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Kate Shackleton #10
Snapshot Of Murder
Yorkshire, 1928. Indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton is taking a well-deserved break from her detective work and indulging in her other passion: photography. When her local Photographic Society proposes an outing to the opening of the Bronte Museum, Kate jumps at the chance to visit the setting of Wuthering Heights. But the setting proves to be even more sinister than the dreary classic when a member of their party is found murdered. The event is one of the most popular of the decade, and each of the seven photographers was there to capture the perfect shot of a lifetime. But Tobias, the deceased, was known for being loud-mouthed and didn't care to curb his demeanor. Kate deduces that he must have had several enemies. But soon, she begins to suspect that perhaps the murderer is amongst them. And before they shrink to a group of just five, Kate must pick back up her magnifying glass and sleuthing cap to crack the case.
442 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2019
219 people are currently reading
624 people want to read
About the author
Frances Brody
40 books673 followersFrances Brody's highly-praised 1920s mysteries feature clever and elegant Kate Shackleton, First World War widow turned sleuth. Missing person? Foul play suspected? Kate's your woman. For good measure, she may bring along ex-policeman, Jim Sykes.
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.
www.frances-brody.com
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.
www.frances-brody.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
December 14, 2018
I have read all of the books so far in the series, mostly with enjoyment, but this was different.
It has a bleak setting, mirrored in a bleak view of human relationships. I found it oddly- written, with swaps of viewpoint which were difficult to handle.The writing style seemed rather choppy. I found it impossible to empathise with many of the characters, some of whom were fairly repellent.
It was not difficult to work out who murdered the unlikeable Tobias Murchison, but the ending was rather a cop-out and morally ambiguous. It is certainly not a “cosy” read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the digital ARC.
It has a bleak setting, mirrored in a bleak view of human relationships. I found it oddly- written, with swaps of viewpoint which were difficult to handle.The writing style seemed rather choppy. I found it impossible to empathise with many of the characters, some of whom were fairly repellent.
It was not difficult to work out who murdered the unlikeable Tobias Murchison, but the ending was rather a cop-out and morally ambiguous. It is certainly not a “cosy” read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the digital ARC.
January 30, 2020
I read two types of books: serious ones that make me think, and not-serious ones that enable me NOT to think. Brody's work falls into the latter category, and that's not a bad thing. Her stories are engaging and can be the perfect way to wind down after a hectic day. I also like her protagonist very much.
But the editing is just not up to par. Here's an example from A Snapshot of Murder: “Mr Porter, offered to show me the way.” Now, what the heck is that comma doing there? If this mistake were a one-off, I wouldn't mention it. But several similar errors jarred me out of the story.
Brody's publisher should take her work seriously enough to hire a better editor and proofreader.
But the editing is just not up to par. Here's an example from A Snapshot of Murder: “Mr Porter, offered to show me the way.” Now, what the heck is that comma doing there? If this mistake were a one-off, I wouldn't mention it. But several similar errors jarred me out of the story.
Brody's publisher should take her work seriously enough to hire a better editor and proofreader.
July 26, 2019
I never thought I'd say this about Frances Brody, but some of the writing was slipshod. Some scenes felt rushed and barely cobbled together.
While the "whodunit" aspect of the story was quite good with multiple suspects, the crime itself was completely implausible. Ms. Brody's attempt at "murder in a crowd" (a technique skillfully rendered in Josephine Tey's "A Man in the Queue") falls woefully short. Even when given all the evidence, I found it a bit unbelievable. Tobias never cried out? He certainly didn't die instantly, so I find that strange. This could have been such a good book, but for some reason Ms. Brody didn't feel compelled to bring her "A" game.
While I had little sympathy for the two murder victims (and, yes, Carine's father was murdered if you are paying attention to details), I certainly did not like the way the murder investigation into Tobias' death was wrapped up. Throughout the story, I did have sympathy for Carine and agree she will be better off without those two men in her life. Neither did I want to see her punished severely since she had already suffered through most of her life. However, the ending would have sat better if a true mental disturbance had precipitated the murders (which certainly wouldn't be implausible under the circumstances). Instead, in the very last scene, she comes off quite cold and calculating.
The best parts, for me, were the scenes involving Harriet. I'm glad to see her becoming a bigger part of the series. And, as always, the pace picks up and takes a turn for the better once Jim Sykes and Mrs. Sugden become more involved in the case. Unfortunately, Kate seemed different in this one. Very little evidence of her usual wit. She seemed, I don't know, old and worn out. I hope the next book fares better.
While the "whodunit" aspect of the story was quite good with multiple suspects, the crime itself was completely implausible. Ms. Brody's attempt at "murder in a crowd" (a technique skillfully rendered in Josephine Tey's "A Man in the Queue") falls woefully short. Even when given all the evidence, I found it a bit unbelievable. Tobias never cried out? He certainly didn't die instantly, so I find that strange. This could have been such a good book, but for some reason Ms. Brody didn't feel compelled to bring her "A" game.
While I had little sympathy for the two murder victims (and, yes, Carine's father was murdered if you are paying attention to details), I certainly did not like the way the murder investigation into Tobias' death was wrapped up. Throughout the story, I did have sympathy for Carine and agree she will be better off without those two men in her life. Neither did I want to see her punished severely since she had already suffered through most of her life. However, the ending would have sat better if a true mental disturbance had precipitated the murders (which certainly wouldn't be implausible under the circumstances). Instead, in the very last scene, she comes off quite cold and calculating.
The best parts, for me, were the scenes involving Harriet. I'm glad to see her becoming a bigger part of the series. And, as always, the pace picks up and takes a turn for the better once Jim Sykes and Mrs. Sugden become more involved in the case. Unfortunately, Kate seemed different in this one. Very little evidence of her usual wit. She seemed, I don't know, old and worn out. I hope the next book fares better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an advance copy of A Snapshot of Murder, the tenth novel to feature private detective Kate Shackleton, set in 1928.
The Headingley Photographic Society decides on an outing to Haworth to celebrate the opening of the Brontë museum. A group of seven stay at nearby Ponden Hall but only six survive the celebration. Kate is soon on the case but with the murder victim, Tobias Murchison, being most unlikeable there is no shortage of suspects or motives.
I enjoyed A Snapshot of Murder which is a twisted tale of murder, deceit, lies, betrayal and most other emotions. I don’t think that the perpetrator is any big secret given events early in the novel so the mystery lies more in why and how and the interest in the tangled emotions and secrets gradually uncovered as the novel progresses. The novel is mostly told from Kate’s first person point of view with third person descriptions of other characters’ actions. On the whole this approach works well although it can be repetitive as Kate interprets and digests what the reader already knows. I like the pacing of the novel with the first few chapters devoted to a thorough scene setting which makes sure the reader is well informed of the situation before the murder and thus able to be surprised by the steady flow of unexpected reveals which follows.
I like Kate Shackleton as a protagonist. She is smart, sensible and level headed and, in this novel, an oasis of calm in a sea of turbulent emotions. She appears to have had a difficult past but having only read one previous novel in the series I’m not equipped to expand on this. It does not, however, seem to affect her in any serious way. The other characters are developed as much as required for the plot with some being more convincing than others.
I can’t say that I got a good sense of the era from the novel apart from a few details of the prevailing fashion. Ms Brody is much stronger on the location. I don’t know the area and have to admit to it being over 40 years since I read Wuthering Heights but the wildness and desolation come over loud and clear.
A Snapshot of Murder is a good read.
The Headingley Photographic Society decides on an outing to Haworth to celebrate the opening of the Brontë museum. A group of seven stay at nearby Ponden Hall but only six survive the celebration. Kate is soon on the case but with the murder victim, Tobias Murchison, being most unlikeable there is no shortage of suspects or motives.
I enjoyed A Snapshot of Murder which is a twisted tale of murder, deceit, lies, betrayal and most other emotions. I don’t think that the perpetrator is any big secret given events early in the novel so the mystery lies more in why and how and the interest in the tangled emotions and secrets gradually uncovered as the novel progresses. The novel is mostly told from Kate’s first person point of view with third person descriptions of other characters’ actions. On the whole this approach works well although it can be repetitive as Kate interprets and digests what the reader already knows. I like the pacing of the novel with the first few chapters devoted to a thorough scene setting which makes sure the reader is well informed of the situation before the murder and thus able to be surprised by the steady flow of unexpected reveals which follows.
I like Kate Shackleton as a protagonist. She is smart, sensible and level headed and, in this novel, an oasis of calm in a sea of turbulent emotions. She appears to have had a difficult past but having only read one previous novel in the series I’m not equipped to expand on this. It does not, however, seem to affect her in any serious way. The other characters are developed as much as required for the plot with some being more convincing than others.
I can’t say that I got a good sense of the era from the novel apart from a few details of the prevailing fashion. Ms Brody is much stronger on the location. I don’t know the area and have to admit to it being over 40 years since I read Wuthering Heights but the wildness and desolation come over loud and clear.
A Snapshot of Murder is a good read.
October 21, 2018
Visit the locations here
Author on location- Frances Brody took The BookTrail around the Bronte country! Meet the author in Bronte Country
A novel set at the time of the opening of the Bronte museum? The characters from a local photography society who want to see it, and take pictures of the area made famous in the Bronte novels? Well that was me sold.
The setting and era is the star of the show as everything takes place fully immersed in this literary landscape. The Bronte parsonage opens its doors and we see the excitement of what that meant at the time, what a big deal it was.
And now to the murder case of course! – why should seven photographers end up at in Bronte country, only to find that six return? It’s a good mystery from the start and even though I guessed the reveal, it’s more about the journey in the characters and of course Kate Shackleton our famous detective, getting there. A bit like Columbo in many respects and I loved it all the more for that.
What with the interest in the photography group, the wild moors directly from Wuthering Heights and the historical intrigue from the start, this is a fine mystery with a particularly apt title.
There’s a whole cast of characters to enjoy and hearing their POVs added to Kate’s voice and narration. They’re always so colorful in Frances’ books and I can always picture them in my mind.
A jaunt around the Bronte countryside, looking at Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall brought the opening of the Bronte parsonage to life. It makes you realise how important this place is not just for readers but historians and also for photographers.
A snapshot of murder has many tones, shades and mysteries making up the big picture.
July 5, 2019
2 1/2 stars. As a reader of several others in this series I like to revisit the recurring characters in this book. However, the murderer is obvious. In fact, this is a psuedo-psychological mystery. There aren't enough chapters told from the murderer's pov to really be a psychological mystery where you know the culprit from the beginning and see the reasons why and how it unfolds. Instead there are a few chapters from the pov of the murderer but it isn't about how to do the murder or at the time of the murder. So, the label psuedo-psychological mystery.
April 29, 2019
This book was really slow for me. The murder didn’t occur until 50% into the book and I found myself speculating who might end up dead. I figured it would either be Tobias or Edward.
My favorite characters were Edward, Kate, Marcus and Derek. I found these to be the most compelling of the bunch. In the beginning, I was a little unsure who the main character was considering the immense amount of time focusing on Carine and her background with both Tobias and Edward.
I felt like this book could have been 100-150 pages shorter and be a much better title for the publisher. It reminded me of books of yore that prattled on and on and going seemingly nowhere before the point of the story was reached. It was wordy and long-winded.
The setting was interesting once they got to the area where the photography outing was journeying. I also thought the scenes with the dog discovering a body in the basement were particularly clever. I was surprised this was not elaborated on more considering how wordy the rest of the book had been.
I thought the whodunit was quite crafty and the killer quite surprising. Kate seemed to come to many conclusions “off stage” where the reader could not witness it. So in that case, it made the following of the clues particularly difficult.
All in all tis book had a lot of potential, A little overly wordy and long but the clever plot, whodunit mystery and the surprising killer more than made up for its shortcomings.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
My favorite characters were Edward, Kate, Marcus and Derek. I found these to be the most compelling of the bunch. In the beginning, I was a little unsure who the main character was considering the immense amount of time focusing on Carine and her background with both Tobias and Edward.
I felt like this book could have been 100-150 pages shorter and be a much better title for the publisher. It reminded me of books of yore that prattled on and on and going seemingly nowhere before the point of the story was reached. It was wordy and long-winded.
The setting was interesting once they got to the area where the photography outing was journeying. I also thought the scenes with the dog discovering a body in the basement were particularly clever. I was surprised this was not elaborated on more considering how wordy the rest of the book had been.
I thought the whodunit was quite crafty and the killer quite surprising. Kate seemed to come to many conclusions “off stage” where the reader could not witness it. So in that case, it made the following of the clues particularly difficult.
All in all tis book had a lot of potential, A little overly wordy and long but the clever plot, whodunit mystery and the surprising killer more than made up for its shortcomings.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
July 21, 2019
Kate Shackleton is nervous about presenting a slideshow of her photos to the photographic society she belongs to. It makes her miss Gerald even more but luckily she has help from her niece Harriet and friend Carine, who runs her family's photographic studio. When Harriet's friend Derek proposes an outing for the society, it is met with mixed results but mostly approval, if only to thwart the treasurer, Tobias Murchison. Derek believes Tobias is deliberately killing his wife with slow mental torture and poison. Nonsense, declares Kate, and moves on with planning an outing to Haworth where the parsonage is going to be dedicated as a Bronte museum. Kate's Mum and Dad (the adoptive parents) are coming along to stay nearby. Her mother is trying to convince her father to retire to the country and relax with a dog and travel to Canada to visit their sons. Dad is not so keen. The visit to Haworth is odd. The inkeeper won't come and meet them, leaving all the work to her daughter Elisa. Elisa seems angry about something and not interested in being hospitable. Someone from Carine's past has returned and determined to force her to confront her future. Then someone ends up murdered and Scotland Yard is called in. Kate is forced with work with Marcus to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, back home Mrs. Sugdens is keeping Carine's photo studio and Kate's parents' new Bloodhound, a reject from the police program. The dog won't leave alone a spot on the wall in the cellar and when Sykes comes along to help clean, he discovers exactly what the dog is trying to tell him. When he discovers Kate is working on a case, he wonders whether what he found is related.
Ugh. This is a dark and somewhat creepy book. I suppose the author was going for an Emily Bronte type story. The story is set in the location said to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights. This story is not quite as dark but I believe it involves three murders. There's one from long ago, one about halfway through and one that occurs early on that may not be murder but an accident. There are so many reasons why the victim should have died but no one deserves to be murdered. The plot moves at a glacial pace. I had to skim a lot of the details and description. I got bored long before the murder actually took place. Of course I hate Emily and Charlotte Bronte and had no interest in reading about their home.
I wanted more of Kate and advancing her story. She shows a little more animation when relating the things she sees on the trip and while taking her photos but there's not much THERE in terms of character growth or Kate's personal life. She's still very dry and still mourning Gerald. I believe he'd be the first to tell her to move on with her life! I know she won't marry because she enjoys being independent but she should just admit that and move on. Harriet is more self-aware and a very modern young woman. She comes across as kind of bratty at times. I think Kate spoils Harriet because she knows how rough Harriet's childhood was and how Harriet is still traumatized by what happened when they first met. Sykes shows a little more personality and a softer side in this novel. He appears very late in the story and has only a little to do but it is nice to see him interact with Rosie and the dog! Who knew he was a dog lover? Mrs. Sugden is efficient as always and she is also very compassionate and kind. Kate's mother also shows a kinder, gentler side than her usual flibbertigibbet socialite personality. I don't usually like her and I don't like the way she tries to trick her husband into retirement but I do like how she handles Harriet. Kate's dad appears in the novel to help solve the mystery but he doesn't have a huge role. I always liked him and I still do.
The new characters are not so enjoyable. Four of them were candidates for murder victim and murderer. Derek, a young clerk in the newspaper library office, is very callow. He's self-centered because he's young and stupid. He has ambition and I admire that just not the way he goes about it. Derek is in the throes of his first major infatuation and while no one else approves, I think it's harmless. I was confused why something the reader already knew and I thought Kate knew, was revealed at the end. Carine, a psychologically traumatized woman and owner of a photographic studio is the object of Derek's affections. She has been trapped by her brutish father and loutish husband since young womanhood, before the war. Her father is so awful. He takes advantage of her kindness yet has caused her no end of heartache and trauma. Tobias, Carine's husband, is nearly as bad. He's a drunken bully, a schemer and dreamer but not much of a doer. He fell readily in line with Carine's father's plans. Edward, a poet and teacher, is new to the photographic society but has a huge impact on the plot. I liked him the best of all the new characters but I do not understand the decisions he makes at the end of the novel. Rita is a free spirit who has traveled across India and Africa. She's a bit .... kooky and it wears thin after a time. Why is she a member of the photographic society if she doesn't take pictures? It may be just to be near the one she loves and try to prevent something bad happening because she believes in dreams and premonitions. I guessed one of them was the murderer but I guessed wrong. I think the story my way could have been much better and less boring.
The new minor characters are more likable. Elisa may be grouchy and rude but she has her reasons. I think the locals are used to her. Her mother is a hoot. She's super eccentric and adds some light moments to the story. Sergeant the Bloodhound is adorable! He is goofy, sweet and latches on to whoever pays him kind attention. He deserves a loving home where he will be spoiled and taken good care of. I may have to continue reading this series just for him!
This was not the best entry in the series. It leaves a lot of questions in the end.
Ugh. This is a dark and somewhat creepy book. I suppose the author was going for an Emily Bronte type story. The story is set in the location said to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights. This story is not quite as dark but I believe it involves three murders. There's one from long ago, one about halfway through and one that occurs early on that may not be murder but an accident. There are so many reasons why the victim should have died but no one deserves to be murdered. The plot moves at a glacial pace. I had to skim a lot of the details and description. I got bored long before the murder actually took place. Of course I hate Emily and Charlotte Bronte and had no interest in reading about their home.
