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.

I just loved this book and once I started reading it, I just couldn’t stop, as it’s such a good book and it’s such a great read. I just loved all the characters in this book and can’t wait until the next book in this series.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a cozy mystery and a great story.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Lately I have been reading and enjoying many historical mystery novels set in the 1920s (they are my new favourite genre) so I am always looking for new ones to read and the Iris Woodmore Mysteries series is the latest one and I am already looking forward to reading more by its author.

Even though I really enjoyed A Corpse in Christmas Close, I wish I had read the previous books in the series first, not only because, based on this fifth book, I am sure I would have appreciated them as much, but also because there is some backstory that left me confused at times. Overall, A Corpse in Christmas Close is an engaging and fabulous read. I loved the atmosphere and the setting, the plot and the mystery, and the variety of characters.

The story is set in Winchester, right before Christmas, making this my first Christmas novel of the year! The plot is well-developed and historically accurate and I really enjoyed the mystery. It was fun and with quite a few twists and turns and, even though I started to suspect some of the truth behind the murder of the lead actress of a local pantomime before it was revealed, there were still a few surprises to keep me immersed in the story.

The cast of characters is very intriguing and the main protagonist is particularly interesting: a tenacious and smart woman who doesn’t let conventions or other people stop her from discovering the truth. I am really looking forward to reading more of her adventures, especially because the ending promises more mysteries and dilemmas!

It's #BlogTour day for #ACorpseInChristmasClose by Michelle Salter https://www.justbooktalk.com/2024/08/a-corpse-in-christmas-close-iris.html
@rachelsrandomresources @theboldbookclub

A Corpse on Christmas Close is another charming addition to her Iris Woodmore series, set in 1920s England, with the Christmas pantomime and its cast at the centre of the murder of the leading lady. There are plenty of suspects and clues for Iris to follow, but Freddie is most in need of her sleuthing as he is the prime suspect.
Iris gets caught up in a tangled thread and plenty of red herrings as she unravels the events before the murder.
There is quite a bit of humour sprinkled throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed the scene where she meets the Prince of Wales. It was cute and funny.

Iris is a modern working woman, being a newspaper journalist, and she has an equally modern love life to match it. She isn't obsessed with finding a husband and having babies which is refreshing to read. She is young and has fun getting to know men and enjoying flirtations. She has loyal male friends and maybe that's where the lightning bolt of love will eventually strike.

A Corpse on Christmas Close will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and historical fiction. With its engaging characters, engaging plot, and festive setting, it's the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's day.

I recommend reading this great series in the correct order for best enjoyment and to get to know the recurring characters.

Iris Woodmore is back in investigative mode after a body is found in Christmas Close. On the day the Prince of Wales visits Winchester, Iris is sent to cover the event. But the death of a pantomime player takes precedence, and Iris finds herself involved in the case. As a friend of the family is pulled in for questioning, Iris feels she must try and find the truth. If only to clear her friend. But the reappearance of her nemesis makes life more difficult and she must keep herself safe whilst helping others.

This story was set in 1923, and the scars of the First World War are still evident. Some people will be haunted by it for many years to come. I enjoy the historical aspect of these books and the fact that the realities of war are not covered up.

Iris is a strong and independent woman and unusual for her time. She’s a female journalist and finds she has to push against prejudice at every turn. We are reminded that only some women have the vote at this time and the fight for equality is still ongoing.

The mystery is compelling and well written, with interesting characters. Iris is wonderful, but the people around her really add to the story, and I enjoy reading about them too. There are more than a few surprises and some worrying moments for Iris. She takes risks and is determined. But her personality is such that people trust her and she gets them to reveal themselves. An ideal strength for a journalist and investigator. A great story.

Iris is a news reporter struggling to make a name for herself in what is still very much a man's world. When she learns of the death of an actress from the local charity pantomime – and learns that her friend's brother is the chief suspect, she is determined to investigate… and maybe get a real story for the newspaper at the same time.

