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Stockingham & Pike #1
De moord in het landhuis
Een onwaarschijnlijk speurdersduo baant zich een weg door verborgen gangen, lang bewaarde geheimen en een dreigend gevaar om een moordenaar te ontmaskeren voor het te laat is
Cornwall, 1910. Op een afgelegen eiland bereidt de burggraaf van Tithe Hall zich koortsachtig voor op de apocalyps, waarvan hij denkt dat die gepaard zal gaan met het passeren van de komeet Halley. Tithe Hall moet van boven tot onder worden afgesloten, maar wat de pompeuze burggraaf niet heeft overwogen, is dat het gevaar binnenin schuilt… Tegen de ochtend wordt hij dood aangetroffen in zijn verzegelde studeerkamer, vermoord met zijn eigen voorouderlijke kruisboog.
Alle ogen zijn gericht op Steven Pike, de nieuwste onderbutler van Tithe Hall. Hij is de verkeerde man op de verkeerde plaats op het verkeerde moment. Zijn onwaarschijnlijke bondgenoot blijkt niemand minder dan Miss Decima Stockingham te zijn, de grofgebekte, scherpe tachtigjarige oudtante van de graaf, die ook in Tithe Hall woont.
Samen baant dit onwaarschijnlijke speurdersduo zich een weg door verborgen gangen, lang bewaarde geheimen en een dreigend gevaar om een moordenaar te ontmaskeren voor het te laat is.
Cornwall, 1910. Op een afgelegen eiland bereidt de burggraaf van Tithe Hall zich koortsachtig voor op de apocalyps, waarvan hij denkt dat die gepaard zal gaan met het passeren van de komeet Halley. Tithe Hall moet van boven tot onder worden afgesloten, maar wat de pompeuze burggraaf niet heeft overwogen, is dat het gevaar binnenin schuilt… Tegen de ochtend wordt hij dood aangetroffen in zijn verzegelde studeerkamer, vermoord met zijn eigen voorouderlijke kruisboog.
Alle ogen zijn gericht op Steven Pike, de nieuwste onderbutler van Tithe Hall. Hij is de verkeerde man op de verkeerde plaats op het verkeerde moment. Zijn onwaarschijnlijke bondgenoot blijkt niemand minder dan Miss Decima Stockingham te zijn, de grofgebekte, scherpe tachtigjarige oudtante van de graaf, die ook in Tithe Hall woont.
Samen baant dit onwaarschijnlijke speurdersduo zich een weg door verborgen gangen, lang bewaarde geheimen en een dreigend gevaar om een moordenaar te ontmaskeren voor het te laat is.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2025
About the author
Ross Montgomery
37 books519 followersRoss Montgomery has worked as a pig farmer, a postman and a primary school teacher, so writing books was the next logical step. He spent his childhood reading everything he could get his hands on, from Jacqueline Wilson to Beano annuals, and it taught him pretty much everything that's worth knowing. If you looked through his pockets you'd find empty crisp packets, lists of things to do, and a bottle of that stuff you put on your nails to stop you biting them. He lives in London with his girlfriend, a cat called Fun Bobby, and a cactus on every available surface.
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January 20, 2026Such a fun read! Montgomery gives us a classic Edwardian locked-room mystery with quirky characters, punchy humor and a unique set-up. I was delighted to see an esteemed writer for children turn his hand to adult mystery and do such a great job with it. Having gone the opposite direction in my career -- adult mysteries to children's books -- I have some appreciation for the challenge!
Halley's Comet is about to pass overhead in 1910, and some people think it heralds the end of the world. At Tithe Hall on World's End, Cornwall, the eccentric Lord Stockingham-Welt has decided to make his keep a fortress against the apocalypse, sealing his staff and his family members into the mansion over night, complete with air tanks, gas masks, and trenches dug around the grounds. In the midst of this chaos, Stephen Pike arrives -- a down-on-his-luck manservant and ex-convict in desperate need of a job. Stephen is hired to help prepare for the coming Doomsday (spoiler alert: Doomsday does not come) but immediately things go sideways. Apparently, Stephen's offer of employment was sent under false pretenses. And when Lord Stockingham-Welt is killed that very night, in a locked study in a gruesome fashion, all eyes turn to the new servant who just happens to be a convict. If Stephen is to clear his name and keep his job, he needs to solve the murder quickly.
There is a whole cast of great eccentric characters and suspects worthy of Agatha Christie or Benoit Blanc, but the heart of the story is Stephen's relationship with Lady Decima Stockingham, the family's "mad woman in the attic," who is anything but mad. The octogenarian Decima is a frustrated scientist who curses like a sailor and uses her false teeth as a paperweight to hold down her research papers. When her nephew the lord of the manor is murdered, Decima sees this as a delightful opportunity to practice the science of deduction. And, since she was with Stephen the night of the murder, making observations of Halley's Comet, she is his only alibi and only chance at proving his innocence.
Both Stephen and Decima are fantastic protagonists. The book moves quickly, with great humor, short chapters, and engaging dialogue. There are plenty of twists and red herrings, as befits a proper mystery. I was delighted to see that this promises to be the first of a series, because I am very ready to read more adventures about our f-bomb-dropping eighty-year-old upper crust detective and her long-suffering manservant with a heart of gold.
Halley's Comet is about to pass overhead in 1910, and some people think it heralds the end of the world. At Tithe Hall on World's End, Cornwall, the eccentric Lord Stockingham-Welt has decided to make his keep a fortress against the apocalypse, sealing his staff and his family members into the mansion over night, complete with air tanks, gas masks, and trenches dug around the grounds. In the midst of this chaos, Stephen Pike arrives -- a down-on-his-luck manservant and ex-convict in desperate need of a job. Stephen is hired to help prepare for the coming Doomsday (spoiler alert: Doomsday does not come) but immediately things go sideways. Apparently, Stephen's offer of employment was sent under false pretenses. And when Lord Stockingham-Welt is killed that very night, in a locked study in a gruesome fashion, all eyes turn to the new servant who just happens to be a convict. If Stephen is to clear his name and keep his job, he needs to solve the murder quickly.
There is a whole cast of great eccentric characters and suspects worthy of Agatha Christie or Benoit Blanc, but the heart of the story is Stephen's relationship with Lady Decima Stockingham, the family's "mad woman in the attic," who is anything but mad. The octogenarian Decima is a frustrated scientist who curses like a sailor and uses her false teeth as a paperweight to hold down her research papers. When her nephew the lord of the manor is murdered, Decima sees this as a delightful opportunity to practice the science of deduction. And, since she was with Stephen the night of the murder, making observations of Halley's Comet, she is his only alibi and only chance at proving his innocence.
Both Stephen and Decima are fantastic protagonists. The book moves quickly, with great humor, short chapters, and engaging dialogue. There are plenty of twists and red herrings, as befits a proper mystery. I was delighted to see that this promises to be the first of a series, because I am very ready to read more adventures about our f-bomb-dropping eighty-year-old upper crust detective and her long-suffering manservant with a heart of gold.
April 18, 2026
"A table surrounded by suspects in a house full of secrets? I wouldn't miss it for the world. Time to give that jar of hornets a good old shake."
Oh my! The Murder at World's End had no business being so much fun.
I feel like murder mysteries are a dime a dozen. And the ones that purport to kick off a whole series of murderous shenanigans? Well, that's pretty much all of them. But most end up being meh to middling, with the sort of lackluster implementation that makes me question if I still even like the genre, let alone want to come back for more. So when I find one that actually grabs me, I get pretty darn excited.
We kick off this story with a little tie-in to Halley's Comet, and my interests were immediately piqued. It was such an unusual start to a murder mystery, I couldn't help but be intrigued. Then we're introduced to our main character Stephen and our setting of Tithe Hall, and our murderous little adventure is off to the races.
Every component of this story—the characters, the dialogue, even the mystery itself—felt a little bit different than your usual fare. And that unexpectedness kept me on my toes. It automatically means that I was paying more attention and I was more invested because I had no idea where it was all going. And I couldn't gobble it up fast enough.
There is a chaotic element to the way this story unfolded, and while I normally shy away from such a thing (neat and orderly for me, please), it totally worked here. Add to that the zippy writing and the actually laugh-out-loud dialogue, and the whole thing gave off such a wacky and spirited vibe.
Regarding the mystery itself, my bar is high. I've read a ton of mysteries, so it's rare for any of them to surprise me. And this did not. In fact, the book made what I assumed was an unforced error, which clued me in pretty early on. But that didn't affect my enjoyment one bit.
