The Mystery of the Murder that Wasn't

A Lady Darriby-Jones Mystery #4

by C.M. Rawlins

Darriby Hall is famous for entertaining second-tier aristocrats, tales from distant lands and a dead body... every now and then.

When Lady Darriby-Jones sees off her husband’s nephew at the train station, ensuring he catches his boarding school-bound train to Scotland, she considers her good deed for the day complete. Rewarding herself with a day of shopping in the bustling city, she revels in the anticipated tranquility of her return to the Darriby estate.

However, her satisfaction shatters upon receiving a distressing message upon her return—young Freddie never reached his intended destination. With a sinking feeling, Lady Darriby-Jones embarks on a determined journey up north, determined to unravel this sudden mystery.

As she delves into the disappearance, the plot thickens with the discovery of a lifeless body, a prominent member of the school community. Undeterred by the ominous turn of events, Lady Darriby-Jones finds herself navigating through a web of secrets, probing into forbidden territories where resistance meets her at every turn.

Caught in a whirlwind of conflicting clues and hidden motives, Lady Darriby-Jones faces the daunting challenge of solving yet another murder mystery. Will she persist against all odds and unveil the unlikeliest of suspects, or will she become the next victim in a sinister game orchestrated by a cunning killer?



Join Lady Darriby-Jones in this 1920s cozy mystery, a whimsical, laughter-inducing adventure where witty sleuthing meets eccentricity galore.

Get your copy of The Mystery of the Murder that Wasn't to discover how events unfold in this historical cozy murder mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2024

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical cozy mystery is page-turning in every sense, from the exceptional world-building to the realistic and captivating characters. Their journey is enthralling as Lady Darriby-Jones embarks on a journey in this 1920s cozy mystery that is a whimsical, laughter-inducing adventure where witty sleuthing meets eccentricity galore. Lady Darriby-Jones is famous for entertaining second-tier aristocrats tales from distant lands and a dead body, she anticipates her return to be engulfed with tranquility, but instead she is caught in a whirlwind of conflicting clues and hidden motives to try and solve the mystery. Will Lady Darriby-Jones unveil the unlikeliest of suspects, or will she become the next victim in a sinister game orchestrated by a cunning killer? Join Lady Darriby-Jones as she tries to solve this historical murder mystery before it is too late and others end up dead or not. Too find out what the murder of the mystery that wasn't, I recommend reading this book. This author is extraordinary and knows how to captivate their readers' hearts and attention with the mystery of the murder that wasn't and suspense, drama, the navigation through a web of secrets, heartfelt emotions, probing into forbidden territories; where resistance meets her at every turn, adventure, action, and more in this exhilarating journey that is sure to take readers on an unforgettable and dangerous roller coaster ride.

I received this book in exchange for a voluntary review.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone at Darriby Hall is sad to have to say “Goodbye” to Freddie, but he has to go back to school. He catches the special school train, but, but he time he should be getting onto the school bus, he is missing. Lady Darriby-Jones sets off north with her chauffeur, Smith. When they reach the school the next morning the6 are me5 by the headmaster, a loud bullying sort of man. Lady D-J calls her daughter & Alfie to join her. When she reports the missing boy to the police she is agreeably surprised by their politeness! They know where Freddie is, as he has been arrested for killing his missing parents several months ago!
Great fun is had by several people & (of course) all becomes clear by the end.

[Cm · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was so predictable & unrealistic that it was ridiculous. From the title and the first page you can already guess who isn't dead. All the books in this series are quite boring & unrealistic. I watch a lot of British TV shows, so it isn't the way they talk or mannerisms, it's the books. The main character is just dull, and isn't developed at all. Some of the supporting characters are good, but they aren't enough to save the books.

I received an ARC of this book, but all opinions are 100% my own.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lady sure knows how to pick her criminals. It seems this was a case of the bully growing up and including killing people who didn't agree with him. I have to wonder just how many times this has happened in real life. The characters are quite fun, the plot is straightforward, and the premise is finding Freddy after he disappeared and who killed his boarding school director and why. The answers seem otherworldly because the killer doesn't seem like he cared that he both kidnapped and killed people. I definitely recommend this book.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shopping spree after dropping her husband’s nephew turns into a less than peaceful day. Returning from her outing, she is alerted that her husband’s nephew did not arrive at this boarding school. This leads to a unidentified body at the school which will cause Lady Darriby-Jones to pry into the situation.

Once again she’ll have to step on uncharted territory to discover the truth. It is a historical cozy that will fascinate you to read.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so much fun

When Freddie goes missing from the train taking him back to school. Lady Darriby-Jones drops his Lordship's slugs and races to Scotland to investigate with her daughter and Secretary in tow. These books are laugh out loud funny with great characters, nice period settings, entertaining mysteries and neat solutions. Love them and the titles always make me smile. I highly recommend this series.

[Ka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the witchy girlfriend character would return in later books, but alas, she did not. This book finally got us away from the obnoxious DCI Manners; instead, Lady D-J interacts with several cops who are nice, considerate, reasonable people, which is very refreshing after 3 books of aggravated douchebaggery. I also enjoyed the various accents put on by the audiobook reader. I have no idea how accurate they were, but I enjoy a good regional UK accent!

[Rebecca Gregory-Chifos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, But Predictable

This is a cute, sort of silly, madcap mystery with comical characters. I enjoyed it, but it's hardly a page-turner. The writing is basically sound; there were only a couple of grammatical errors. The characters are, as said, comical, but also fairly two-dimensional, and the story itself a tad predictable. Nevertheless, it was a cute, escapist sort of book.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Darriby-Jones rides to the rescue! Her sleuthing dressed as a cleaning lady was hilarious, especially her getting stuck. And I really like Freddy, the way he took to his "auntie" and her madhat adventures.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

I love this series, and all of the characters (well, most of the characters...lol). Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Elainebowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Another wonderful book ,I really enjoyed reading this book ,the characters are really well written,I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny (-:

[Patricia Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

I do wish the ending had a bit more of a tie up. It was a little bit flat. The mystery was interesting.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Darriby-Jones' nephew is missing. There is something strange going on at his boarding school as well. There are some funny scenes while she investigates and solves the mysteries. A delightful cozy that can be read as a standalone.