Another cracker. The general plot was not too deep - it focused on relationships, misconceptions and a fair bit of guessing who done it!?!
I have read the other books in this series. They are all witty, we thought out and thoroughly entertaining.
Thanks for the ride

I fantastic cozy crime story. Perfect for fans of Richard osman.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook in return for a fair and honest review

This is the third book in the Marlow Murder club series and I was happy to receive an advance copy from NetGalley after having enjoyed reading the previous two books. The three unlikely friends(because of their disparate nature), Judith, Suzie and Becks, return to solve another mystery in the city of Marlow. This time around the trio solve the baffling murder of the Mayor of Marlow, Geoffrey Lushington. Geoffrey is kind, helpful and loved by all, so it's really puzzling to understand why would anyone want to poison Geoffrey with aconite or commonly known as wolfsbane or queen of poisons.

DI Tanika makes Judith, Suzie and Becks as citizen advisors because she knows that the trio will investigate the murder with or without her consent, and probably crack the case before she does. Most of the sleuthing is done by interviewing the council members who were present during the meeting in which Geoffrey was killed. And all the members have some deep, dark secret to hide which makes the whole matter more perplexing. This was something I didn't enjoy reading as there were too many red herrings and sub-plots to that mostly leads to no-where. The ending when the killer was revealed seemed a little far fetched and the actual motive didn't seem so convincing to me.

I listened to the audio book and felt the narrator has done a wonderful job, keeping each character's voice distinct. I will continue to read the next books in the series, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy reading this one as much as the previous two books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the book.

This book offered a surprising escape from my recent heavier reads. It's not your typical cozy mystery – three eccentric older women meddling in a murder investigation adds a layer of absurdity that borders on farcical. While I wouldn't call them endearing, their meddling was undeniably entertaining.

Despite my initial skepticism (who recruits civilians for murder cases?), the plot unfolded with twists, red herrings, and hidden secrets. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, keeping me guessing until the end. The lighthearted tone and excellent narration, which perfectly captured the characters' quirks, made this a fun, easy listen. While some might find the "three old ladies solve a crime" premise a bit outlandish, I enjoyed the offbeat approach. For a departure from the usual, this unexpected cozy mystery gets a generous four stars.

I’m not a huge fan of cosy murder mysteries and I have t read earlier books in this series. I thought the premise sounded interested fancied a bit of easy listening after a few more challenging reads. This sort of hit the spot. Three older ladies are recruited as civvy advisers to help the police solve a murder. There’s the first bit of belief that has to be suspended! I found them rather overbearing, but entertaining and at times their activities bordered on farce. In the spirit of thus being ‘cosy’ I stuck with it and there are twists, turns and red herrings. Everyone has secrets and mist are telling lies…so whee is the truth? It’s. A lighthearted romp. Excellent narration captures the essence of the characters. Three seems a bit mean so it’s a rather generous four stars.

I’ve read several of the author’s books, including Death Comes to Marlow and find them a fun bit of escapism. I was, therefore, looking forward to listening to an audio version of the 3rd in the Marlow series.

I’m not sure whether it was the glacial pace of the plot, the over-reliance on a suspension of disbelief or that the characters are starting to grate on me but this instalment was a challenge to get through.

None of the 3 central characters are very real and neither are their actions when you read/listen to them. Perhaps it works better on tv? I also found the voicing chosen for Judith annoying and seemed both too old for the character and too ‘Lady Bracknell’ - I kept expecting her to start talking about cucumber sandwiches and missing handbags!

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and HarperCollins UK Audio for an audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderfully cosy crime caper with three aging lady crime-busters. When Suzie attends a town planning committee meeting, little does she realise that a murder is on the agenda. Everyone there has a secret, everyone there is lying about something and it's up to the friends to unpick the lies and help the police as official civilian advisors! The plot is complex enough to keep you listening, there are clues and red-herrings at every turn and the narrator sets the tone just right. A perfect listen for a rainy day.

I listened to the audiobook of this cosy(ish) murder mystery, and was immediately impressed by Nicolette McKenzie's wonderful narration. The plot itself had some interesting twists and turns, with a good twist at the end. However, I did not like any of the characters, and the three main protagonists - lady lay-detective friends - were so stereotypically drawn that in the end they annoyed me, and I couldn't wait for the mystery to be solved.

THE QUEEN OF POISONS is an interesting murder mystery where the nicest guy gets killed in a room full of far shadier people.

The book includes scenes where every suspect gets accused of being the murderer, with the sequence of events on the night played out such that the suspect in question did it. It was an interesting technique, showing the means and opportunity for them, but something is always a little off, and the suspect gives a rebuttal. The first time, I thought it was the end (and so way confused by how much I had left of the audiobook!)

This means that, when you approach the finale, you think there has to be something you're missing as the answer cannot be one you've got so far. It simply wouldn't be satisfying. And yes, there is something missing, something that fit very much with the Death in Paradise vibe (the author is also behind the hit series.)

Nicolette McKenzie narrates, giving the three women at the book's heart distinct voices that really helps encapsulate their personalities. It was an engaging listen, a nice way to read the story.

Yes this is the third book of the series. No I didn't realise that until I was starting. However, it didn't matter. I am sure there are some elements of their friendship and references to past cases that I missed, but as the mystery within this book is contained, the suspects and motives not relying on previous books to understand, it didn't matter.

I think I'm going to put the other books on my library book, go back to the start of the series and their friendship and see how it develops. Plus I do like murder mysteries full of friendship and ordinary people (and lacking the grimness of those with alcoholic primary detectives!)

