Many thanks to Netgalley, Bonnier UK Audio and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The year is 1929 and women are finally allowed to go to university, hold their own wealth and vote. Ms. Clara Vale, a chemistry graduate from Oxford struggling to get employed in a job as per her qualification due to her gender finds out that her uncle has passed away and has left her his estate in Newcastle. On arrival in Newcastle, she finds out that her beloved but estranged uncle was a private investigator who has left her his practise if she would have it along with all of his estate and possessions.

Feeling completely out of place, confused and shocked at this news along with meeting one of his clients who is in desperate need for her help, Clara decides to prolong her stay and give herself some time to make this decision using this case as a tryout. The case involves a denied insurance claim on the burning down of a picture house that was ruled out as an accident due to negligence by the owners. Clara's uncle Bob suspected Arson and took on the case from Alice who also recently lost her husband in the midst of all this tragedy. When there is more and more scenarios that seems to support Alice and Bob's belief's Clara takes it upon herself to solve this case.

This was a gripping piece of fiction that masterfully dealt with a lot different factor's bringing it all together to a very satisfying conclusion. I was rooting for Clara from the very beginning and the author managed to keep me guessing till 85% mark which for me is a very successful crime thriller/ murder mystery. I absolutely loved the parts where Clara was using her knowledge as Scientist shine through in the detective work that she is trying her hand in. The narrator was brilliant with accents and character distinction and bringing Clara so much definition while keeping up the drama factor. Definitely a perfect book for Agatha Christie fans.

I listened to the audio book of this which is not something that I usually do and don't know how it affected my involvement with the book. The story was different to others I've read recently which was interesting, well positioned in it's time and felt authentic. I found the voices a little too overpowering for the characters so think I would have preferred the written version and felt more connected to the characters this way.

This was an adorable story. Clara Vale is a strong, smart, and independent woman who inherits the estate and business - a detective agency - of her late uncle. Set in 1929, when women had fewer rights as we have today, the plot brings the reader a cozy whodunnit mystery as well as pertinent indignations of unequal rights.
I listened to the audiobook, which was greatly narrated. The best voice performance, to me, was Juju’s.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for a copy of this audiobook. Opinions are my own.

My thanks to Bonnier U.K. Audio Embla Books for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘The Picture House Murders’ by Fiona Veitch Smith. It is narrated by Hannah Genesius.

This is the first in a new series of historical cosy mysteries featuring Miss Clara Vale, the daughter of a recently knighted banker. Clara attended Oxford and studied chemistry. While her mother had hoped that she might bag an eligible Duke while there, the fiercely independent Clara only wanted to become a scientist. Since leaving Oxford she’s been unable to find a job in the field and is currently working in a dingy library.

When her Uncle Robert, who is based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, dies suddenly Clara is surprised to discover that he has left his entire estate to her, including his private detective agency. Could she become a lady detective?

Clara needs time to decide if this is something she wants. Then one of her uncle’s old clients comes to her for help with a case involving a local picture house. As a result she quickly finds herself in the middle of a deadly mystery and is encouraged to discover that her scientific skills will be an asset to her sleuthing.

This was great fun and I immediately felt a great deal of empathy for Clara and the mystery itself held my attention throughout until the final reveal.

With respect to the audiobook, Hannah Genesius is a British actor and musician with a background in theatre, radio and television. I found her narration excellent, including her ability to move effortlessly between Clara’s posh London accent and the more down-to-earth Geordie accents of those Clara encounters in Newcastle.

The audiobook concluded with a historical note about the period setting and a sneak preview of Book 2, ‘The Pantomime Murders’, due to be published later this month.

Overall, I found ‘The Picture House Murders’ an engaging historical mystery and a promising start to this new series.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publishers for letting me listen to this book, I have definatly found a new author to read and stories to cherish and enjoy.

