This is the first time I have read this author and I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The amateur sleuth is Susan and she doesn't quit until she figures it out. She is helping out a friend, who had an accident and is expecting a newspaper mongrul and his family for Christmas at her newly opened inn.
Susan agrees to help her out for her friend Robert. Well, of course, on the first night Duncan is murdered. Who done it. You will have to read it and see.

For winter mysteries, nothing says "locked room" quite like a blizzard. And that is what happens here as well, in a fancy manor on an island. The third book in a series, I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read the first two.
Susan doesn't have her daughter this Christmas and is anticipating something very quiet. But then her friend (NOT her boyfriend) asks if she can com e help while a super rich man brings his family (his wife, his two kids, their significant others, and his business partner) back to the island to celebrate in a place where they spent so many pleasant summers. Well, at least until his first wife died.
There is some good character development in this book but I didn't love the end. And our protagonist is put into too much danger for my liking.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out September 5, 2024
ARC kindly provided by Boldwood Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Christmas Murder' by Mary Grand
.
Well done and Thank You Mary on and for yet another absolutely amazing cosy mystery and a fantastic addition in this absolutely addictive series!!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.

I absolutely LOVED this book and cannot wait to read previous and future books in this series!!

I absolutely loved Mary's 'Death At St Jude's' which is the only other book I have read by this incredible author and also the second book in her 'The Isle of Wight Killings' series. I must say that I loved that book so much I was a bit dubious as to whether Mary good write another book that is better or even just as good as that one but she absolutely blew it out of the water so a huge well done to Mary!! It just goes to show what an incredible author that you are! Not only is this book just as amazing but you also managed to add a touch of festivity to it even though it is a crime book!! I really enjoyed the festive aspects of the storyline and regardless of the fact this book is a cosy mystery it still put me in the Christmas spirit regardless of the fact it is only August. This is actually my first Christmas book of the year and it's made me want to read more now!!! This would be a great book to read in December but it is still perfect to read any time!! In this absolutely brilliant Christmas Instalment of 'The isle Of Wight Killings' series Susan is hoping to have a peaceful Christmas but she ends up agreeing to help Meera out at the new hotel that she has opened just up the road where she will be hosting a famous journalist and his family for Christmas after Meera has had an accident. It is all going to plan until a body is discovered in a bedroom and Susan's plans for a peaceful Christmas go outof the window. The police believe they died of natural causes but Susan doesn't think it is and is determined to discover the truth. Are the police right or is there a killer on the loose? Can Susan discover the truth before they strike again? Grab your copy of this fabulous book now and I can guarantee you will not regret it!! Mary's amazing and evocative writing skills really brought everything to life all throughout the story ensuring I could see the characters, the absolutely stunning surroundings and feel everything the characters were feeling. I absolutely loved visiting the stunning Isle Of Wight especially during Christmastime in this book and I'm looking forward to returning there in the other books in this amazing series. I have not been to the Isle Of Wight in several years but as soon as I delved into this fantastic book I was whisked straight back there feeling and smelling the fresh air and taking in the absolutely beautiful surroundings that not even a death could spoil!! Mary portrays life in a small village absolutely perfectly, bringing the community to life and showing that when you live in a small place everybody knows everybody else's business and there is no such thing as a secret for long! Living in a small village myself I can definitely relate to exactly the type of village that Mary portrays so perfectly with Bishopstone. I was so completely invested in this fantastic page turner that it genuinely felt like I was on holiday and, again even though there was drama and death, I was absolutely devastated to come to the end to and return to rainy Wales. Speaking of which, I absolutely loved the little bits of Welsh language and background included with a Welsh character, being Welsh myself (as is the amazing author Mary!). I would love to tell you more but that would be spoiling the storyline wont it so I will let you grab your copy of this fantastic book and discover for yourself and if your anything like me you will find a new author whose work you will fall in love with!! The storyline is ram packed with death, resentment, murder?, tragedy, mystery, Christmas, laughter, grudges, love, friendship, suspense, secrets and absolutely everything you could ask for in a fantastic and addictive mystery!!! There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one mystery becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read and I would never have guessed who did and was hiding what and I was completely shocked by the mega twists. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Mary, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! I loved the addictive storyline, the stunning settings and the fantastic characters!! With a fantastic storyline, unforgettable characters and twists and turns you won't see coming this book is perfect to devour in front of a fire on a winters day or relaxing on the beach under the sun! It does not matter where or when you read this as Mary will whisk you off into the isle Of Wight in the middle of December before you know it!! Grab your copy and head off to the Isle Of Wight today!!!