I wanted more of Kate and advancing her story. She shows a little more animation when relating the things she sees on the trip and while taking her photos but there's not much THERE in terms of character growth or Kate's personal life. She's still very dry and still mourning Gerald. I believe he'd be the first to tell her to move on with her life! I know she won't marry because she enjoys being independent but she should just admit that and move on. Harriet is more self-aware and a very modern young woman. She comes across as kind of bratty at times. I think Kate spoils Harriet because she knows how rough Harriet's childhood was and how Harriet is still traumatized by what happened when they first met. Sykes shows a little more personality and a softer side in this novel. He appears very late in the story and has only a little to do but it is nice to see him interact with Rosie and the dog! Who knew he was a dog lover? Mrs. Sugden is efficient as always and she is also very compassionate and kind. Kate's mother also shows a kinder, gentler side than her usual flibbertigibbet socialite personality. I don't usually like her and I don't like the way she tries to trick her husband into retirement but I do like how she handles Harriet. Kate's dad appears in the novel to help solve the mystery but he doesn't have a huge role. I always liked him and I still do.
The new characters are not so enjoyable. Four of them were candidates for murder victim and murderer. Derek, a young clerk in the newspaper library office, is very callow. He's self-centered because he's young and stupid. He has ambition and I admire that just not the way he goes about it. Derek is in the throes of his first major infatuation and while no one else approves, I think it's harmless. I was confused why something the reader already knew and I thought Kate knew, was revealed at the end. Carine, a psychologically traumatized woman and owner of a photographic studio is the object of Derek's affections. She has been trapped by her brutish father and loutish husband since young womanhood, before the war. Her father is so awful. He takes advantage of her kindness yet has caused her no end of heartache and trauma. Tobias, Carine's husband, is nearly as bad. He's a drunken bully, a schemer and dreamer but not much of a doer. He fell readily in line with Carine's father's plans. Edward, a poet and teacher, is new to the photographic society but has a huge impact on the plot. I liked him the best of all the new characters but I do not understand the decisions he makes at the end of the novel. Rita is a free spirit who has traveled across India and Africa. She's a bit .... kooky and it wears thin after a time. Why is she a member of the photographic society if she doesn't take pictures? It may be just to be near the one she loves and try to prevent something bad happening because she believes in dreams and premonitions. I guessed one of them was the murderer but I guessed wrong. I think the story my way could have been much better and less boring.
The new minor characters are more likable. Elisa may be grouchy and rude but she has her reasons. I think the locals are used to her. Her mother is a hoot. She's super eccentric and adds some light moments to the story. Sergeant the Bloodhound is adorable! He is goofy, sweet and latches on to whoever pays him kind attention. He deserves a loving home where he will be spoiled and taken good care of. I may have to continue reading this series just for him!
This was not the best entry in the series. It leaves a lot of questions in the end.
April 24, 2019
To be honest, I couldn’t finish this book. I usually devour the books in this series, even though they can be somewhat inconsistent in quality. This book read like someone else entirely had written it!
The quality of prose is nothing like the volumes before, which is a shame. The sentences are choppy and simple, the point-of-view shifts around in ways it never has before, grammar was poor or left uncorrected(?) by editors (“Carine, you, me, and Rita...” begins one sentence), and everything felt so forced. Usually I am engaged from page one, but this never happened. There were so many issues that prevented me from engaging with the characters I enjoyed from previous books in the series. It felt like a different person entirely attempting to write a Kate Shackleton story. I hope this is just a one-off and not a shift in style.
The quality of prose is nothing like the volumes before, which is a shame. The sentences are choppy and simple, the point-of-view shifts around in ways it never has before, grammar was poor or left uncorrected(?) by editors (“Carine, you, me, and Rita...” begins one sentence), and everything felt so forced. Usually I am engaged from page one, but this never happened. There were so many issues that prevented me from engaging with the characters I enjoyed from previous books in the series. It felt like a different person entirely attempting to write a Kate Shackleton story. I hope this is just a one-off and not a shift in style.
February 9, 2019
I was very disappointed with this book. You can work out early on who the victim will be and who the murderer will be. There are so many loose ends too and pointless red herrings.
November 13, 2018
Despite coming to this historical crime series relatively late they have become a firm fixture in my autumnal reading with something so appealing in going back to seemingly less complicated times but of course not neglecting the fact that some people are always going to be bumped off! The bonus with this series is that the murder is more or less of page and the reader can enjoy the mystery without needing to get themselves overly anxious about the killing bit. And so it is for A Snapshot of Murder, the tenth in the Kate Shackleton series.
The year is 1928 and the Brontës are becoming big business, so much so that a museum is opening in Haworth and it’s big news. Back at home Kate is indulging in her other passion than sleuthing as a member of The Headingley Photographic Society. The young lad Derek proposes a group outing and although, as always when a committee is involved, there is plenty of huffing and puffing about the donation to be made and the location to be visited they eventually set off for the opening of the museum with the hope that they will capture some fantastic pictures in the bargain. One thing to say for these novels is that Frances Brody really knows how to lay the groundwork for book and luring you into a time and place.
As might be expected no sooner have they arrived in the picturesque location than there is a murder! As it happens the victim happens to be the most disagreeable male character so we can swiftly move on with nary a tear shed. Even better there is an instant mystery as his wife Carine, also a member of the photographic society, has just discovered that her fiancé a man she believed to have died in WWI is actually alive and well and returned ‘home.’ It also hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that while Tobias Murchison was busy being disagreeable and boorish, young Derek had provided a bit of solace to Carine. The motives are stacked up, the opportunities catalogued and the local police predictably a little bit confused and so our intrepid sleuth Kate Shackleton is roped into the investigation.
As always with these books the chief protagonist comes over as a very capable woman. The setting may be many years ago but she is fairly modern in her outlook and not inclined to faints or vapours, or to be fair constantly underlining how difficult it is for women in society at the time. In fact I think I’d get on very well with Kate Shackleton who seems to have an abundance of intelligence and a fairly bright outlook on life when you take into consideration that she investigates the worst humanity can do to each other.
The settings are brilliantly done, with the link to the Brontë family and Wuthering Heights in particular the photographic theme lends itself so well to really setting the scene thereby conjuring up the much-loved book as well as setting the scene for murder in 1928!
