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All Rise for Murder

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A truly Canadian cozy mystery, All Rise for Murder finds three generations of Kirby women suddenly under one roof in charming West Elk—just as the peaceful town seems to become the centre of a devious plot to frame an innocent young man for murder.

Maude Kirby has recently been dumped by her diplomat husband and has moved back to her quirky hometown of West Elk, BC, to live with her ever-optimistic, fashion-forward mother, Val. On the ropes financially, and with her confrontational fifteen-year-old daughter, Rhette, to look after, Maude applies for a clerking job at the local courthouse, and to her surprise, gets it. How hard can it be?

Told to remain professional during court cases, Maude nevertheless finds it impossible not to get emotionally invested when eighteen-year-old Levi is charged with poisoning a local gym owner. No one else seems concerned that the prosecution’s case rests on dubious "facts," but Maude can’t help speaking up for the quiet teen. Things get more complicated when Maude runs into her first love, who appears to have aged very well—and also appears to be dating Maude's prime suspect!

Reminiscent of beloved mysteries such as The Maid, The Thursday Murder Club, and Finlay Donovan is Killing It, All Rise for Murder features quirky characters, old grudges, hidden crushes, surprising twists, and a satisfying ending that will leave the reader eager for the next installment of the Madam Clerk series.

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2026

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Roz Nay

7 books482 followers

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5 stars
16 (14%)
4 stars
48 (42%)
3 stars
33 (29%)
2 stars
14 (12%)
1 star
2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Laurie • The Baking Bookworm.
1,888 reviews527 followers
May 20, 2026
3.5 STARS (rounded up) All Rise For Murder is the latest book by Canadian author Roz Nay and is a bit outside of Nay's usual twisty thriller genre and I was happy to see her stretch her literary muscles! This is a Canadian small-town mystery that allows Nay's sense of humour to shine.

The story is centred around three generations of Kirby women: Matriarch Val, the fashionable clothing store owner looking for love, her daughter Maude who has come home after her marriage imploded, and Maude's teenage daughter Rhette who isn't happy about being dragged to a small town. When Maude gets a job as a court clerk and believes a young man is wrongly accused of murder, the trio decide to prove his innocence, each having her own ideas on how to solve the murder.

With a hearty dose of messy family life, small-town drama and a trio of women who can't keep their noses out of trouble, this was an entertaining and quirky small-town mystery. For me, the family dynamics overshadowed the mystery a bit in the middle, but Nay gives wonderful depth to her characters, some poignant moments and an ending that surprised this seasoned mystery lover.

Heartwarming, with bouts of humour, this first book in a new whodunnit series doesn't take itself too seriously and brings readers along for a fun ride of family dynamics and small-town mystery.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Viking Books for the complimentary digital advanced copy that was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jenn (burlingtonbiblio).
414 reviews30 followers
May 31, 2026
A Messy, chaotic, and funny whodunnit.
Think Murder She Wrote but with elk and a dash of Golden girls …. Or maybe just Rose Nyland….
I had a hard time following along in some parts (no clue how Roz managed to keep it straight while writing it) but everything connected at the end and even the nonsensical made sense.
Profile Image for Erin Clemence.
1,643 reviews428 followers
June 23, 2026
Maude Kirby and her rich, global ambassador husband have just separated, after Maude found damning evidence of an affair on his phone. Now, along with her teenage daughter, Rhette, Maude has returned to her hometown of West Elk, B.C. to live with her sixty-year-old mother. Maude takes a job as a law clerk to help her get through the next few months but what she doesn’t expect is to find herself embroiled in a criminal investigation. When a young man is charged with murder, Maude risks her job and her already fragile reputation by standing up for him in the courtroom. Everything inside her tells Maude that there is no way this young man committed such a grisly crime- even if he did plead guilty. With Rhette and her mother, Valencia, Maude begins to investigate the small town she grew up in and quickly realizes that not everyone is who Maude thought they were when she left years ago.

Canadian author Roz Nay is known for her haunting thrillers, like “Hurry Home” and “The Offing”, so “All Rise for Murder” is a completely different adventure, dipping its toes into the murder mystery genre. As the first in a series, “Murder” is so very opposite from Nay’s previous novels, but just because it is unexpected does not mean it is in any way lesser.

