An Oxford Murder

The Catherine Tregowyn Mysteries #1

by G.G. Vandagriff

After Miss Catherine Tregowyn, poet, and Dr. Harry Bascombe, her bête noire, discover a body in the Somerville College chapel, they are declared suspects in a murder inquiry. How can they prove their innocence? The pair decide they must launch their own investigation into the strangling of Oxford don, Agatha Chenowith. But working as a team will not be easy. Their relations are anything but cordial.

It is not long before they uncover motives aplenty. Apparently, Dr. Chenowith was not at all what she seemed. As the surprises about the victim’s secret life multiply, they are awash in a sea of suspects.

Into this scenario sails the former love of Catherine’s life as he returns from Kenya. Is she going to give Rafe another chance to break her heart? He convinces her to give him a six-month trial, and eager to show his worth, he joins in the investigation. Rafe offers to fly Catherine and Harry in his de Havilland six-seater to the Isle of Man where they must pursue a lead. Inevitably, Rafe and Harry square off in a battle for Catherine’s affections.

Meanwhile, playing detectives proves to be a dangerous pursuit. Catherine and Harry shortly embroil themselves in a plot much larger than mere murder. No one wants to hear their theory, however. It contains truths too painful to contemplate. And it makes Catherine and Harry’s lives expendable.

Fans of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane will love this tale! A stylish mystery set in Oxford in the 1930's with loveable characters and a cast of eccentric suspects.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Romance

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

G.G. Vandagriff is the author of over thirty novels Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.

Reviews

[Prof Thomas D Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A poorly researched novel

I do wish Americans would stop trying to write "classic" English detective stories. They simply don't do enough research to provide authenticity. Here, the head of Somerville College is referred to as the "Dean" - which I think is not used of any Oxford college head, they are all Masters or, e.g., in Somerville's case, Principals. And the head of an Oxford college would never refer to "my faculty", since the term "faculty" is used for one of the levels of university government, e.g., the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Pure Sciences, etc. The Principal would almost certainly have referred to "my colleagues", or, just possibly, "the academic staff". The Ploughman's Lunch per se, did not exist in England until an advertising campaign introduced the term in the 1950s - Cat could not have ordered one in the 1920s. Indeed at the time pubs served very little in the way of food other than bar snacks that didn't need cutlery. And, in any event, women generally did not go into pubs - any woman who did so would be assumed to be "available". Nor would Dot have said she was "going down to London" - no one, to this day, born in the south speaks of anything other than "going up to Town", whether they are coming up from the south or down from the north. And an Oxford don such as Dr. Harry, would never have used "gotten" - particularly one versed in English literature - Shakespeare used it, but it survived only in the US and occasionally in Scotland. I could go on, but, please - if you write American stick to setting your stories in America - the oddities of language mis-use really grate.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started badly for me, because after a few pages Two Weeks Earlier appeared. I hate this and it may have tainted my view of the book right from the start.
The author’s depiction of Oxford in the 30s didn’t quite work with many minor mistakes, but I think my main problem with the book was Catherine. I tried to like her, but there were lots of little things that irritated me. Early in the book the author made it clear that she disliked Dr Harry, but then had her constantly voluntarily mixing with him. At the same time she is yearning after an old boyfriend, Rafe and I had the horrible feeling this was going to be more of a romance than a mystery.
An example of how irritated I was getting, was when Catherine was asked what she did when not being a poet, she says she teaches little boys because; “I happen to love little boys and want them to get a good start in life.”
My first thought was not how noble, but has she got something against little girls getting a good start in life?
In the end I just couldn’t finish the book.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to give this one a try after starting up about five other books as I search for Kindle Unlimited books I might enjoy before my subscription expires. Do I enjoy Oxford setting? Always. There was a good deal of light hearted fun centering around the main character Catherine, a published poet. She visits Oxford for a special do and ends up finding a freshly murdered body in the chapel "when Dr. Harry reached her side. His eyes followed Catherine's pointing finger, and he recoiled. "That's torn it" he said."
And thus begins the investigation of other strange circumstances that eventually bring these two together. Murder, political plots, a touch of mayhem and romance all work together to deliver enjoyable read. Despite the number of negative reviews, give it a chance.