1929 and Clara Vale has just come into an inheritance from her uncle, whom she did not know had passed away, off she goes to Newcastle to find out that her uncle has left her money, house, but also a detective agency.

Her Uncle was mid way through some cases when he died, so does Clara,whom always saw herself as a lady of the future, take over the cases and the agency?

There are plot twists and turns and the narration was excellent.

There is so much more to this story and to Clara, that you really have to read and meet her for yourself.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧.

The Picture House Murders
Fiona Veitch Smith

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This is the first book in the Miss Clara Vale Mystery series and the first book that I've read by this author, so far.

This was a really enjoyable read, but definitely a much slower paced book than I'm used to reading.
It was actually quite nice for a change!

I wonder whether the pace was due to the introduction of the character and how she came about her inheritance as well as dealing with her first case - learning on the job so to speak.
Or maybe it was just due to the era where things were dealt with a little more sedately.

Don't get me wrong, there was a lot going on and a great mix of the the different storylines which flowed beautifully.

Clara comes to discover that her uncle had left his inheritance all to her - although friendly in the past and with a lot in common, she knew little of his life - so it came as a shock to her that he was a PI and had left her the business and his large house too.
There were lots of threads to the story from learning about the inheritance and then the business, getting entangled in a case that was ongoing and also dealing with 'the competition' who were trying to thwart her progress as well.

I loved how well these threads wove together and as they all started to connect and come together in conclusion.

Clara was a great character to explore and I spent the whole book willing her on a d hoping that she would solve the case and see how suited to the job she was - meaning that she'd stay and take on the business.
She really proved herself to those doubting her ability, including her own parents and brother!

I think that she'll make a great protagonist in future books in the series - I'd love to see her father and how he relates to her doing the job!

Set in the late 1920's, the writing style and narrator did a great job of transporting us to this era.
I enjoyed hearing about some of the history of the cinema - at a time when we were just starting out with 'talkies'.

A great start to this series - I'd be really keen to continue reading and to find out what happens next for Clara and the PI business and to hopefully see her take on her next case!


💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Lovely book that’ kept me guessing right till the end , I enjoyed this read , it was easy going and the characters were likeable , I would recommend

This was such a fun read! A little slow, and the reveal was rEALLY left until the very last minute, but it was really enjoyable! I liked the small town, Newcastle setting, I liked that the main character was already established and we could see her take the sleuthing from a burden to an interest to something she was really passionate about! I really liked the main characters, the lil family at the end was a lovely wholesome touch- a fun, low stakes, intriguing mystery!

A deceiving account of how life gets thrown off course when you go against the grain. Set in the 1920's, a superb depiction of how "one" should live up to ones families expectations, but when you go your own way you discover more about yourself and your capabilities! The tale will take you through the highs and lows of society.

1929 and a protagonist who is smart, sassy and scientific. A book that deals with equality of sexes, and of sexual orientation. It mentions people of all classes and backgrounds.
It was my first read by this author and I like her writing style immensely. She has done a stellar research job on what the latest forensic discoveries were in that time frame and has enabled the sleuth to carefully discover clues instead of a manic hero all at once.
I very much like all of the characters and have a suspicion that we haven't seen the last of a few!
Thoroughly enjoyable and being that the narrator is fabulous and those accents were to die for... please sign me up for the next one!

I enjoyed this book and loved Clara. She was a strong, intelligent woman in a time when it was hard to be a woman at all. The story was a little predictable but it was still fun to read.

I raced through this pacy mystery in two days and it was a wild ride. I had no idea where the author was taking me, but I knew I wanted to follow…..⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I quite enjoyed this and it got better the more I listened. I can see this being a great new series. Like others I found the sex scenes a bit cringy, but apart from that really interested to see where this series is going to take me. It was just such a different setting for a series that it really intrigued me.

I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

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.

