Reporter Iris Woodmore investigates a murder at a newly opened hostel for unemployed veterans and at the same time is a suspect in the murder, as the victim is someone she knew well. Murder at Mill Ponds House is the 6th book in the series and brings to an end several threads that have run throughout multiple books. Several recurring characters appear, which may make the book a bit difficult to follow for first-time readers of the series. Hopefully the conclusion of these storylines will allow Iris to move forward in her relationships and career. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Boldwood Books for the eARC.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Good

Reporter Iris Woodmore decided a move to London would be better to avoid a scandal in her hometown, Walden. When, her arch-rival, Archie Powell, is found dead, her secret could be safe.
However, Archie’s death after an argument with her doesn’t help. The spotlight is on Iris, which means her secret could be exposed anytime. Unless she finds the killer before the police do and protect her reputation.
The story comes in Iris’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Considering the premise, this book wouldn’t be effective as a standalone. You’ll have to read at least the previous book and preferably the last three books to have a better idea and understand the situation. There is enough background information if you want to jump right in.
The story starts four months after the previous book ends. It’s May Day and Iris is annoyed about her situation. The murder takes a while to happen but this delay is necessary to catch up with the changes.
NGL, I was pretty irritated with the FMC in the last book. She made it hard to empathize with her even in this one but finally, she showed some promise. I like her mystery-solving brain. It’s her taste in men I find stupid. Anyway!
The dreaded nemesis is dead, and not surprisingly, there are quite a few suspects. After all, the man, despite his charming and magnetic personality, made many enemies.
There’s quite a bit of repetition with the FMC risking everything for someone who couldn’t and may not do the same for her. It was starting to grate on my nerves. She has been stuck in the loop for too long. Okay, I understand… but TBH, I can’t say he deserves what she’s putting herself through to protect him.
The mystery is well done. They are grasping at any lead and many are dead ends. Until a random and unexpected lead brings things together to complete the picture.
Percy comes later on and we do see some of his antics. There are new additions to the character list, and I think they will reappear in other books too. I sure am excited to see how a certain track will unfold.
The ending gives a lead to the next setting, and naturally, something will happen for Iris to investigate. I can only hope she has learned her lessons by now. Making her repeat the same mistakes would affect her arc and make readers disinterested.

To summarize, Murder at Mill Ponds House is a good continuation of the series and might be the book that marks a definite change in the FMC (if we are lucky). The mystery is cool and the pacing is decent, so give it a go if you read the series before.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I was excited to learn that a new Iris Woodmore Mystery was being published. This has been one of my favorite historical mystery series, and I absolutely adore Michelle Salter’s storytelling and character arcs.

That said, I might be in the minority when I say this: Iris, the main character and amateur sleuth, still feels stuck in the past. Her character growth remains a bit shaky, with her making the same mistakes as usual.

Apart from my issue with Iris' development, Murder at Mill Ponds House plays out well. When Archie is found dead and the police suspect Iris, the tension is at an all-time high. The walls feel as though they are closing in on her, and she must do whatever it takes to clear her name - all while keeping her secret intact and maintaining her reputation.

While there were moments where Iris seemed lost, at a crossroads, and it felt a bit repetitive (perhaps because similar situations occurred in previous installments), overall, the story wasn’t bad.

The killer’s identity and the denouement were well done. The motive - and the final piece of the puzzle that led Iris to the truth - was intriguing. I also appreciated how the author laid out red herrings so stealthily that the reader had no idea they were being misled until later.