“Murder” alternates protagonists between mother and daughter, Maude and Rhette, with a few chapters from the hilariously spacey grandma Valencia. All three women have suffered losses when it comes to love, but they rally around each other, and look out for each other, as only family can, and it is inspiring.

The mystery has a lot of layers with a lot of players, so it is one of those stories that you have to really pay attention to, to keep track of who knows who and what their individual relationships are. That being said, the mystery itself was well formed and it led to a believable and satisfying ending. Even the romantic plot lines that were hinted at throughout were brought to a happily-ever-after conclusion, which ensured that all of our protagonists got what they deserved in the end.

Nay’s characters are creative, hilarious and relatable and the novel is so off-brand from Nay that I did not know what to expect and if I would even enjoy it. However, I am such a huge fan of Nay’s thrillers that I could not let her new novel go unexplored. Nay is a talent, so whatever she creates is well worth the read, and I’m glad I took a chance with “Murder”. Although I will always be a steadfast reader of Nay’s regular contributions, the delightful family trio of crime fighters that surfaced in “All Rise for Murder” has caught my interest and I will be eagerly waiting for book two.
Profile Image for Eileen Mackintosh.
190 reviews12 followers
June 1, 2026
This is a light read with family relationships combined with a murder mystery and offbeat characters. I will read book two in The Madam Clerk series when it is released. #indigoemployee
Profile Image for Stephanielikesbooks.
786 reviews86 followers
May 21, 2026
This is the first of a fun, very likeable, Canadian cozy mystery series.

The main characters - Val, a fashionista grandmother; Maude, her middle-aged daughter whose husband has left her and who has returned to the small West Elk town in British Columbia; and Rhette, Maude’s teenage daughter - team up to prove that a young man is innocent of murder.

The banter between the three women is funny and warm-hearted and the locals in the small town round out the cast of quirky characters. There is a brewing rekindled romance for Maude, lots of amateur sleuthing by our intrepid trio, and a nice resolution to the mystery. My only quibble was that the middle part was a bit slow.

Overall, a welcome new mystery series and looking forward to the next book!
Profile Image for Zoe.
2,471 reviews348 followers
May 20, 2026
Captivating, witty, and entertaining!

All Rise for Murder is a charming, addictive mystery that sweeps readers away to West Elk, BC, and into the lives of three Kirby women who each take it upon themselves to investigate the murder of a local gym owner when they can’t shake the feeling that the teenage boy arrested for the crime is not guilty.

The writing is light and lively. The characters are quirky, intelligent, and impulsive. And the plot is a fast-paced whodunit brimming with family drama, friendship, danger, secrets, deception, amateur sleuthing, red herrings, and plenty of unexpected twists.

All Rise for Murder is the first instalment in the Madam Clerk series by Nay, and it’s a fantastic choice for readers who love quaint settings, unique characters, and mysteries packed with charm, chaos, and heart.
Profile Image for Sonica.
479 reviews74 followers
May 10, 2026
I had SUCH a fun time with this one - I’m so excited that Roz is back on the scene — and with a SERIES no less! 🙌 This first instalment in the Madame Clerk Mystery Series is already delivering everything I could want: small-town drama, courtroom intrigue, humour, and characters that feel wonderfully messy and real.

Maude Kirby returns to her quirky hometown of West Elk, BC after her life completely unravels, only to find herself clerking at the local courthouse and getting pulled into a murder case she just can’t ignore. Add in a complicated teenage daughter, a fashion-forward mother, and the return of a first love tied to her prime suspect?

What made this one especially enjoyable was Roz’s humour shining through every page. The dialogue and storyline had me laughing so much already — which felt very fitting because Roz herself is absolutely hilarious. 😂 It was a perfect balance of mystery, heart, and wit.
Profile Image for Heather Lang.
113 reviews3 followers
April 30, 2026
4⭐️
Three generations of women become amateur sleuths.

Maude has returned home to her mother's house after discovering her husband has been cheating on her. She brings with her a sullen and resigned daughter, Rhette. Her mom, Val, is a shop owner, busybody gossip who wants desperately for Maude to be proud of her. Each is dancing around bigger issues, too afraid to rock the delicate balance with serious emotion. When Maude, in her new job as court clerk, sees a young man pleading guilty to a murderous crime she is deteremined he didn’t commit, she decides it’s time for her to step out of her shell and try to solve the crime. But she can’t do it alone. Together, the 3 try to pull the puzzle together while continuing to avoid their own secrets.