In fact, the way the mystery unfolded, with its attention to clue-gathering and focus on science and facts, was particularly appealing to me. It's always fun when a mystery lets you play along by giving you all the same clues that its fictional detectives have so that you can also have a crack at it. And it harkens back to the style of the Golden Age of mysteries, which prioritizes the inherent puzzle of the whodunnit over more modern fixations of outrageous twists and psychological drama.
Maybe my only warning is that there is a small amount of swearing in here. I personally think that swearing in the right place and the right time can add emphasis and even a bit of comedic relief, and this book got it right on both counts. But I know not every reader agrees, so just be aware if you're sensitive to that.
So yes, no doubt about it, I enjoyed this very much. And I'll definitely be counting down the days until book 2 is out and in my hands.
I didn’t have anything to say to that. I just stood opening and closing my mouth like a fish pulled out of the ocean and slapped on the deck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
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September 9, 2025
The year is 1910, and Stephen Pike has been lucky enough to obtain the position of second footman at Tithe Hall on an island off the Cornish coast. The island (Worlds End) has a causeway that is inaccessible from the mainland at certain times of the day, due to tidal forces.
Stephen was recently released from Borstal, after being involved in a gang fight in a pub in Bow, East London, but he was told he’d been recommended for the position of footman by the Lady of Tithe Hall as part of her charitable work.
Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt of Tithe Hall is convinced that the recently sighted Halley’s Comet will bring about the end of the world. With that in mind he orders that everyone, both family and staff, seal themselves into their rooms, every window and door, chimneys and even keyholes completely sealed. The very next morning, after the comet had passed closely to the earth without any such disaster, he was discovered brutally murdered in his study.
Stephen had spent the night, on orders from his superior, looking after elderly, eccentric, Miss Decima Stockingham. Decima is a very difficult, foul mouthed lady, and the staff are terrified of her, but surprisingly she hits it off with Stephen, and it leads to the two of them
investigating who killed Lord Conrad, and why.
This was a great locked room murder mystery, with very much of an Agatha Christie feel to it. The plot is very clever, not to mention humorous, with plenty of red herrings, precluding the sleuths among us from getting to the truth too easily, although I did guess something along the way. Very entertaining!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Stephen was recently released from Borstal, after being involved in a gang fight in a pub in Bow, East London, but he was told he’d been recommended for the position of footman by the Lady of Tithe Hall as part of her charitable work.
Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt of Tithe Hall is convinced that the recently sighted Halley’s Comet will bring about the end of the world. With that in mind he orders that everyone, both family and staff, seal themselves into their rooms, every window and door, chimneys and even keyholes completely sealed. The very next morning, after the comet had passed closely to the earth without any such disaster, he was discovered brutally murdered in his study.
Stephen had spent the night, on orders from his superior, looking after elderly, eccentric, Miss Decima Stockingham. Decima is a very difficult, foul mouthed lady, and the staff are terrified of her, but surprisingly she hits it off with Stephen, and it leads to the two of them
investigating who killed Lord Conrad, and why.
This was a great locked room murder mystery, with very much of an Agatha Christie feel to it. The plot is very clever, not to mention humorous, with plenty of red herrings, precluding the sleuths among us from getting to the truth too easily, although I did guess something along the way. Very entertaining!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
September 22, 2025
Oh! This was quite fun. I'm generally a big fan of any book that involves a “foul-mouthed octogenarian” and this one is no exception. The Murder at World's End is a locked-room murder mystery that involves Halley's Comet and family secrets and an ex-con and a full cast of entertaining characters (including, of course, the above-mentioned octogenarian), and it's really rather delightful. You probably shouldn't expect Agatha Christie-level plot twists or subterfuge — I guessed the identity of the murderer a good fifty pages before the main characters did — but the mystery is solid and it's a story full of humor and heart.
The setting is, of course, fabulous. We have the Edwardian Era combined with Halley's comet “apocalypse” shenanigans in a fancy ancestral hall on oft-inaccessible island with a slightly nutty viscount and his despicable family members. I mean, I'm pretty sure that if you asked me to describe my ideal murder mystery novel setting, this would be it. I've always been fascinated by Halley's Comet (I was six when it last passed by Earth and couldn't get enough of hearing about it), and the comet's appearance makes for a ethereal backdrop to the events at Tithe Hall.
And the characters? So much fun. Steven the ex-con-turned-under-butler is a perfectly likeable main character, but Miss Decima is the true star of the novel. She's smart and feisty and disagreeable, and she's certainly a person I'd want on my side if I were being falsely accused of murder. However, my one complaint about this book is that she really isn't as awful as I'd hoped she'd be. Her family and the servants are all terrified of her and quiver in her presence, but she's really not all that bad? Sure, there's the hilarious dinner scene where she causes a bit of a ruckus, but otherwise she's mostly just a little crotchety and says “fuck” a lot. But, still, she's a lot of fun and so are the other characters — even the most unlikeable of the Tithe Hall guests are entertaining.
The mystery, too, is well-written and will keep you guessing. Again, it's not exactly Agatha Christie, but there are twists and turns and a long list of suspects, both family members and servants alike. I enjoyed the locked-room aspect tremendously, and even though I managed to guess the killer before the big reveal, it was still a suspenseful ride to the end.
So, yeah. This book was a lot of fun and I will definitely keep an eye out for the next installment in the series — I can only imagine what shenanigans Miss Decima and Steven will get involved in next time.
4.35 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 6, 2026.
The setting is, of course, fabulous. We have the Edwardian Era combined with Halley's comet “apocalypse” shenanigans in a fancy ancestral hall on oft-inaccessible island with a slightly nutty viscount and his despicable family members. I mean, I'm pretty sure that if you asked me to describe my ideal murder mystery novel setting, this would be it. I've always been fascinated by Halley's Comet (I was six when it last passed by Earth and couldn't get enough of hearing about it), and the comet's appearance makes for a ethereal backdrop to the events at Tithe Hall.
And the characters? So much fun. Steven the ex-con-turned-under-butler is a perfectly likeable main character, but Miss Decima is the true star of the novel. She's smart and feisty and disagreeable, and she's certainly a person I'd want on my side if I were being falsely accused of murder. However, my one complaint about this book is that she really isn't as awful as I'd hoped she'd be. Her family and the servants are all terrified of her and quiver in her presence, but she's really not all that bad? Sure, there's the hilarious dinner scene where she causes a bit of a ruckus, but otherwise she's mostly just a little crotchety and says “fuck” a lot. But, still, she's a lot of fun and so are the other characters — even the most unlikeable of the Tithe Hall guests are entertaining.
The mystery, too, is well-written and will keep you guessing. Again, it's not exactly Agatha Christie, but there are twists and turns and a long list of suspects, both family members and servants alike. I enjoyed the locked-room aspect tremendously, and even though I managed to guess the killer before the big reveal, it was still a suspenseful ride to the end.
So, yeah. This book was a lot of fun and I will definitely keep an eye out for the next installment in the series — I can only imagine what shenanigans Miss Decima and Steven will get involved in next time.
4.35 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is January 6, 2026.
April 27, 2026
AUDIBLE REVIEW: An Earphones Award Winner!
THE MURDER at WORLD’S END by Ross Montgomery
NARRATED by Actor Derek Jacobi with Joe Jameson
Listening Length About 10 hours at 1x or 6 hours 40 minutes at 1.x speed
Genre: Cozy, Locked Room Mystery
*****
Cornwall. 1910
The Viscount of Tithe Hall, the sprawling estate also known as World's End, was convinced that he would be dead by morning.
He was RIGHT.
But it wasn’t because of Halley’s Comet which he believed was going to cause the End of the World as we know it.
And, sealing himself in his study, in preparation for the impending apocalypse didn’t help him.
Instead when morning comes, he’s found dead-murdered by his own ancestral crossbow. How can that be when he was sealed inside of his room ALONE, overnight?
All eyes turn to Steven Pike, the newly hired Under Butler, who has been assigned to attend to the Viscount’s very “difficult” and VERY Foul mouthed elderly Aunt. He is fresh out of a detention center for fighting in a PUB-an easy scapegoat for Jarvis, the investigator assigned to the case.
Miss Decima, possesses a great Scientific mind and a MURDER in the house is the most excitement she has seen in decades! With Steven at her side, she’s determined to solve the mystery.
Soon, they are joined by Temperance, a long-suffering lady’s maid with a penchant for mystery novels.
Who had the means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime?
As the trio learns the secrets of the Stockingham-Welt family and their downstairs staff, Steven learns that Miss Decima’s bark is worse than her bite-(especially when she removes her dentures so she can use them as a paperweight! 😆)
An unlikely friendship is formed.
The static which accompanied the occasional Radio news reports peppered throughout the narrative added to the feel of the time period.
