What a brilliant bit of escapist fiction, I haven’t read the other two books in this series, but this is a great standalone. Narration is excellent; well paced and very relaxing to listen to. I love the Clara character. Feisty but also down to earth, she can move happily in any social circle. She brings her undoubted intelligence to the fire in solving this cosy murder mystery. It’s a charming blend of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple with a touch of Poirot and some derring do! The scenes in Egypt are well depicted with a lot based on fact and I felt I was on the excavation in the heat. Great characters and this story sucked me straight in. I’ll be reading more from this series.

Thank you Netgalley, Bonnier UK Audio and Fiona Veitch Smith for the audio Arc of The Pyramid Murders
Narrated by Fiona Veitch Smith with Hannah Genesius
Book 3 of Miss Clara Vale Mysteries

This is my first book by Fiona V Smith and even though this is the 3rd book in the series, I found it easy to read as a standalone book.
I bonded with this book straight away and has a feel of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. So if you like clever cosy mysteries with a strong female lead. These books are for you.

Set in the 1030's, Clara a chemist come detective find that a newly discovered sarcophagus and the mummy incased in it, is actually a women who was killed some years earlier and mummified. This sets in motion an eventual trip to Cairo with her assistant Bella, to see if she can solve the mystery of who this women is and who is responsible.

The whole pacing of this book was marvellous, tense in places, playful and suspenseful. I loved the dynamics between Clara and her assistant Bella. There was a few laugh out loud moments for me with Bella and loved her sense of humour. Clara is a wonderful role model for the teen readers who are getting into mystery/thriller books. She's Intelligent, strong, a lady but most importantly, she's interdependent. Relying on help to solve this Mystery in the people she trusts.

Ill definitely be going back to read the first 2 books!
Its lovely to hear the authors voice narrating their own books, Fiona's voice suits her book and with Hannah Genesius brought the whole book to life.

4.5 rounded to 5 for Amazon, Netgalley

This was such a jolly audio book. Clara was upper class enough to have the tea dresses and be able to hobnob, and down to earth enough to not care and to have a pistol in her handbag and be willing to jump into a little plane to save time and travel! The characters were all great, international greats and goods who were all suspects in the murder and theft. The knowledge shared about Egypt was interesting, not too much that it baffled or was boring, but enough to really flavour the book. The references to the guide books of the time, the news that would have been happening in 1930 and meeting with Agatha Christie was all fun,
The narrator was well voiced and, managed the accents well enough! The lovely reading of uncle Bob’s love letters was lovely.

I was provided with an advanced reader copy in audio book form free of charge in return for an honest review.

The narration was excellent and each character had their own voice and way of speaking so that the listener wasnt confused about who was speaking. It brought the book to life.

I didnt know when i asked for the book that it was the third book of the serries. That gave me a slight pause but in the end I dived in and I am very glad I did.

Lady Clara Vale is a wonderful character and her assistant Bella are tremendously good fun. The story well written with lots of action and description. Even Clara's interactions with Jack Dancy the male private investigator are believeable and fun.

If you are a fan The Miss Fisher Mysteries then Clara Vale is perfect for you. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to other books by the this author.

I've not read the previous tow in this series, but that wasn't necessary, and this worked just as well as a stand alone book. Initially attracted to the storyline of Egypt, this was a fun, cosy mystery of smuggled artifacts and murder that managed to raise a few interesting questions about antiquities in private and national collections, other than in their country of origin. A near blend of period mystery and modern issues that did actually work. I liked the characters, Clara is engaging although I loved Bella, her assistant. There were numerous other characters that all worked well, and the narrator did an excellent job with all the different voices. The story moves at a decent pace and came to a reasonable conclusion. Overall, really enjoyable.

Must say I half expected, Poirot to pop up somewhere along the way! Classic golden age mystery, capturing the spirit of adventure of the period, and providing a delightful escape. I adored it.

It may be the 3rd adventure in the Clara Vale series, but there's no need to have read previous books, although I have no doubt you'll seek them out later.

This is a really cute book and good solid story! I listened to the audiobook version and I just loved it and loved the narrator.
The northern accent is just so engaging and warm.
I haven't read the 2 previous stories in the series but this worked well as a standalone. I will listen to or read the other books though as I just love it!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story starts out in my own city of Newcastle Upon Tyne and when a mummy arrives at the Hancock museum (just around the corner from me!) that isn't what was expected our heroine starts her sleuthing which takes her all the way to Egypt!
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook which I enjoyed ever so much, and the narrator is spot on. Ah, I love books set where I live. This is a remarkable series, and I will be looking to read the rest!

This gives off Carola Dunn vibes, in waves. It's book 3 of the Clara Vale series and I'd happily listen to the others. It's written in a modern style but is vaguely evocative of the Agatha Christie era.

It's not entirely historically accurate, but that doesn't make any difference to the storyline and doesn't detract from the enjoyment.

It's beautifully narrated by Hannah Genesius, all accents are believable and the characters' voices are easy to distinguish from one another.

I'd watched an author panel with Fiona Veitch Smith as part of the Cambridge book festival,so was delighted to get my hands on this, so soon afterwards.

Set in 1930, a mummy is delivered to the Hancock museum in Newcastle. Only one problem it is the wrong mummy and is less than 15 years old. Treasures are hidden beneath the body that also should not be there. Miss Clara Vale and her assistant Bella will commence their investigations which will lead them to Egypt.

Enjoyed this novel with a female detective in the lead. Well written and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters who will undertake an often dangerous adventure in a time when women travelling alone was frowned upon. Good plot and locations, enjoy.

This highly quality is the third on a series bu works well as a standalone. Its my second outing with the characters. As always tge narration is compelling loving the isage of accents in the right places for the right amount. I loved the additional historic references manipulation to fit into the story. The plot itself again another cosy murder mystery with the added bonus of a trip to Egypt. Appropriate side characters throughtout gave the mystery more depth. To the story. It was a quick listen. Throughtly recommended for anyone who loves cozy type mystery. This also attempts to pit the modern wonen values and ideas into a historical setting .
I know originally only 3 novels were planned for this series bit I teally hope there is more to one
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator

1930: Miss Clara Vale, Oxford graduate in chemistry now turned detective after taking over her uncle’s agency, is taking a night off from sleuthing to attend the launch party of a new exhibition at the Hancock Museum in Newcastle. But when the piece de resistance, a rare ornate sarcophagus, is finally opened and it turns out the mummy inside it is a fake. Later that night, she is summoned back to the museum and asked to investigate a series of stolen Egyptian artefacts. Using her scientific and forensic prowess, Clara, with her trusted assistant Bella in tow set out to solve the mystery
The third outing for Clara & whilst it could be read on its own to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading in order. I love Clara who is like a terrier with a bone, she now has an assistant, the delightful Bella. This was one interesting mystery from the cold streets of Newcastle to the desert & the pyramids in Egypt. I loved the descriptions not only of the journey but also the hustle & bustle of Cairo. There are twists & turns as Clara unravels the mystery, who can she trust & what are red herrings & what is the truth. I look forward to more in the series. I also listened to the audiobook & thoroughly enjoyed it, it was great listening to it in the background & the very good narrator brought the book to life
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

The third in the Miss Clara Vale mystery series is my favourite yet, steeped in the exotic and alluring atmosphere of 1930 Egyptian artefacts, leading Clara on a quest from Newcastle to London to Cairo. Whilst this is part of a series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone (but be warned, you won't want to miss any of this series!) If you love a cosy mystery, then this will be the perfect trio , even better, if you enjoy a strong female lead - like Miss Marple or Vera, only much younger and at the start of a blossoming career in detecting long before ladies usually enjoyed the luxury of a career. Clara is young, but sharp and enthusiastic. On a well deserved night off at the museum, she soon becomes quickly involved in the investigation of some missing Egyptian artefacts. She isn't the only one on a quest to procure these artefacts and soon risks life and limb in their pursuit. An exciting and adrenaline fuelled mystery taking us on a quest to retrieve the items, whilst thoroughly entertaining us. The mystery and humour is well transferred via an incredible audiobook narration by Hannah Genesius. #thepyramidmurders #fionaveitchsmith #audiobook #netgalley