I am not usually a fan of amateur sleuth novels; however, this one was a blast. It is nice to see the blunders, confusion and utter stupidity you should expect from people who don’t know what they are doing. There is no sudden expertise with the three women; instead, they stumble their way through the facts, have hilarious capers, and generally just get lucky. The characters had me laughing out loud at various points, and the twist at the end I didn’t expect. Great time!
107 reviews
June 6, 2026
I really enjoyed this novel. I really enjoyed the 3 perspectives from each generation of women. I could relate to different things for each of them. Their interactions and differing opinions felt realistic. It also seemed to allow for a quick pace to the story.

On another note, as a Canadian, I loved the random mentions of the elk around town. It felt familiar and homey somehow.

I will be waiting for Roz Nay’s next book.

Note: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Profile Image for Lisa Brown.
21 reviews
July 9, 2026
A quick read. A cute book. I’ve read everything she’s written so far. This one was a bit too “cozy” for me, but will continue to read anything else she adds to the series. I do prefer her darker thrillers though
118 reviews5 followers
June 3, 2026
Loved this book! This author is fantastic - I laughed out loud multiple times. She should write for television if she isn't already. Her characters are likeable, believable, flawed and realistic. I also enjoyed the elk - enough said.
Please bring me more Madame Clerk mysteries!!!
Profile Image for Kim.
1,822 reviews18 followers
May 28, 2026
This one took me a while to get into as I had been reading some very serious books and it was a jump to go to a lighter more humorous one. By the time I was chortling through Maude's first visit to the gym, I was enjoying it. Looking forward to more cases for the Kirby Crime Crackers to solve!
Profile Image for Kathleen Freeman.
2,973 reviews58 followers
May 19, 2026
What a fun read, in this book Maude has moved home to West Elk, British Columbia to live with her mother and her daughter and to start a new life. Maude gets a job working at the local courthouse and when she thinks a young man has been wrongly accused she sets to investigate. In this book we see how the 3 generations of women set to investigate and let me tell you this was a fun ride, so glad I read this book and now I look forward to seeing what is next for these characters.

If you like a small town setting, watching people starting over while grappling with their past, 3 generations of women working together, this is a great choice for a read and book I would recommend.
9 reviews1 follower
Did Not Finish
May 18, 2026
I often enjoy courtroom mysteries, but I abandoned this book pretty quickly because I really don’t care for “beleaguered woman” mysteries. Maude Kirby moves back to her small town in British Columbia after her diplomat husband leaves her. Her teenage daughter has no respect for her, and she somehow lands a job as a court clerk — a position even she admits she isn’t qualified for. The author’s attempts at humor felt silly and banal, and I just couldn’t stomach more than a couple of chapters.
Profile Image for Nora Nora.
1,123 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2026
DNF @ 50%
The author was trying to make the characters funny and charming, it didn’t land well with me, I found some of their decisions off putting. They had like ten suspects and some of them for no reason at all.
Profile Image for Devi.
938 reviews44 followers
May 18, 2026
Edition
📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 320 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🎭 Read as part of MOTIVE 2026 lineup
🏷️ Publisher: Viking
📅 Published May 12, 2026

Look, I'm a sucker for multi-generational women solving crimes together, and MOTIVE lineup promised exactly that. What hooked me here wasn't the usual "woman escaping bad relationship, opens a charming bookshop" setup. It was Maude becoming a court clerk. That's different. That's access to sealed documents, whispered hallway conversations, and front-row seats to small-town justice going sideways. I was so ready for courtroom drama meets amateur sleuth brilliance.

The character work was wonderful. Val and Rhette click immediately, as any grandmother-granddaughter duo would, but so comforting to watch/read. Maude trying to find her place within that dynamic added a nice emotional layer, especially as the murder investigation became the thread tying them together. The evolution felt genuine and was easily my favorite part of the story.

But the mystery itself was where things started to wobble. Small-town police inexperience is one thing, but the Kirby women stumbling into clues like they're following a treasure map written in neon, was just too much to process. Straight up accusing people of murder, demanding alibis from longtime neighbours like official investigations, Rhette's nighttime snopping going unchecked. Nobody calls the cops. Nobody lawyers up. Nobody even seems annoyed (except some mild inconvenience scattered here and there). Maude playing dumb during court depositions in front of the judge stretched my suspension of disbelief past its snapping point.

