Not a fan of this cozy mystery it dawlded when i wanted to run. Saying that if you want to curl up relax and dander this meanders along.

Lady Marjorie Snelthorpe and her cousin-in-law, Edna, are off on another trip. They hope for a peaceful, relaxing vacation when they arrive in Romania. On their first evening in town, they arrive at the opera, expecting a relaxing evening of music. Instead, they are faced with the tragic death of one of the opera's most demanding divas, who is found dead outside the opera house during intermission.
One of their fellow travelers, her former fiancé Frederick, whom she abandoned at the altar, is immediately suspected of her murder. Marjorie and Edna once again rise to the task of solving another murder. They begin their investigations with their traveling companions, Horace and Frederick. Things become complicated when they are confronted with feuding family members and the sudden arrival of a so-called best friend who is out for vengeance.
After a second body is discovered, they realize they are facing a persistent murderer. Marjorie begins to worry about whether they will be able to find what appears to be a persistent killer before there is another victim.

Murder at the Opera House is a debut British cozy mystery by Dawn Brookes and the series is off to a solid start. There is a prequel novella that introduces the characters and has a murder that is referred to a few times but I started with this book. Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe and her cousin-in-law Edna Parkinton are going on vacation together to Budapest and a Danube River cruise. When they arrive to begin their vacation they meet up with Horace Tyler from the novella. They meet Frederick Mackworth and the four of them work together to solve the death of the Opera Diva and her.daughter who both are murdered. The relationship between Marjorie and.Edna.adds.humor because they are unlikely traveling companions. There are 6 other people in their group and.at times I had trouble remembering who everyone was and.their relationships to each other. Overall, this was an enjoyable cozy mystery with mostly likable characters and a cozy mystery that kept me guessing. #MurderAtTheOperaHouse

Love the idea of Lady Marj striking out on her own and in a setting less liquid than usual!
She did not disappoint with her own band of cronies she is determined to solve the suspicious death of a fellow traveller and boy does she do it in style!
Dawn Brookes always transports you right there, to the side of her characters and provides lovely detail of the surroundings as well as the mystery.
Another fine mystery!

This is the first book in a very long time that I could not finish. I really tried! I gave it until 42% when it looked like things might have started to picked up -- but maybe not. I didn't really like anyone in the book or feel sorry for the victim. There was too much sitting around and complaining. And only one scene in the actual opera house - I expected more theatre-related stuff since more than one character was previously involved with theatre.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I found this crime story a little to predictable. Some of the characters are interesting, but overall it isn't for me. I finish Ed the story, but I could easily have left it unfinished.

A cracking good romp through murder and mayhem with an unlikely group of elderly sleuths. Written with humour and intelligence and so refreshing to have people of "mature" years leading the narrative. Set in Romania, as a disparate group of people set out on a tour , starting with a n evening at the opera, it culminates in murder as the action moves on to an overnight train. Great characters -sone almost caracature -like but well written with some laugh out loud moments. I look forward to travelling on the next adventure with these clever and entertaining sleuths!

This is a good old fashioned type mystery with older characters solving the case. This ensures it has colourful and quirky characters with lots of drama, so many plot twists and turns to keep you guessing. A good start looking forward to more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dawn Brookes for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder at the Opera House coming out January 30, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love murder mysteries. I think Marjorie was really fun character. The mystery was good. I don’t think it was as cozy as I usually read however, I enjoyed the story. I do love mysteries set on a vacation. I would check out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries.

Murder at the Opera House brings a classic Agatha Christie vibe with its intricate plotting, colorful characters, and the setting of an opera house murder. What made it even more special was seeing the action unfold in my own hometown.
The sleuths, Marjorie and Edna, have a charmingly old-school approach to solving mysteries, reminiscent of Christie’s sharp-witted detectives.

However, while the book captures Christie’s spirit, it falls slightly short of delivering the same spark and tension that keep readers glued to the page, certain twists feeling predictable. The suspects lacked the complexity that makes Christie’s characters so memorable, leaving the story feeling a bit flat in places.

Murder at the Opera House is the first in the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe series. I am a huge fan of Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher, so I was excited to read a cozy with a band of seniors as our sleuths. Lady Marjorie is setting out on a vacation in Romania, accompanied by her cousin Edna. They meet up with a friend Horace, wh0m they met on a previous trip. They make the acquaintance of a Frederick Mackworth.

Our group meets a group of individuals travelling together, some of which family members to Delores, a diva from the past. They all seem unhappy and argumentative. After an evening at the local opera house, Delores is found dead. It appears she died of natural causes, or did she? She didnt seem to be on good terms with any of her traveling companions. Their new friend Frederick seems to have a past with Delores. Could he have been involved? Marjorie, Edna and Horace set out to unmask the culprit so they can get on with their holiday.

Marjorie and Edna are a female version of "the odd couple." I really enjoyed their banter and the fact that they really care for each other underneath all the grousing. I loved all the characters; they were so well written. There were several red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. It was everything you want a cozy to be... full of fun characters, a great mystery and leave you wanting the next book NOW!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read this ARC.