This CLEVER story was filled with HUMOR and HEART, and helped fill the void of the weekly Downton Abbey episodes which I still miss watching.
FORTUNATELY, this is just book one of a new series and I am looking forward to the next.
And, it’s a book that would not have been on my radar if not for the enticing reviews of Marilyn, Jamie and Yun-so thank you, ladies!
ALSO-Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this audiobook.
AVAILABLE NOW!
THE MURDER at WORLD’S END by Ross Montgomery
NARRATED by Actor Derek Jacobi with Joe Jameson
Listening Length About 10 hours at 1x or 6 hours 40 minutes at 1.x speed
Genre: Cozy, Locked Room Mystery
*****
Cornwall. 1910
The Viscount of Tithe Hall, the sprawling estate also known as World's End, was convinced that he would be dead by morning.
He was RIGHT.
But it wasn’t because of Halley’s Comet which he believed was going to cause the End of the World as we know it.
And, sealing himself in his study, in preparation for the impending apocalypse didn’t help him.
Instead when morning comes, he’s found dead-murdered by his own ancestral crossbow. How can that be when he was sealed inside of his room ALONE, overnight?
All eyes turn to Steven Pike, the newly hired Under Butler, who has been assigned to attend to the Viscount’s very “difficult” and VERY Foul mouthed elderly Aunt. He is fresh out of a detention center for fighting in a PUB-an easy scapegoat for Jarvis, the investigator assigned to the case.
Miss Decima, possesses a great Scientific mind and a MURDER in the house is the most excitement she has seen in decades! With Steven at her side, she’s determined to solve the mystery.
Soon, they are joined by Temperance, a long-suffering lady’s maid with a penchant for mystery novels.
Who had the means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime?
As the trio learns the secrets of the Stockingham-Welt family and their downstairs staff, Steven learns that Miss Decima’s bark is worse than her bite-(especially when she removes her dentures so she can use them as a paperweight! 😆)
An unlikely friendship is formed.
The static which accompanied the occasional Radio news reports peppered throughout the narrative added to the feel of the time period.
This CLEVER story was filled with HUMOR and HEART, and helped fill the void of the weekly Downton Abbey episodes which I still miss watching.
FORTUNATELY, this is just book one of a new series and I am looking forward to the next.
And, it’s a book that would not have been on my radar if not for the enticing reviews of Marilyn, Jamie and Yun-so thank you, ladies!
ALSO-Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this audiobook.
AVAILABLE NOW!
May 7, 2026
A brilliant mix of Agatha Christie, Knives Out, and Downton Abbey, The Murder at World’s End was, to put it bluntly, a truly great read. From the Golden Age feel of the early 1900s time period to the locked-room setting of the often-cut-off manor, the backdrop to this story was second to none. That, however, wasn’t the best piece of this by a mile. Oh no. The shining star in this fun murder mystery was Miss Decima Stockingham and the rest of the characters. Likable, compelling, and beyond well-developed, I was instantly a fan of the whole motley crew. Don’t get me wrong, that didn’t make me stop side-eying them all. Beyond suspicious, they were everything I could want in a crafty whodunnit. I mean, who doesn’t love oodles of red herrings? And the fact that the amateur sleuths were quite the unlikely duo? Well, that added one heck of a boost to my rating when I ended up writing my review.
All said and done, I’m now a brand-spanking-new fan of your writing, Mr. Montgomery. Clever, sharp, and laugh-out-loud funny, I was absolutely riveted as the ingenious twists and dark family secrets were revealed one by one. Making it all even better was Miss Decima and her foul-mouthed behavior. Paired with the redemption-seeking ex-con Stephen, their investigations were beyond fun. I mean, how could you not love a book that has a truly wicked sense of humor? Add in the classic mystery vibe that even included a “shocking” change to the will, and this was a guaranteed one-sitting read for this whodunnit lover. So if you love feisty octogenarians, shrewd plotting, and suspenseful scenes, grab this book now. After all, I wouldn’t be surprised if this first book in series finds its way onto a screen near me one day soon. At the very least, I’m really, really hoping it does. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in feverish preparations for the apocalypse that he believes will accompany the passing of Halley's Comet. The Hall must be sealed from top to bottom—every window, chimney, and keyhole closed off before night falls. But what the pompous, dishonest Viscount has failed to take into account is the danger that lies within... By morning, he will be dead in his sealed study, murdered by his own ancestral crossbow.
All eyes turn to Stephen Pike, Tithe Hall's newest under-butler. Fresh out of Borstal for a crime he didn't commit, he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul-mouthed, sharp as a tack, eighty-year-old family matriarch. Fearless and unconventional, she relishes chaos and puzzles alike, and a murder is just the thrill she's been waiting for.
Together, this mismatched duo must navigate secret passages, buried grudges, and rising terror to unmask the killer before it's too late...
Thank you to Ross Montgomery and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 6, 2025
Content warning: murder, cursing, alcoholism, bullying, animal death, infidelity
All said and done, I’m now a brand-spanking-new fan of your writing, Mr. Montgomery. Clever, sharp, and laugh-out-loud funny, I was absolutely riveted as the ingenious twists and dark family secrets were revealed one by one. Making it all even better was Miss Decima and her foul-mouthed behavior. Paired with the redemption-seeking ex-con Stephen, their investigations were beyond fun. I mean, how could you not love a book that has a truly wicked sense of humor? Add in the classic mystery vibe that even included a “shocking” change to the will, and this was a guaranteed one-sitting read for this whodunnit lover. So if you love feisty octogenarians, shrewd plotting, and suspenseful scenes, grab this book now. After all, I wouldn’t be surprised if this first book in series finds its way onto a screen near me one day soon. At the very least, I’m really, really hoping it does. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Cornwall, 1910. On a remote tidal island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absorbed in feverish preparations for the apocalypse that he believes will accompany the passing of Halley's Comet. The Hall must be sealed from top to bottom—every window, chimney, and keyhole closed off before night falls. But what the pompous, dishonest Viscount has failed to take into account is the danger that lies within... By morning, he will be dead in his sealed study, murdered by his own ancestral crossbow.
All eyes turn to Stephen Pike, Tithe Hall's newest under-butler. Fresh out of Borstal for a crime he didn't commit, he is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul-mouthed, sharp as a tack, eighty-year-old family matriarch. Fearless and unconventional, she relishes chaos and puzzles alike, and a murder is just the thrill she's been waiting for.
Together, this mismatched duo must navigate secret passages, buried grudges, and rising terror to unmask the killer before it's too late...
Thank you to Ross Montgomery and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 6, 2025
Content warning: murder, cursing, alcoholism, bullying, animal death, infidelity
October 21, 2025
Cornwall, 1910 and the place Stephen Pike had just secured a job at on the tidal island of World's End, Tithe Hall, was going into lockdown. Halley's Comet was due to pass overhead and the Viscount of the Hall was certain the gasses from the Comet would kill everyone. So locking down the Hall, blocking all entry from outside and every room inside was deemed to keep them safe. But when morning came, and staff and guests gradually made their way out of their rooms, the Viscount was found dead inside his study, which had been closed up and secured all night.
Stephen knew immediately he'd be blamed - he'd spent two years in prison for something he didn't do - so he needed to find the murderer before the finger pointed to him. With the eighty year old invalided matriarch, Miss Decima Stockingham, needing him for her aid, they formed an unlikely and uneasy working relationship. Miss Decima was hated by all her family, never left her room, was a genius of all things puzzling, and foul-mouthed to boot; Stephen wasn't sure what he'd struck. Would they discover the murderer before someone else died?
The Murder at World's End is the 1st in the Stockingham & Pike series by Ross Montgomery, a new to me author. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery; Miss Decima was an absolute character! She cracked me up, had me laughing out loud on many occasions! Stephen was naive, unprepared for life with little confidence in himself - Miss Decima changed that... I'm really looking forward to the next in the series, and recommend this one highly.
With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin UK for my digital ARC to read and review.
Stephen knew immediately he'd be blamed - he'd spent two years in prison for something he didn't do - so he needed to find the murderer before the finger pointed to him. With the eighty year old invalided matriarch, Miss Decima Stockingham, needing him for her aid, they formed an unlikely and uneasy working relationship. Miss Decima was hated by all her family, never left her room, was a genius of all things puzzling, and foul-mouthed to boot; Stephen wasn't sure what he'd struck. Would they discover the murderer before someone else died?
The Murder at World's End is the 1st in the Stockingham & Pike series by Ross Montgomery, a new to me author. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery; Miss Decima was an absolute character! She cracked me up, had me laughing out loud on many occasions! Stephen was naive, unprepared for life with little confidence in himself - Miss Decima changed that... I'm really looking forward to the next in the series, and recommend this one highly.
