This book is simply adorable. It is very well-written from beginning to end. I recommend reading about these friends who... I loved it. You must read it.

I thought this was the second instalment in a series but it's the same as "Death in the Spires" so they share the same review

When I started this book I thought about The It Girl by Ruth Ware. It was a fleeting impression because this one of the best book I read that features people from Oxford (the best is GAudy Night).
There's a murder in the past, a group of friend that were called The SEven Wonder til one of the was murdered.
Jem, or Jeremy, is the frailest and the one who was left behind as he dropped out. The poison letter he receives accusing him of being the murderer cause problems and he lose his job.
This is the start of a mystery that mixes past and present, people in their 20s and people who are ten years olders.
Fascinating, twisty, intriguing. An adrenaline-fuelled last chapter that surprised me
I would be happy to read more about Jem and his friends.
I throughly appreciated this mystery and it's highly recommende.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I originally requested this book for a review on Netgalley because I was attracted by the title and description and because of the setting in Oxford around the turn of the 20th century.
Jeremy Kite livelihood is threatened when his employer receives an anonymous letter accusing Jeremy of having killed Toby Feynsham, one of his best friends during his studies at Oxford. Jem decides to track down his former friends and and to find out who murdered Toby, in the hopes of exonerating himself.
First he visits one of the "seven wonders" (as the friends used to be called) in London, a politician, and than travels on to a small village where one of the two female students has become a school mistress. Finally he goes to Oxford where he spends time at his old college where he reconnects with Nicky Rook, whom he has always had a crush on and who was the only one who stayed on at Oxford.
Will Jem discover who the real killer was and does it matter? This book is not so much a whodunit as a psychological quest and in the end it doesn't really matter who the killer is. What makes the book so interesting is how the developments that took place around the time of Toby's murder influenced all these peoples lives and the way they responded, then and now.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Full marks!

7 friends, will they remain friends or will actions tear them apart. This book is told in dual timelines, between 1895 and 1905. 7 friends all of whom are from the university in Oxford, one of then is dead. Fast forward to 1905 when a letter arrives and asks Who killed Toby? This book can be described as a cozy mystery. I recommend for anyone looking for a quick read with a little mystery involved.

A group of seven friends could never know that they would not be friends forever. At the time, they were living in the moment, and enjoying the happiness of being together. When one of the group is murdered, suspicion falls on the remaining friends, although there is no evidence to show that any of them are guilty.
With the friendship gone, and each having gone their own way, it seems that the past is done. But every now and then, someone sends letters, accusing the remaining of the group of being murderers. Finally, Jem has had enough, and he is determined to get to the truth.

Good read, albeit very slow at times. There were parts of the book that just failed to keep my attention. Still, decently done, and a cozy little mystery for a weekend read.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance reader copy of “Death in the Spires.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Everyone loved Toby. Everyone. Until someone didn’t. Hatred and love and jealousy and trust… which of the above meant Toby Feynsham, a “golden boy” at Oxford, had to die? His death has ruined the lives of seven people for ten years, and one of them, Jeremy Kite, has determined it’s time to find out the truth, in “Death in the Spires,” a new historical mystery from K.J. Charles.

The book employs flashback, chapters changing from present day to the school terms of the past, the happy days of the “Seven Wonders.” Before the night when it all went bad, before everything was snatched away. And they all know it was one of them -- but which one?

Jeremy is a formidable “detective,” going to Oxford and other places, interviewing everyone; author Charles knows how to present individual characters and situations that provide suspects and doubt for readers to delve into. And Jeremy is finding out more about himself in the process. Opening himself up to a relationship that may have played a part in the business from long ago. And as he perseveres with his “investigation,” he begins to understand that darling Toby may not have been the wonderful, charming character he presented to the world. And that’s a motive for murder.

Our page-turning ending offers up a satisfying finish. “Death in the Spires” is a study in how to expose a life-changing crime, involving dogged “police” work interspersed with personal revelations that carry a multitude of meaning. I enjoyed the journey very much.

Gripping and fun murder mystery novel featuring a group of friends and top notes of dark academia. Queer, compeling and utterly enjoyable. Highly recommend.

