What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder Most Modern: a 1930s Golden Age style crime thriller
It is the Whitsun weekend of 1931 in the once-fashionable resort of Frencham-on-Sea. A housewarming party at Seaview One, the thoroughly modern home of Sir James and Lady Theodora Phillips, goes horribly wrong when Lady Theodora is found drowned in the swimming pool.
Suspicion falls immediately on one of the servants, but the police are unable to make the charge stick. Two of the house guests, Clarice Thompson and Cliff Thorley, begin to notice the undercurrents of tension and rivalry among the guests, and that one person in particular is acting very suspiciously - suspiciously enough to warrant further investigation.
Little do they realise, however, that their attempts at amateur detection are leading them into deadly waters - quite literally.
This is the second 'Clarice and Cliff' 1930s Golden Age style crime novel by the author of the popular 'Reverend Shaw' series.
Suspicion falls immediately on one of the servants, but the police are unable to make the charge stick. Two of the house guests, Clarice Thompson and Cliff Thorley, begin to notice the undercurrents of tension and rivalry among the guests, and that one person in particular is acting very suspiciously - suspiciously enough to warrant further investigation.
Little do they realise, however, that their attempts at amateur detection are leading them into deadly waters - quite literally.
This is the second 'Clarice and Cliff' 1930s Golden Age style crime novel by the author of the popular 'Reverend Shaw' series.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2025
2 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 23, 2025
It’s 1931 and Clarice and Cliff have been invited to a housewarming party at a new modern mansion on the coast. Their host, Sir James, has been persuaded to build it by his second wife Lady Theodora, who seems determined to set her stepchildren agains her. But when she’s found dead in the swimming pool they are not the only people who might have wanted her out of the way. The police think they know who did it but Clarice and Cliff aren’t convinced so set out to investigate themselves.
This is the second In Hugh Morrison’s new series. I mentioned the first one in quick reviews but you really don’t have to have read that to enjoy this, which is why I’m fine with breaking my own rules about only recommending first in series. I like a mystery set at a country house and this one has plenty of suspects and a denouement that makes a change from suspects sitting around in a drawing room to be accused. It’s definitely a summery book, so reading it in the depths of winter will make you pine for a bit of sunshine - particularly if you’re reading it on the winter solstice! - but if you’re in the southern hemisphere it might feel more apt this week than a snowy Christmas book!
This is the second In Hugh Morrison’s new series. I mentioned the first one in quick reviews but you really don’t have to have read that to enjoy this, which is why I’m fine with breaking my own rules about only recommending first in series. I like a mystery set at a country house and this one has plenty of suspects and a denouement that makes a change from suspects sitting around in a drawing room to be accused. It’s definitely a summery book, so reading it in the depths of winter will make you pine for a bit of sunshine - particularly if you’re reading it on the winter solstice! - but if you’re in the southern hemisphere it might feel more apt this week than a snowy Christmas book!
Displaying 1 of 1 review