1929: Miss Clara Vale is thirty, working in a library after studying at Oxford & gaining a degree. Then her estranged Uncle Bob dies suddenly. She travels to Newcastle & learns she’s his beneficiary. He's bequeathed her his private detective agency, and laboratory, in his will as well as his house, savings and investments. Clara couldn't become a detective, could she?
The decision is made for her when one of her uncle's clients Mrs Alice Whitaker comes to her for help
The first in a new series & I new author to me. I was drawn to this book as it is set primarily in Newcastle & as I live in the North East was eager to read it. It didn’t disappoint in any way & I could easily visualise the locations in & around the city & also up the Northumberland coast. I really liked Clara & loved how she got her teeth into the case, I also loved that at times her confidence slipped but she wanted not only to do her uncle Bob proud but find answers for Alice. I also liked that the author didn't introduce a plethora of characters but gradually introduced them & they were an eclectic mix. There are twists, turns & red herrings & the villain wasn’t obvious. A well written cosy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also listened to the audio book & the narrators brought the book to life even more & did a stellar job with this lovely book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

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The Picture House Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith is a historical psychological thriller. This is the first book in the series so it is a good start!
I am not usually a historical genre lover as there are so many things that annoy me but I like to challenge myself. And this book was good! I must say that I loved this book because of the narrators Fiona Veitch Smith and Hannah Genesius!
I am positive that if I choose to read this book it would be 4 stars but narrators made this book so much better!
Narrators read this book in such a fine British accent! Interaction from the narrators was just fantastic!
It is hard for me to deal with the unfairness of the olden days regarding women so that part usually makes me angry but I like how the author managed to juggle this topic.

Events happened in 1929 when Miss Clara Vale inherited a private detective agency from her uncle. There is no chance that society will accept female detectives with a degree in science! But her uncle knew that Clara was the one for this job. While Clara debates with herself can or can't accept this inheritance, life puts her in a position where she must take some actions.

She will definitely break some stereotypes in her journey and it will be interesting to know how her life will turn out leading this new lifestyle.

Thank you, NetGalley, Bonnier UK Audio, and Embla Books for this advance copy!

A fab start to a new series. Set in a time period where women needed a males signature to inherit or open a bank account and sexism was riffe. Clara has a science degree and is working as an independent librarian when her uncle dies and leaves her amongst thibgs his detective agency.
As clara fights to getvwhats her qnd aolve this case.
The narration on the whole was good. Sadly the male characters soubded isentical and lacked wmotion. Sone of the more scientific info like contraception was read like a txt book. This might have been deliberate due to Clara's degree . A great first liaten a bit predictable in places but kept me ibvested in the overall story.
I loved the fact tgat it tgen turned out the story was based on a teue event with a few details amended..
This was a great short liaten hopefully tge next in the series will look mire at the male characters and hiw they sound

Thank you net gallery and publisher and author and narrator for a solid 4 star listen.

Thank You for the review copy.

Set in the late 1920s this is just the kind of book, I like. A small town in England. A lady detective who nobody wants to take seriously because how can a woman be anything other than a secretary? A mystery to solve. A villain trying to kill or sabotage. And there you have it, a perfect mystery.

It is definitely a book I would recommend. I can't wait to read the next Clara Vale books now!

I liked so many things about this entertaining audio book. The narrator and presentation were excellent. The story is a good gentle crime thriller (yes there is murder but it is not sensationalised). The 1920s setting with woman starting to have equal rights, but attitudes had not entirely changed. A wonderful character in Miss Clara Vale, with more to come from her in future books. The North East of England setting, when too much published work is set in London. (But each to their own strengths.) Thank you to Bonnier UK Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Really really enjoyed this. A cozy jaunt back into the roaring 20’s when a woman can run a successful detective agency but has a fight on her hands to have agency over her own money. There’s murder, there’s mystery there’s intrigue, written really beautifully, there were parts of the story that were extremely distressing but mostly, this felt like slipping in to a lovely Nancy Drew/Sherlock Holmes mystery. Excellent, an easy 4 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.