With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin UK for my digital ARC to read and review.
March 31, 2026
__________________________
“With the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit.” —Edgar Allan Poe
The book takes place in 1910 England. Eighteen-year-old Stephen Pike arrives at Tithe Hall to begin work as a household servant. He looks like an escapee from a juvenile detention center because, in fact, he has just been released from a juvenile detention center. Stephen did not commit the crime he was convicted of, but he is deathly afraid his time in juvee will ruin his entire life. He hopes that his doing well at his job at Tithe Hall will redeem him, but Tithe Hall resembles the melancholy House of Usher as imagined by Poe: a place that may be tolerable to live in, but you would not want to die there. Even the windows are boarded up. Stephen is as nervous as a mouse who suddenly realizes he is standing in the middle of a herd of stampeding elephants.
The butler assigns Stephen to watch over 79-year-old Great Aunt Decima for his first night. Decima has been confined to the decaying, damp, water-stained and noxious-smelling third floor nursery, where she uses more F-words than appear in the unabridged Oxford English Dictionary. She is the sort of woman whose hobby might be pulling the wings off flies. She’ll insult you at first sight. You’d hate her. Everyone does. And she hates everyone back—especially Lord Stockingham. She is as vengeful, manipulative, bitter, and single-minded as Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.
As you might expect, teenage males were seldom assigned to be ladies’ maids in 1910, but this is going to be a very strange night. The maids can barely manage Decima in the best of times, and keeping her in hand and in her room may require more muscle than the distaff staff can muster.
Lord Stockingham is the master of the house. When you first encounter him, he will remind you of Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo or H. G. Wells’s Time Traveller, but don’t be fooled. Nemo and the Time Traveller are accomplished, obsessive scientists. Lord Stockingham is not even actually a “Lord”; he awarded himself that title. [You know, like You-Know-Who might do.] He claims to be a world class scientist, but the family genius was Aunt Decima, the Marie Curie of the clan, whose work Stockingham had quietly appropriated as his own.
Tonight, Halley’s Comet is making its closest approach to Earth ever, and Stockingham—believing his own self-devised legend of his brilliance—has determined that, when the Earth passes through the comet’s tail, the poisonous gases in the tail will kill everyone on Earth. As a result, he has ordered every member of the household sealed into their respective rooms until the danger has passed. Naturally, this is the night the murder occurs: a locked room murder, with everyone in the house being isolated in separate locked and sealed rooms. And a most bizarre murder it is, too.
🌟🌟🌟 Stars
If Dorothy Parker had written this review, she might have said that Murder at World’s End is both the title and an appropriate critique of the book. Parker was famously mean. I am much nicer. This novel inspired me to ponder the mystery of why I was foolish enough to read it. A Golden-Age-style mystery like this one needs to be logical. I wouldn’t have believed the book Murder at World’s End if it had passed an FBI administered polygraph test. I couldn’t have swallowed the plot if it were chocolate covered and drenched in caramel.
I have given the book 3 stars because the Goodreads blurb says this is Ross Montgomery’s first Adult novel. It obviously still needs some time to mature.
Alice laughed. ‘There’s no use trying,’ she said. ‘One can’t believe impossible things.’
‘I daresay you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen. ‘When I was your age, I always did it for half‑an‑hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’”
“With the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit.” —Edgar Allan Poe
The book takes place in 1910 England. Eighteen-year-old Stephen Pike arrives at Tithe Hall to begin work as a household servant. He looks like an escapee from a juvenile detention center because, in fact, he has just been released from a juvenile detention center. Stephen did not commit the crime he was convicted of, but he is deathly afraid his time in juvee will ruin his entire life. He hopes that his doing well at his job at Tithe Hall will redeem him, but Tithe Hall resembles the melancholy House of Usher as imagined by Poe: a place that may be tolerable to live in, but you would not want to die there. Even the windows are boarded up. Stephen is as nervous as a mouse who suddenly realizes he is standing in the middle of a herd of stampeding elephants.
The butler assigns Stephen to watch over 79-year-old Great Aunt Decima for his first night. Decima has been confined to the decaying, damp, water-stained and noxious-smelling third floor nursery, where she uses more F-words than appear in the unabridged Oxford English Dictionary. She is the sort of woman whose hobby might be pulling the wings off flies. She’ll insult you at first sight. You’d hate her. Everyone does. And she hates everyone back—especially Lord Stockingham. She is as vengeful, manipulative, bitter, and single-minded as Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.
As you might expect, teenage males were seldom assigned to be ladies’ maids in 1910, but this is going to be a very strange night. The maids can barely manage Decima in the best of times, and keeping her in hand and in her room may require more muscle than the distaff staff can muster.
Lord Stockingham is the master of the house. When you first encounter him, he will remind you of Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo or H. G. Wells’s Time Traveller, but don’t be fooled. Nemo and the Time Traveller are accomplished, obsessive scientists. Lord Stockingham is not even actually a “Lord”; he awarded himself that title. [You know, like You-Know-Who might do.] He claims to be a world class scientist, but the family genius was Aunt Decima, the Marie Curie of the clan, whose work Stockingham had quietly appropriated as his own.
Tonight, Halley’s Comet is making its closest approach to Earth ever, and Stockingham—believing his own self-devised legend of his brilliance—has determined that, when the Earth passes through the comet’s tail, the poisonous gases in the tail will kill everyone on Earth. As a result, he has ordered every member of the household sealed into their respective rooms until the danger has passed. Naturally, this is the night the murder occurs: a locked room murder, with everyone in the house being isolated in separate locked and sealed rooms. And a most bizarre murder it is, too.
🌟🌟🌟 Stars
If Dorothy Parker had written this review, she might have said that Murder at World’s End is both the title and an appropriate critique of the book. Parker was famously mean. I am much nicer. This novel inspired me to ponder the mystery of why I was foolish enough to read it. A Golden-Age-style mystery like this one needs to be logical. I wouldn’t have believed the book Murder at World’s End if it had passed an FBI administered polygraph test. I couldn’t have swallowed the plot if it were chocolate covered and drenched in caramel.
I have given the book 3 stars because the Goodreads blurb says this is Ross Montgomery’s first Adult novel. It obviously still needs some time to mature.
Alice laughed. ‘There’s no use trying,’ she said. ‘One can’t believe impossible things.’
‘I daresay you haven’t had much practice,’ said the Queen. ‘When I was your age, I always did it for half‑an‑hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’”
April 11, 2026
A fun example of a locked room mystery - I especially enjoyed the Halley's Comet panic element of the historical setting. I didn't particularly connect with the recurring characters who are set up for the series, so I'm not planning on continuing in the series, but I also wouldn't mind picking up another if the description appealed to me.
January 19, 2026
This first installment of a new historical fiction, cozy mystery series gets the series off to a great start. The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline and MC’s, Decima and Steven. What the book summary doesn’t say are all the other characters, greedy family members, who all show up to see who the Viscount left the family estate to. They also all become suspects and fall under the suspicious eyes of Decima and Steven, who start their own investigation after Steven is suspected of the murder of the Viscount. Decima and Steven recruit lady’s maid, Temperance, to assist in their caper.
The story flips back and forth between Steven and a radio announcement tracking the path of the comet. Scotland Yard sends in Inspector Jarvis to head up the murder investigation. Jarvis is an absolute idiot and every one of his scenes is hilariously entertaining. There is also somewhat of a secondary storyline surrounding some family scandals. Seems the Viscount died the same way his father died 20yrs ago. It was also suspected that the Viscount killed his father because the Viscount was stupid and useless drain on the family.
It’s not long before another dead body shows up and things begin to heat up for Decima and Steven and the investigation takes an abrupt turn. There are some shocking revelations, and some really scary and intense scenes, especially for Decima and Steven. I will definitely be adding this series to my fave series list.
The character development for the MC’s Decima, Steven and Temperance was well done. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline entertaining. The writing was classic locked room, cozy mystery and reminded me a little of an Agatha Christy story. Even the location, a Cornwall tidal island that becomes inaccessible at certain times of the day, lent to the whole isolated setting, a sealed crime scene, hidden passages, and creepy suits of armor that shoot bolt from a bow. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, William Morrow, and Harper Audio Adult for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #HarperAudioAdult #TheMurderatWorldsEnd
The story flips back and forth between Steven and a radio announcement tracking the path of the comet. Scotland Yard sends in Inspector Jarvis to head up the murder investigation. Jarvis is an absolute idiot and every one of his scenes is hilariously entertaining. There is also somewhat of a secondary storyline surrounding some family scandals. Seems the Viscount died the same way his father died 20yrs ago. It was also suspected that the Viscount killed his father because the Viscount was stupid and useless drain on the family.