3.5/5

This is a very enjoyable cosy mystery. We're in Walden, in 1924 with Iris Woodmore, our main character. She's a reporter at the local paper and is lodging with friends, Millicent and Ursula. There's a character from previous books who is well known to Iris and he's an absolute royal pain in the ass. He's causing lots of trouble for her and she ends up in a right mess. Luckily she has some good friends who are always there for her and she certainly needs them now.
This is the second book I've read by this author. You can read this as a standalone but I think it would be more enjoyable to start at the beginning and work your way through. There are a lot of recurring characters and it can get confusing trying to keep track of everyone. I knew two from the previous book I read and that helped. Percy, Iris's friend, I really liked and remembered him from the other book, A Killing at Smuggler's Cove.
There are a lot of twists and turns and long time secrets unearthed. I changed my mind a couple of times on who I thought was the murderer and I still got it wrong. For me it was wholly unexpected but very satisfying.
I'm definitely going back to the start to read the books I missed. I already have the first one downloaded.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an early copy.

I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book!

This was a good story, yes if you read enough classic mysteries youd be able to piece this book together. Despite that it was an intriguing story, well thought out and uncommon in use and I really liked it. I also really liked the main characters they were really fleshed out I know 7th book in the series but still really real and relatable.

To be honest I've never read any of these books before and didn't realize at first it was a series, but it does catch you up and you don't really feel like youve missed out anything. My biggest problem is that I've read other series of literally the same sense and read them out of order so it's not the book in a series I've not read before being the issue. It's the too many characters. I get needing characters to put a story together but for a book as short as this is there are far too many and far too many with similar names I could follow along but the constant trying to remember who is who took away from the story. This book is far too many people forward and not story forward enough, and for someone who's suppose to be a journalist, she used honestly far too many other journalists to do the work she should have been able to do herself.

Overall this was a very good story just the characters need to be pulled back and streamlined you dont need so many people at one time all the time to tell this story. It just took away from the wonderful thought put into the story that was to be told. Thank you so much again for allowing me the privilege to read this book again I really appreciate it.

I really liked the imagery and how the author kills the town asshole first and shows the implications of the town asshole being dead. I also like how the book didn’t end until our main girl, Iris, reconciled with her friends. This was a pleasurable read! I give it a 3-7.75 stars!

A neatly plotted historical mystery with a classic feel. I enjoyed the 1920s setting which felt well-researched. From the cover I was expecting a story with a lighter, more humorous tone, but this felt quite serious and realistic.

A neatly plotted historical mystery with a classic feel. I enjoyed the 1920s setting which felt well-researched. From the cover I was expecting a story with a lighter, more humorous tone, but this felt quite serious and realistic (though still cozy in the sense that it was a 'clean' read without swearing, grisly details etc.) I think it would suit readers who like classic mysteries, and want to focus on solving the puzzle without zany distractions.

Many thanks to Boldwood and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Murder at Mill Ponds House is the sixth title in the Iris Woodmore mystery series. I've read and thoroughly enjoyed every title, and Murder at Mill Ponds House is just as fabulous.

To wax a little lyrical, I want to say how much I love these books. I thoroughly appreciate the tight plotting and the continuity between all the books in the series. They're a joy to read because the author never drops the ball and misses out someone important, or forgets an event from an earlier book. They're also delightful to read, well-paced, and have interesting and intriguing difficulties for our main character to resolve.

I read Murder at Mill Ponds House in just two sittings, and that's only because I couldn't stay up any longer to finish the story.

A fabulous mystery, well put together, well plotted, well resolved and thoroughly enjoyable. They are a true delight, and I always know I'm in safe hands with a Michelle Salter mystery.

Huzzah.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

It feels like we're back on track.

I have read all the books in the series and didn't quite gel with the last couple. Readable but a little predictable. This one had a more intriguing story and a really interesting cast of characters. Iris is evolving even more as. a character and shows great maturity, understanding th impact of perceptions on her family, friends and community. It adds depth to the read. The continuation of a storyline from previous books, reached finality. It is time to move on. It's four stars out of five on the enjoyment scale.

