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Bedford Square Publishers A Curtain Twitchers Book of Murder.
Set in London in 1968, A CURTAIN TWITCHER'S BOOK OF MURDER follows the lives of the inhabitants of a suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.
"Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they'll answer 'well'. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...".
For the best, because Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.
With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting and an utterly unique voice, Gay Marris' first book is remarkably accomplished. If you've been longing for a fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction, your wait is over.
"Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they'll answer 'well'. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...".
For the best, because Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.
With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting and an utterly unique voice, Gay Marris' first book is remarkably accomplished. If you've been longing for a fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction, your wait is over.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 24, 2024
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the publishers.
A Curtain Twitchers Book of Murder is a completely unique book that I couldn't get enough of. Set during the 1960s, the book follows the lives and deaths of the inhabitants of Atbara Avenue in London (completely fictional stories). Each chapter is about a different person/people, and each of the stories links together into the next story. Some parts were funny and whitty, and one part had me laughing out loud. I've never read anything like this and absolutely loved it.
It does make you reflect on just how well you know your neighbours and what goes on behind closed doors, that's for sure.
Gay Marris certainly has a gift for writing and bringing stories and characters to life, and I will definitely be reading whatever they write next.
A Curtain Twitchers Book of Murder is a completely unique book that I couldn't get enough of. Set during the 1960s, the book follows the lives and deaths of the inhabitants of Atbara Avenue in London (completely fictional stories). Each chapter is about a different person/people, and each of the stories links together into the next story. Some parts were funny and whitty, and one part had me laughing out loud. I've never read anything like this and absolutely loved it.
It does make you reflect on just how well you know your neighbours and what goes on behind closed doors, that's for sure.
Gay Marris certainly has a gift for writing and bringing stories and characters to life, and I will definitely be reading whatever they write next.
June 26, 2024
This debut novel is brilliant!
The Curtain Twitcher’s Book of Murder offers a unique format in which each chapter tells us a dark and gripping story about the lives and deaths of the different houses and families on Atbara Avenue. Each story overlaps with the connecting characters of the Vicar and his wife Desmond and Deirdre O’Reilly who thinks she is always helping but is really a busybody and quite often gets things wrong! I also loved how all of the characters are in some way connected to others in twists that I never saw coming!
This book highlights that no matter how well you think you know your neighbours, there are always secrets hiding inside the homes.
Some of the stories include:
Pauline Dollimore and her plan to kill her mother Muriel
Highly competitive twins enter a craft competition
A missing girl from 5 years ago
And more standout stories that are darkly humorous and all include a bit of murder!
This book is brilliantly written and for a debut I was seriously impressed with the unique and fresh narrative that Gay Marris provides. The setting of the Atbara Avenue is the full focus of the novel and I really felt completely immersed in the houses of each family. I love how the novel comes full circle at the end and you will love the way each story is told for every distinctive character!
This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and it is perfect for fans of cosy crime who love dark humour.
The Curtain Twitcher’s Book of Murder offers a unique format in which each chapter tells us a dark and gripping story about the lives and deaths of the different houses and families on Atbara Avenue. Each story overlaps with the connecting characters of the Vicar and his wife Desmond and Deirdre O’Reilly who thinks she is always helping but is really a busybody and quite often gets things wrong! I also loved how all of the characters are in some way connected to others in twists that I never saw coming!
This book highlights that no matter how well you think you know your neighbours, there are always secrets hiding inside the homes.
Some of the stories include:
Pauline Dollimore and her plan to kill her mother Muriel
Highly competitive twins enter a craft competition
A missing girl from 5 years ago
And more standout stories that are darkly humorous and all include a bit of murder!
This book is brilliantly written and for a debut I was seriously impressed with the unique and fresh narrative that Gay Marris provides. The setting of the Atbara Avenue is the full focus of the novel and I really felt completely immersed in the houses of each family. I love how the novel comes full circle at the end and you will love the way each story is told for every distinctive character!
This is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year and it is perfect for fans of cosy crime who love dark humour.
August 16, 2025
I enjoyed the setting of these stories and the way the characters were linked, but the blurb suggested it would be a novel investigating one crime rather than a selection of related short stories involving murder, and this was a disappointment.
June 22, 2024
What an absolutely brilliant, entertaining, darkly humorous book! I think I would sum up as ‘cosy crime with plenty of stings in the taila’
The brilliantly plotted stories are set on Atbara Avenue, where over 8 chapters we read about different residents, their dastardly deeds and their secrets. The stories overlap as the neighbours turn up within each story.
I particularly liked Muriel, the ‘sweet little old lady’ who is not quite as sweet as she appears. Also Deirdre, the wife of the reverend, who likes to stick her nose into everyone’s business thinking she is helping but more often than not reads the situation completely wrongly.
Pauline plans to murder her nasty mother.
Colin believes his soul has left his body and is talking to him.
And plenty more intriguing twisty stories I just did not see those endings!
An excellent read I have already started recommending wholeheartedly.
Really huge thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for introducing this book into my life!
The brilliantly plotted stories are set on Atbara Avenue, where over 8 chapters we read about different residents, their dastardly deeds and their secrets. The stories overlap as the neighbours turn up within each story.
I particularly liked Muriel, the ‘sweet little old lady’ who is not quite as sweet as she appears. Also Deirdre, the wife of the reverend, who likes to stick her nose into everyone’s business thinking she is helping but more often than not reads the situation completely wrongly.
Pauline plans to murder her nasty mother.
Colin believes his soul has left his body and is talking to him.
And plenty more intriguing twisty stories I just did not see those endings!
An excellent read I have already started recommending wholeheartedly.
Really huge thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for introducing this book into my life!
May 12, 2024
A debut novel set in 1968 and following the lives, and deaths, of the inhabitants of Atbara Avenue, London. This is an unusual and unique story in that I thought at first it was a collection of short stories but soon realised that there was a link between them all and it really was a novel. Apart from the street they lived on the local vicar, Desmond O'Reilly, and his wife, Deirdre, had some involvement with each story, more so Deirdre who spends a lot of time out in the community doing good works. The narrative in this book is so good, it drags you in and keeps you gripped wondering what is coming next.
Briefly, the author has brought together a disparate cast of characters, victims and killers and it’s not always easy to work out which is which! Each story is good fun, often quite dark but also often humorous. There was one story I personally struggled with and that was Elspeth, as this included scenes I found disturbing, but that’s just me.
A very good debut, well written with an interesting plot and some great reveals that had me raising my eyebrows in disbelief. But it’s the characters that make this book so entertaining, from elderly theatre has-beens, to teenage boys, animal collecting homeless girls and warring twins there is a cornucopia of brilliant stories. It might sound like it but this isn’t cozy crime it’s much darker than that. Each story has its own theme, be it jealousy, love, hate, despair, but each of them involving relationships, and usually family relationships. An excellent debut Crime/relationship novel with great touches of humour. Very entertaining.
4.5⭐️
Briefly, the author has brought together a disparate cast of characters, victims and killers and it’s not always easy to work out which is which! Each story is good fun, often quite dark but also often humorous. There was one story I personally struggled with and that was Elspeth, as this included scenes I found disturbing, but that’s just me.
A very good debut, well written with an interesting plot and some great reveals that had me raising my eyebrows in disbelief. But it’s the characters that make this book so entertaining, from elderly theatre has-beens, to teenage boys, animal collecting homeless girls and warring twins there is a cornucopia of brilliant stories. It might sound like it but this isn’t cozy crime it’s much darker than that. Each story has its own theme, be it jealousy, love, hate, despair, but each of them involving relationships, and usually family relationships. An excellent debut Crime/relationship novel with great touches of humour. Very entertaining.
4.5⭐️
June 20, 2024
a curtain twitchers book of murder 🔪🏠
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
a debut novel set in 1968, London. dark, with a hint of comedy and a whole lot of murder, this novel focuses on the residents of Atbara avenue.
