I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was last week. In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about A Lively Midwinter Murder by Katy Watson. Thank you to Beth Wright at Little Brown for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
First comes love… and then comes murder.
A high society Christmas Eve wedding at a secluded Scottish castle sounds like the perfect winter getaway for the three Dahlias – until a dead body wearing a wedding dress and a stolen diamond necklace turns up in the snow outside the family chapel, and the bride and groom are suddenly the prime suspects in a murder case…
Publication Date: 5th November
CW: death, murder, suicide, drugging, infidelity, manipulation
My Thoughts:
A Lively Midwinter Murder is just fantastic. This is another smash hit from a charming mystery series filled with heart and dastardly deeds.
I have loved the Three Dahlias series, particularly the way they feel like a love letter to the Golden Age of Crime and as the books have gone on, the way Watson weaves in a meta thread to the story. It pays its dues and gives the audience a knowing wink as you’re led down another rabbit hole. A Lively Midwinter Murder moves us to a new locale, with Christmas fast approaching and our central characters trapped in a secluded Scottish castle in a snowstorm. It should be a time of merriment, but there are secrets aplenty and evil is lurking nearby. As always, our three protagonists bring such spark to the page. It is great to see how they have evolved from The Three Dahlias and how they each continue to bring their own stamp to their mystery solving, like they all embody Dahlia a little differently in their respective roles.
Now they have a sense of notoriety attached to them, showcased here in their relationships with their partners. It is a slightly more domestic outing which allows for some heart-warming moments and some threads I am sure we shall follow up in the next book. Seeing how they interact with their loved ones adds a different bow to their character, making them feel that much more three-dimensional.
As usual, the mystery is tightly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable. The pages are packed with twists, turns and reveals. Watson spends just enough time building up the bigger picture as the Dahlias chase clues and dig through this complex family history. There is such an eerie sense from the setting, juxtaposing the happy reason they’re united and of course the time of year. I am so thrilled that we get another story from this terrific trio next year. Long may the Three Dahlias continue to sleuth.
A Lively Midwinter Murder is the perfect book for this time of year. Snuggle up, grab a warm beverage and let Watson spin another yarn around you. It is a tricksy little mystery imbued with the spirit of the festive season and ultimately choosing to focus on love.
Next up, I’d like to talk about Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi. Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A group of friends gather in a country house for a birthday party.
At their host’s request, they each write a short mystery. They draw names from a hat: in each story, one of the group is the killer, and another the victim.
Of course, when given such a task, it’s only natural to use what you know. Secrets. Grudges. Illicit love.
It’s just that once you put it in a story, the secret is out.
Oh, and just one more thing: this is a story that ends with a murder…
Publication Date: 7th November
TW: death, murder, manipulation, violence, blood, injury, gun, suicide
My Thoughts:
Ink Ribbon Red is a high-concept, high-reward mystery that just delighted me.
This was such a tricksy thriller that really plays with the form. The pacing, plotting and characterisation were stellar. It is so masterfully put together, though I will freely admit, it took me a little while to fully fall into the rhythm of this book. Pavesi leads you on a merry dance and there are so many layers to this story. The narrative stylings are intricate and pull you deeper into this web. Once you are in, you’re fully in. I say this but I was pretty hooked from the first few pages. I was just a little discombobulated for a moment or two, then it all clicked and I audibly gasped. It is just so clever and different. I do not feel like I have ever read anything quite like this.
In terms of the mystery, this was so well-crafted. There is a lot going on and plenty of excellent twists delivered. Pavesi has one hell of a mind. It could feel convoluted, but it feels spot on. Reading this felt like being pulled closer to the centre of the spider’s web, knowing the danger got ever closer and yet being unable to move away. I really liked how messy and ambiguous it was at times. Without giving anything away, there is a very meta appreciation for the murder mystery form that adds a new dimension to the mystery, often in unexpected and challenging ways.
Ink Ribbon Red is sublime. Go in knowing as little as you can and let Pavesi weave this tale before your eyes
Finally, I’d like to delve into You All Die Tonight by Simon Kernick. Thank you to Headline for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seven people wake up in a remote mansion. The doors are all locked. They have no idea where they are. Who brought them there. Or how to escape. Each knew the victims of a dreadful crime committed four years earlier but that’s all that links them.
Then a voice echoes through the house with a terrifying message. They’ve been poisoned – and have less than 12 hours to live. There’s an antidote on hand: but only if someone admits to being a killer. And they all claim to be innocent.
The time for confession is rapidly running out.
How many – if any – of them will survive the night?
Publication Date: 7th November
CW: murder, violence, injury, death, grief, manipulation, torture, infidelity, gore
My Thoughts:
You All Die Tonight was an incredibly claustrophobic, riveting read.
This was a tightly plotted and atmospheric thriller that wonderfully plays with its locked room setting to reveal the secrets surrounding brutal murders from years ago. It has a killer premise, I mean who doesn’t want to read that book? Kernick builds on it brilliantly though to deliver a slick, sharp and shocking story. It is deeply intense and chilling, moving back and forth through time and differing perspectives. This crime and the circumstances around it are so complex, with various factors rearing their head. It is all the messiness of being human and getting caught up in a storm that rages out of control. There is a lot to unpack here and Kernick does excellently. You question everything and suspect everyone. I love a book that can move seamlessly between people and places, jolting you just enough to keep you on your toes.
The mystery is deepened by this use of setting and atmosphere. It is a isolated locale that could almost be anywhere. That trapped in sense increases the tension immediately, before the characters even start interacting and unspooling the tangled threads of that deadly night. For me, it reminded me of that tight terror that made Saw such a cultural moment. The mystery itself keeps that sense of urgency. Kernick packs the pages with action and surprises, which flip the story on their head and make you question everything. Some of these twists are nothing short of dastardly. I’m giving nothing away, but there is even one hell of a stinger in the final chapter.
You All Die Tonight is a barnstormer of a book. This is a great mystery with tight plotting and stellar twists.
A Short Book Lover 
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