Clear your schedules and pick up this fantastic, gripping and addictive page turner today and enjoy a visit to the sunning Isle Of Wight!!

Although this is the third book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without reading the previous two books in this brilliant series. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely LOVED meeting Susan again as well as meeting and getting to know all the new characters who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. Each and every character is realistic, well defined and leapt out of the pages at me every turn of a page!! I absolutely love our main protagonist Susan who is an amazing and strong female lead. i am always a fan of strong female protagonists in books being female myself and she has feltlike a friend rathe than a fictional character ever since I first met her when I read 'Death At St Judes'. It certainly helps that she has two dogs called Rocco and Libs as I am a massive animal lover. I run Golden Oldies Cat Rescue and Hospice (you can find my page on Facebook) and animals in books always gain extra bonus points from me and more so with this book as they all played such regular parts. It wasn't just Susan's dogs Libs and Rocco that I enjoyed getting to meet when it came to four legged friends but Susan's friend Robert also has two dogs Gem Gem and Dougie as does shop owner Tracy who owns Lottie. I could talk about animals in books for ages but I best get back to talking about the main characters as I am meant to be cutting down on my review length!! I absolutely loved getting to know many of these characters as well as meeting Susan again and Mary's vivid and evocative descriptions makes it feels like the reader is standing next to Susan and meeting her and the other characters for themselves. I really cannot wait to get to meet many more of them again on my next visit to the Isle Of Wight with Mary. I had no idea who to believe as many of the characters had their own secrets, agendas and mysteries surrounding them but I loved watching the way they all interacted with each other and seeing them change as individuals as well as partnerships throughout the storyline. Mary ensures that you really get close to them feeling everything that they are feeling and seeing everything that they are! Congratulations Mary on creating a fantastic collection of unique, varied, realistic and memorable characters who I am looking forward to meeting over and over!

Congratulations Mary on another absolutely fantastic and successful cosy mystery and I cannot wait to get stuck into more books in this promising series especially the first book to meet some of these amazing characters from the start!!! An absolutely fantastic festive addition to this series and this is the exact reason that you are in favourite author club!! Here's to many more successes!!

Overall an absolutely gripping, page turning, intriguing and festive murder mystery set in stunning locations that will keep you hooked!

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Christmas is coming and on the Isle of Wight Susan is looking forward to a quiet Christmas with her dogs. Since her husband left her she has become friendly with former police officer Robert and when he contacts her to ask a favour, on behalf of the owner of Bishopstone Manor Hotel, she reluctantly agrees. Meera, the hotel owner, has damaged her ankle and needs someone who can look after her first guests, following a very expensive refurbishment. It’s important it goes well. The guests are newspaper mogul Duncan Fern together with his wife, children and their partners and Antoine his editor.

Briefly, with all the guests in situ Susan is hoping it won’t be too onerous looking after their needs. It’s clear however after dinner on the first evening that Duncan is not the easiest of people to deal with, in fact he is really rather unpleasant! And then overnight the weather turns and the hotel staff and guests wake up to a snow covered vista, and a dead body! The local police eventually arrive but due to the weather there is no way on or off the island for additional police or forensic help. Unfortunately for Susan, she has met the lead detective before and there is definite friction between them, Susan believes the death is suspicious, but the police are working on the assumption that it was a natural death.

An enjoyable cozy Christmas crime read and for anyone who, like me, enjoys a Christmas read but isn’t looking for a romance book this is perfect. I’ve met Susan before in other books by this author and she does seem to get herself right into the middle of things, she doesn’t seem to see the potential dangers she might encounter. A good locked room mystery but with quite a large cast of potential killers, and I couldn’t work out who it might be, if Susan is correct. I loved Alice, by far my favourite character (obviously not including the four legged cast) - what a fabulous lady she is. A good fun read.