I loved this style of writing, interlinked chapters focusing on one household at a time but with pop ups from characters in different chapters. It felt like short shorties but also apart of one big story. it isn’t particular detective driven nor mystery which made it so much fun reading. It focuses on family/relationships and neighbourly love and hate ending in blackmail, lies and of course murder. I felt like it also showed you never know what happens behind closed doors, you can smile at a neighbour, say good morning and ask about their day but do you really know them?
the chapters ranged from funny to serious but also touched on some heavier subjects without feeling too heavy for the overall style of the book. it provides a real rollercoaster of emotions and honestly one of the better books I’ve read this year, I didn’t love all the chapters but this was dependent on the household it focused on.
this 100% wasn’t a book I could rush as I felt like I needed to read a few chapters at a time to truly understand the characters but it also made me enjoy it a whole lot more.
I’d like to say a massive thank you to @bedfordsq.publishers for providing me a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely give this book a go and see what you think 💭 the book published today (20th June) and is definitely one to read👀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
a debut novel set in 1968, London. dark, with a hint of comedy and a whole lot of murder, this novel focuses on the residents of Atbara avenue.
I loved this style of writing, interlinked chapters focusing on one household at a time but with pop ups from characters in different chapters. It felt like short shorties but also apart of one big story. it isn’t particular detective driven nor mystery which made it so much fun reading. It focuses on family/relationships and neighbourly love and hate ending in blackmail, lies and of course murder. I felt like it also showed you never know what happens behind closed doors, you can smile at a neighbour, say good morning and ask about their day but do you really know them?
the chapters ranged from funny to serious but also touched on some heavier subjects without feeling too heavy for the overall style of the book. it provides a real rollercoaster of emotions and honestly one of the better books I’ve read this year, I didn’t love all the chapters but this was dependent on the household it focused on.
this 100% wasn’t a book I could rush as I felt like I needed to read a few chapters at a time to truly understand the characters but it also made me enjoy it a whole lot more.
I’d like to say a massive thank you to @bedfordsq.publishers for providing me a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely give this book a go and see what you think 💭 the book published today (20th June) and is definitely one to read👀
October 26, 2025
This had actually been on my tbr before it was suggested for my 12 books recommended by 12 friends challenge, so this bumped it up! I'm glad because I really enjoyed it as I haven't read a book like this for a while.
Rather than one main storyline, it was more like lots of sub-stories entwined with each other, all set down one street in London in the 70's. I feel like it could have been based in the present though and things like this could go on behind closed doors! The dark humour and writing was brilliant.
Many of the characters had awful personalities but in a way it made them likable! I really did like the vicars wife who was a pillar of the community. There are such an array of characters it's hard not to find one you like (or maybe identify with in the recesses of your mind!)
I like that everything was wrapped up in the end, although not the way it should have been... A really enjoyable read that I'll be recommending!
4.5⭐️ using CAWPILE
Rather than one main storyline, it was more like lots of sub-stories entwined with each other, all set down one street in London in the 70's. I feel like it could have been based in the present though and things like this could go on behind closed doors! The dark humour and writing was brilliant.
Many of the characters had awful personalities but in a way it made them likable! I really did like the vicars wife who was a pillar of the community. There are such an array of characters it's hard not to find one you like (or maybe identify with in the recesses of your mind!)
I like that everything was wrapped up in the end, although not the way it should have been... A really enjoyable read that I'll be recommending!
4.5⭐️ using CAWPILE
January 16, 2024
This is Roald-Dahl-esque: dark, with a hint of comedy and a good deal of murder, all in one leafy suburban neighbourhood, Atbara Avenue.
At first it feels like a collection of short stories, as each chapter focusses on one household, but the residents weave in and out of each other's lives (and houses) and make regular appearances. The ones that aren't victims, that is.
I've not read any books by this author, but I did love her style of writing. So very articulate, intelligent, expressive and her use of language made me devour and relish every single word. She masterfully paints a picture with her vocabulary and phraseology, and every character and scene comes to life, almost colourfully.
I did feel I needed some more answers with some of the outcomes of the unfortunate victims, but other than that, this is a delightfully entertaining read. This is Marris's first book, so she's crashed into the literary scene with quite a corker. (But I hope she tells her editor it's 'a historic', not 'an historic'.) I'll definitely be looking out for her second book.
At first it feels like a collection of short stories, as each chapter focusses on one household, but the residents weave in and out of each other's lives (and houses) and make regular appearances. The ones that aren't victims, that is.
I've not read any books by this author, but I did love her style of writing. So very articulate, intelligent, expressive and her use of language made me devour and relish every single word. She masterfully paints a picture with her vocabulary and phraseology, and every character and scene comes to life, almost colourfully.
I did feel I needed some more answers with some of the outcomes of the unfortunate victims, but other than that, this is a delightfully entertaining read. This is Marris's first book, so she's crashed into the literary scene with quite a corker. (But I hope she tells her editor it's 'a historic', not 'an historic'.) I'll definitely be looking out for her second book.
December 2, 2024
Actual rating 3.5.
This was so not what I was expecting, and such a fun, quirky read!
I’d assumed this was going to be a bit of a cosy detective mystery, but it’s very different to that! In each chapter we get to know a different household from Atbara Avenue (with many characters reappearing throughout and connecting in unexpected ways), and it’s amazing how many murders there are going on in this well-to-do street! From the minute I finished the first chapter with that rather unexpected twist, I knew I was in for a darker read than I’d imagined - and yet it still retains a real tongue-in-cheek kind of humour and lightness throughout too. As someone who loves a character driven novel, I loved how we got to really peer inside their minds and get to know their motivations in each chapter, and just how mad some of them were (lady with the suitcase full of wild animals anyone?!)! If you’re after something a bit different and a bit bonkers, then definitely give this a go - just don’t expect happy endings, or get too attached to anyone 😂
This was so not what I was expecting, and such a fun, quirky read!
I’d assumed this was going to be a bit of a cosy detective mystery, but it’s very different to that! In each chapter we get to know a different household from Atbara Avenue (with many characters reappearing throughout and connecting in unexpected ways), and it’s amazing how many murders there are going on in this well-to-do street! From the minute I finished the first chapter with that rather unexpected twist, I knew I was in for a darker read than I’d imagined - and yet it still retains a real tongue-in-cheek kind of humour and lightness throughout too. As someone who loves a character driven novel, I loved how we got to really peer inside their minds and get to know their motivations in each chapter, and just how mad some of them were (lady with the suitcase full of wild animals anyone?!)! If you’re after something a bit different and a bit bonkers, then definitely give this a go - just don’t expect happy endings, or get too attached to anyone 😂
September 8, 2024
Absolutely brilliant, darker than I was expecting it to be. A great collection of interwoven tales of the residents of Atbara Avenue. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this fantastic book. Will definitely keep a look out for the author in the future.
Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this fantastic book. Will definitely keep a look out for the author in the future.
April 5, 2025
This is a series of interconnected short stories all set on one street. The reader is the curtain twitcher, what you see will be creepy, dark, macabre and disturbing. Hard to look away.
May 20, 2025
This was one of our new books in at work so I thought I would give it a go. Different from what I thought but maybe that was just my bad judgement. Still very much enjoyed it :)
February 13, 2025
Loved the characters and the multiple points of view!
June 19, 2024
I’m sad this has ended. So much was going on in that street! I guess we never know what goes on behind closed doors!
June 26, 2024
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Bedford Square Publishers and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I’m not sure what I was expecting from the blurb and cover of this book, but I feel like the book definitely surpassed my vague expectations by being a unique, clever and often humorous take on traditional murder stories.
In particular, Atbara Avenue is a witty send up of those mystery series (in books and on TV) that are all set in the same place and therefore see a ridiculously large percentage of their small community bumped off over time.
This book takes the form of a series of short stories, all interlinked by not only the setting but by certain characters popping up in each other’s tales, and by Deidre and Reverend Desmond O’Reilly forming a happily married bystanders commentary on many of the events – although it turns out that even they have a buried secret or two lurking.