This is book one in the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery series and I was at first confused by all the mentions of a previous case and a river cruise to Amsterdam. Looking it up I see there is a prequel called Death of a Blogger: A Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Novella which I have now grabbed from Amazon.

This is a story about a group of seniors who meet up on holiday trips each of which are livened up by a murder or two. When a fellow traveler on their trip to Romania is murdered, Lady Marjorie, cousin Edna, and friends Horace and Frederick try to discover which of their travelling companions is the murderer.

I very much enjoyed this one. The characters were well described, the mystery was good and there were plenty of suspects. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Dawn Brookes’ Murder at the Opera House is a delightful start to the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery Series, full of charm, intrigue, and quirky characters. Lady Marjorie, along with her cousin-in-law Edna, embarks on a relaxing vacation to Romania, but things take a dramatic turn when a fellow traveler is found dead after a night at the opera. What follows is a fascinating, cozy mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Marjorie, though often annoyed by Edna's company, is an endearing and resourceful sleuth. Their dynamic, which fluctuates between moments of annoyance and unexpected camaraderie, is reminiscent of classic comedic duos, adding a lighthearted touch to the mystery. Together with an eclectic group of travel companions, including a self-absorbed opera singer and a contentious family, the two senior sleuths must piece together clues to uncover the murderer.

The setting of Romania adds a layer of exotic charm, and the river cruise provides a perfect backdrop for the suspense. Brookes does a fantastic job of weaving in vivid descriptions of the locations while keeping the pacing brisk, making it an easy, yet engaging read. The book strikes a balance between humor and mystery, with plenty of twists and turns that will keep even the most seasoned mystery reader entertained.

While the book is enjoyable, there is a noticeable lack of character development beyond the core group of sleuths. However, this does not detract from the overall experience. The surprise ending is well-crafted, leaving readers both satisfied and eager for more adventures with Lady Marjorie and Edna.

Verdict: A delightful, quick-paced mystery with engaging characters and a satisfying resolution. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries looking for a charming read with a touch of suspense. Looking forward to the next in the series!

An easily disliked person is dead. Nobody, even people in her own family, seem to mind. It doesn’t seem like anybody is going to look too closely into the who, why, or how of it. But Marjorie and Edna, with their sidekicks in tow, happen to be on the same tour, and they can’t help themselves. This was a great whodunnit, with a list of suspects a mile long. I really enjoyed the story, the very different personalities from our two heroines, and the suspense. I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series. 4 ⭐️

This is a fabulous new classic! The lovely Marjorie is back on a gentle holiday with her cousin in law. The two octogenarians are not quite friends but every so often surprise each other with how much they like each other. This is just as well when a body turns up and their travelling companions are all suspects. The other travellers are a generally unpleasant, motley crew of liars, cheats and malicious individuals who spend their time moaning and groaning and fighting the police investigation. There is a great deal of action Ona sleep train in Romania which is well described and a brilliant eye view into space that seems so romantic and nostalgic and yet can harbour ill. A lovely read.

What a fun 'who done it' mystery!
Set in Romania, a fun, dysfunctional group of travelers are deep in a murder that took place at the Opera House. Apparently, Marjorie, or Marge and her cousin Edna have traveled together in the past and have encountered dead bodies. This seems to be their 'calling card'. The family and close friends of the deceased , who are all traveling together, will keep you guessing as to who is the murderer.
A fun, quick, read-perfect for a cold winter night.
This is the first book in the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe series, and I can't wait for more.
3 1/2 rounded up to 4
Thank you to NetGalley and Oakwood Publishing for this advanced copy.

I found this cozy mystery very enjoyable. The interactions between the main characters were amusing, and the cast of possible suspects were quirky and deliciously unlikable. I found the solution to the mystery itself a bit far-fetched, but as cozy mysteries go, this was a fast and fun read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Enjoyable little book. Written in the style of Agatha Christie. Fast moving. Lots of loose ends and possible solutions that all fall into place at the end. Good ending. Like the potential for “senior” sleuths to continue traveling and to continue solving murders.

Wonderful, delightful, cozy who dunnit murder mystery that will have you guessing till the end!

Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe is looking forward to some well deserved vacations with her cousin-in-law Edna Parkinton. The cruise is set to take them from Bucarest to Budapest. There they meet the Hagman family and a not so liked woman named Dolores Hagman who turns up dead after they attend the opera. Who could have killed this unlikeable woman and will Marjorie have enough time to uncover who the killer is before the end of the cruise?

Definitely pick up Death At The Opera House, you won't want to leave the cruise!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this lovely gem.

I had fun with this whodunit-style mystery featuring the charming duo of Lady Marjorie and her cousin-in-law Edna. Their witty banter and the way their friendship shines through added a delightful touch to the story.

While the pacing felt a bit slow in some spots and character development was sparse for the supporting cast, the main four characters—especially Marjorie and Edna—were well-written and entertaining.

Overall, this was a light and enjoyable mystery that I’d recommend to fans of cozy whodunits.

Thank you to Storm Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!