As this is a series we meet some past characters including Kate’s bubbly niece Harriet but somehow unlike many other crime fiction series all the characters except those that take centre stage are more or less backdrops, so while it is nice to meet them the book really is focussed on the main players in the mystery itself.
The year is 1928 and the Brontës are becoming big business, so much so that a museum is opening in Haworth and it’s big news. Back at home Kate is indulging in her other passion than sleuthing as a member of The Headingley Photographic Society. The young lad Derek proposes a group outing and although, as always when a committee is involved, there is plenty of huffing and puffing about the donation to be made and the location to be visited they eventually set off for the opening of the museum with the hope that they will capture some fantastic pictures in the bargain. One thing to say for these novels is that Frances Brody really knows how to lay the groundwork for book and luring you into a time and place.
As might be expected no sooner have they arrived in the picturesque location than there is a murder! As it happens the victim happens to be the most disagreeable male character so we can swiftly move on with nary a tear shed. Even better there is an instant mystery as his wife Carine, also a member of the photographic society, has just discovered that her fiancé a man she believed to have died in WWI is actually alive and well and returned ‘home.’ It also hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that while Tobias Murchison was busy being disagreeable and boorish, young Derek had provided a bit of solace to Carine. The motives are stacked up, the opportunities catalogued and the local police predictably a little bit confused and so our intrepid sleuth Kate Shackleton is roped into the investigation.
As always with these books the chief protagonist comes over as a very capable woman. The setting may be many years ago but she is fairly modern in her outlook and not inclined to faints or vapours, or to be fair constantly underlining how difficult it is for women in society at the time. In fact I think I’d get on very well with Kate Shackleton who seems to have an abundance of intelligence and a fairly bright outlook on life when you take into consideration that she investigates the worst humanity can do to each other.
The settings are brilliantly done, with the link to the Brontë family and Wuthering Heights in particular the photographic theme lends itself so well to really setting the scene thereby conjuring up the much-loved book as well as setting the scene for murder in 1928!
As this is a series we meet some past characters including Kate’s bubbly niece Harriet but somehow unlike many other crime fiction series all the characters except those that take centre stage are more or less backdrops, so while it is nice to meet them the book really is focussed on the main players in the mystery itself.
June 13, 2022
A Snapshot of Murder is one in a series of books that feature Kate Shackleton, amateur detective and keen photographer and is set in 1928. Whilst on a weekend visit to Haworth and Stanbury with a photography group to coincide with the opening of the Bronte Parsonage museum, Kate witnesses the murder of one of their group and puts her sleuthing skills to work to try to solve the case.
Toby, the murder victim is not a well liked man. Several members of the photography group have motives for his murder. His beautiful wife Carine has many admirers, including an ex lover and an infatuated young reporter who are both suspects. The group are staying at nearby Ponden Hall whose tenant Mrs Varey and her daughter also have cause to hate Toby because of a death that occurred 15 years previously.
I found this a very enjoyable and entertaining read. I liked the 1920s setting and also the link with the Bronte’s, whom we learn were frequent visitors to Ponden Hall. Kate is an engaging character with a keen eye for detail and it is in the end she who solves the mystery. There were several other strong female characters including intrepid traveller Rita, Kate’s niece Harriet and Mrs Sugden Kate’s housekeeper who does sterling work assisting in the investigation.
I did guess who the murderer was but not how they did it. It was a good story and I enjoyed the eccentricity of life at Ponden Hall, where Harriet, Kate and Rita shared a room with holes in the roof (lovely to see the stars twinkling above but not so lovely when it rains) and Mrs Varey takes to a box bed in the kitchen for most of the book, only emerging at at end. There was a darker side to the story however - Carine’s mother had disappeared when she was five and her heartless father made her life a misery. By the end of the book we know what happened to her mother. Although women were beginning to have more freedom by the 1920s, they were often at the mercy of men who were able to exert power over them, be they husbands or fathers. And the shadow of the first world was still apparent. Kate lost her husband and Edward, Carine’s ex has been badly disfigured.
I did think the ending was rather rushed and also that everything was tidied up rather too neatly - but all in all this was good fun to read and I’d be happy to read more of this series.
Toby, the murder victim is not a well liked man. Several members of the photography group have motives for his murder. His beautiful wife Carine has many admirers, including an ex lover and an infatuated young reporter who are both suspects. The group are staying at nearby Ponden Hall whose tenant Mrs Varey and her daughter also have cause to hate Toby because of a death that occurred 15 years previously.
I found this a very enjoyable and entertaining read. I liked the 1920s setting and also the link with the Bronte’s, whom we learn were frequent visitors to Ponden Hall. Kate is an engaging character with a keen eye for detail and it is in the end she who solves the mystery. There were several other strong female characters including intrepid traveller Rita, Kate’s niece Harriet and Mrs Sugden Kate’s housekeeper who does sterling work assisting in the investigation.
I did guess who the murderer was but not how they did it. It was a good story and I enjoyed the eccentricity of life at Ponden Hall, where Harriet, Kate and Rita shared a room with holes in the roof (lovely to see the stars twinkling above but not so lovely when it rains) and Mrs Varey takes to a box bed in the kitchen for most of the book, only emerging at at end. There was a darker side to the story however - Carine’s mother had disappeared when she was five and her heartless father made her life a misery. By the end of the book we know what happened to her mother. Although women were beginning to have more freedom by the 1920s, they were often at the mercy of men who were able to exert power over them, be they husbands or fathers. And the shadow of the first world was still apparent. Kate lost her husband and Edward, Carine’s ex has been badly disfigured.