Kindle Unlimited

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with likeable characters, good description and a twisty plot with a few surprises. It's an escape for these troubled times. It reads like a true Golden Age Mystery with Catherine Tregowyn starring as a Harriet Vane character and Dr. Harry Bascombe taking a sidekick role as a non-titled Lord Peter. No gore, thankfully. Believable romance. The Oxford setting in the early 1930's is well defined, as are the social norms and taboos and struggles for women seeking professional standing at this point in history. I found a few places which an editor might have caught, where the language didn't flow smoothly, but still ordered the second book in the series.

[Tina Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Vandagriff’s Regency novels but this novel fell flat for me. I’m not a big fan of the Golden Age so that’s partly why I wasn’t entranced with the book.
I just thought it was so very odd that Dr. Harry professes to love Catherine when it seems they barely know each other.
The characters just didn’t resonate with me and I couldn’t get engaged in the story.
I won’t continue with this series but will return to the author’s Regency books.

[Pat Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

The star ratings are so hard because they’re too broad, or perhaps not broad enough. I’d give this book a 2.75. It’s an ok not deep at all beach read, or for something to spend one’s time on when flying. It’s supposedly a period piece, but the author doesn’t come close to Jacqueline Winspear’s Maggie Dobbs series.

[Louise Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

1929: Can a Poet Solve a Murder at Oxford University?

G.G. Vandagriff convincingly interweaves the multiple concerns of Catherine who has established herself as a true poet with her well-reviewed book of poetry.She also has written the definitive work about Ms. Penwyth, a Victorian poet—much to the annoyance of a male colleague who had been hoping to do so himself. Can the two solve the murder of Catherine’s best reviewer? Accurate & fascinating details.

[Tahlia Fernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable enough, but very predictable. I think I expected the genius of Agatha Christie and so was disappointed. It wasn’t fair, but there it is.
Description is a strong point for this author, however. I usually am not a reader who necessarily “sees” what I’m reading, but I had no problem imagining Cat’s clothes. Unfortunately, the thing I personally enjoy most in a book — characters that feel real — was lacking.
I kept finding myself being pulled out of the book and grimacing because the characters felt “off”. Their interactions seemed to be rather forced, especially the romance.
It was a nice relaxing way to spend a few hours, but I probably won’t be reading more of this author. Just not my cup of tea.

[John Keeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

One Of The Worst Books I Have Ever Read

What can I Say? I started to quit it after a few chapters but later decided to give it another chance. I did finish it but only by skimming much of it. Horrible. Why waste her time adding in a former boyfriend when it was clear from the beginning who the main character was going to end up with. The book was dull and very boring. Don’t waste your time on it. I know I won’t be looking at this author’s other books.

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read.

I do love a good murder mystery, and this one did not disappoint.
Set mainly in Oxford and London in the 1930s.
Catherine returns to Oxford to farewell a former tutor, only to discover a dead body. Not satisfied with the police investigation, she, a friend and an old collegue decide to become amateur sleuths.
Plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning the pages.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

1934 Oxford. At a retirement party for Dr Sarah Sargent, Catherine Tregowyn and Dr Harry Bascombe discover the body of Dr Agatha Chenowith. As discoverers of the body they become suspects, so to clear their names they investigate the killing.
Unfortunately there were a few historical inaccuracies in the story. Catherine is obviously not as intelligent as she thinks she is, and I really didn't find her that interesting.

[Margaret Hollon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was poorly written. Lots of details on inconsequential items. Not enough details on the plot. Poor character developments. The story jumped around as if the writer was in manic mode. Many historical inconsistencies.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kindle Freebie at the time of download. My review is not affected by the giveaway and all opinions expressed are my own.

More than 2 stars, less than 3 because the mystery was good.

Catherine Tregowyn, poet, is back at her alma mater, Sommerville College at Oxford attending the farewell dinner for Dr. Sarah Sargent, her former tutor and academic advisor, when she stumbles across the dead body of another literary don, Agatha Chenowith. As she was searching with Dr. Harry Bascombe, fellow poetry scholar and her bête noire, the detective inspector believes they were canoodling in the chapel when the murder took place and are thereby declared suspects! Horrified by the ideas of both canoodling with Dr. Harry AND being a murder suspect, Catherine sets out to launch her own investigation. Dr. Harry wants in on the investigation and Catherine realizes he can go places she can't so she must learn to work with him instead of against him. It won't be easy but it will be a good distraction until her "someday" fiancee, Rafe, returns home from Kenya.

This author chose an unconventional storytelling style for a cozy mystery. She starts off with the murder in the first paragraph, before we know who Catherine is, where she is and why, what happened, etc. I am not a fan. I was incredibly confused and checked to see if this really was the first book in the series. I like a good, proper introduction to my characters and situations before the dead body turns up. Eventually, Catherine catches the reader up to speed. This is a British style cozy so it's less cutesy and less emotional than an American cozy. Inspired by Golden Age mysteries, the story is set in the 1930s. The time period is hard to guess at first. I would have said 20s because of the frequent mentions of the war, but it later becomes clear that this is the 1930s and there will be another war sooner than later. While the narrative writing style is lackluster, I could feel the horror and the emotions the characters felt at the idea of another war -ever- let alone so soon. I was not a fan of the love triangle and didn't get much in the sense of feelings for one or the other from Cat.

The Oxford University setting is not at all appealing or relatable. I was so confused! What's a scout? A porter? What kind of power does the Dean actually have? I didn't like the unfamiliar environment, especially since not enough time was spent in the libraries!

The mystery was tight. I guessed something else entirely and didn't know who the murderer was until close to the end after it was clear what was going on. The subject matter is a little dark and I wasn't crazy about it. Two of the crimes are never fully solved. They only have a good guess. What did Agatha say/do to Lady Rachel that caused a breakdown? Did Lady Rachel's father really send the death threats? I think her mother did it, personally. That was never fully resolved. Also not resolved to my satisfaction is Who coshed Cat on the head and why? Was it really Stephenson? Did he really plagiarize Cat's Victorian poet? What is his father was her lover "S"? What if SHE used her lover's poems and passed them off as her own? Why doesn't Cat think of that? Did Stephenson admit to anything?

Catherine is a decent enough character to like, I suppose. If she introduced herself properly instead of letting the other characters have conversations I couldn't follow, I might like her better. I like the idea of her anyway. She's educated and clearly verbally intelligent but she lacks some common sense sometimes. Catherine is a super kind person and wants to do the right thing. That does NOT make her a Communist! I did not care for either of the men in her life. Dr. Harry Bascombe is arrogant and rude. He's conservative and suspicious of anything that smacks of equality. OMG! Helping small boys with learning disabilities and economic disadvantages OMG it's COMMUNISM! Unless he's teasing, which he might be but Catherine doesn't pick up on it. He's still kind of arrogant and he takes liberties with her I would not at all permit. They're not friends and yet he puts his hand on her back, compliments her looks... creepy! I'd run screaming! Rafe isn't much better. Catherine has known him since she was 10 when he first came home from school with her brother. He's handsome, charming and has big dreams. Whether he can live up to his potential is another story. Once he finally appears on page, he becomes rather unlikable in my opinion. That doesn't make Harry any more likable. Too bad Catherine does need a man for protection and for spying. It's the 1930s and there are places she can't go and more people willing to take advantage of her because she's a woman alone.

Cat's best friends Dot and Margery are completely different. Dot works at an ad agency. She's lively, fun and eager to investigate with Cat. Margery is lovely. She's married and a mother. Because she's young and pretty, people tend to judge her and that is unfair. She seems very sweet and kind, a good friend and good listener. Unfortunately, she's also a suspect in the murder investigation. Margery's husband has been nothing but kind to her but he's secretive and also becomes a suspect. This poses an ethical dilemma for Cat. Does she continue her investigation or drop it for the sake of friendship.

The Oxford dons are an odd lot. Dr. Sarah Sargent seems fun and interesting. I can see why Cat enjoyed studying under her. The death of Agatha Chenowith will hit her hard. They were friends. Agatha's murder is very sad. She seemed like an intelligent woman trying to get along in a man's world and struggling to succeed. I really wanted to like her because of her feelings about men, but the more we learn about her the less I liked her. She didn't deserve to die but she was not a good person. Dr. Wesley Williams of Balliol may be the quirkiest of the lot. He's really into Teutonic poetry and legends and all that ancient stuff I don't really know much about. (That's another part of the story that could have been described better). He seems kind but eccentric and maybe in his own world. The Somerville Dean, Dr. Andrews, a scholar of early pre-Christian writings, starts off strong but then she unravels and becomes really mean and nasty. What is she trying to hide? Is she willing to protect her college at all costs, even covering up an employee's murder? She needs to sort out her priorities. Perhaps she's the murderer and trying to hide it but unraveling as Cat's investigation gets closer to the truth? Like Cat, Dr. Stephenson of Merton, is a poet. He's a little pushy wanting her to read and review his latest work. Dude, she'll get to it if she has time. He's mysterious and bland. No one knows much about him. Dr. Christopher Waddell is super creepy. His politics leave a lot to be desired and he certainly sounds like he could be dangerous if left unchecked. Perhaps he will defect to Germany. They're all suspects in their colleague's murder. Some more likely than others.