It’s not long before another dead body shows up and things begin to heat up for Decima and Steven and the investigation takes an abrupt turn. There are some shocking revelations, and some really scary and intense scenes, especially for Decima and Steven. I will definitely be adding this series to my fave series list.
The character development for the MC’s Decima, Steven and Temperance was well done. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline entertaining. The writing was classic locked room, cozy mystery and reminded me a little of an Agatha Christy story. Even the location, a Cornwall tidal island that becomes inaccessible at certain times of the day, lent to the whole isolated setting, a sealed crime scene, hidden passages, and creepy suits of armor that shoot bolt from a bow. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, William Morrow, and Harper Audio Adult for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #HarperAudioAdult #TheMurderatWorldsEnd
January 10, 2026
In 1919, the Viscount of Tithe Hall is convinced that Halley’s Comet will cause an apocalypse that will kill everyone. He is determined that he, and a few select others, will survive. The Hall must be sealed against the poisonous air and all inhabitants must be encased in their rooms until morning. This requires a lot of work, so Steven Pike, a recently released prisoner, is hired as an under-butler. His chief duty is tending to the Viscount’s aunt, the elderly Decima Stockingham. Unfortunately, Decima has the temperament of a dyspeptic dragon. Also unfortunately, the Viscount winds up murdered in a room locked from the inside.
I generally dislike like cozy mysteries, but Decima really elevates this one. I caught on to the guilty party pretty quickly, but that did not spoil my enjoyment of this book. Decima is a thwarted scientist. Steven has no particular skills, but he desperately needs the job, so he is game for anything. The two make a very good detective team. The writing is light and the pace is quick. I would read book 2 in the series immediately if it existed. I’m looking forward to it. 4.5 stars
I generally dislike like cozy mysteries, but Decima really elevates this one. I caught on to the guilty party pretty quickly, but that did not spoil my enjoyment of this book. Decima is a thwarted scientist. Steven has no particular skills, but he desperately needs the job, so he is game for anything. The two make a very good detective team. The writing is light and the pace is quick. I would read book 2 in the series immediately if it existed. I’m looking forward to it. 4.5 stars
November 24, 2025
*glances at the very high ratings*
Uhm... Guys, could it possibly be the case that you don't read very many twisty, turny mysteries very often? (Read: I do.)
I'm wondering because I can't understand the raving reviews on here. The book was good, yes, but not brilliant or great enough to stand out very much, if at all.
In fact, I felt like the author hadstolen borrowed the main characters directly from other books I've listened to the last couple of years and therefore: This book didn't stand out at all to me personally.
No, not even the old lady cursing a lot could make me blink twice, because it's a "one trick pony" I've encountered plenty before, lately, thank you very much.
Decima was however the part of the book I liked the best. In fact, the book didn't kick into gear until she turned up and I thought about DNF:ing the whole thing before she (finally) made an appearance.
As for Pike, our other main character - so humorously plastered over with a penguin on the audiobook cover (extra funny when you think about the fact that he runs around in a livery through out the book): He is an OK protagonist. Nothing more. Nothing less. Adequate, but a bit on the boring side.
As for the mystery ... Well, I did guess everything really quickly, to be honest, and the murder victim was of the sort where you think "Good riddance!" rather than "Ohh, how horrible, I wonder who did it!?". So that part didn't offer much food for thought.
The enjoyment I got, eventually, was the relationship between Decima and Pike.
Maybe not enough to check back in with them in a future book though. Time will tell, and all that, but at the moment, I think not.
Uhm... Guys, could it possibly be the case that you don't read very many twisty, turny mysteries very often? (Read: I do.)
I'm wondering because I can't understand the raving reviews on here. The book was good, yes, but not brilliant or great enough to stand out very much, if at all.
In fact, I felt like the author had
No, not even the old lady cursing a lot could make me blink twice, because it's a "one trick pony" I've encountered plenty before, lately, thank you very much.
Decima was however the part of the book I liked the best. In fact, the book didn't kick into gear until she turned up and I thought about DNF:ing the whole thing before she (finally) made an appearance.
As for Pike, our other main character - so humorously plastered over with a penguin on the audiobook cover (extra funny when you think about the fact that he runs around in a livery through out the book): He is an OK protagonist. Nothing more. Nothing less. Adequate, but a bit on the boring side.
As for the mystery ... Well, I did guess everything really quickly, to be honest, and the murder victim was of the sort where you think "Good riddance!" rather than "Ohh, how horrible, I wonder who did it!?". So that part didn't offer much food for thought.
The enjoyment I got, eventually, was the relationship between Decima and Pike.
Maybe not enough to check back in with them in a future book though. Time will tell, and all that, but at the moment, I think not.
February 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this mystery told from the POV of Stephen, an ex-con turned footman. Some highlights for me were:
☄️Isolated setting (a manor house separated from the mainland during high tide)
☠️A clever locked room mystery
☄️The detective is a moron. The real investigation is conducted by an elderly woman, a footman, and a maid.
☠️Grounds include a garden hedge maze, and high cliffs.
☄️The end pages of the hardcover show a blueprint of World’s End (the house)
☠️Hailey’s Comet is passing overhead
☄️Isolated setting (a manor house separated from the mainland during high tide)
☠️A clever locked room mystery
☄️The detective is a moron. The real investigation is conducted by an elderly woman, a footman, and a maid.
☠️Grounds include a garden hedge maze, and high cliffs.
☄️The end pages of the hardcover show a blueprint of World’s End (the house)
☠️Hailey’s Comet is passing overhead
April 5, 2026
(4.5 stars, rounded up)
Thank you to William Morrow, HarperAudio Adult, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to an advance copy of The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery. All opinions are my own.
**
If you enjoy a classic-leaning mystery story, featuring a locked-room mystery, run and pick up a copy of The Murder at World’s End. The setting is on the coast of Cornwall, England in 1910, when Halley’s Comet was making headlines - and scaring a lot of people. Stephen Pike, 19, arrives at World’s End, in hopes of being employed at Tithe Hall, after having been recommended there. His backstory is kind of iffy and he’s not at all sure whether he will be granted employment in service there. When he arrives, Tithe Hall is in a state of chaos. It turns out that the “master” of the house, Conrad Stockington-Welt, is one of the scientists who believe Halley’s Comet is going to destroy Earth as we knew it, and is having the house completely boarded up, rooms sealed, and so forth, to save the people there, as the comet passes close to Earth. Of course, there’s a murder, as the title indicates, and the victim is indeed in a sealed room.
Stephen was a great character but the one who really stole my heart was 80-year-old Decima Stockington. She is fabulous. She’s a scientist herself (in a world that did not value women at all, let alone as a scientist) and feels that Conrad is “full of it”, to put it nicely. She curses frequently and is just such an intriguing character, a true eccentric. While she has terrorized most of the staff, Stephen somehow gets along with her and together they wind up investigating the murder. The story is filled with humor and a number of red herrings and I loved it. This looks to be the first in a new series and I, for one, can’t wait to see what Decima and Stephen get up to next!
I sped through this book, bouncing between the hardcover, ebook and audiobook versions. I was particularly entranced by the audiobook version, which featured two wonderful narrators, Joe Jameson and Derek Jacobi. There were a variety of sounds effects, including news bulletins that sounded like old-time radio broadcasts.
Highly recommended for mystery fans of all sorts.
Thank you to William Morrow, HarperAudio Adult, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to an advance copy of The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery. All opinions are my own.
**
If you enjoy a classic-leaning mystery story, featuring a locked-room mystery, run and pick up a copy of The Murder at World’s End. The setting is on the coast of Cornwall, England in 1910, when Halley’s Comet was making headlines - and scaring a lot of people. Stephen Pike, 19, arrives at World’s End, in hopes of being employed at Tithe Hall, after having been recommended there. His backstory is kind of iffy and he’s not at all sure whether he will be granted employment in service there. When he arrives, Tithe Hall is in a state of chaos. It turns out that the “master” of the house, Conrad Stockington-Welt, is one of the scientists who believe Halley’s Comet is going to destroy Earth as we knew it, and is having the house completely boarded up, rooms sealed, and so forth, to save the people there, as the comet passes close to Earth. Of course, there’s a murder, as the title indicates, and the victim is indeed in a sealed room.
Stephen was a great character but the one who really stole my heart was 80-year-old Decima Stockington. She is fabulous. She’s a scientist herself (in a world that did not value women at all, let alone as a scientist) and feels that Conrad is “full of it”, to put it nicely. She curses frequently and is just such an intriguing character, a true eccentric. While she has terrorized most of the staff, Stephen somehow gets along with her and together they wind up investigating the murder. The story is filled with humor and a number of red herrings and I loved it. This looks to be the first in a new series and I, for one, can’t wait to see what Decima and Stephen get up to next!