This book was set in 1895 and then in 1905. Friends from university in Oxford, one of them is dead. 1905 a letter arrives and asked Who killed Toby? It’s a great plot, not a usual read for me, but I enjoyed it. The characters and setting were great for the year. A murder mystery novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

BOOK: COME TO DUST
AUTHOR: KJ CHARLES
PUB DATE: APRIL 2023
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REVIEW: 3.5
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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THINGS I LIKED
1. The Oxford setting
2. The diverse characters in terms of a 'commoner' and a black man in late 1800s Britain
3. I liked 2/3rd of the book and the mystery.
4. I liked Jem's character developed at the end. He needed it.
5. My favorite character was Ella, she's badass!
6. I got a lot of nice quotes
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THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
1. The last third of the book. I was really disappointed at the way the mystery turned out. I wanted a different perp
2. The 'real' perp was not sufficiently punished
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This book was very nice, I just didn't like the ending. But, it was a quick read. I'm curious as to what's next for Jem
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I did not read this as LGBT was not part of the original description and that is not a genre that I read.

This story caught me in the first few pages. A suspenseful murder within a group of friends. A perfect who-done-it story that deserves five stars.

An excellent murder mystery. Jem gets a scholarship to Oxford and on arrival he gets drawn into a group of friends. Their friendship is strong and carries them through the years. Then one of them is murdered and the culprit never found. This destoys the remaining members of the group and they go their separate ways. However, over the years, they all receive threatening letters regarding the murder until eventually, 10 years later, Jem decides to find out who the murderer was. What then follows is a rollercoaster ride of clues and accusations until the final showdown. Well plotted and great characters.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Jeremy White receives the letter accusing him of murdering his best friend 10 years prior, it sets off a chain of events he could never have foreseen. Tired of being accused, tired of living in the shadows of an unspeakable act that happened a decade ago, he sets out to find the truth once and for all. What then unfolds is a reunion like no other, secrets that no one wants revealed and confrontations long avoided, finally coming to ahead.
I devoured this book in a few short hours, I was enthralled from beginning to end. This book reminded me of If We Were Villains, it read like a dark academia with a murder mystery twist. The setting (England) and time period it occurred in (Victorian era). Made for a cozy and atmospheric read. The pacing was spot on, and the writing was beautiful and very quotable. The author does a really good job incorporating modern day issues with this period piece read but does it in a way that it added to the plot and didn't take away from anything.
I love the way the characters were written; you will root for some and absolutely despise others but that's another reason I loved this book so much.
Nothing dragged with this one and everything flowed seamlessly, the ending was very satisfying with no stone left unturned. I loved this little group of seven and all the secrets that came spilling out in Jeremy's search for truth.
I highly recommend this one to fans of dark academia and murder mystery.
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Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author for my eARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

could not quite finish this book. i stopped about halfway through. just found it to be a tad boring to be honest

I thought this was a well written, suspense filled thriller. It built the tension right up to the end and brought to life the privileged Oxford experience at the start of the 20th century making a statement about social class. I was disappointed with the end where the killer was able to get away with the crime without facing justice in a court of law. In fact, the people around him gave him an alibi, and it seemed a happy ever after, The killing seemed justified because the victim displayed a nasty streak, being a vindictive blackmailer, despite being the height of generosity at other times. The person at the end who was demonised was a rapist, but again, owing to his privileged life style got away with little consequence and was able to continue a prominent career. It is not for me to decide which is a worse crime, killing, blackmail or rape, they are all awful crimes, but perpetrators in an ideal world would face justice in a court of law, rather than resume or embark on a fruitful career.

I really enjoyed it! I loved the atmospheric descriptions of Oxford colleges, their quads as well as the students' lives. One does notice the different social levels/aims of studying (scholarships as opposed to Etonians, for example), and one is very surprised at the group of unlikely friendships.... The plot was very good, letting me guessing who the culprit was. The novel focuses on friendship, relationships either heterosexual or homosexuality, the colour of the skin and the concept of justice. I thought it was well done, and I could relate to the characters.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.