The book blurb on NetGalley sounded intriguing and I'm always looking for new authors to follow, so I requested the book. I wish I'd known then that this is the fifth book in an ongoing series, but series information was not listed on either NetGalley or Goodreads at the time.

Probably because the book is well into an ongoing series, I had a hard time getting into the story. I didn't know the characters well, or their backstories and relationships with one another, which made it hard to care very much about any of them. The story was well-written, and I would likely have enjoyed it more if I'd started the series from the beginning.

The mystery was good with several suspects to think about, but not knowing the characters very well, it was hard to narrow down my mental list. I wasn't able to figure out the solution, but with the information given within this book, I wasn't surprised when the killer was revealed. Even the motive made sense, given that character's identity.

I might go back and start this series from the first book, but I haven't decided yet, and it may depend on the book's availability through my local library system.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Michelle Salter for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Corpse in Christmas Close coming out August 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have a couple books in the series, but this is the first one I’ve read. I really love historical murder mysteries. I thought this was a solid cozy book. It took a little time to get into the book, but it was definitely fast-paced after that. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. I’m assuming there will be future books, but things weren’t as resolved as I thought they would be, even for a series book. I wasn’t totally on board with some of the choices Iris makes. It didn’t feel as cozy if she’s in an affair. Hopefully things improve on that front. I would check out more books by this author!

The Plot
Set in the 1920’s, Iris, a reporter living in Winchester investigates the death of a woman who is playing Cinderella in the Christmas pantomime.
The Review
This was the first book I had read in this series, but I found it easy to get to know Iris and her world because of the anecdotes as to what has happened in the previous novels. Iris is a bit of a rebel when it comes to playing by societies rules, a woman after my own heart. Her own personal story made me want to read the books from the start of the series. The book had some excellent historical detail, and the way that drugs were used by WW1 soldiers was an area I was unfamiliar with. The plot had an interesting opening and I was willing Iris along to find some clues. She seemed to find out a lot of information through conversations. I would have liked to see a bit more action, especially through the middle of the book and clues being discovered in different ways to make it more exciting.
There were a lot of different characters in the novel and some came across more strongly than others, although there may be more details provided of the characters in the earlier books. As for the ending, it had some suspense and a great plot twist, which held my interest.

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I have not read the other four books prior to this one but I still enjoyed it

The story takes place in the 1920s in England. It has strong female characters who are making a difference in spite of the barriers that society places on them. Iris Woodmore is such determined, opiniated and strong character but she can cause a reader to not be able to have empathy for her at times.

It was a solid story with good characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. I do think that I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this story.

3.5/5

I liked the setting of the book, along with the writing style, the not-too-good FMC, rising of women in power and business and representation of LGBTQ+ characters.

I would have liked it more if the case was solved through a series of clues, rather than a gut feeling. Also since I was new to the series, I would have loved it if the introduction of the characters was a little spaced as it became a little difficult to track everyone.

Though I can't comment on Iris' character growth, I would like to know what happens with her and Marc and Percy.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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

I enjoyed this book, which was hard to put down.

The story is set around the Christmas pantomime. On the same day that the Prince is visiting Winchester, the leading lady of the pantomime is found dead.

As you turn the pages and get hooked into the story, reading what happens next. the list of suspects changes. There’s lots of twists that follow too and Iris tries to get more clues, looking around, without getting herself into trouble. When someone that she was friendly with turns up, that causes chaos.

I highly recommend this book.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Christmas, 1923. When reporter Iris Woodmore is sent to cover the Prince of Wales’ visit to historic Winchester, she discovers more than just royal gossip.

The leading lady in Winchester Cathedral’s charity pantomime is found dead in mysterious circumstances. And the chief suspect is Cinderella’s handsome prince, played by Percy Baverstock’s younger brother, Freddie.