I love a good Christmas mystery and this had all everything I could ask for. We’ve got a manor house turned hotel where a tension-filled family is spending the holiday. We’ve got a snowstorm, making transportation nearly impossible. And then one of the guests, press mogul Duncan Fern, is found dead. Susan, our amateur sleuth with two adorable dogs, is at Bishopstone Manor helping Meera, the owner/manager, who hurt her leg in a fall. Susan is convinced the man was murdered, even if the family and police would rather pretend otherwise.

The mystery was well put together. We had plenty of suspects all of whom had secrets. Duncan was mean, rich, and a bully. He gave plenty of people reason to want him dead.

This is the third mystery in the series, but worked fine as a stand-alone. Susan is likable even if she makes some odd decisions. And the island seems like a lovely place to live, discounting the occasional murder.

Susan lives on the island of the Isle of Wight. She gets a call from her friend, Robert, asking if she doesn’t have any Christmas plans, could she come help at the Bishopstone Manor for the Christmas week. It is an old Tudor manor that has been restored by Meera Gupta. Her first guests will be Duncan Fern, editor of the controversial newspaper “The Morning Flame” and his family. A total of 7 guests for 6 nights. Meera suffered a fall and has an ankle injury. She wants Susan to greet the guests, get them settled in their rooms, and help them with whatever else she can do for them. Susan agrees to help.

Duncan Fern is as disagreeable and demanding as Susan has always heard. Other members of his family have their own quirks as well. Duncan’s wife, Kristen, is a restaurant critic. His son, Bryson, is a crime writer married to Victoria. His daughter, Hayley, and her partner, Lewis, are also present along with Duncan’s associate editor, Antoine.

The difficult thing is that a massive snowstorm has descended on the island and the guests have a difficult time getting to the manor. It also means they cannot get outside to enjoy the area. With phone service only available in the parking lot, people are not happy with that. However, the chef is outstanding and he and his assistants prepare some delicious meals.

When Duncan is found dead in his bed the next day, the family is shocked and find themselves stuck at the Manor as the snowstorm only threatens to get worse.

My goodness. What a story. There are more twists and turns in this book that kept me waiting for what could happen next. The descriptions are lovely making me feel chilled thinking about all that snow even when it’s very hot outside my house. My first time reading this author but I will certainly look for more books by her. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Due to healt/work issues cannot write a proper review now, a proper review will follow ASAP
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Susan had planned a quiet Christmas being solo
But a phone call has her with somewhere to go.
A hotel owner has had a fall and needs Susan's aid
And so new festive plans are made.

Bishopstone Manor hasn't officially opened yet
But a family party are staying, there'll be drama you can bet!
With a cantankerous press mogul, his wife and grown children, too,
Along with their partners, there'll be so much to do!

A snowstorm is a rare event on the Isle
And this has them stuck in the manor for a while.
The next day a guest is found dead in his bed
Is it natural causes or murder instead?

There are lies, misdirections and threats, too,
As Susan can't help herself looking for every clue.
The family interactions and the other guest there
Make Susan wary, she needs to take care.

A riveting read with great characters, too,
And a plot that has twists all the way through.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fantastic mystery
And hope you'll read it too and see if you agree!

For my copy of this book I say a big thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

With Christmas fast approaching, and a group of prestigious guests due to arrive at recently renovated Bishopstone Manor for their celebrations, owner Meera needs help when she’s incapacitated by a really badly timed accident. The chef – thank goodness – is already in place, but she won’t be able to meet and greet the party or organise their activities. At Robert’s request – he’s a widower friend, a former policeman, whose wish to become rather more she’s been fending off – Susan steps into the breach, happy to live on site for a while, the duties not expected to be particularly onerous. Well, other than taking along her recorder to provide musical accompaniment at mealtimes – a little daunting, but something she’s willing to take on.