Cozy mysteries ask for some imaginative generosity, but this one wanted me to ignore basic human behaviour and small town gossip dynamics entirely.

Would I recommend it?
For strong female relationships, and a cozy vibe with a legal twist, this is a good book. The Kirby women are delightful company, and the small-town Canadian setting has charm to spare. Just don't expect procedural realism or subtle sleuthing. This is a comfort read with training wheels, perfect for a lazy afternoon reading when you want to cheer for good guys without working too hard.
Profile Image for Emily Suchanek.
795 reviews
July 11, 2026
There are books that dare you to solve them, and then there are books that quietly convince you you're much cleverer than you are. All Rise for Murder belongs firmly in the second category. I spent an embarrassing amount of time feeling certain I'd worked everything out, only to discover that Roz Nay had been gently steering my attention somewhere else entirely. It's the literary equivalent of a magician asking you to watch one hand while the real trick is happening in the other.

What I enjoyed most wasn't the twists themselves but the confidence behind them. Nay never seems in a rush to impress you; she simply keeps laying another piece on the table until the picture changes. There's a sly wit running beneath the suspense, and the courtroom setting adds just the right amount of theatricality without tipping into melodrama. By the final pages, I realised the novel had been playing with assumptions as much as evidence about guilt, credibility, and the stories people build to protect themselves. That's the sort of mystery I always enjoy most: one that keeps unfolding after you've already closed the book.
Profile Image for Sue.
600 reviews
July 17, 2026
Who is this alleged Roz Nay, writing such hilarity?
Readers of hers might be used to her dark and tense thrillers. Now her newest, All Rise For Murder, is cozy and hilarious!
Those of us who have had the pleasure of meeting Roz, whether by Zoom or in person, know she's a force of entertainment unto herself.
All Rise For Murder is just pure fun, from the setting of West Elk, to the cast of characters - each quirkier than the next - to the inside workings of a courthouse, and the wee matter of a local murder.
I literally laughed out loud at parts. Many times, honestly.
I can't wait for the next book in the Madam Clerk series, which I am most aware I won't win in a giveaway, but that won't stop me from trying!
Recommended!
Profile Image for Shannon.
9,216 reviews453 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 10, 2026
A departure from her typical dark thrillers, this first in a new Canadian cozy mystery series follows three generations of women as they try to get a convicted young man off of a murder by poison sentence. Quirky, funny and full of heart. The mystery kept me guessing til the end and I'm captivated enough to want to see where this series goes next! Recommended for fans of Catherine Mack's Vacation murder mystery series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Melanie.
852 reviews
June 27, 2026
All Rise for Murder kept me guessing on who was killer. I really enjoyed the three generations of Kirby women working together and the small-town setting of West Elk. It's a twisty, cozy mystery. Looking forward to the next book in the Madam Clerk series.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the e-arc.
Profile Image for Devon.
222 reviews10 followers
July 4, 2026
This book was very different than Roz Nay’s usual thriller novels. It was described as a cozy read, which I would agree with as it was more family dynamics than mystery. That being said, I can definitely can see this becoming a series of the 3 Kirby women.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) | Viking for this ARC!
36 reviews
June 15, 2026
First time reading Roz. I enjoyed the book and the cast of characters. I laughed out loud a few times. I look forward to more adventures with the Kirby women! Will pick up more books by Roz Nay. I love supporting Canadian authors.
Profile Image for Marie Cocking.
31 reviews
June 26, 2026
Laugh-out-loud funny with all the twists to keep the pages turning. I read it in two sittings, staying up far to late to race to the end. Charmingly messy characters. I'm hoping for more Wanda in the next book.
Profile Image for Robyn Harding.
Author 18 books5,912 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 30, 2026
Funny, warm-hearted, with a gripping mystery at it's centre. I loved the setting and the quirky cast of characters. Roz Nay is a fresh new voice on the cozy mystery scene.
Profile Image for Laurence Comeau.
10 reviews
Review of advance copy
April 24, 2026
The first word that comes to mind for this book is cute. It was an easy read and I loved the characters in this novel. Will I read the next one in the series? Absolutely.
379 reviews
June 20, 2026
Chaotic characters. Odd storyline. Random connections.
Profile Image for Loreley.
9 reviews
June 29, 2026
I found it hard to keep the suspects straight a couple of times, but really enjoyed the three main characters and their very authentic interactions as mothers and daughters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews