I'm quite fond of Christmas cosy mysteries, and I was instantly drawn to this one by the gorgeous cover and the enticing blurb. I didn't read the previous books, and it can be read as a standalone, and it was nice to find some nods to previous installments, but you do get a sense that you're missing out on stuff. The investigation was intricate and interesting, but rather difficult to follow too.
Regarding the writing style, I found it very sleek and pleasing.

In Michelle Salter’s latest historical mystery, readers spend Christmas in 1923 Winchester, just before the Prince of Wales plans to visit the town. Iris Woodmore’s assignment for her paper is to write about the Prince’s visit, but the leading lady in the Winchester Cathedral Christmas charity pantomime has recently and mysteriously died. With many local men as prime suspects in her murder, Iris must solve the case for the town, for her friends the Baverstocks (the younger son Freddie being a suspect), and for herself. However, old enemies reappear in Winchester, and the line between Iris’s friends and enemies is much less clear than she would like. With high stakes, a complicated mystery, and too many suspects for one detective to handle, this is a complex mystery that readers will love solving alongside Iris. The characters in this novel are particularly enjoyable, and their complications and secrets add to the atmosphere of the mystery. Iris is a complex, clever reporter and detective, and she can carry a novel as the protagonist. An excellent continuation of Salter’s historical mystery series starring Iris Woodmore, readers will love the high stakes of this murder mystery set against the backdrop of a Winchester Christmas.

This was such a good cozy mystery!! I really enjoyed it, and look forward to reading more from Michelle Salter! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read it early and give this review.

It's 1923 and journalist, Iris Woodmore, is in Winchester to cover the visit of the Prince of Wales. Along with other events, an annual pantomime is being planned in Christmas Close a hall next to the Cathedral. But when the leading actress is found murdered and the brother of a close family friend is the main… actually, the only…suspect, Iris is determined to prove his innocence. But she is up against a murderer much wilier than she anticipated and she may have to put herself in danger if she is to uncover them.

Overall, A Corpse in Christmas Close, by Michelle Salter, is an entertaining historical cozy mystery. Iris is a strong female at a time when women’s roles were very limited, a subject which Salter uses to good effect in the novel The mystery is interesting with plenty of twists and turns and it kept me guessing throughout. I did find the solution to the murder a bit of a stretch but, hey, cozy, and it was definitely unexpected at least to me so it wasn’t a huge problem. This is the fifth book in a series although the first I’ve read but I didn’t find that affected my enjoyment.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Net Galley for this ARC. I'm really enjoying this series. The characters develop more with each novel and i'm loving the reintroduction of a previous villain. Looking forward to the next in the series

Michelle Salter’s A Corpse in Christmas Close is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and historical intrigue, set against the picturesque backdrop of Winchester during the festive season. The story follows Iris Woodmore, whose visit to the city’s annual pantomime takes a dark turn when the lead actress, Rachel Lacey, is found murdered. Salter’s writing shines as she brings the snow-covered streets of Winchester to life, creating an atmosphere that is both charming and filled with suspense. Iris and her friend Percy make for an engaging detective duo, their determination to uncover the truth driving the narrative forward with plenty of twists and turns.

The novel excels in its character development and the intricate web of secrets that Iris and Percy must unravel. The mystery surrounding Rachel’s death is compelling, with enough red herrings and surprises to keep readers guessing until the very end. While the pacing slows at times, particularly in the middle, the rich historical details and the atmospheric setting more than compensate for any lulls. A Corpse in Christmas Close is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of historical mysteries and anyone looking for a cozy, yet thrilling, story to curl up with during the holiday season.

4.5 stars. A great addition to this cosy historical mystery series featuring journalist Iris Woodmore. This one features an am dram pantomime where the leading lady is killed and then later one of the suspects is killed too… add in motor cars and cocaine (smuggling and as the murder weapon), and whodunnit and why? I did guess the who/how, but it was no less enjoyable for that - this is a great series and I’d recommend it.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: A decent read

Iris Woodmore is back sleuthing when the leading lady in the pantomime charity play is found dead. With Percy’s younger brother being one of the suspects, Iris decides to investigate the case. She also comes face to face with her nemesis intent on regaining his lost name.
Can Iris solve the case and try not to mess up her private life again?
The story comes in Iris’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I was happy to see the next book in the series set during Christmas. Walden does sound good in winter. The festival doesn’t have a major role in the plot, though. Don’t look for a proper Christmas mystery here.
As always, we have to deal with a large cast of recurring characters and new ones related to the case. While the book works as a standalone, it can be overwhelming to remember who is who without prior knowledge. I enjoyed the presence of the recurring characters, though not all.
The pacing is steady, and we get a clue or tidbit as the story progresses. How it fits the bigger picture is for us to guess. There are a few lighthearted moments too, which I quite enjoyed.
The mystery started out well with a couple of subplots to thicken the plot. However, the reveal could have been better. No issues with who the killer is but I did want the method of solving the mystery to be more detail-based.
I like how the social situation of the period is woven into the plot. With many characters in business and politics, we get more than enough feel of the time.
While I like Iris’s determination to do the right thing when it comes to the cases she solves, her disregard for ethics in her personal life is worrying. Sorry but not sorry. No amount of feminist talk can make her look good in this aspect. Her pathetic track record in men has to break somewhere.
That said, I am excited for the next book and hope a scandal knocks sense into her silly mind. The MC could do with a reality check about her life. At the same time, I want the nemesis to be put in place. He shouldn’t get away for what he did (is doing).

To summarize, A Corpse in Christmas Close is a decent addition to the series even if isn’t the best. The book does take the story forward, so I’m hoping the next one will be a much better read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A Corpse in Christmas Close comes in as the fifth in the Iris Woodmore Mysteries and the first I've read by this author.

Set in the roaring twenties, the age of jazz and the flapper, Salter delights us with a delightful cosy mystery where historical fact and fiction come together as one.

The characters are solid and I'm looking forward to reaquainting with them in future books. Main character Iris is one of those unforgettable characters, she's headstrong, feisty and so easy to become invested in.

I had hoped for a little more Christmas, but that soon fell by the way the further I delved into the plot.

An enjoyable and entertaining read that's definitely piqued my interest in the author's previous works.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Corpse In Christmas Close' by Michelle Salter.

This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'Murder At Waldenmere Lake' which is the second book in the 'Iris Woodmore Mysteries' series and 'Murder At Merewood Hospital' which is a standalone and I would highly recommend them both!!

This book is yet another successful unputdownable mystery by the very talented Michelle Salter. I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Michelle has written her books. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read and making it quite humorous on several occasions. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The synopsis and cover also suit the storyline.


The storyline had me hooked immediately and I love the way that Iris goes about her detective work. There was so much going on that it kept me entertained thoroughly throughout with mystery after mystery and clue after clue. I absolutely adored the historical aspects of the book especially the information that Michelle includes in her author's notes so make sure when you grab your copy you read that too!!! 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!! I was fascinated by Michelle's evocative storytelling especially the educational historical details and facts of the war. The storyline itself was filled with mystery, suspense, murder, clues, tension, history and so much more!! It is absolutely perfect to read either curled in front of the fire or lying on a beach which not many books can achieve. I never did work out who the killer was and was completely shocked when they were discovered. A great achievement as I am a huge crime fan and tend to work out who did what quite early on. The atmosphere was perfectly suited to the mystery. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting into this series and managed to read this book in one sitting and I absolutely loved all the shocks that Michelle filled the book with that managed to get me each and every time. I wont say anymore about that as I don't want to spoil anything for future readers by giving too much away. The storyline was intriguing and I enjoyed reading about the history of the war and how it effected the different characters along with the history in general. I would liken the speed of this book to a roller-coaster where it starts off slowly as it builds up and then once it hits a certain point you are at the top of the coaster and start travelling at speed with twists, turns, some slow parts and others faster until you hit the ending which is not quite what you would expect!! Another absolutely addictive read from this fantastic author!!

Although this is the third book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without and of the others. 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. However, I would recommend reading it in order as I do with most book series and I'm looking forward to going back and reading the previous books.


There was a fantastic selection of characters that I met in this book along with our main protagonist Iris. I was fascinated watching the character development from the start to the end of this book although with it being told from multiple perspectives the characters aren't quite as developed for me as they were in Michelle's Iris Woodmore Mysteries series but I still got to know who was who as much as the story needed. There are several suspects so it is hard to say to much about the characters and how I felt about them as things changed throughout the book. Regardless of how I felt about them Michelle's fantastic writing skills and descriptions brought them and the storyline to life and I'm looking forward to reading more books by in her Iris Woodmore series as well as her stand-alones.


Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Michelle's 'A Killing At Smuggler's Cove' that promises to be just as intriguing as this page turner!

Overall an addictive and easy to read page turning murder mystery with the perfect amount of crime and history that will keep you turning the pages.

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Historical mysteries are my absolute favorite to read, and I’m delighted to have found a new to me series – Iris Woodmore series by Michelle Salter. I listened to the audiobook version of the newest entry to the series: A Corpse in Christmas Close (The Iris Woodmore Mysteries Book 5) and loved it so much. While I had no issues following along even though I’m new to the series, you can bet I am headed back to the start so I can catch up.

I loved visiting Winchester during Christmas time and following Iris along as her journalist’s eye for truth investigated not one, but two murders. The writing was vivid, bringing to life both the time period and the characters. The details are cozy and the mystery perplexing. I followed the clues but did not guess the ending at all. I love it when that happens. An enjoyable, fast-paced read.

I am addicted to historical mysteries and this author is excellent with her historical world building in 1920. Sentiments are high from the ravages of war and Iris is determined to find out what happened to her mother.

Mystery, suspense and excellent characters will have you turning the pages and excited for the next book in this series!

I really wanted to like this book, I love a great Christmas mystery, but it’s so poorly written with a plot full of holes that I cannot recommend it.

This is the fifth book in the Iris Woodmore Mysteries series, but I did not feel lost at any point while reading it. It is a brilliantly written cozy mystery that has a detailed setting, numerous historical descriptions, and fascinating protagonists. I had a great time visiting Winchester during Christmas in 1923; the author really captured a captivating vibe. I highly recommend this to all cozy mystery lovers!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

A Corpse in Christmas Close by Michelle Salter

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

Blurb

When Iris Woodmore visits Winchester for their annual pantomime, murder is the last thing she expects to find.

And there seems to be no valid reason as to why anyone would want to hurt lead actress, Rachel Lacey – kind and philanthropic, she organized the Christmas performance to raise funds for the Winchester Cathedral Great War Fund.

Determined to uncover the sinister forces at play, Iris and her dear friend Percy embark on a perilous journey through the snow-lined streets of Winchester, where secrets lurk around every corner and danger looms in the shadows.

But as they close in on the truth, they find themselves drawn into a web of deceit and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems and the line between friend and foe blurs dangerously.

My Opinion

A Corpse in Christmas Close is the fifth book in the Iris Woodmore Mysteries series but I have read it as a standalone without issue. From the book it was clear that Iris was a strong and independent woman - she is a journalist and she is determined to learn how to drive.

I enjoyed this festive mystery and I read the majority of the book in one sitting. When the leading lady in the festive pantomime is murdered there are plenty of suspects and Iris finds herself in the middle of the investigation. Following my enjoyment of book 5, this is one of those series that I feel like I have to go back and read in the correct order.

Rating 4/5

A brilliant, 1920s, historical cosy crime thriller,
With so many suspects who could be the killer.
Is it someone from the pantomime?
A lover? A stranger? Who perpetrated the crime?

Iris Woodmore is a journalist and rebel, too,
When she meets the prince what will she do?
And when Cinderella is found dead soon after
It seems the pantomime won't be filled with laughter.

With her friend's brother the chief suspect in the case
Iris needs to investigate, to find what's out of place.
When old enemies return once more as well
There's danger around for all to tell.

A fascinating story with twists galore
As Iris investigates, finding clues and more.
So many surprises as the story starts to unfold
With Iris being resilient, strong and bold.

A great addition to this series, it is true,
I have no hesitation highly recommending it to you!
For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Poor writing.

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

This is the fifth book in the Iris Woodmore mysteries series. I enjoy this series and have read all of the previous books.

This is a cosy murder mystery set in the 1920. It felt quite festive and wintry, and it was entertaining. I also found it very light and easy to read, with a few surprising plot twists.

I always enjoy Iris as a protagonist, as she's quite assertive and speaks her mind. Having read all of the previous books, I've grown fond of some of the other characters too. I think that readers may still enjoy this, even if they hadn't read the previous books, but I would recommend the whole series.

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

Iris reports on the Prince of Wales's visit to Winchester in 1923 when the leading lady of a charity pantomime dies in suspicious circumstances. The involvement of a friend's brother means Iris needs to find out what happened. The historical setting evokes the 1920s, the war's aftermath, women's emancipation, and the living in the moment, which define this story. The story has a festive feel, and there is a chance to see how the regular cast of characters' lives have progressed. Iris remains driven, independent, and impulsive, which puts her in danger and makes her someone you invest in. I like the characters, the friendships, the humour, and the mystery in this festive episode of the Iris Woodmore Mysteries.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A Corpse in Christmas Close is the latest thrilling installment in the Iris Woodmore series of historical cozy mysteries. While this book could be easily read as a standalone - plenty of context is given throughout - it is even more enjoyable if you have read the previous books.

Set in late winter 1923, newspaper reporter Iris is sent to the city of Winchester to cover a royal visit. Between engagements, Iris and another reporter stumble upon a corpse discovered outside the church hall in Christmas Close. It's not immediately clear if this death is murder or suicide so Iris's investigative instincts immediately come to the fore in pursuit of the truth!

This is a properly twisty cozy mystery with great atmosphere, attention to historical detail and fantastic characters. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.