The guests are a family group – a high-powered and less than sympathetic newspaper editor and his wife, his author son and food critic wife (the chef is rather hoping to impress…), his distinctly fragile daughter and her fitness trainer partner, and Antoine, his second-in-command at The Morning Flame. And then, of course, the unexpected happens. There’s a death – which might just be natural causes, but Susan’s convinced that’s not the case. She’s been aware of night-time movements, people being where they shouldn’t have been, undercurrents to the relationships she’s found unsettling, and sets about her own investigation. And my goodness, there are so many layers of secrets that she uncovers – individuals who have their own agendas or aren’t quite what they first appear to be, every one of them with a viable motive. Alice, at the local nursing home – rather more difficult to visit through the unusually heavy snow – helps out, as always, with theories and acts as rather more than just a sounding board, while Robert grows increasingly concerned that Susan’s putting her own safety at risk.

What ensues is a locked room mystery that had me gripped throughout, drawing my own conclusions about the likely perpetrator (and as always, I was entirely on the wrong track…), hoping Susan could avoid becoming another victim when it became clear that someone wasn’t too pleased about her interference. Everyone at the Manor becomes a suspect, all moving in and out of the frame in turn, with all those red herrings and bits of misdirection I so enjoy in the author’s books. While there’s always a certain claustrophobia about the unique island setting – which the author, as always, so perfectly draws – this time it’s amplified with the snow cutting off connection to the mainland and making outside movement (other than a little necessary dog walking) entirely impossible.

I’ve grown quite fond of Susan, and always enjoy finding out more about her personal life too – her ex-husband’s plans giving her some cause for concern about her fresh start, and her nose unexpectedly out of joint when Meera appears to have replaced her in Robert’s affections. But I also very much like her quiet deliberations and the way she tests out her theories, and her willingness to accept both Alice’s and Robert’s interventions and alternatives – I just rather wish she’d stop making me feel so uncomfortable that she just might be making herself the next target (no, not really!).

Perfectly paced, with a nice ramping up of the tension as the story approached its unexpected but wholly satisfying conclusion, this was a read I thoroughly enjoyed – and should the Christmassy romances I usually recommend not be quite to your taste, this really would be a perfect choice to hunker down with when the festive season comes.

Susan has recently found herself single after her husband of forty years left her for another woman. As she adjusts to her new life and embraces her newfound independence, she forms a close bond with Robert, a retired detective. While they are just friends for now, it’s clear that their relationship is heading toward something more.

The mystery in this story takes place on a snowed-in island, centered around a Christmas murder—who doesn’t love that trope? The author mentions that she had always wanted to write a Christmas murder mystery, inspired by Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, and as a Poirot lover I can say that Mary Grand does a fantastic job delivering just that.

It’s perfectly clear from the start who the murder victim will be. During the first dinner, tensions are palpable, and the victim makes no effort to hide their power over the other guests. I will say this reminded me a little of Mr. Body from the movie, Clue, in that you knew he was going to end up dead and you weren’t even sorry about it. Susan overhears two guests whispering, “If he could only die,” and the next day, that person is indeed dead.

When the police are called, the death is initially ruled as natural. However, Susan can’t shake the feeling that something doesn’t add up. The clues don’t point definitively to murder, but they don’t quite suggest a natural death either.

I really enjoyed watching the mystery unfold and following Susan as she tried to piece things together. That said, I did feel a bit frustrated with Susan’s behavior at times but that was more of a personal opinion. She just sometimes frustrated me.

Despite this small irritation, the mystery kept me engaged from the first page until the very last page. If you’re looking for a classic-style Christmas murder mystery to add to your holiday reading list, A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand is definitely worth checking out!

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of the Isle of Wight Killings series, and I enjoyed the previous books, so when I heard about this festive mystery, I was excited. I recognised the protagonist, Susan, from the previous books, and was happy to read about her again.

From the beginning, I thought this was charming, and it had all the classic elements of a good cosy murder mystery. The manor house is one of my favourite locations for a book like this, and I pictured the village sprinkled with snow.

The characters were intriguing, even if they weren't all likeable. Some of the characters seemed difficult to like, in an intriguing way, and I wasn't sure who to trust. I also felt there was a good amount of suspense in the storytelling, which kept me turning the pages.