I sped through this book, bouncing between the hardcover, ebook and audiobook versions. I was particularly entranced by the audiobook version, which featured two wonderful narrators, Joe Jameson and Derek Jacobi. There were a variety of sounds effects, including news bulletins that sounded like old-time radio broadcasts.
Highly recommended for mystery fans of all sorts.
February 5, 2026
I was entertained by this murder mystery for the most part. A couple parts dragged for me and the end was a little bit overdone, but overall I recommend this book to anyone who wants a lighthearted murder mystery set in a grand English castle in 1910.
The best thing was that a bunch of parts made me laugh out loud. Just the phrases that some of the characters came out with were so shocking and funny that they made me bust out laughing. I loved the two main characters, and I’m happy that the way that the book ends leaves room for a sequel. I hope there will be a sequel. I will read it for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for the free audiobook ARC. Both narrators were superb.
The best thing was that a bunch of parts made me laugh out loud. Just the phrases that some of the characters came out with were so shocking and funny that they made me bust out laughing. I loved the two main characters, and I’m happy that the way that the book ends leaves room for a sequel. I hope there will be a sequel. I will read it for sure.
Thank you NetGalley for the free audiobook ARC. Both narrators were superb.
Want to Read
February 18, 20265 chapters in and I can feel that this is only going to work via Audiobook for me. Softly DNFing this until my Libby request comes through. 😬😬😬.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** A locked-room mystery?!?! Say no more. 🤭🤭🤭.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** A locked-room mystery?!?! Say no more. 🤭🤭🤭.
January 23, 2026
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2026/01/21/...
And just like that, I already have my first contender for best read of 2026 and it’s a straight-up old-fashioned whodunit. There’s just something deeply satisfying about a mystery that knows exactly what it wants to do, and Murder at World’s End absolutely nails it, delivering a treasure that feels like a love letter to the Golden Age of detective fiction.
The novel is set in Cornwall in 1910, the same year Halley’s Comet sparked widespread panic as a sensationalist media warned that all life would perish as Earth passed through the comet’s poisonous tail. Ensconced in his remote island estate ominously named World’s End, the Viscount of Tithe Hall has a plan for himself and his family to survive the apocalypse. Every window, door, and chimney will be sealed down to the tiniest keyhole, supposedly to protect the manor’s guests and servants from all kinds of dangerous gases or noxious space dust falling from the heavens.
On the eve of Halley’s expected appearance, an earnest young man named Steven Pike arrives at Tithe Hall and steps into a world of utter chaos. Recently released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he has come desperately in search of work, knowing how slim his chances are due to his questionable past. With the pre-comet preparations in full swing, however, the place is short-staffed and Steven is hired on the spot. He is then given the curious task of chaperoning Miss Decima Stockingham, the Viscount’s curmudgeonly and foul-mouthed octogenarian aunt who has already driven away all her lady’s maids. Warned that the old lady might not be entirely in possession of her marbles, Steven is surprised to find Miss Decima is in fact far less unhinged than her reputation suggests, with a mind as sharp as her interest in science, though her spectacular temper and lack of tact are unfortunately very real.
Obviously, the world has not ended by the time morning arrives, and the houseguests all emerge from their sealed rooms in a state of collective bemusement and relief—all except one. Sometime in the night, the Viscount was murdered, and his body is discovered alone in a room that had been sealed from the inside. On the surface, the crime appears impossible, though with the island cut off by the high tide, the only certainty is that the killer is someone already at World’s End. As the newest arrival and a former convict, suspicion immediately lands on Steven, but with the help of Miss Decima, the two set out to clear his name by solving the case.
Eccentric suspects, multiple nefarious motives, a literal locked room—The Murder at World’s End has it all. From the very first page, it had me completely hooked, and by its end, I was already giddy with excitement to find this is only the first of hopefully many more Stockingham & Pike books to come. What I loved about the story is how unapologetically classic it feels. This is a proper mystery where the clues matter, the motivations make sense, and the reader is invited to play along rather than be distracted by spectacle. Of course, there are red herrings aplenty, but in my opinion, they are fair ones where the plot never resorts to outrageous twists or last-minute revelations to force a surprise. Instead, the novel features sensible detective work that unfolds with patience and care, rewarding close attention and logical thinking, which made the ending all the more satisfying.
Also, I truly enjoyed the unlikely detective duo of Miss Decima and Steven. The latter’s gradual development is wonderfully handled, portraying his transformation from a skittish young man into a confident go-getter who learns to trust his instincts. And how I loved Miss Decima! Witty, brilliant, and having absolutely no patience for bullshit, she steals every scene she’s in and completely owns it, and yet, while she can certainly be a lot, it never feels too forced or over-the-top like it’s tipping into caricature. What really makes it work, though, is the dynamic between the two characters. Their partnership forms naturally, initially built on shared curiosity and then later mutual respect, eventually evolving into a friendship that was easily the highlight of the entire book.
Historical fiction fans will further appreciate the setting. The looming presence of Halley’s Comet and the hysteria surrounding it serve as such a cool backdrop for the story, giving it an eerie and almost mystical atmosphere. Tithe Hall itself stands as an intimidating presence, and the author uses the environment—the surrounding sea, the dark woods nearby, and even an honest-to-goodness hedge maze—to incredible effect.
In the end, The Murder at World’s End is exactly the kind of mystery I’ve been craving. I could hardly put it down, and every time I was forced to, I found myself jonesing for the next time I could pick it up again. Clever without being convoluted, charming without being pretentious, and most importantly rooted firmly in the traditions of classic detective fiction, this novel is a perfect reminder of why the genre is so beloved and enduring. I would happily follow Steven Pike and Miss Decima Stockingham into as many investigations as Ross Montgomery is willing to write.
And just like that, I already have my first contender for best read of 2026 and it’s a straight-up old-fashioned whodunit. There’s just something deeply satisfying about a mystery that knows exactly what it wants to do, and Murder at World’s End absolutely nails it, delivering a treasure that feels like a love letter to the Golden Age of detective fiction.
The novel is set in Cornwall in 1910, the same year Halley’s Comet sparked widespread panic as a sensationalist media warned that all life would perish as Earth passed through the comet’s poisonous tail. Ensconced in his remote island estate ominously named World’s End, the Viscount of Tithe Hall has a plan for himself and his family to survive the apocalypse. Every window, door, and chimney will be sealed down to the tiniest keyhole, supposedly to protect the manor’s guests and servants from all kinds of dangerous gases or noxious space dust falling from the heavens.
On the eve of Halley’s expected appearance, an earnest young man named Steven Pike arrives at Tithe Hall and steps into a world of utter chaos. Recently released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he has come desperately in search of work, knowing how slim his chances are due to his questionable past. With the pre-comet preparations in full swing, however, the place is short-staffed and Steven is hired on the spot. He is then given the curious task of chaperoning Miss Decima Stockingham, the Viscount’s curmudgeonly and foul-mouthed octogenarian aunt who has already driven away all her lady’s maids. Warned that the old lady might not be entirely in possession of her marbles, Steven is surprised to find Miss Decima is in fact far less unhinged than her reputation suggests, with a mind as sharp as her interest in science, though her spectacular temper and lack of tact are unfortunately very real.
Obviously, the world has not ended by the time morning arrives, and the houseguests all emerge from their sealed rooms in a state of collective bemusement and relief—all except one. Sometime in the night, the Viscount was murdered, and his body is discovered alone in a room that had been sealed from the inside. On the surface, the crime appears impossible, though with the island cut off by the high tide, the only certainty is that the killer is someone already at World’s End. As the newest arrival and a former convict, suspicion immediately lands on Steven, but with the help of Miss Decima, the two set out to clear his name by solving the case.
Eccentric suspects, multiple nefarious motives, a literal locked room—The Murder at World’s End has it all. From the very first page, it had me completely hooked, and by its end, I was already giddy with excitement to find this is only the first of hopefully many more Stockingham & Pike books to come. What I loved about the story is how unapologetically classic it feels. This is a proper mystery where the clues matter, the motivations make sense, and the reader is invited to play along rather than be distracted by spectacle. Of course, there are red herrings aplenty, but in my opinion, they are fair ones where the plot never resorts to outrageous twists or last-minute revelations to force a surprise. Instead, the novel features sensible detective work that unfolds with patience and care, rewarding close attention and logical thinking, which made the ending all the more satisfying.