I’ve always enjoyed Robert Thorogood’s writing and as a big fan of Death in Paradise (& beyond) as well as the books based on DIP, the Marlowe Murder club books have always been must reads. I’ve grown to love this group of kick ass older women and look forward to busting another case with them.

They’re seriously so easy to throw your lot in with. They’re lovable and compelling to follow.

Nikolette Mackenzie (who also narrates the previous) always delivers on the narration front and is a perfect cast for this. I really enjoy the audiobooks and I’m always glad I consume the books in this format!

I did enjoy the plot on this one but found it a tiny bit slow at certain points so my concentration may have wavered once or twice. The audiobook certainly cannot be beat though.

Another great mystery featuring some of my favourite ladies who investigates. Well plotted, witty, it kept me hooked and surprising.
Loved it
Highly recommended.
[ADD] the audiobook was a good way to re-read while listening. Loved the narrator who made the characters come alive.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was my first sojourn into Robert Thorogood’s Marlow Murder Club series and it could be that that was my problem, I haven’t read the other two books so have missed out on the development of the characters or it could just be that Richard Osman has ruined me for all other cosy reads? I’m not sure but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed with this one.

It was an ok read, but for me it was no more than that. The characters felt flat, I didn’t get that connection I look for in a good book, I felt very much an onlooker, watching 3 ‘older’ women running around accusing pretty much everyone of murder and then moving on to the next suspect and accusing them.

Thanks to Netgalley for supplying an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The narration was excellent.

This was a middling novel for me that didn't cause any extreme emotions. The characters were mostly well-developed, although I did find it difficult to remember who was who at the start of the story - part of this may be because this is part of a series that I haven't read. I enjoyed that the "detectives" were three middle-aged women, each with their own personal problems too, and the plot was interesting and largely believable. The ending did contain a plot twist, but I found it predictable, and although I hadn't been able to figure out who the killer was, I didn't really care when they were revealed because I found it difficult to care about most of these characters, given what they have done in the past. Overall it was an interesting murder mystery but not one that I'll likely ever read again.

Thank You, NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood.

I really enjoyed reading about this group of older women solving a murder.

One of the reasons I requested this book was that it was a small-town mystery and I love those.

A small town where everyone knows everyone until you find that you might not know everything about everyone.

I would love to read more. Can't wait for the next.

The third book in the Marlow Murder Club series does not disappoint. Judith, Suzie and Becks are back trying to solve a new mystery when the mayor of Marlow is poisoned at a town council meeting. This time they are officially invited to be civilian advisors from the police, so that helps them investigate more easily. I love how their friendship has grown in each book.

My favorite quote from Judith, "Imagine being corrigible".

Nicolette McKenzie does a fantastic job at narrating these.

Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of the audiobook edition in exchange for my honest opinion.

A classic famous five esq cosy mystery. Lots of twists and turns and wrongly accusing people. The pop psychology was a bit lacking but the characters were well fleshed out and interesting.

Geoffrey Lushington, Mayor of Marlow, dies suddenly during a Town Council meeting. When traces of aconite – also known as the queen of poisons – are found in his coffee cup, the police realise he was murdered. The police bring Judith, Suzie and Becks in to investigate as Civilian Advisors right from the start, so they have free rein to interview suspects and follow the evidence to their heart’s content, which is perfect because Judith has no time for rules and standard procedure.
The third book in the series & another delightful cosy mystery. I love Judith, Becks & Suzie they are so different but work so well together. Everyone at the meeting is a suspect & others are drawn in too, the trio are unconventional & dive in where no policeman could. There are twists, turns & red herrings. It was a fun, entertaining read, which was meant to do exactly that entertain. I hope there are more in this light hearted series. I was lucky to get the audiobook from NetGalley & this version brought the book to life, the narrator was brilliant
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another wonderful story from the Marlow Murder Club. I never tire of reading about Judith Potts and her friends, Suzie and Becks. This time there is a murder at a planning meeting, but the victim is the mayor who everyone seems to agree is a perfect saint! They can't find any reason why anyone would want him dead. Lots of clues lead to many discoveries and confessions, evidently everyone on the council has something to hide but can they find the actual murderer?
Each novel gives a little more insight into the superb characters. They all have their own talents which helps them solve whichever case they are working on. I love how their initially reluctant interactions have turned into best friends who always look out for each other.
The writing was excellent and kept me hooked throughout and the narrator was perfect for the character. I really hope the series continues.

Top notch thriller fiction, the author is normally an auto buy from me so I was so glad to grab the audio on NetGalley. As expected the plot was a good one, Not a run of the mill thriller. I really liked the characters. Did I guess the ending? Nope, would I recommend? Yes. Defo want more from the author

I hadn’t read any book by this author before, but I’d heard that they were good for people who like Cosy Crime such as the Thursday Murder Club, so I wanted to try a book in the Marlow Murder Club series.

Although this was the 3rd book in the series I don’t think it really mattered too much that I hadn’t read the previous ones. Previous events that were relevant were explained and the characters were introduced in a way that you could start the series here quite easily.

I listened to the audiobook of this title, and the narrator had a very good voice for this sort of book, sounding like I would imagine one of the three main characters might sound. The book was easy to listen to the plot was easy to follow.

Sometimes I did feel like too much explanation for plot points was given, I think the author needs to trust the reader’s intelligence a little more. And some of the characters did seem to be built of cliches and stereotypes a little more than I would like, although in one notable instance this was a deliberate subterfuge which was one of the main plot twists.

All in all, I did enjoy this book but I don’t think this is really a series I’d carry on with. I didn’t like any of the characters enough to feel any kind of empathy for them.

I would recommend it to someone who is looking for a crime book on the cosier side and think it’s definitely worth trying.