For the sake of the Baverstocks, Iris must investigate the murder, even though it means confronting an old enemy. And as the line between friend and foe blurs dangerously, she’s ensnared by someone she hoped she’d never see again…

This is book 5 in this series does not disappoint. It has improved from when I read the first book immensely. The characters go from strength to strength and the period detail and politics fascinating. The mysteries have always been twisty and interesting and while I did guess the answer to this one about the same time as Iris it was still interesting and entertaining. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the 5th book in the "Iris Woodmore Mysteries" series and I haven't read any of the previous books (although I discovered that I own most of
them).

The book has a solid plot and good development. The characters are interesting, but since the heroine Iris is the narrator, I found it hard to get a good sense of her and any empathy for her. Several other characters who may be familiar to regular readers of this series were just confusing names to me.

I expected this to be a cozy Christmas tale, but the holiday is only peripheral to the mystery. Don't get me wrong - it is still an interesting murder mystery which had me guessing throughout - it just didn't rise to the level of other mystery authors whose plot and main characters have grabbed me right from the beginning.

To be fair I will go back and continue the series from book 1 forward!

Having enjoyed the previous books in the series, I was eagerly anticipating A Corpse in Christmas Close. The alliterative title and the prospect of a Christmas-themed mystery in the middle of a heatwave seemed like a perfect escape.

Unfortunately, I found myself in the minority while rating this one. The pacing felt sluggish, and the mystery lacked the nail-biting tension I was hoping for. Instead, the story unfolded at a slow pace, sprinkled with red herrings that ultimately led to a rather underwhelming conclusion.

As the story reached its denouement, I felt a bit cheated. It wasn’t until the final three chapters that Iris realized the murder was more complex than she initially thought. While there’s nothing wrong with a character having a “light bulb” moment, it felt as though most of the clues Iris uncovered led her nowhere, and the resolution came down to a wild guess rather than a solid deduction.

Iris's tendency to get involved with handsome but questionable men has been a recurring theme in the series, and it casts a somewhat unfavorable light on her character. After five books, I would have liked to see more growth in Iris’s personal life, perhaps in the form of a stable relationship. Hopefully, this will be addressed in future installments.

The latest book in this series does not disappoint. The characters go from strength to strength and the period detail is excellent, and the politics fascinating. I love the descriptions of clothes and the fact that I learned a lot more about this period of history by the end of the book. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series!

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a few of this series already but it took me a little while to get into this one and remember who the characters were as I’ve not read one of them for a while. But after a couple of chapters it all came flooding back, there’s enough history scattered throughout to remind you and for these to be read as standalone.

This one is set around panto time, the leading lady is found dead outside the theatre on the day of the Prince’s visit to Winchester. What follows is a tale of multiple suspects, changing chapter by chapter, and more twists than you can imagine. Iris does her best at nosying about without getting herself in trouble, but an old enemy suddenly appears too, which throws everything in the air.

I really like these cosy mysteries, especially ones set in an age where the lady isn’t expected to be the heroine. I’ve read a couple of series with lady reporters and have enjoyed them all, this is becoming one of my favourites, and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

This was the first book by this author that I have read. I loved it and thoroughly enjoyed this 1920's murder mystery. I will definitely be reading the other books in the series as I could not put it down.

This was a solid historical cosy mystery that's well plotted and well rooted in its historical period. I will definitely head back to read the rest of the series as I think I'll have enjoyed it more if I already knew the characters and their interpersonal relationships.

Iris is a tenacious main character and I always appreciate when these historical cosy mysteries have an MC who isn't a titled lady as it gives a bit of a variation to the genre and gives a little different perspective on life during that time (I would also recommend Marty Wingate's The London Ladies Murder Club Series for this).

I was caught out by the culprit reveal and found it overall to be well paced and a fun read which is what I look for so for fans of this style of mystery I would recommend the book but maybe, like me, read the first few books in the series to enjoy it even more.

3.5*

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this digital review copy of "A Corpse In Christmas Close" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.