I did think the ending was rather rushed and also that everything was tidied up rather too neatly - but all in all this was good fun to read and I’d be happy to read more of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2019
2019 bk 224. I love Frances Brody's writing style, her research into her time period, and her development of characters. Somehow she has crafted characters that stay with you for the time period between her mysteries, losing only a little of their personalities to time, but the essence of the main characters keeping you interested. In this, her 10th mystery with Kate and her agency employees, an agency case is not at the forefront. Kate has become involved in a local Photography Club. When a younger member suggests a weekend outing and is smacked down by the bully of a president, Kate champions the idea. So a group of six photographers find themselves booked into a B & B style country farm house near the site of what this weekend will become the new Bronte home museum. Despite domestic tension, with three other folks in love with the wife of the president of the club, all of the members attend the opening ceremonies, cameras in hand. During the passing of the deeds, one member is killed and most members of the club are implicated. What is Kate to do. What is her first responsibility, the dead man? the dead man's wife? her fellow club members? her niece? her parents who have come separately to the event? Be warned, this one is in someways more of psychological thriller than her other books.
June 24, 2019
#10 in the series. I wasn't too keen on it to begin with-a slow start with so many new characters, but once it got rolling there were some interesting twists and a satisfying ending.
"Yorkshire, 1928. Indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton is taking a well-deserved break from her detective work and indulging in her other passion: photography. When her local Photographic Society proposes an outing to the opening of the Bronte Museum, Kate jumps at the chance to visit the setting of Wuthering Heights. But the setting proves to be even more sinister than the dreary classic when a member of their party is found murdered. ."The event is one of the most popular of the decade, and each of the seven photographers were there to capture the perfect shot of a lifetime. But Tobias, the deceased, was known for being loud-mouthed and didn’t care to curb his demeanor. Kate deduces that he must have had several enemies. But soon, she begins to suspect that perhaps the murderer is amongst them. And before they shrink to just a group of five, Kate must pick back up her magnifying glass and sleuthing cap to crack the case
"Yorkshire, 1928. Indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton is taking a well-deserved break from her detective work and indulging in her other passion: photography. When her local Photographic Society proposes an outing to the opening of the Bronte Museum, Kate jumps at the chance to visit the setting of Wuthering Heights. But the setting proves to be even more sinister than the dreary classic when a member of their party is found murdered. ."The event is one of the most popular of the decade, and each of the seven photographers were there to capture the perfect shot of a lifetime. But Tobias, the deceased, was known for being loud-mouthed and didn’t care to curb his demeanor. Kate deduces that he must have had several enemies. But soon, she begins to suspect that perhaps the murderer is amongst them. And before they shrink to just a group of five, Kate must pick back up her magnifying glass and sleuthing cap to crack the case
July 25, 2022
Enjoyable mystery, though none of the characters really stood out to me. Not particularly memorable.
It was a bit slow towards the beginning, the murder doesn't take place until just before the halfway point. I haven't read any other books from this series, I assumed that you could start at any point like other mystery detective series and it did stand by itself. Though I think it would have been more enjoyable knowing all the previously established connections between the characters.
It was a bit slow towards the beginning, the murder doesn't take place until just before the halfway point. I haven't read any other books from this series, I assumed that you could start at any point like other mystery detective series and it did stand by itself. Though I think it would have been more enjoyable knowing all the previously established connections between the characters.
March 4, 2019
This is the 10th Kate Shackleton mystery, and if you are just arriving, welcome, and get comfortable! Kate and her village coterie are remarkably prone to proximity to murder, and she and her ad hoc crime-busting team are on the job again when the local photography club goes on an outing.
Its always a comfort when the corpse and murderer are the least attractive members of the suspect group, rather than the characters the reader really loves. I found the cast of characters sufficiently complex that I didn’t truly love or unequivocally hate any of them!
This is a fun, undemanding village cozy that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Its always a comfort when the corpse and murderer are the least attractive members of the suspect group, rather than the characters the reader really loves. I found the cast of characters sufficiently complex that I didn’t truly love or unequivocally hate any of them!
This is a fun, undemanding village cozy that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 9, 2019
This is the first Frances Brody novel that I've read and overall it was a marvellous well-paced read, with all of the elements of a great murder mystery - plenty of suspects all with a variety of motives. The story is told in alternate chapters, by Kate Shackleton, the sleuth and passionate photographer and also the supporting characters. I liked the author's characterisation of Kate who was a strong and appealing protagonist. The brilliant and unusual plotting made this mystery quite special and I plan to read more from this series,
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
March 12, 2019
1928 and at the Headingly Photographic Society meeting an outings is proposed. Agreement is reached to visit Haworth to coincide with the presentation of deeds of the Haworth Parsonage to the Bronte Society. Seven menbers including Kate Shackleton and her niece Harriet Armstrong arrange to go but not all will return.
A somewhat slow paced well-written cozy mystery as we learn about the main characters and deeds from the past. Overall an enjoyable read.
A NetGalley Book
A somewhat slow paced well-written cozy mystery as we learn about the main characters and deeds from the past. Overall an enjoyable read.
A NetGalley Book
March 21, 2022
This was kind of an unpleasant story. Maybe if I had read some of the earlier stories and knew Mrs Shackleford better, I might not have thought so, but-- I also struggled with the writing. It's extremely spare. Almost barren, and full of author asides and "if they had only known" comments. Several flashbacks that seemed to come out of nowhere. I did persist, and reach the end. It's an interesting story. I might look to see if the library has more. Maybe.
July 12, 2021
This has been my least favorite book of the series so far. I didn’t like the different writing style- it was very disjointed. The plot was thin, and Kate just seemed out of character.
April 19, 2019
Looking back on my reviews of this series, I see that I have found the novels inconsistent; this tenth mystery featuring Kate Shackleton has a slow moving plot with a number of threads and characters whom I found difficult to feel empathy or compassion. Of course, I liked reading about familiar characters: Mrs. Sugden, Jim Sykes, Harriet, Kate's parents, but even they couldn't offset my issues with the new characters and plot.
December 20, 2019
Book received from NetGalley
Review to Come.
Review to Come.
February 12, 2023
Tagging for spoilers because I don’t understand who the father of Carina’s baby was, or how we were supposed to figure it out.
