to investigate with the help of her friends and Detective Tanika Malik. This is indeed an archetypal locked room mystery!
When all the suspects including Tristram, Sir Peter’s son and heir, Jenny, his fiancée and his daughter, Rosanna have watertight alibis the three amateur sleuths have to dig deeper and use all their detecting skills to work out the puzzle.
There is also a side story about Bex and mysterious assignations and more about Suzie who has become a local radio celebrity.
All in all an enjoyable read with some well thought out and interesting characters. Robert Thorogood is the writer of the Tv series “Death in Paradise”and if you are a fan of this as I am, you will definitely enjoy the Marlow Murder Club books. I suspect that the author is also an Agatha Christie afficonado as well as a lover of the Columbo as the big reveal happens in the last few pages in much the same way.
I recommend this book and indeed the first in the series too although Death Comes To Marlow can certainly be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for my arc.

In this, the next instalment of the Marlow Murder Club adventures, Judith gets an unexpected phone call from Sir Peter Bailey on the day before his wedding, inviting her to a party that afternoon. Not being able to get hold of Becks, she invites Suzie to be her plus 1 and during the afternoon, a loud crash is heard. When people go to investigate, they find Sir Peter dead inside a locked room. Judith realises they are going to need to investigate this as a murder, as why would she have been invited if not because Sir Peter for some reason feared for his life?

This is a nice, lively read, full of twists and turns, numerous suspects, red herrings and a well constructed plot. The 3 women gel really well, despite, or maybe because of their differences. I like that Judith is a crossword constructor as it adds a nice little side plot. Becks also has her own secret, and reminds me of the vicars wife in the Agatha Raisin books, an innocent drawn into intrigue by Judith, whilst being a mainstay of village life. And I’m sure everyone knows a character like Suzie - larger than life, unable to keep a secret and says exactly what pops into her head, usually to her own surprise. Whilst I did guess the ending there were still enough details that I hadn’t guessed to make it a really good ending and a very satisfying locked room murder.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Even better than the first book as the characters are now established. Razor sharp wit and a deft plot combine to make this a thrilling yet amusing read.

This was another lively and characterful read from the Marlow series with Judith still bulldozing her way forward, Suzie now perusing more of a media interest with her radio slot and Becks still being the good vicars wife but she’s now got a secret side she’s desperate to keep hidden. These unlikely friends stumble across another suspicious death and there’s plenty of far fetched but undoubtedly entertaining action throughout. This is a fantastic lighthearted crime read and a good continuation but also fine as a standalone too.