Another likely suspect is Lady Rachel Warren who was a Sommerville student advisee of Agatha's. Agatha apparently did something to make Lady Rachel upset and cause a ruckus. What and why we don't know but it could have led Lady Rachel or her parents to commit murder? I think her mother did it. She seems terrifying and overly protective of her family?

Jennie is Catherine's Oxford "scout." I have no idea what that means except she is an older woman, not upper class-some kind of servant? [Thank you Google, it means Catherine's dorm housekeeper.] Jennie is sweet and kind. She's devoted to Catherine and eager to help investigate any way she can. She has access to places it would seem weird for Catherine to be in. Could she identify the strange man invading the women's dorm claiming to be the police? No one asks. Everyone overlooks poor Jennie, she's just a servant. Another servant is Cherry, Catherine's London maid. She's also devoted to Catherine but isn't afraid to speak her mind.

There are as many police detectives as there are Oxford dons! Detective Chief Inspector Marsh of the Oxford CID distrusts Cat at first but of all the inspectors, he shows the most growth. He at least respects Harry anyway, eventually, but he does seem to believe Cat when she becomes a victim. The others are a little lackluster and forgettable.

This story didn't appeal to me enough to want to read the rest of the series. The writing is lackluster and uninspired and I don't like the love story subplot.

[Grisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars

Well this was an unexpected fun read. I liked the pace of the book and the amateur sleuthing was fun to follow even if sometimes the paths of investigation seemed far fetched (and more like an excuse to motor down across the country) and the findings small and convolutedly connected to the main mystery. Ah the joys of being idle rich! But since this was a mystery set in Oxford I could not pass it up (always reminiscent of my beloved Gaudy Night ❤)!

Honestly, I did not like Cat much. She came across to me as a dilletante with supposedly poetrical talents and much aggravating pretension e.g. her East End lads that she purportedly wants to help but for which I did not see much evidence except empty talk. And as much as she makes herself a normal girl, she is quite posh in her lifestyle. She dares adventure but is often fainting or trembling, and more likely than not needed Harry to save her. She is a nice girl I guess but oblivious how her persona can be sometimes grating for the onlooker. Harry was real nice though, as was Dot.

The story was fun to follow and the mystery okay enough. However, the ending was too abrupt, with Cat not only being stupid (who goes head first into a proven psycho's trap when most of the evidence point to her as a strong culprit? Cat even naively helped gathering the curtains towards the arson finale! 😤), but somehow falling into Harry's arms just like that with no much lines to explain her decision (while she drowned us with her hesitations all along the book!) and seemingly about to become an Oxford don for 1 year (what about the dear East End lads? 🙄). But if the rest of the books are as fun, I may look into them despite a slightly annoying heroine.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 2 out of 5]

2- maybe.
I was under the weather and thought this would be a diverting cozy historical mystery while I recuperated. I considered DNFing it several times but continued only because it was fairly short. It was trite, not very plausible, turned into a sappy romance, and was even rather poorly written mechanically, needing a good copy editor, e.g., "The police have us in their sites." I was surprised to discover that the author has written a number of books and to see how highly rated this one was. We used to say "you can't judge a book by its cover." Today I would have to say, "You can't judge a book by its ratings."

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers below!

3.75 if I’m being super picky lol

I really enjoyed this book! I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries but I tend to like the ones set in England in the past the best, so this was a great palate cleanser after all the fantasies I’ve been reading lately.

Again, spoilers!
The only thing I didn’t like was the fact that the whodunnit turned out to be *jazz hands* Nazis! While Nazis are definitely bad guys no matter what the context, I felt like it was almost too easy a solution to use in a mystery. I have since learned that this series does deal with the burgeoning rise of fascism in 1930s England so I understand that “introduction” better now for this book. It just felt weird/almost lazy?? when first reading it.

I enjoyed the relationship between Harry and Catherine, and I’m definitely interested in reading the rest of the series.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do t usually like cozy mysteries set in this era, but I enjoyed this one. A light hearted story which doesn’t take itself too seriously. You know the ending before anyone in the book does…but still a fun read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took too long to get started and could benefit from some additional editing, but overall a good cozy.