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book incredibly enjoyable to read, lots of suspense and unexpected twists - a perfect cozy mystery!
Set in Hampshire, in May 1924, this is the sixth book in the Iris Woodmore historical mystery series. Most of the familiar supporting characters are present - including the villainous Archie who continues to torment Iris with scandalous allegations - and some intriguing new characters make their presence felt!
If you are a fan of this series, this book won't disappoint as it builds on previous themes and wraps up a few story threads; if you are new to the series it will work well as a standalone and you'll probably want to go back and read the previous books!

Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Net Galley for this ARC. I love this series, the characters are brilliant and the plot lines are always well thought out. It felt a bit like the end of the road but i really hope not.

In my review of the previous book in the series (found here) I commented on how Archie Powell felt like a genuinely threatening antagonist. There was nothing at the start of this latest instalment in the series to change my mind. It also meant that when he is found murdered, there is no shortage of potential suspects, including Iris herself.

However, by the end of the book, once the murderer has been uncovered and the truth laid bare, I found myself feeling a little sorry for him. In Archie, Michelle Salter had created a cleverly nuanced character who reflects so much of the conflict felt not only by men who had served in WW1, but also of the larger population when faced with the social change which followed it. Women were beginning to make their voices heard and for men who believed this was wrong, it must have been hard to adapt to this change, especially if it came on top of their wartime experiences in the trenches. That’s not to excuse any of his behaviour, far from it, but in providing more of his backstory and not shying away from an acknowledgment of the good he was capable of, Archie becomes someone the reader can empathise with.

Iris also learns some valuable lessons along the way. She too, has a tendency to cling to the past and hold everything close to her chest. Salter has built a cast of characters around her who are loyal and sympathetic and finally Iris realises how much love she is surrounded by.

This is a really strong continuation of the series and once again I find myself eagerly anticipating the next one.

This is the first book in this series that I've read. It works well as a standalone, with enough of the backstory covered that I didn't feel lost. Iris Woodmore is being blackmailed by someone who knows a secret she is guarding. When he is murdered, she becomes a suspect, but is reluctant to reveal her secret in order to clear herself. The author is a fluent and confident writer -- the sentences and paragraphs flow smoothly, with little sense of strain or unnecessary attempts at cleverness. The plot is well constructed, although perhaps not particularly suspenseful. Overall, I was impressed and would read more.

England, family-dynamics, family-expectations, family-history, intimidation, extortion, 1920s, reporter, journalist, newspapers, historical-mystery, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, investigations, class-consciousness, local-law-enforcement, friends, friendship, defrocked, homelessness, Hampshire, stalker, relationships, unpleasant-victims, murder-investigation****

If you haven't read any of the previous books in series, you might feel a bit lost at the beginning, but there is plenty of opportunity to catch up within the story and will probably go back and read the earlier ones.
As I have already been following the series, I thought it was great. Iris is in her home county and is pleased that some friends have established a hostel for unemployed veterans. Until a nasty enemy proves to be the building manager who has her in his sights for extortion and embarrassment. Yes, he is the toad who gets murdered, and Iris has a difficult time with those who believe that she is the main suspect.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected ebook file from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Mar 09, 2025
#AMurderatMillPonds by @michellesalter_writer #IrisWoodmoreMysteriesBk6 #theboldbookclub
#NetGalley #goodreads #bookbub #librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #England #CozyMurder #historicalMystery #newspaperReporter #1920s #stalker #extortion

4.5 stars. This is the sixth book in the Iris Woodmore series which sees her continue as a journalist in Walden, in 1924. Her nemesis Archie is back in town and now managing a hostel for retired and injured servicemen, and looks set to continue making trouble for Iris… until he is killed and Iris is the prime suspect.

All the characters we like (or like to hate!) are here, minus Iris’ father and step mother who are on holiday so only mentioned in passing. There’s decent mystery and a few twists and turns. I don’t guess whodunnit, though I did guess some of what happened and why. And after Archie took up energy in the last few books, I am glad that particular aspect of the books has been wrapped up. Better to use it well for a short time that let it drag on too long so kudos for that.

Already looking forward to book 7!

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