I often seek out festive mysteries to read, and I would gladly curl up with this book on a cold December evening.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

It is an evocative winter mystery. The cast of characters harbour secrets and seem to dislike the victim. The Tudor country house setting has pagan origins and is supposed to have ghosts, which adds to the suspenseful ethos. The festive snow makes the idyllic location claustrophobic and remote. Susan, working at the house to help the owner, is convinced the death is suspicious. I like the complex characters, the atmospheric setting and the toxic dynamic between the suspects. It is the perfect mystery for a winter's night.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

In A Christmas Murder, Susan is going to spend Christmas at home. The local hotel manager has injured her hand and her ankle, though, and needs help with the guests who will be there for Christmas. The guests are a wealthy family and a family friend, all of them entitled and obnoxious by turns. One of the guests is found dead in the morning, after being cruel and threatening to a number of the guests. Is it a natural death or do they have a murderer among them?
The mystery is well-done and kept me guessing, but there were times when incidents are experienced and then told to someone which is a bit overdone. I still enjoyed this book very much. The setting was lovely.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I liked this book. I thought it was a great read. The mystery was really intriguing. The book kept me very much engaged. This book would be perfect for murder mystery lovers.

A Christmas Murder by Mary Grand

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Susan didn’t plan on being an amateur sleuth and after two successful investigations, she’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas. So, when local businesswoman Meera is in desperate need of help, Susan agrees rather reluctantly.

The task should be easy enough. The infamous press mogul Duncan Fern is coming back to the Isle of Wight, the scene of his family’s childhood holidays, to celebrate Christmas with his grown-up children and their partners, his new glamorous wife Kirsten who is forever dripping with diamonds, and the spikey editor of his paper the Morning Flame, Antoine. The newly-refurbished luxurious Bishopstone Manor is the perfect setting for a festive break and all Susan has to do is help Meera host.

But when a snowstorm descends over the island, and the following morning a body is found, Christmas at the Manor takes a darker turn. Can Susan get to the bottom of the mystery before the murderer strikes again…

My Opinion

A Christmas Murder is my first book by Mary Grand so I had no idea what to expect when I started. Spoiler alert - I was pleasantly surprised. I started reading the book late one evening and before I knew it I had read over 50%.

Susan is helping out at Bishopstone Manor for Christmas and knowing that the weather was going to be bad, she moved in for the few days. Will that put her in danger? Mary Grand has written a fast-paced novel that takes place over a few days. There is plenty to keep the reader guessing, so settle in for a wonderful festive book.

Rating 4/5

I was eagerly anticipating the latest installment of Mary Grand's Isle of Wight series. Susan, newly single and adjusting to her new life, brings a relatable depth to the story as she navigates both a potential new romance and a chilling mystery. Her dynamic with Robert, a retired detective, adds an intriguing layer to the plot.

The snowed-in island setting combined with a Christmas murder mystery is a favorite trope of mine, and Grand does it justice. The tension is palpable, and the gradual unraveling of secrets keeps the suspense high.

While I enjoyed the mystery, I did find Susan’s snooping into the guests' belongings a bit questionable, considering her role. However, this minor issue didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. The story kept me hooked until the very end, making A Christmas Murder a must-read for fans of classic holiday mysteries.

4.5/5

A fun menacing murder mystery of who dunnit , I adored the dogs and the festive spirit of the plot. The characters felt spoilt to me but I enjoyed trying to solve the mystery. I think the setting of the snow storm made it feel more like Christmas and the murder felt like a modern Hercules Poirot.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

Susan is asked to help Meera where there is a journalist as well as his family staying at a new hotel. But, it’s not long after that when a person is found dead.

The police are called and advise that it happened due to natural causes, but Susan doesn’t think this is the case and starts doing her own investigation.

But, there’s some people who aren’t happy that she’s not letting the matter drop, and try to deter her, but still she believes what she thinking is right.

The story was very well written and kept you page turning, with revelations and other things happening that you were guessing how it would end.

I recommend this book.

The third Isle of Wight mystery finds Susan helping out at a manor hotel. A famous newspaper man and his family are coming to stay for Christmas. When he ends up murdered, Susan ends up in another investigation.

Last year, I tried reading the first in this series but I wasn’t feeling it at the time. I’m glad I picked this one up though because I really enjoyed it! I liked the characters a lot, and the mystery were pacing were good. I’m definitely going to go back and read the first two now!

I received my copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.