Publication: 24th August 2024 – Boldwood Books
Murder behind the scenes…
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.
Everyone’s favourite amateur sleuth returns for a Christmas mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, Helen Gradidge and Emily Organ
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!
A huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.
Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. Her Iris Woodmore series draws on an interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.
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