Also, this was the first book from this series that I read and if the quality of this book reflects the overall series’ quality, I think it will be the last book of this series I’ve read
Also, this was the first book from this series that I read and if the quality of this book reflects the overall series’ quality, I think it will be the last book of this series I’ve read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2019
Another fascinating entry in the quietly thoughtful, atmospheric Kate Shackleton stories. This time Brody tackles the art of photography, featuring Kate's involvement with a local photography group and a talented young woman with a successful photography studio. Interestingly, the story is placed in the countryside of the famous Bronte family and the setting of Wuthering Heights. Kate and the photography society have an outing to the opening of the Haworth Parsonage, the home of the Bronte family, which opened for the public in 1928. Brody always does an excellent job in bringing real events into her Shackleton stories. The lingering effects of WWI are explored, as usual, in this story. This is a most rewarding series.
January 11, 2020
Cosy historical mysteries are back in fashion, and my goodness, does that make me happy. I love the classics of 1930s crime — Dorothy Sayers and Ngaio Marsh are my favourites — and I went into raptures a couple of years back when publishers began reprinting other books of that era.
The cosy historical was, I suppose, the next logical step, and I can’t get too many of them. A Snapshot of Murder is the tenth in the Kate Shackleton series by Frances Brody, and it’s the second I’ve read. (You don’t need to read them in order, which is fine by me.) Set in the 1920s, the books feature war widow Kate Shackleton, who runs an investigative agency.
In A Snapshot of Murder, members of the local camera club (Kate lives in Leeds) set off to Haworth, for the opening of the Bronte Parsonage Museum…but one of them doesn’t make it home alive. It’s difficult to review crime novels without giving spoilers, so I won’t say any more, other than that there were twists and turns aplenty and a satisfying conclusion (though there was one loose end left untied, which still troubles me a little).
There was a huge amount to love about the book. In particular, I adored the settings and the historical detail. I don’t know the Haworth area well, I’ve been there recently enough to recognise many of the places, but even if I hadn’t the description would have given me a clear idea of what it’s like. And the author used real locations, too, so that I could follow the action on the map. (Yes, I like to do that when I’m reading.)
I mostly liked the characterisation, though I did have a problem wth Kate herself — odd, because although there are several points of view, she’s the only one in first person. This ought to make her more accessible, but somehow it doesn’t. As in the previous book I read, I found myself failing to warm to her, or sense any emotional engagement, even when she looked at photographs of her late husband, or came face-to-face with the man whose marriage proposal she had previously turned down.
I like to live the story with my protagonist, especially if they’re written in first person, and I felt that I was always looking at Kate from the outside. I suspect that may be what the author intends, because scenes from the point of view of others — unhappy wife Carine, for example, and Kate’s uber-enthusiastic niece Harriet — were much more engaging. But I wish I’d warmed to Kate rather more than I did.
I think it was this, together with the short sentences which gave the whole book a slightly clipped tone, that hold me back from raving about it. That’s a personal view, of course, and in all other ways it was a terrific, clever and engaging book. I’ll certainly be reading more of the series.
I downloaded this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review
The cosy historical was, I suppose, the next logical step, and I can’t get too many of them. A Snapshot of Murder is the tenth in the Kate Shackleton series by Frances Brody, and it’s the second I’ve read. (You don’t need to read them in order, which is fine by me.) Set in the 1920s, the books feature war widow Kate Shackleton, who runs an investigative agency.
In A Snapshot of Murder, members of the local camera club (Kate lives in Leeds) set off to Haworth, for the opening of the Bronte Parsonage Museum…but one of them doesn’t make it home alive. It’s difficult to review crime novels without giving spoilers, so I won’t say any more, other than that there were twists and turns aplenty and a satisfying conclusion (though there was one loose end left untied, which still troubles me a little).
There was a huge amount to love about the book. In particular, I adored the settings and the historical detail. I don’t know the Haworth area well, I’ve been there recently enough to recognise many of the places, but even if I hadn’t the description would have given me a clear idea of what it’s like. And the author used real locations, too, so that I could follow the action on the map. (Yes, I like to do that when I’m reading.)
I mostly liked the characterisation, though I did have a problem wth Kate herself — odd, because although there are several points of view, she’s the only one in first person. This ought to make her more accessible, but somehow it doesn’t. As in the previous book I read, I found myself failing to warm to her, or sense any emotional engagement, even when she looked at photographs of her late husband, or came face-to-face with the man whose marriage proposal she had previously turned down.
I like to live the story with my protagonist, especially if they’re written in first person, and I felt that I was always looking at Kate from the outside. I suspect that may be what the author intends, because scenes from the point of view of others — unhappy wife Carine, for example, and Kate’s uber-enthusiastic niece Harriet — were much more engaging. But I wish I’d warmed to Kate rather more than I did.
I think it was this, together with the short sentences which gave the whole book a slightly clipped tone, that hold me back from raving about it. That’s a personal view, of course, and in all other ways it was a terrific, clever and engaging book. I’ll certainly be reading more of the series.
I downloaded this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review
February 16, 2019
Kate Shackleton is a fairly young widow who lives in Yorkshire. She's also a talented photographer and belongs to the local Photographic Society. One evening a new member, young Derek Blondell, suggests an outing, a weekend to take pictures, and they decide on the opening of the Bronte museum.
She also has a friend, Carine Murchison, who owns a photographic studio and takes care of her ailing father and a wastrel husband named Tobias, who is also a member but whose time is spent in getting drunk. Carine is startled at the reappearance of her one true love, Edward, that she thought died in the war. It is later, at a pub near the museum, that she discovers Tobias lied to her and between he and her father conspired to have her marry him; now she realizes he is much like her father, and that's not a good thing.
But while on the outing Tobias is killed, and when it's discovered he was murdered, Kate is wondering who might have done the deed. He was much hated, but she doesn't believe for a moment that young Derek could have killed him, even if the police believe so. She is urged by her friend Rita to find the true killer, and what she discovers stuns her to her very core...
This is the tenth book in the Kate Shackleton series, and unfortunately I found it to be the weakest. The writing seems disjointed somehow. We are given the tale from both Kate's view in first person, then everyone else's in third. It didn't flow as well as the other books.
While it started out very interesting, soon the book became depressing. The following spoiler contains something regarding the ending, so please do not read it if you have not read the book. The other characters - including Kate - took a back seat to Carine in this story; and while it could have been a good thing, I didn't find it to be so.