Also, I truly enjoyed the unlikely detective duo of Miss Decima and Steven. The latter’s gradual development is wonderfully handled, portraying his transformation from a skittish young man into a confident go-getter who learns to trust his instincts. And how I loved Miss Decima! Witty, brilliant, and having absolutely no patience for bullshit, she steals every scene she’s in and completely owns it, and yet, while she can certainly be a lot, it never feels too forced or over-the-top like it’s tipping into caricature. What really makes it work, though, is the dynamic between the two characters. Their partnership forms naturally, initially built on shared curiosity and then later mutual respect, eventually evolving into a friendship that was easily the highlight of the entire book.
Historical fiction fans will further appreciate the setting. The looming presence of Halley’s Comet and the hysteria surrounding it serve as such a cool backdrop for the story, giving it an eerie and almost mystical atmosphere. Tithe Hall itself stands as an intimidating presence, and the author uses the environment—the surrounding sea, the dark woods nearby, and even an honest-to-goodness hedge maze—to incredible effect.
In the end, The Murder at World’s End is exactly the kind of mystery I’ve been craving. I could hardly put it down, and every time I was forced to, I found myself jonesing for the next time I could pick it up again. Clever without being convoluted, charming without being pretentious, and most importantly rooted firmly in the traditions of classic detective fiction, this novel is a perfect reminder of why the genre is so beloved and enduring. I would happily follow Steven Pike and Miss Decima Stockingham into as many investigations as Ross Montgomery is willing to write.
November 4, 2025
It probably isn't quite the perfect book, but the fun time I had reading it was perfect!
September 28, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
This was so amazing, and I really hope this turns into a series! I haven't read any other books by Ross Montgomery but will definitely be looking at his other books and keeping an eye out for future books. So glad to have come across this while looking in the NetGalley catalog for a new book to read.
I can honestly say that I had not one clue who the killer was or even how the murder was committed. Had some suspicions on the killer that were all wrong, but I had no guesses on how the murder was actually executed. Of course, once it was revealed, it all made perfect sense.
Every single side character was developed so perfectly that they could each have their own spin-off series or book written just about them. Every single house guest and servant. Not that you necessary would want a book about each one, though, obviously, just that you get to know the characters that well.
Definitely would recommend this book! So good that I finished it in one sitting (other than having to set it aside for work; hate that).
This was so amazing, and I really hope this turns into a series! I haven't read any other books by Ross Montgomery but will definitely be looking at his other books and keeping an eye out for future books. So glad to have come across this while looking in the NetGalley catalog for a new book to read.
I can honestly say that I had not one clue who the killer was or even how the murder was committed. Had some suspicions on the killer that were all wrong, but I had no guesses on how the murder was actually executed. Of course, once it was revealed, it all made perfect sense.
Every single side character was developed so perfectly that they could each have their own spin-off series or book written just about them. Every single house guest and servant. Not that you necessary would want a book about each one, though, obviously, just that you get to know the characters that well.
Definitely would recommend this book! So good that I finished it in one sitting (other than having to set it aside for work; hate that).
January 21, 2026
This read like a juvenile novel with lots of gratuitous profanity thrown in. I’ll assume that all the f-bombs and the masturbation scene was to transform this into the author’s first “adult” novel? I listened to half of it, and then skimmed to the ridiculous and implausible end.
Audiobook MCL
Narrated Derek Jacobi and Joe Jameson
Duration: 09:59:31
Audiobook MCL
Narrated Derek Jacobi and Joe Jameson
Duration: 09:59:31
December 9, 2025
This was a fun diversion, even if it’s a little amateurish. I guessed the killer early on, but only part of the how-dunit, which feels like something I’ve seen elsewhere. I feel like I’m always arguing that I’m not a prude here on Goodreads, and I’m not. Lol, but I felt our “Maggie smith” character could have dropped fewer F bombs, the constant swearing pulled me out of the story and I didn’t believe this character, who was supposed to be super smart, would only have one swear word in her arsenal. I also don’t think people used “fu**” that much in 1910. I did a bit of digging and the results were inconclusive, even the author addresses it at the end of the book, like why make it such a large part of the story if you have to add a note that basically says, “people used fu**, but maybe not as much as is in this book. A very strange choice.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an early read.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an early read.
January 8, 2026
A fun, entertaining mystery and a very good read!
Steven arrives on a very busy night at a house - he's new hired help and under odd circumstances. With a raised eyebrow, he's accepted into the home on the eve of preparing for Halley's Comet coming by. There is worry about how this will affect them, so the plan is to lock everyone into their rooms and seal them in - ensuring no one is contaminated by the comet. To their shock - someone is dead in the morning. Because Steven has just arrived to the house - all eyes turn to him. He needs to prove who really did the murder so he doesn't get thrown behind bars! And, Decima Stockingham, an eccentric and taciturn older woman in the house, takes him under her wings and together they investigate the mystery.
OMG, this audio was absolutely fabulous! I loved the interludes that gave us a little break from the mystery and a small insight into the Halley's Comet and the murder's movements. It was such a fun break in the story and I looked forward to every one. And Decima was a swearing and grumpy matron type character and I absolutely loved her whit and sass. What a fun read, I can't wait to read book 2!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Steven arrives on a very busy night at a house - he's new hired help and under odd circumstances. With a raised eyebrow, he's accepted into the home on the eve of preparing for Halley's Comet coming by. There is worry about how this will affect them, so the plan is to lock everyone into their rooms and seal them in - ensuring no one is contaminated by the comet. To their shock - someone is dead in the morning. Because Steven has just arrived to the house - all eyes turn to him. He needs to prove who really did the murder so he doesn't get thrown behind bars! And, Decima Stockingham, an eccentric and taciturn older woman in the house, takes him under her wings and together they investigate the mystery.
OMG, this audio was absolutely fabulous! I loved the interludes that gave us a little break from the mystery and a small insight into the Halley's Comet and the murder's movements. It was such a fun break in the story and I looked forward to every one. And Decima was a swearing and grumpy matron type character and I absolutely loved her whit and sass. What a fun read, I can't wait to read book 2!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
April 9, 2026
I really loved this book, which hit almost everything that I like in a mystery novel: a closed circle of suspects, great atmosphere, creepy old houses, interesting period detail, and personal stakes for the detective. I'm always looking for anything similar to The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hugo, and this felt close enough. (Is anyone else obsessed with 7 1/2 Deaths?? Is there a list of books that hit the same way??)
The murder at World's End takes place when Halley's Comet is expected to appear in the sky. Lord Stockingham-Welt, a man of science, knows that the comet is going to poison everyone except for those who take precautions, and so he orders his staff to seal the entire house while the comet goes by. The staff includes the newly hired Stephen Pike, who badly needs the job. After the comet passes, Lord Stockingham-Welt is found dead in his locked study and Stephen is a suspect. This kicks off the investigation, which Stephen undertakes with the help of the older Decima Stockingham, the black sheep of the family.
I really liked the narrative voice in this book and the framing of the comet, which appears several times as Stephen and Decima try to solve the mystery. Decima is an elderly woman who loves science and swearing, so she is fun even if potentially anachronistic. Stephen is a bit too virtuous, and I kind of wish that . Even so, it's a good pairing and I found them both funny. I was genuinely surprised by the ending twist of the mystery and liked the solution to the locked room murder. All in all, I had a great time.
If there is anything that I didn't like about the book, it's the tendency to go too far into the farcical. The inspector from Scotland Yard is so silly he's hard to take seriously, and I don't think the book really needed him for comic relief. I also thought the third-person framing device didn't quite work because it gives too much away about the murderer. But those are minor quibbles. I will definitely read any future books in this series, though I hope we get more big old creepy houses. They really cannot be beat!
The murder at World's End takes place when Halley's Comet is expected to appear in the sky. Lord Stockingham-Welt, a man of science, knows that the comet is going to poison everyone except for those who take precautions, and so he orders his staff to seal the entire house while the comet goes by. The staff includes the newly hired Stephen Pike, who badly needs the job. After the comet passes, Lord Stockingham-Welt is found dead in his locked study and Stephen is a suspect. This kicks off the investigation, which Stephen undertakes with the help of the older Decima Stockingham, the black sheep of the family.
I really liked the narrative voice in this book and the framing of the comet, which appears several times as Stephen and Decima try to solve the mystery. Decima is an elderly woman who loves science and swearing, so she is fun even if potentially anachronistic. Stephen is a bit too virtuous, and I kind of wish that . Even so, it's a good pairing and I found them both funny. I was genuinely surprised by the ending twist of the mystery and liked the solution to the locked room murder. All in all, I had a great time.
If there is anything that I didn't like about the book, it's the tendency to go too far into the farcical. The inspector from Scotland Yard is so silly he's hard to take seriously, and I don't think the book really needed him for comic relief. I also thought the third-person framing device didn't quite work because it gives too much away about the murderer. But those are minor quibbles. I will definitely read any future books in this series, though I hope we get more big old creepy houses. They really cannot be beat!