Not every single story features a murder, although most do, and nearly every story does include some form of ironic twist to keep you guessing. Here are some teasers for you:
1. Beneath Suspicion – An unhappy mother/daughter duo of Dollimores inhabit No. 17 Atbara Avenue, trapped in a mutual hatred that they can’t seem to break free of… or can they?
2. Soul Mates – Poor young Colin Peabody at No. 34 insists that he is being haunted by his own soul, while everyone else blames the brain damage. But maybe he can find a solution with the help of Ancient Egypt and the Dollimores?
3. The Hands That Feed Us – The meek girl constantly helping round the church and his best friend’s troubled (or just trouble) son become the ungrateful recipients of help from Old Gabe, as he opens the doors of The Laurels to them. But is it still saving someone if it is against their will?
4. Sticking to the Rules – Twin brothers Reginald and Richard Pyles of No. 3 are as divided in life as they were together in the womb. Or are they more alike than they thought?
5. Mixed Messages – Miss Trixie Cartwrights at No. 5 is all dolled up for her date with a certain Mr Pyles, but is she destined to be disappointed by the prospect of a long-distance romance or can she find happiness closer to home?
6. Sightseers – The cold case of missing teenager Lesley Bonnard (whose grieving mother still resides at No. 49) is revived with the inadvertent assistance of some German tourists. The only two suspects have ever been the neighbours’ boys at 47 and 64, Robert Watts and Anthony Jobbins, now both grown men whose stories have always contradicted each other – but who is lying?
7. Keeping Mum – Deidre O’Reilly and her husband, Reverend Desmond, have a surprise visit at the vicarage from a mysterious young woman asking about a missing baby from the past. But do either of them have the answers she is looking for?
8. The Final Curtain – Back at No. 17, conman Mickey Milestone decides to try his luck at the Dollimore house and might just have met his match in deception. But who will get the last laugh when the curtain finally falls?
I love how the stories flow together up and down the deadly street, with familiar faces popping up as cameos in each other’s stories and Deirdre bustling around righteously involving herself, for right or for wrong but always with the best of intentions.
This whole book is a pick’n’mix treat selection for murder mystery fans looking for something different, far-fetched but utterly satisfying and very, very memorable!
Review by Steph of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I’m not sure what I was expecting from the blurb and cover of this book, but I feel like the book definitely surpassed my vague expectations by being a unique, clever and often humorous take on traditional murder stories.
In particular, Atbara Avenue is a witty send up of those mystery series (in books and on TV) that are all set in the same place and therefore see a ridiculously large percentage of their small community bumped off over time.
This book takes the form of a series of short stories, all interlinked by not only the setting but by certain characters popping up in each other’s tales, and by Deidre and Reverend Desmond O’Reilly forming a happily married bystanders commentary on many of the events – although it turns out that even they have a buried secret or two lurking.
Not every single story features a murder, although most do, and nearly every story does include some form of ironic twist to keep you guessing. Here are some teasers for you:
1. Beneath Suspicion – An unhappy mother/daughter duo of Dollimores inhabit No. 17 Atbara Avenue, trapped in a mutual hatred that they can’t seem to break free of… or can they?
2. Soul Mates – Poor young Colin Peabody at No. 34 insists that he is being haunted by his own soul, while everyone else blames the brain damage. But maybe he can find a solution with the help of Ancient Egypt and the Dollimores?
3. The Hands That Feed Us – The meek girl constantly helping round the church and his best friend’s troubled (or just trouble) son become the ungrateful recipients of help from Old Gabe, as he opens the doors of The Laurels to them. But is it still saving someone if it is against their will?
4. Sticking to the Rules – Twin brothers Reginald and Richard Pyles of No. 3 are as divided in life as they were together in the womb. Or are they more alike than they thought?
5. Mixed Messages – Miss Trixie Cartwrights at No. 5 is all dolled up for her date with a certain Mr Pyles, but is she destined to be disappointed by the prospect of a long-distance romance or can she find happiness closer to home?
6. Sightseers – The cold case of missing teenager Lesley Bonnard (whose grieving mother still resides at No. 49) is revived with the inadvertent assistance of some German tourists. The only two suspects have ever been the neighbours’ boys at 47 and 64, Robert Watts and Anthony Jobbins, now both grown men whose stories have always contradicted each other – but who is lying?
7. Keeping Mum – Deidre O’Reilly and her husband, Reverend Desmond, have a surprise visit at the vicarage from a mysterious young woman asking about a missing baby from the past. But do either of them have the answers she is looking for?
8. The Final Curtain – Back at No. 17, conman Mickey Milestone decides to try his luck at the Dollimore house and might just have met his match in deception. But who will get the last laugh when the curtain finally falls?
I love how the stories flow together up and down the deadly street, with familiar faces popping up as cameos in each other’s stories and Deirdre bustling around righteously involving herself, for right or for wrong but always with the best of intentions.
This whole book is a pick’n’mix treat selection for murder mystery fans looking for something different, far-fetched but utterly satisfying and very, very memorable!
Review by Steph of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
May 24, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I've read a lot of cosy crime novels, especially over the last few years, and some have been better than others. There's always a worry when a genre is this popular that it will never sustain, and soon books will stop being good. But so far that hasn't happened, and I include Marris' book in that.
I was part of the cover reveal for this book and so was really excited about it. This is her debut novel I believe, which is such an accomplishment as it's really rather good.
There are too many characters to get into here, and I think the joy comes from the surprise when you're reading about them, but you've got a wide spectrum of people, each one with their own quirks and are marvellous. Some are quite caricature-ish in how they've been written which I don't usually like but it works in this. We've got all ages and they all bring something new. There were even some twists and surprises regarding them that I wasn't expecting.
Each character gets their own chapter, with some interweaving, which makes it read like a collection of related short stories. I would say that the Vicar Desmond and his wife Deirdre are the links through out the stories, always popping up, intervening. They are what happens it all part of one big story.
It is darker than I thought it would be. For the most part, the books of this genre I have read, whilst they do have their murders and whatnot, they're usually quite light and fun and unserious. This is fun, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't expecting just how dark it went. And I think that helps freshen it up amongst the others in this genre. But yeah, there are some chapters that are really quite shocking. It was a surprise but a good once, once I got my head round it not being your typical cosy crime.
What I will say - and I've seen some other reviews that say similar - is it isn't the best opening. I found the first few pages a little slow and stilted, but I always give a book 20-25% before I decide if I'm going to continue or not. Gladly I can say this picks up very quickly, and once I was into it, I was into it! It's really eye-catching writing, and an enjoyable read. Even though I have pointed this out, I still wouldn't dock any stars from it, and it's still a 5-star read for me as the rest of the book more than makes up for that slower beginning. It's an absolute triumph and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Unsurprisingly, there are some difficult topics raised including death (premeditated and accidental), grief, injury, disability, mental health, murder, suicide, jealousy, missing people.
It is very original, brought something new to the party, and I would definitely recommend it to others. Even with its darker tones, it was an absolute joy to read, and I was thinking about it long after I'd finished. It was entertaining, funny, thrilling, dark and engrossing, and I'm very keen to see what she comes up with next.
I've read a lot of cosy crime novels, especially over the last few years, and some have been better than others. There's always a worry when a genre is this popular that it will never sustain, and soon books will stop being good. But so far that hasn't happened, and I include Marris' book in that.
I was part of the cover reveal for this book and so was really excited about it. This is her debut novel I believe, which is such an accomplishment as it's really rather good.
There are too many characters to get into here, and I think the joy comes from the surprise when you're reading about them, but you've got a wide spectrum of people, each one with their own quirks and are marvellous. Some are quite caricature-ish in how they've been written which I don't usually like but it works in this. We've got all ages and they all bring something new. There were even some twists and surprises regarding them that I wasn't expecting.
Each character gets their own chapter, with some interweaving, which makes it read like a collection of related short stories. I would say that the Vicar Desmond and his wife Deirdre are the links through out the stories, always popping up, intervening. They are what happens it all part of one big story.