The tale itself was interesting enough, and the murder not unexpected, considering the type of person Tobias was, but in the end I found myself wishing for something more, and not finding it. I found it slightly gloomy, and probably not the best book to read while listening to the steady beat of rain outside my window.
I was not satisfied with the ending, but then again, that is only my own opinion and others, I am sure, will love this book. Hopefully the next in the series will improve to the quality of many of the others, and I still look forward to reading them.
She also has a friend, Carine Murchison, who owns a photographic studio and takes care of her ailing father and a wastrel husband named Tobias, who is also a member but whose time is spent in getting drunk. Carine is startled at the reappearance of her one true love, Edward, that she thought died in the war. It is later, at a pub near the museum, that she discovers Tobias lied to her and between he and her father conspired to have her marry him; now she realizes he is much like her father, and that's not a good thing.
But while on the outing Tobias is killed, and when it's discovered he was murdered, Kate is wondering who might have done the deed. He was much hated, but she doesn't believe for a moment that young Derek could have killed him, even if the police believe so. She is urged by her friend Rita to find the true killer, and what she discovers stuns her to her very core...
This is the tenth book in the Kate Shackleton series, and unfortunately I found it to be the weakest. The writing seems disjointed somehow. We are given the tale from both Kate's view in first person, then everyone else's in third. It didn't flow as well as the other books.
While it started out very interesting, soon the book became depressing. The following spoiler contains something regarding the ending, so please do not read it if you have not read the book. The other characters - including Kate - took a back seat to Carine in this story; and while it could have been a good thing, I didn't find it to be so.
The tale itself was interesting enough, and the murder not unexpected, considering the type of person Tobias was, but in the end I found myself wishing for something more, and not finding it. I found it slightly gloomy, and probably not the best book to read while listening to the steady beat of rain outside my window.
I was not satisfied with the ending, but then again, that is only my own opinion and others, I am sure, will love this book. Hopefully the next in the series will improve to the quality of many of the others, and I still look forward to reading them.
May 30, 2019
I have been a fan of the Kate Shackleton series and have enjoyed each one. Kate is a smart and admirable sleuth and author Frances Brody's use of meticulously researched historical detail in each book is impressive and adds to the ambiance of the 1920s setting. While a Snapshot of Murder still falls in the historical cozy genre, this series entry takes a decidedly darker turn than some previous titles.
Kate's friend Carine, who runs a photography studio, has lived a tortured life. Her mother disappeared when Carine was a young girl. Her father separates her from her true love and uses emotional blackmail to coerce her into marrying Tobias, who is as domineering and self-centered as Carine's father. Making matters worse, when he dies, her father leaves the photography studio not to Carine but to her sot of a husband.
All of these elements come together during a photography club trip, which Kate has helped to organize, to the village of Haworth--the setting for much of the writings of the Bronte sisters. Tobias is murdered, literally stabbed in the heart. There are multiple suspects, including Carine herself, whom the reader has good reason to believe is emotionally unstable.
It was a little difficult for me to believe the murder took place as described, and, there is a twist at the end that leads the reader to wonder if someone has literally gotten away with murder.
Nevertheless, the book was spellbinding and I found myself reading it all in one day--highly recommended.
Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Kate's friend Carine, who runs a photography studio, has lived a tortured life. Her mother disappeared when Carine was a young girl. Her father separates her from her true love and uses emotional blackmail to coerce her into marrying Tobias, who is as domineering and self-centered as Carine's father. Making matters worse, when he dies, her father leaves the photography studio not to Carine but to her sot of a husband.
All of these elements come together during a photography club trip, which Kate has helped to organize, to the village of Haworth--the setting for much of the writings of the Bronte sisters. Tobias is murdered, literally stabbed in the heart. There are multiple suspects, including Carine herself, whom the reader has good reason to believe is emotionally unstable.
It was a little difficult for me to believe the murder took place as described, and, there is a twist at the end that leads the reader to wonder if someone has literally gotten away with murder.
Nevertheless, the book was spellbinding and I found myself reading it all in one day--highly recommended.
Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
November 18, 2018
I’ve enjoyed this series of novels from the beginning. I particularly like that they are set in the past in familiar places, so that you see Leeds, Wakefield or Haworth in a different way, with past overlaying the present
I am also fond of the range of recurring character, Kate Shackleton & Harriet, Mr Sykes, Mrs Sugden. Frances Brody is very good at telling us enough about the character so that we feel we know and like them, but also implying they have secrets and depths not yet revealed to us.
Mrs Shackleton’s most recent adventure is a strong one, set largely in Haworth when the Parsonage is donated to the Bronte Society and the Headingley Photography Society having an outing there. Unlike the snapshots the photographers take, few of the characters are black and white, and the the mystery may be less of who did it and why, but how did they. I enjoyed the ambivalence of both the murderer and the detective.
I am also fond of the range of recurring character, Kate Shackleton & Harriet, Mr Sykes, Mrs Sugden. Frances Brody is very good at telling us enough about the character so that we feel we know and like them, but also implying they have secrets and depths not yet revealed to us.
Mrs Shackleton’s most recent adventure is a strong one, set largely in Haworth when the Parsonage is donated to the Bronte Society and the Headingley Photography Society having an outing there. Unlike the snapshots the photographers take, few of the characters are black and white, and the the mystery may be less of who did it and why, but how did they. I enjoyed the ambivalence of both the murderer and the detective.
November 13, 2018
I was 65% into the book before I realized that this was part of a series, the author did such a fine job of not letting the reader flounder about. The mystery is set in Leeds and Haworth in 1928. The first murder is not discovered until more than 25 years after it occurred, and the second is known only by the perpetrator, but the third murder is the most apparent, even though the investigation is so convoluted and involves so many reasons and possible justifications that it's very difficult for the reader to solve. Each character is well drawn, especially the villainous ones, and the involvement between them is shown to be important.
I truly enjoyed this book and finished it in one day!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Piatkus Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I truly enjoyed this book and finished it in one day!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Piatkus Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
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