January 31, 2026
Far-fetched and mediocre; unlikable characters.
April 7, 2026
4.5 ✨
I really really enjoyed this book. The sassy grandma with the sweet young man was a combination that just made me smile. It was a quick read and kept me interested til the end! I loved the audiobook. The narrator did an amazing job with accents and changing voices. Plus, there were fun little inserts that sounded like old radio broadcasts to read newspaper clippings…so good!
The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is something at the end that just didn’t need to be there to be honest. (Can’t say without spoilers)
I’m excited to continue on in this series once the next one comes out!
Watch my full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/BOPmry-L2aw?si=K81da...
Consider before reading:
Cussing- strong and frequent but it tapers off toward the middle/end
No sexual content
Triggers: off page suicide, alcoholism, abandonment, death of a parent
I really really enjoyed this book. The sassy grandma with the sweet young man was a combination that just made me smile. It was a quick read and kept me interested til the end! I loved the audiobook. The narrator did an amazing job with accents and changing voices. Plus, there were fun little inserts that sounded like old radio broadcasts to read newspaper clippings…so good!
The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is something at the end that just didn’t need to be there to be honest. (Can’t say without spoilers)
I’m excited to continue on in this series once the next one comes out!
Watch my full thoughts here: https://youtu.be/BOPmry-L2aw?si=K81da...
Consider before reading:
Cussing- strong and frequent but it tapers off toward the middle/end
No sexual content
Triggers: off page suicide, alcoholism, abandonment, death of a parent
March 29, 2026
This would best be labeled a romp. imho it was decidedly not worth the $15 I decided to splurge on it.
December 24, 2025
I have to agree with the lower reviews I’ve seen on this. It’s incredibly similar to a lot of closed door mysteries written in the last handful of years. Characters are almost carbon copies of others in those same books and your shock factor is an elderly lady who drops F bombs. Who I might add is the bright spot in this book and she totally carries the dialogue and story. If it wasn’t for her this would have been a total dud to listen to. The audio is well done but it’s just a very played out story. It’s also incredibly easy to figure out who the murderer is if you’ve been a fan of the genre and read a lot of “who done it’s”
November 3, 2025
Cornwall, 1910. Op een afgelegen eiland bereidt de burggraaf van Tithe Hall zich koortsachtig voor op de apocalyps, waarvan hij denkt dat die gepaard zal gaan met het passeren van de komeet Halley. Tithe Hall moet van boven tot onder worden afgesloten, maar wat de pompeuze burggraaf niet heeft overwogen, is dat het gevaar binnenin schuilt… Tegen de ochtend wordt hij dood aangetroffen in zijn verzegelde studeerkamer, vermoord met zijn eigen voorouderlijke kruisboog.
Alle ogen zijn gericht op Steven Pike, de nieuwste onderbutler van Tithe Hall. Hij is de verkeerde man op de verkeerde plaats op het verkeerde moment. Zijn onwaarschijnlijke bondgenoot blijkt niemand minder dan Miss Decima Stockingham te zijn, de grofgebekte, scherpe tachtigjarige oudtante van de graaf, die ook in Tithe Hall woont.
Samen baant dit onwaarschijnlijke speurdersduo zich een weg door verborgen gangen, lang bewaarde geheimen en een dreigend gevaar om een moordenaar te ontmaskeren voor het te laat is.
Dit verhaal begint met een interessante proloog en vervolgens lees je een krantenartikel over een naderende ramp. Niet veel later maak je kennis met Steven Pike. Hij is op weg naar Tithe Hall om daar als onderbutler te gaan werken.
Eenmaal daar leert Steven verschillende mensen kennen, waaronder de aparte Miss Decima. De opbouw van het verhaal is fijn en de spanning neemt écht toe als de burggraaf dood wordt gevonden. Het is overduidelijk dat hij vermoord is. En dan is er ook nog de naderende apocalypse...
En vanaf dan vraag je je als lezer af wie hierachter zit. Iedereen lijkt verdacht en ik vond de zoektocht naar de moordenaar erg interessant. De samenwerking tussen Steven en Miss Decima is ook fijn.
'De moord in het landhuis' is dan ook zeker een aanrader voor mensen die van 'whodunits' houden, want de schrijfstijl en opbouw van het verhaal is heel leuk, vlot en spannend.
Ik wil @boekerij dan ook heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
⭐️: 4,0
Alle ogen zijn gericht op Steven Pike, de nieuwste onderbutler van Tithe Hall. Hij is de verkeerde man op de verkeerde plaats op het verkeerde moment. Zijn onwaarschijnlijke bondgenoot blijkt niemand minder dan Miss Decima Stockingham te zijn, de grofgebekte, scherpe tachtigjarige oudtante van de graaf, die ook in Tithe Hall woont.
Samen baant dit onwaarschijnlijke speurdersduo zich een weg door verborgen gangen, lang bewaarde geheimen en een dreigend gevaar om een moordenaar te ontmaskeren voor het te laat is.
Dit verhaal begint met een interessante proloog en vervolgens lees je een krantenartikel over een naderende ramp. Niet veel later maak je kennis met Steven Pike. Hij is op weg naar Tithe Hall om daar als onderbutler te gaan werken.
Eenmaal daar leert Steven verschillende mensen kennen, waaronder de aparte Miss Decima. De opbouw van het verhaal is fijn en de spanning neemt écht toe als de burggraaf dood wordt gevonden. Het is overduidelijk dat hij vermoord is. En dan is er ook nog de naderende apocalypse...
En vanaf dan vraag je je als lezer af wie hierachter zit. Iedereen lijkt verdacht en ik vond de zoektocht naar de moordenaar erg interessant. De samenwerking tussen Steven en Miss Decima is ook fijn.
'De moord in het landhuis' is dan ook zeker een aanrader voor mensen die van 'whodunits' houden, want de schrijfstijl en opbouw van het verhaal is heel leuk, vlot en spannend.
Ik wil @boekerij dan ook heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
⭐️: 4,0
September 13, 2025
4.5 stars. Loved this start to a new series.
July 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ever since I attended Ross Montgomery’s event and heard him read an excerpt, I had a feeling I’d enjoy The Murder at World’s End — and I absolutely did. Witty, clever and thoroughly absorbing.
Set in Cornwall in 1910 on a remote tidal island called World’s End, the novel opens with Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt convinced that Halley’s Comet heralds the end of the world. He orders his manor completely sealed — every window, chimney and keyhole locked up tight. By morning, he’s dead, killed with his own ancestral crossbow—and the house remains locked from within. All suspicion falls on Stephen Pike, the new under-butler who has a murky past and happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul‑mouthed octogenarian matriarch with a flair for chaos and solving puzzles. Together they uncover hidden clues, old grudges and a host of secrets as they try to unmask the killer before more darkness falls.
It felt like Agatha Christie meets P.G. Wodehouse, with a modern twist — but set firmly in 1910. A sharp, classic murder mystery with a wicked sense of humour.
The plotting is ingenious, the dialogue frequently laugh‑out‑loud funny, and the duo of Decima and Stephen is a delight. It’s a thoroughly entertaining read from a children’s author branching impressively into adult fiction.
I had a cracking time reading this and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for anyone who fancies a smart, engaging mystery with a twist of humour.
Ever since I attended Ross Montgomery’s event and heard him read an excerpt, I had a feeling I’d enjoy The Murder at World’s End — and I absolutely did. Witty, clever and thoroughly absorbing.
Set in Cornwall in 1910 on a remote tidal island called World’s End, the novel opens with Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt convinced that Halley’s Comet heralds the end of the world. He orders his manor completely sealed — every window, chimney and keyhole locked up tight. By morning, he’s dead, killed with his own ancestral crossbow—and the house remains locked from within. All suspicion falls on Stephen Pike, the new under-butler who has a murky past and happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unlikely ally? Miss Decima Stockingham, the foul‑mouthed octogenarian matriarch with a flair for chaos and solving puzzles. Together they uncover hidden clues, old grudges and a host of secrets as they try to unmask the killer before more darkness falls.
It felt like Agatha Christie meets P.G. Wodehouse, with a modern twist — but set firmly in 1910. A sharp, classic murder mystery with a wicked sense of humour.
The plotting is ingenious, the dialogue frequently laugh‑out‑loud funny, and the duo of Decima and Stephen is a delight. It’s a thoroughly entertaining read from a children’s author branching impressively into adult fiction.
I had a cracking time reading this and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for anyone who fancies a smart, engaging mystery with a twist of humour.
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