It is darker than I thought it would be. For the most part, the books of this genre I have read, whilst they do have their murders and whatnot, they're usually quite light and fun and unserious. This is fun, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't expecting just how dark it went. And I think that helps freshen it up amongst the others in this genre. But yeah, there are some chapters that are really quite shocking. It was a surprise but a good once, once I got my head round it not being your typical cosy crime.
What I will say - and I've seen some other reviews that say similar - is it isn't the best opening. I found the first few pages a little slow and stilted, but I always give a book 20-25% before I decide if I'm going to continue or not. Gladly I can say this picks up very quickly, and once I was into it, I was into it! It's really eye-catching writing, and an enjoyable read. Even though I have pointed this out, I still wouldn't dock any stars from it, and it's still a 5-star read for me as the rest of the book more than makes up for that slower beginning. It's an absolute triumph and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Unsurprisingly, there are some difficult topics raised including death (premeditated and accidental), grief, injury, disability, mental health, murder, suicide, jealousy, missing people.
It is very original, brought something new to the party, and I would definitely recommend it to others. Even with its darker tones, it was an absolute joy to read, and I was thinking about it long after I'd finished. It was entertaining, funny, thrilling, dark and engrossing, and I'm very keen to see what she comes up with next.
March 11, 2024
Wow! What a fantastic book! I fell in love with it on page one and, having finished it, am still in love with it. It's London in 1968. To a casual observer, Atbara Avenue looks like and ordinary street. Most of the people who live there have lived there for all or most of their lives and they think they know each other quite well. But there's some strange and sinister stuff going on behind closed doors. People are fooled or they misunderstand. Actions taken without much thought or on the spur of the moment have unintended--or intended--consequences. With a cast of quirky characters and some truly awful relationships, it's no surprise that for some of the residents of Atbara Avenue, murder seems like a reasonable idea.
Nothing about this book is ordinary. The book is extremely well-plotted. The characters are varied--some are monstrous, some are clueless, some are sympathetic. The settings are really well observed and described--the author especially excels at this. The writing is exquisite. For example, here is a description of a garden shed:
"Most of the room is stacked to the ceiling with various gardening paraphernalia all lumped together in a single impenetrable heap. Shovels lie upon hoes that lie upon rakes , like a crazy game of pick-up sticks. Strata of damp seed catalogues fester under a thicker deposit of damp newspapers. Tall, curving towers of flowerpots lean this way and that, threatening to topple at any moment. Trowels, forks, sieves, hosepipes all entombed and forgotten. Only a lawnmower stands apart from the mound, as if, in embarrassment, it has deliberately stepped to one side. oiled, clean and as close as possible to the shed door, it's the one sane inmate in an asylum of confusion." (p 133)
There were so many times that I stopped reading and just admired the writing and the descriptions of the everyday places that are the settings for so much anger, frustration, sadness, and more. This is definitely not a typical murder mystery. I love certain kinds of mysteries, and that's what I was expecting. I got much more than that. This book is a series of character studies involving people in ordinary settings during a particular time and in a particular place. Yet it is universal as well. We never know what is going on behind the polite facades of any neighbourhood. We interpret events to fit in with our own worldview. We disregard a great deal, especially things that might make us uncomfortable. In this book, we get a peek inside the net curtains on Atbara Avenue and get glimpses of the messes--literal and figurative--that are usually hidden. And sometimes those messes are very ugly, indeed.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I loved it from start to finish and beyond.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.
Nothing about this book is ordinary. The book is extremely well-plotted. The characters are varied--some are monstrous, some are clueless, some are sympathetic. The settings are really well observed and described--the author especially excels at this. The writing is exquisite. For example, here is a description of a garden shed:
"Most of the room is stacked to the ceiling with various gardening paraphernalia all lumped together in a single impenetrable heap. Shovels lie upon hoes that lie upon rakes , like a crazy game of pick-up sticks. Strata of damp seed catalogues fester under a thicker deposit of damp newspapers. Tall, curving towers of flowerpots lean this way and that, threatening to topple at any moment. Trowels, forks, sieves, hosepipes all entombed and forgotten. Only a lawnmower stands apart from the mound, as if, in embarrassment, it has deliberately stepped to one side. oiled, clean and as close as possible to the shed door, it's the one sane inmate in an asylum of confusion." (p 133)
There were so many times that I stopped reading and just admired the writing and the descriptions of the everyday places that are the settings for so much anger, frustration, sadness, and more. This is definitely not a typical murder mystery. I love certain kinds of mysteries, and that's what I was expecting. I got much more than that. This book is a series of character studies involving people in ordinary settings during a particular time and in a particular place. Yet it is universal as well. We never know what is going on behind the polite facades of any neighbourhood. We interpret events to fit in with our own worldview. We disregard a great deal, especially things that might make us uncomfortable. In this book, we get a peek inside the net curtains on Atbara Avenue and get glimpses of the messes--literal and figurative--that are usually hidden. And sometimes those messes are very ugly, indeed.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I loved it from start to finish and beyond.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.
February 4, 2024
Slightly unfortunately for this book, I think the worst bit of writing comes in the first two pages. It was sufficiently purple that I wasn't entirely sure about carrying on, but as it was a NetGalley read, and two pages didn't seem like a fair shot, I kept going. But I've given this book five stars. That's not a mistake!
Once the real action commences, Marris settles into her tone, which helps unify what are really a set of discrete stories. It's not a cosy mystery, because there's no detective, and there's no mystery being unravelled. And it's not exactly crime fiction either, despite the volume of non-accidental deaths. Instead, this book is an intricate set of case studies about how we (mis)understand our neighbours and our loved ones, and the things that drive people to kill—or worse.
If Marris had wished, this could have easily been a short story collection on a theme, but the book is presented as a novel, and in the absence of a detective to unify the distinct tales, or episodes, we have the friendly local vicar, Desmond O'Reilly, and his wife, Deirdre, who bob in and out of the various stories, with more or less critical roles, as well as getting a short one all to themselves. Early on, it wasn't entirely clear whether the tales would cohere around a single driving narrative. I did half hope for the return of the stray-animal collecting, Elspeth, but to no avail, and the episode in which she features is perhaps the least well connected to the remainder of the stories that unfurl. This was a slight shame, especially as it was the episode that featured immigrant characters. In general, however, Marris is careful about weaving in some circularity across the stories, which helps tie the book together, with life stories drawing out over multiple episodes that lend depth and nuance. A particular favourite was young Colin's story, for its drama and humour.
Marris' skill is in warmly and humorously tackling very serious and sometimes scary topics: family members trapped together in loathing, male violence against women and girls, the fear that every parent feels when their child is sick or hurt, the crushing consequences of purity culture for young women and their children. These are small, domestic horrors; that is exactly part of their horror. Her characters and their impulses, yearnings, misunderstandings, and (un)certainties ring delightfully true, and so the unpleasantness slips by, only to catch up with us later.
Once the real action commences, Marris settles into her tone, which helps unify what are really a set of discrete stories. It's not a cosy mystery, because there's no detective, and there's no mystery being unravelled. And it's not exactly crime fiction either, despite the volume of non-accidental deaths. Instead, this book is an intricate set of case studies about how we (mis)understand our neighbours and our loved ones, and the things that drive people to kill—or worse.
If Marris had wished, this could have easily been a short story collection on a theme, but the book is presented as a novel, and in the absence of a detective to unify the distinct tales, or episodes, we have the friendly local vicar, Desmond O'Reilly, and his wife, Deirdre, who bob in and out of the various stories, with more or less critical roles, as well as getting a short one all to themselves. Early on, it wasn't entirely clear whether the tales would cohere around a single driving narrative. I did half hope for the return of the stray-animal collecting, Elspeth, but to no avail, and the episode in which she features is perhaps the least well connected to the remainder of the stories that unfurl. This was a slight shame, especially as it was the episode that featured immigrant characters. In general, however, Marris is careful about weaving in some circularity across the stories, which helps tie the book together, with life stories drawing out over multiple episodes that lend depth and nuance. A particular favourite was young Colin's story, for its drama and humour.
Marris' skill is in warmly and humorously tackling very serious and sometimes scary topics: family members trapped together in loathing, male violence against women and girls, the fear that every parent feels when their child is sick or hurt, the crushing consequences of purity culture for young women and their children. These are small, domestic horrors; that is exactly part of their horror. Her characters and their impulses, yearnings, misunderstandings, and (un)certainties ring delightfully true, and so the unpleasantness slips by, only to catch up with us later.
October 24, 2025
To be clear, the blurb doesn't really do the book justice. Why is that the blurb? I checked it when I was about halfway through, and realised I had yet to read anything mentioned there, because each chapter (of which there are eight) is it's own independent story, interconnected by the same street, with some recurring characters to tie them together (namely the vicar and his wife) and it's only until chapter eight that we get to the points mentioned in the blurb! But not to worry, as until you get there, you encounter four murders. Four! On the same street! Do not live here! Lol.
for that first chapter...what a way to start! Marris certainly knows how to put her readers on the edge of their seats. If you've never rooted for an attempted murderer, you certainly will now. And if you thought it impossible to feel anything but sympathy for a little old lady who loves to bake (as many of the residents do), then prepare to have your perceptions of the elderly drastically changed, because they can be a menace, and on Atbara Avenue, her name is Muriel Dollimore.
And you might think the vicar's wife is the one to solve the crimes as she regards herself as a keen observer of her community, but more often than not she misses the mark, and is even instrumental in one alarming outcome. Miss Marple she is not. Even she's treated to her own tale of woe later in the book, which I'll admit, I found to be a bit tedious to get through, but that twist at the end got me. Had me going back to re-read a certain section, because it was sounding a lot different after that!
From a distance, it's easy to mistake A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder as another run of the mill cosy crime in a little village, with a helpful amateur sleuth, and justice served before a helping of tea and cake, but that's wrong, because the cover is a LIE, and as readers, we deserve better. The book deserves better, because the stories are a little dark, with an edge of the unpleasant about them. Some more than others, and I worry some poor unsuspecting reader thinks they're picking up a fun little cosy Agatha Christie-type of thing to give their granny, but this ain't it, sis! 😆
There's great interconnected storytelling, characters you can't help but hate, others you just want to shake, tension, suspense, and shock endings (and on that note, can I just say Dicky from Mixed Messages did not deserve that? I was rooting for him!) 😭 #JusticeForDicky
for that first chapter...what a way to start! Marris certainly knows how to put her readers on the edge of their seats. If you've never rooted for an attempted murderer, you certainly will now. And if you thought it impossible to feel anything but sympathy for a little old lady who loves to bake (as many of the residents do), then prepare to have your perceptions of the elderly drastically changed, because they can be a menace, and on Atbara Avenue, her name is Muriel Dollimore.
And you might think the vicar's wife is the one to solve the crimes as she regards herself as a keen observer of her community, but more often than not she misses the mark, and is even instrumental in one alarming outcome. Miss Marple she is not. Even she's treated to her own tale of woe later in the book, which I'll admit, I found to be a bit tedious to get through, but that twist at the end got me. Had me going back to re-read a certain section, because it was sounding a lot different after that!
From a distance, it's easy to mistake A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder as another run of the mill cosy crime in a little village, with a helpful amateur sleuth, and justice served before a helping of tea and cake, but that's wrong, because the cover is a LIE, and as readers, we deserve better. The book deserves better, because the stories are a little dark, with an edge of the unpleasant about them. Some more than others, and I worry some poor unsuspecting reader thinks they're picking up a fun little cosy Agatha Christie-type of thing to give their granny, but this ain't it, sis! 😆
There's great interconnected storytelling, characters you can't help but hate, others you just want to shake, tension, suspense, and shock endings (and on that note, can I just say Dicky from Mixed Messages did not deserve that? I was rooting for him!) 😭 #JusticeForDicky
June 25, 2024
🩷💜𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥💜🩷
𝑨 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒚 𝑮𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5)
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩..."
Set in the late 1960's, this dark and sinister yet humourous book is about the rather unusual residents of Atbara Avenue that makes you question - how well do we know our own neighbours, really? And there would certainly be no guessing what goes on behind the closed doors down this extraordinary suburban London street.
I am usually a lover of short and snappy chapters, so I was sceptical when being faced with VERY long ones. However, I quickly overcame this. Marris has an engaging, immersive writing style that gripped me instantly and transported me to the 60s and flying through the pages.
Each chapter treats us to a different story about one family along this seemingly doomed street, that could be standalone short stories in their own right were it not for the way Marris expertly intertwines each to another with linked characters and themes where actions have consequences for all.
There are quite a few deaths, which I like to see in a book of this kind, and each story deals with a wide range of topics, some heavier than others, such as fierce (but really quite funny) sibling rivalry, bribery, psychosis, disability, violence against women and those overbearing busy body neighbours that have to know everyone's business under the guise of concern for the community.
Exceptional writing, particularly accomplished for a debut with a cast of beautifully crafted, wonderfully ridiculously eccentric characters. Dark and sinister subjects are tackled in a sensitive and mischievous way that really made this a joy to read. There were characters I was sad to lose, others I found hysterically funny and some unbelievably strange but it all came together brilliantly. Some real "did that just happen?" moments. A twisty rollercoaster of emotions and impressively unique!
It's Keeping Up Appearances meets Murder She Wrote (minus any lead detective) Superbly scandalous! A brilliant debut! I will be locking my door a little tighter from now on I think 😉
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Bedford Square Publishers for having me on this tour and giving me access to the digital ARC.
𝑨 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒚 𝑮𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5)
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩..."
Set in the late 1960's, this dark and sinister yet humourous book is about the rather unusual residents of Atbara Avenue that makes you question - how well do we know our own neighbours, really? And there would certainly be no guessing what goes on behind the closed doors down this extraordinary suburban London street.
I am usually a lover of short and snappy chapters, so I was sceptical when being faced with VERY long ones. However, I quickly overcame this. Marris has an engaging, immersive writing style that gripped me instantly and transported me to the 60s and flying through the pages.
Each chapter treats us to a different story about one family along this seemingly doomed street, that could be standalone short stories in their own right were it not for the way Marris expertly intertwines each to another with linked characters and themes where actions have consequences for all.
There are quite a few deaths, which I like to see in a book of this kind, and each story deals with a wide range of topics, some heavier than others, such as fierce (but really quite funny) sibling rivalry, bribery, psychosis, disability, violence against women and those overbearing busy body neighbours that have to know everyone's business under the guise of concern for the community.
Exceptional writing, particularly accomplished for a debut with a cast of beautifully crafted, wonderfully ridiculously eccentric characters. Dark and sinister subjects are tackled in a sensitive and mischievous way that really made this a joy to read. There were characters I was sad to lose, others I found hysterically funny and some unbelievably strange but it all came together brilliantly. Some real "did that just happen?" moments. A twisty rollercoaster of emotions and impressively unique!
It's Keeping Up Appearances meets Murder She Wrote (minus any lead detective) Superbly scandalous! A brilliant debut! I will be locking my door a little tighter from now on I think 😉
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Bedford Square Publishers for having me on this tour and giving me access to the digital ARC.
November 17, 2025
WHAT a brilliant book. Dark humor with interesting plot.
Atbara Avenue, London, tahun 1960-an. Komplek tempat tinggal yang hampir seluruh penduduknya tinggal di sana seumur hidup, hidup dengan rukun dan saling mengenal satu sama lain.
Kelihatan kaya ya perumahan biasa, tapi di balik setiap pintu, tertutup oleh jendela, ada rahasia para penghuninya.
Buku ini bukan jenis buku misteri di mana kita harus harus cari pelaku, metode, atau alasan kenapa semua pembunuhan itu terjadi. Karena semua udah dipaparkan dengan jelas, sederhana, seperti baca buku dongeng.
Terdiri dari beberapa bab dengan tiap bab fokus pada 'rumah' tertentu. Awalnya aku kira ini cerpen, tapi enggak setiap tokoh terhubung dengan cara yang aneh. Tapi ga overlaps yang bikin bingung, justru saling melengkapi.
Aku suka banget sama para tokohnya. I mean, mereka semua jahat tanpa sadar, dan bahkan beberapa bisa dibilang mati konyol. Rasanya seperti menampakkan sisi gelap manusia.
Kayak, nenek tua manis yang ternyata membunuh 2 orang. Homeless girl yang suka 'menyelamatkan' hewan, wanita ramah ceria yang jatuh cinta. The way para tokohnya kelihatan innocent, ternyata raja iblizzz WKWK
Aku rasa Atbara Avenue perlu ritual usir sial karena wdym hampir semua warganya bermasalah. Dari bocil, nenek nenek, sampai istri pendeta pun ada aja problemnya.
Setiap paragraf, setiap dialog rasanya ininya kebohongan doang. Setiap tokohnya udah one-step-ahead buat menjerumuskan. Apalagi pas bab Reginald-Trixie, dan Muriel-Vernon.
Oiya, pembunuhan di sini pun ga cuma pembunuhan fisik secara harfiah. Ini salah satu cerita kesukaanku bagian Colin-Adam, karena di sini, ada juga jiwa yang dibunuh. Cukup deep, waktu baca bab ini.
Ya, intinya aku sangat suka dan menikmati novel ini. Walau selama baca rasanya menahan mulut ini biar ga ketawa, rasanya dosa kalo ketawa. Apalagi tiap bagian Deidre merasa dirinya paling care dan helpfull, padahal justru jadi salah satu 'pemantik'
Buku yang sangat menyenangkan, dan nyimpan makna cukup dalam dengan sentuhan humor gelap.
Atbara Avenue, London, tahun 1960-an. Komplek tempat tinggal yang hampir seluruh penduduknya tinggal di sana seumur hidup, hidup dengan rukun dan saling mengenal satu sama lain.
Kelihatan kaya ya perumahan biasa, tapi di balik setiap pintu, tertutup oleh jendela, ada rahasia para penghuninya.
Buku ini bukan jenis buku misteri di mana kita harus harus cari pelaku, metode, atau alasan kenapa semua pembunuhan itu terjadi. Karena semua udah dipaparkan dengan jelas, sederhana, seperti baca buku dongeng.
Terdiri dari beberapa bab dengan tiap bab fokus pada 'rumah' tertentu. Awalnya aku kira ini cerpen, tapi enggak setiap tokoh terhubung dengan cara yang aneh. Tapi ga overlaps yang bikin bingung, justru saling melengkapi.
Aku suka banget sama para tokohnya. I mean, mereka semua jahat tanpa sadar, dan bahkan beberapa bisa dibilang mati konyol. Rasanya seperti menampakkan sisi gelap manusia.
Kayak, nenek tua manis yang ternyata membunuh 2 orang. Homeless girl yang suka 'menyelamatkan' hewan, wanita ramah ceria yang jatuh cinta. The way para tokohnya kelihatan innocent, ternyata raja iblizzz WKWK
Aku rasa Atbara Avenue perlu ritual usir sial karena wdym hampir semua warganya bermasalah. Dari bocil, nenek nenek, sampai istri pendeta pun ada aja problemnya.
Setiap paragraf, setiap dialog rasanya ininya kebohongan doang. Setiap tokohnya udah one-step-ahead buat menjerumuskan. Apalagi pas bab Reginald-Trixie, dan Muriel-Vernon.
Oiya, pembunuhan di sini pun ga cuma pembunuhan fisik secara harfiah. Ini salah satu cerita kesukaanku bagian Colin-Adam, karena di sini, ada juga jiwa yang dibunuh. Cukup deep, waktu baca bab ini.
Ya, intinya aku sangat suka dan menikmati novel ini. Walau selama baca rasanya menahan mulut ini biar ga ketawa, rasanya dosa kalo ketawa. Apalagi tiap bagian Deidre merasa dirinya paling care dan helpfull, padahal justru jadi salah satu 'pemantik'
Buku yang sangat menyenangkan, dan nyimpan makna cukup dalam dengan sentuhan humor gelap.
October 2, 2025
"Tetangga yang baik tidak mempermalukan satu sama lain dengan mengumbar aib mereka. Tetangga yang baik menyimpan sendiri aib masing-masing." (p.6)
4.5⭐️
Buku ini memiliki 8 bab, 8 cerita, dan setiap rumah memiliki rahasia "gelap" dengan plot twist(s) tersendiri—yang disokong oleh tetangga yang kepo—sok tahu dan sok ikut campur, seperti pendeta dan istrinya.
Bercerita tentang warga di Atbara Avenue, London, tahun 1968. Seorang pendeta bernama Desmond O'Rilley dan istrinya, Deirdre, yang selalu menjadi pencetus, penghubung, perantara crime scene(s) di kompleks tersebut. Sadar atau tidak mereka sadari.
Hampir setiap rumah ada saja kasus misterinya. Dan jangan harap semuanya akan terselesaikan di kantor polisi atau terungkap oleh detektif. Buku ini hanya menyajikan kasus, adanya korban—yang diketahui keberadaannya dan atau ada juga yang disembunyikan. Malah hampir semuanya adalah kasus yang tidak terpecahkan oleh aparat. Atau mungkin dianggap kasus pun tidak.
Setelah baca bab 1 dengan twist yang tak terduga, aku kira lambat laun akan mulai memahami pola misteri dan thriller-nya buku ini. Tapi ternyata tidak sama sekali. Makin dibaca makin geleng-geleng. Greget nan seru. Serasa menjadi warga Atbara Avenue yang mengintip di balik gorden rumah.
Yang paling fav aku adalah kisah si kembar dan tetangganya. Ini merupakan 2 kasus (dalam 2 bab) yang saling terhubung. Dan paling petjah sih menurutku.
Lalu, bab di buku ini panjang-panjang karena hanya ada 8 bav saja, jadi bagi yang tidak terbiasa dengan chapter panjang, akan merasa bosan. Tapi, tetaplah dibaca karena di setiap akhir bab ada GONG-nya. Some of gong, some of GONG banget, dan some of malah nggak ngerti maksudnya apa.
Cozy mystery yang nggak cozy cozy banget. Well written. Sangat menarik bagi pembaca cerita thriller-mystery-dark comedy.
4.5⭐️
Buku ini memiliki 8 bab, 8 cerita, dan setiap rumah memiliki rahasia "gelap" dengan plot twist(s) tersendiri—yang disokong oleh tetangga yang kepo—sok tahu dan sok ikut campur, seperti pendeta dan istrinya.
Bercerita tentang warga di Atbara Avenue, London, tahun 1968. Seorang pendeta bernama Desmond O'Rilley dan istrinya, Deirdre, yang selalu menjadi pencetus, penghubung, perantara crime scene(s) di kompleks tersebut. Sadar atau tidak mereka sadari.
Hampir setiap rumah ada saja kasus misterinya. Dan jangan harap semuanya akan terselesaikan di kantor polisi atau terungkap oleh detektif. Buku ini hanya menyajikan kasus, adanya korban—yang diketahui keberadaannya dan atau ada juga yang disembunyikan. Malah hampir semuanya adalah kasus yang tidak terpecahkan oleh aparat. Atau mungkin dianggap kasus pun tidak.
Setelah baca bab 1 dengan twist yang tak terduga, aku kira lambat laun akan mulai memahami pola misteri dan thriller-nya buku ini. Tapi ternyata tidak sama sekali. Makin dibaca makin geleng-geleng. Greget nan seru. Serasa menjadi warga Atbara Avenue yang mengintip di balik gorden rumah.
Yang paling fav aku adalah kisah si kembar dan tetangganya. Ini merupakan 2 kasus (dalam 2 bab) yang saling terhubung. Dan paling petjah sih menurutku.
Lalu, bab di buku ini panjang-panjang karena hanya ada 8 bav saja, jadi bagi yang tidak terbiasa dengan chapter panjang, akan merasa bosan. Tapi, tetaplah dibaca karena di setiap akhir bab ada GONG-nya. Some of gong, some of GONG banget, dan some of malah nggak ngerti maksudnya apa.
Cozy mystery yang nggak cozy cozy banget. Well written. Sangat menarik bagi pembaca cerita thriller-mystery-dark comedy.
February 13, 2024
London in the 1960s in a small leafy suburb. There is no social media, no mobile phones, and to presume what others are doing involves peeking through the net curtains and indulging in some harmless gossip at the shop, butchers or the church fête. This is no different for the residents of Atbara Avenue, who delight in peeking out the window to try to catch any sign of scandal. When a young girl is found dead, an apparent suicide, it is a tragedy, which sends the gossip mill into overdrive. As the body count slowly starts to increase, is there something more sinister at play? Is it all a series of innocent accidents, or is somebody getting away with murder?
This book was not what I expected. It takes us behind a series of closed doors, dealing with them as a set of almost short stories. There are a few characters which link the village together, linking threads and elements of the story together to make it a cohesive novel, but when I started reading it, I initially felt that I had begun a book of unsatisfying shorts. As it progresses and more characters are introduced, the story broadens and makes it more enjoyable. This is particularly important, as when the story begins, there are some very unlikable main characters, and if we had been stuck with them alone for the entire book I don’t know if I could have stuck it!
As we move through the story, some of the scenarios evolve with outcomes I found deeply unsatisfying, and left many questions unanswered. Other scenarios were funny in a dark humour way. Overall, however, there was not quite enough in it for me to feel fully gripped by the story.
*I received this book from NetGalley for review.
This book was not what I expected. It takes us behind a series of closed doors, dealing with them as a set of almost short stories. There are a few characters which link the village together, linking threads and elements of the story together to make it a cohesive novel, but when I started reading it, I initially felt that I had begun a book of unsatisfying shorts. As it progresses and more characters are introduced, the story broadens and makes it more enjoyable. This is particularly important, as when the story begins, there are some very unlikable main characters, and if we had been stuck with them alone for the entire book I don’t know if I could have stuck it!
As we move through the story, some of the scenarios evolve with outcomes I found deeply unsatisfying, and left many questions unanswered. Other scenarios were funny in a dark humour way. Overall, however, there was not quite enough in it for me to feel fully gripped by the story.
*I received this book from NetGalley for review.
April 29, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
I have to say that this debut from Gay Marris really did take me by surprise. The first book from an author is rarely this impressive. It shows a level of skill and refinement that writers often spend many years working to accomplish - and many never do.
"A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder" has a tangible Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected" feel about it and is, essentially, a collection of short stories that work perfectly well in isolation, but that have been cleverly linked by involving characters who all live on the same London street, Atbara Avenue, in the late 1960s.
I have great admiration any writer who successfully tackles the short story format. There is a real skill in drafting a fully rounded story, with properly drawn characters, within the confines of such a limited number of pages. I have read an awful lot of examples from very experienced wordsmiths who really haven't fared that well when they have taken up the challenge. However, Gay Marris seems to possess a natural talent for it and gives the impression of pulling it off almost effortlessly.
There are so many well-drawn protagonists in each of the eight chapters/stories and there is plenty of dark humour throughout. Some of the twists and plot developments are easier to see coming than others, but like a well executed punchline from a polished comedian, even the arrival of an anticipated outcome brings a smile of recognition and enjoyment. A commendable debut and I will be keeping an eye out for more from Gay Marris.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I have to say that this debut from Gay Marris really did take me by surprise. The first book from an author is rarely this impressive. It shows a level of skill and refinement that writers often spend many years working to accomplish - and many never do.
"A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder" has a tangible Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected" feel about it and is, essentially, a collection of short stories that work perfectly well in isolation, but that have been cleverly linked by involving characters who all live on the same London street, Atbara Avenue, in the late 1960s.
I have great admiration any writer who successfully tackles the short story format. There is a real skill in drafting a fully rounded story, with properly drawn characters, within the confines of such a limited number of pages. I have read an awful lot of examples from very experienced wordsmiths who really haven't fared that well when they have taken up the challenge. However, Gay Marris seems to possess a natural talent for it and gives the impression of pulling it off almost effortlessly.
There are so many well-drawn protagonists in each of the eight chapters/stories and there is plenty of dark humour throughout. Some of the twists and plot developments are easier to see coming than others, but like a well executed punchline from a polished comedian, even the arrival of an anticipated outcome brings a smile of recognition and enjoyment. A commendable debut and I will be keeping an eye out for more from Gay Marris.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 19, 2024
'A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder' is deliciously twisty and intriguing, it wasn't what I was expecting to read at all and I loved it for that! It is quirky and unusual and oh so very readable.
The book is set in a suburban London street in 1968, everyone may know each other's business but it turns out that not everyone knows each other's secrets. They've all lived in Atbara Avenue for donkey's years, watching neighbourhood children grow from babies to adults and leave home, or parents age and pass on. Residents would probably describe it as quite a quiet street where nothing happens but that couldn't be further from the truth. It reminded me of the 'Tales of the Unexpected' series (which I know ages me!) - where seemingly innocent quiet and boring people have huge buried secrets and hidden passions that can emerge at any time.
In this series of inter-connected stories, each household's actions send ripples through other families, both along the street and out into the wider world. There are relationships between households that you would not anticipate where actions taken 20 years ago or more can have devastating and deadly consequences even decades later.
The 1960s time setting was perfectly chosen, a period with old school values reigning for the older residents set against the freedom being chased by the younger people - the pull between the two was really well illustrated.
The book is set in a suburban London street in 1968, everyone may know each other's business but it turns out that not everyone knows each other's secrets. They've all lived in Atbara Avenue for donkey's years, watching neighbourhood children grow from babies to adults and leave home, or parents age and pass on. Residents would probably describe it as quite a quiet street where nothing happens but that couldn't be further from the truth. It reminded me of the 'Tales of the Unexpected' series (which I know ages me!) - where seemingly innocent quiet and boring people have huge buried secrets and hidden passions that can emerge at any time.
In this series of inter-connected stories, each household's actions send ripples through other families, both along the street and out into the wider world. There are relationships between households that you would not anticipate where actions taken 20 years ago or more can have devastating and deadly consequences even decades later.
The 1960s time setting was perfectly chosen, a period with old school values reigning for the older residents set against the freedom being chased by the younger people - the pull between the two was really well illustrated.
June 5, 2024
Devilishly camp, deliciously mischievous and full of murder!
What starts out as a number of short stories, each about a different family living on Atbara Avenue turns in to an intertwined community each linked by other residents unaware of the feuds and motives leading to murder(s)!
What makes this book unique is that it isn’t a ‘detective-fiction’ genre and isn’t necessarily ‘mystery’ either. It’s a real fun look at family-relationships & neighbourly nosiness which culminates in blackmail, deceit, lies… and murder.
First of all, the street is so brilliantly British. All the neighbours are so polite to each other, they bake their cakes, wash their cars and participate in the local completions. What they don’t realise is that all is not how it seems behind those net-curtains!
Each chapter has its own unique theme; some serious, some fun. You’ve got Pauline & Muriel (Mother & Daughter) who are just sick of each other. Muriel resents Pauline for coming along and whipping her career from under her feet, while Pauline is tired of decades of being ill-treated. This story felt camp and with devilishly wicked feud.
Whilst Robert’s later chapter felt somewhat sinister and dark and explores themes of violence against women; Gabriel, the good natured neighbour left me feeling sad but Trixie, the plump and randy lady down the road perked the mood back up to cheeky and fun.
The writing in this is just fantastic. It explores serious issues without feeling too heavy and keeps a real tongue in cheek nature. My jaw hit the floor at times, whilst others I chuckled with laughter. It’s a real see-saw of emotions and themes and is brilliantly unique.
Love thy neighbour? Lock the door and hide behind the curtains more like!!!
Thank you Bedfordsq Publishers for my advanced copy.
What starts out as a number of short stories, each about a different family living on Atbara Avenue turns in to an intertwined community each linked by other residents unaware of the feuds and motives leading to murder(s)!
What makes this book unique is that it isn’t a ‘detective-fiction’ genre and isn’t necessarily ‘mystery’ either. It’s a real fun look at family-relationships & neighbourly nosiness which culminates in blackmail, deceit, lies… and murder.
First of all, the street is so brilliantly British. All the neighbours are so polite to each other, they bake their cakes, wash their cars and participate in the local completions. What they don’t realise is that all is not how it seems behind those net-curtains!
Each chapter has its own unique theme; some serious, some fun. You’ve got Pauline & Muriel (Mother & Daughter) who are just sick of each other. Muriel resents Pauline for coming along and whipping her career from under her feet, while Pauline is tired of decades of being ill-treated. This story felt camp and with devilishly wicked feud.
Whilst Robert’s later chapter felt somewhat sinister and dark and explores themes of violence against women; Gabriel, the good natured neighbour left me feeling sad but Trixie, the plump and randy lady down the road perked the mood back up to cheeky and fun.
The writing in this is just fantastic. It explores serious issues without feeling too heavy and keeps a real tongue in cheek nature. My jaw hit the floor at times, whilst others I chuckled with laughter. It’s a real see-saw of emotions and themes and is brilliantly unique.
Love thy neighbour? Lock the door and hide behind the curtains more like!!!
Thank you Bedfordsq Publishers for my advanced copy.
June 21, 2024
When I picked up A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder I assumed it was a novel following the story of one murder taking place on Atbara Avenue and, perhaps, the neighbours who witnessed something behind twitching curtains. Instead, I soon realised that the book is actually made up of an eclectic collection of short stories that all take place on this same street in London. There are also some characters that pop up in several of the stories (most notably the vicar and his wife as dubious pillars of the community), creating a guiding thread throughout each of the individual tales.
While some stories had a clear beginning and end, others were left open to the reader's interpretation – sometimes with a concluding reference in a later story but at other times not being referred to again. And despite the murder in the title of the book, not every single chapter ends in death, but let me tell you... they all end in despair. Because, my goodness, author Gay Marris has assembled a despicable cast of characters for her debut novel. You can't even trust the adorable old lady who serves up her tea with some freshly baked goods. The stories – and characters – range from the bizarre to the macabre and they very much had a grown-up Roald Dahl feel to them.
The dark humour underpinning these twisted tales wasn't always for me, but that is very much a personal preference as I'm more of a "cosy" crime reader than a gruesome crime one. However, each of the stories are very unique and unexpected with clever twists and outrageous characters, so if you like your books to be filled with a generous dose of darkness and despair, then this might just be the read for you!
While some stories had a clear beginning and end, others were left open to the reader's interpretation – sometimes with a concluding reference in a later story but at other times not being referred to again. And despite the murder in the title of the book, not every single chapter ends in death, but let me tell you... they all end in despair. Because, my goodness, author Gay Marris has assembled a despicable cast of characters for her debut novel. You can't even trust the adorable old lady who serves up her tea with some freshly baked goods. The stories – and characters – range from the bizarre to the macabre and they very much had a grown-up Roald Dahl feel to them.
The dark humour underpinning these twisted tales wasn't always for me, but that is very much a personal preference as I'm more of a "cosy" crime reader than a gruesome crime one. However, each of the stories are very unique and unexpected with clever twists and outrageous characters, so if you like your books to be filled with a generous dose of darkness and despair, then this might just be the read for you!
June 19, 2024
In 1968 London was Swinging, Twiggy was modelling, “Hair” was rocking the West End and “Hey Jude” was the biggest selling single. Why am I telling you this? Because none of this cultural revolution impinged on Atbara Avenue, a quiet suburban London enclave occupied by assorted neighbours, doing neighbourly things, but keeping themselves to themselves. Behind closed doors, however, there are crises, conflicts, resentments and the occasional murder. This book relates a number of such situations, but each is told as a separate vignette, all linked by certain locations (such as the church, the flat with the pink shower hose, the bench by the duck pond) but mainly by the Vicar’s wife, whose perambulations provide a sort of continuity.
The writing style is rather mannered, more 1930s than 1960s, and the initial pace is quite gentle, although the initial story is one of the darkest, and tragic, in the book. Some readers might feel like bailing out early, but I counsel them to stick with it because the twist is surprising, as is the case in the subsequent stories. It is an easy and enjoyable read, a gentle stroll through the darkness behind closed doors.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
The writing style is rather mannered, more 1930s than 1960s, and the initial pace is quite gentle, although the initial story is one of the darkest, and tragic, in the book. Some readers might feel like bailing out early, but I counsel them to stick with it because the twist is surprising, as is the case in the subsequent stories. It is an easy and enjoyable read, a gentle stroll through the darkness behind closed doors.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
June 23, 2024
I was unsure about this at the start as I wasn't sure where it was going; I initially wondered whether this was going to be a book full of separate chapters dealing with the residents of Atbara Avenue as short stories and individual events but as you keep reading, it becomes clear that they are all linked in some way and it definitely becomes a novel.
Full of absolutely excellent and interesting characters; each of the stories is engaging with a great mix of the dark and humour which works really well; they cover a raft of human emotions - jealousy, love and hate, loss and grief, murder and violence - and from different perspectives - male and female, young and old - making this a not-so-typical murder mystery book with some surprising twists along the way. Many of the stories resonate with current affairs despite this being set in the 1960's which makes it feel up to date.
This is an engaging and enthralling book that is quite different from what I usually read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from this author although they have a lot to live up to now and I must thank the author, Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for enabling me to read this debut novel.
Full of absolutely excellent and interesting characters; each of the stories is engaging with a great mix of the dark and humour which works really well; they cover a raft of human emotions - jealousy, love and hate, loss and grief, murder and violence - and from different perspectives - male and female, young and old - making this a not-so-typical murder mystery book with some surprising twists along the way. Many of the stories resonate with current affairs despite this being set in the 1960's which makes it feel up to date.
This is an engaging and enthralling book that is quite different from what I usually read and I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from this author although they have a lot to live up to now and I must thank the author, Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for enabling me to read this debut novel.
October 20, 2024
“London, 1968. A suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.
“Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they’ll answer ‘well’. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...”.
In number 17 live a bitter daughter and her mother, trapped with each other.
Or are they?
The twin brothers at number 3 think they're nothing like each other, but they may be proved wrong. Lesley disappeared from number 49 years ago. Then her body is found, and with it more secrets.
Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.
With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting, and a unique voice, Gay Marries’ first book is the fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction you've been waiting for.”
I read this book on the Pigeonhole app four months after its daily serialisation had finished. I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its eight different stories about the residents of Atbara Avenue which were all in some way linked. The writing is fabulous, the concept is unique and imaginative and the individual stories really gripped me. I loved this original book and will be recommending it.
“Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they’ll answer ‘well’. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...”.
In number 17 live a bitter daughter and her mother, trapped with each other.
Or are they?
The twin brothers at number 3 think they're nothing like each other, but they may be proved wrong. Lesley disappeared from number 49 years ago. Then her body is found, and with it more secrets.
Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.
With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting, and a unique voice, Gay Marries’ first book is the fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction you've been waiting for.”
I read this book on the Pigeonhole app four months after its daily serialisation had finished. I thoroughly enjoyed this book with its eight different stories about the residents of Atbara Avenue which were all in some way linked. The writing is fabulous, the concept is unique and imaginative and the individual stories really gripped me. I loved this original book and will be recommending it.
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