[T.A. Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging characters. I just let names flow over me with mysteries -- read them for fun, not to try to figure them out. The mystery 'bad person' was a surprise, even with my casual reading but the ending was a bit silly and melodramatic.

[Thomas Riddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a nightmare scenario that none of us ever want to experience; while searching for a missing colleague or friend you finally end up finding them dead. This is a tale told in the noir genre style and the 1930’s murder is served up as a mystery to be solved. The cast of characters, and suspects, are interesting, likable and intriguingly amusing. The English dialogue was also delightfully colorful, humorous and highly entertaining. An example: “She practically jingled with gold bangles and chains around her neck.”, and the act of being intimate with another was termed as “canoodling”. The humor was well placed but it never overshadowed the seriousness of the crime, of which Catherine and Harry were suspected of committing.

It’s a challenge to create a character and plot lines that are intended to continue into a series of books but this seasoned author has no problem in generating interest. Catherine Tregowyn is determined in her pursuit of solving a crime but she is also a romantic who struggles with an ongoing childhood love relationship. Another character plays for her affections in the course of the story and this creates yet another interesting conflict, which forces Catherine into making a decision. This amorous sub plot, near the end of the book, increased my rating of this story and boosted my curiosity in continuing on to the next two books in the series.

GG Vandagriff continues to entertain. If you’re a fan of noir crime mysteries, you’ll love this one!

[J.R. Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This effort was at best worth two stars, and I considered one. Writing any historical piece requires an examination of the history of the time. This book, set in 1936, contains numerous anachronisms which serve to jar the reader. Two points
1 - the 'heroine'; jabs 999 to call in an emergency situation. The 999 exchange number was introduced to London just prior to WWII and to Oxford AFTER the war. Not sure what a caller would have gotten with 999 in 1936.
2- OXFAM was created in q\1942, a full 6 years AFTER the events taking place in the book. It would be instructive for ANY one attempting an historical fiction to get the historical FACTS right first. I understand the author is a champ at restoration novels; perhaps that is her proper writing domain.

As to the writing - it switches between a faint attempt at the '30s (Strewth, Crikey) but the whole is swallowed up in a monotone which is perhaps best signified by the 'flat' police procedural. There is no color, character development, etc......... Oxford is drawn from a Google map - tons of locations and street names, but 'no on the ground' views of the environment. Oh, by the way, a nod to Danielle Steel - all the primary characters are rich, come from exquisite backgrounds, attend sherry parties, and drive 'motors' (although automobile was a term in use in the '30s - except amongst the Steel types!

No spoilers here. The book is not worth the read as an historical mystery; the quasi-romance characteristics don't quite measure up to a 'romance'; the key characters ger involved in a 'mystery and murder' and 'sleuth; it out even though Scotland Yard is on the case - and the Yard is outwitted by these two escapees from the 1%. Sorry. Oh, and a final note, this has the overtone of a 'cost', but it isn't; the university in OPxfords is denoted in American terms (Dean rather than Master, for example). Americanisms abound and decimalization has arrived early in England.

I have not read the author's romance series; I was interested in this book because it was 1 - an historical fiction; 2 - it was set in Oxford.

I read it.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fast read with a lot of moving parts and characters that mostly got wrapped up. Red herrings galore. The main trio is quite likeable but you definitely have to go "okay, this is her first mystery" when looking at Catherine because, holy hell, she just spouts off her theories and every bit of info she gathers to EVERYONE and is the most blessedly ham-handed thing in the world when investigating. Hopefully, she learns better technique (or the author realizes that there is such a thing as giving away TOO MUCH info) for the next book.

As others have noticed, there were anachronisms and, upon reflection, outright dodgy period research but it is such a quick read and I was able to just roll on through with it.

I do object to the rather unnecessary complication of the near-fiance. It gave more angles to Catherine's personality and a nice show of spine and spirit at the end but there were so many other opportunities for her to do that in the rest of the book. Also, frankly, a love triangle in a mystery gets a bit smothering unless it's the reason for the murder.

I love Dot. Full stop.

The ending felt decidedly rushed and only worked because Catherine is new at this and clearly sometimes packs up her common sense and leaves it in baggage claim.

There was a mention of Lord Peter Wimsey. I swooned.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

She has gotten the rarefied atmosphere of Oxford down to a T

Terrific read. Okay the plot might seem far-fetched but as we all know Oxford and Cambridge are recruiting grounds for many Government departments, so why not a plot of Hitler enthusiasts especially as some parts of the Government felt the same way at this time. The fact that it led to murder, arson, kidnapping and poisoning is therefore not too surprising. The author's portrayal of the rarefied atmosphere is really brilliant and frankly not a lot has really changed even today although there is a more 'common' element in the hallowed halls with more places being given out to the bright minds of today. However the male chauvinistic view is still alive and well.
A gathering for the retirement of a beloved professor leads to murder when our main character finds a body in the small chapel. The search to clear her name of suspicion leads to another murder, a secret society, poisoning, love and self growth. Will she find the killer? Will she cut of the ties that linked her to her past and now let her face the future head on?
Terrific characters embodying the society of the time lead to enhancing the story further.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel gives you just what the cover and title suggest. If you like academic based murder mysteries (I do) all things Oxford (I do) and such stories set in the 1930s (I do) this is a book you will enjoy. It hit the trifecta for me.

Sure, it crams so many cliches and familiar Oxford tropes into the first few pages I thought "Is this going to overdo it?" If you don't want a rich beautiful poet who could teach at Oxford she's so good but chooses to work with poor kids in the East End because she is compassionate as a heroine, look elsewhere. She is going out to eat constantly and her loving maid does everything she asks. She has the perfect outfits for every occasion.

But she also has a rich volatile boyfriend just back from Kenya not interested in her mind or personal aspirations and a poetry professor critical of her work who's inexplicably charismatic, so she some issues.

She is invited back to Oxford for a fete when she and that professor find a nasty elderly lady academic dead in the New Chapel. And the police now suspect our heroine. Uh oh!

Some fun pandemic escapism for fans of Downton Abbey.

[Elaine Bidstrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery! It takes place in the 20's - early 30's in England. One of my favorite eras (I love Boardwalk Empire, Phryne Fisher, and June's Journeys.) Catherine, an Oxford graduate and published poet, returns to Oxford to celebrate a professor's (I guess I should say 'don,' as the English do) retirement. After the dinner she and Dr. Harry Bascombe discover another don's body in a chapel. Both she and Dr. Harry are suspected of murdering her, so they decide to investigate. This leads to Catherine being concussed with a cricket bat, problems with Catherine's sometime boyfriend, Rafe, a visit to Dr. Harry's home, another murder, and a trip to the Isle of Man.
Great descriptions of people, places, and things.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Tregowyn Mystery series by GG Vandgriff.

I really enjoyed this book. I particularly loved the parts with Catherine and Harry. Rafe kept seeming to leave poor Catherine behind. He is definitely on task to be a real heartbreaker in this book.

Catherine starts investigating a murder and is thrown off course many times during this book. The book was interesting to follow and being a first book in a series it brought in a lot of characters in order to use them in the future.

I will definitely look forward to the budding romance between Harry and Catherine in future books. A definite winner in my book.

If you love a historical cozy mystery, definitely check this one out.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to get past a few issues

I thought An Oxford Murder was an entertaining story, but goodness it was hard to ignore the editing problems. I'm an American reader and even I noticed the writing is full of anachronistic American usages and phrases. And even modern American ones! Then there is the incorrect usage of British and period words that the reader stumbles over. And finally the general stiltedness of speech throughout. Is that supposed to make it period? Surprisingly, despite this, I liked the mystery and the characters. It's no Dorothy L Sayers, but I'll try another and hope the author finds an editor that knows the period and locale a little better.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Oxford Murder is an exciting whodunit, full of great characters and plot twists. If you think you’ve figured it out, chances are you’ll be wrong and that is the best kind of mystery.
The characters are solid. Catherine and Dr. Harry shine throughout their adventurous murder investigation.
Additionally, the writing is so descriptive, I found myself searching the internet to look up the pub, visited by Catherine, The Eagle and Child. I appreciate it when a book motivates me to delve deeper into something.
I absolutely enjoyed spending time in 1930’s Oxford!

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little murder mystery set in 1930's Oxford, England. A couple of academics who found the body decide to investigate (in ways that might be considered obstruction of justice in 2020 America). Lots of wealthy British titled-types with personal servants. They throw money at hotels and food and travel without a thought. Every time they eat, we get a list of what was served. Not great literature, but it was entertaining.

[Christin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pass on this one.

At least this is a clean novel! And the cover is super cute. But other than that? No good. WAY too much explanation, and basically just describes what’s going on rather than bringing the reader along for the ride. The dialogue is stilted, too. Pass on this one.