A Christmas Mystery

Cambridge Murder Mysteries #4

by Charlot King

Captivating British Whodunnit Murder Mystery Series with a twist of poison!Hugely popular author makes this beautiful historic city of Cambridge, England, leap off the page, with the eccentric Professor of poisons, Elizabeth Green, in this English crime fiction series.“I always like finding a new author with something a little bit different in the crime genre, and Charlot King is certainly that.” Amazon review“A wonderful murder mystery, deftly handled by Charlot and brought bang up to date with twists and subplots that entice the reader.” Amazon review"Another perfect mystery from the criminally under-rated Charlot King. This really is turning into an indispensable series to read if you like classic who-dunnit books harking back to the golden era of Christie, Marsh and Dickson Carr." Amazon reviewThe plot Professor Elizabeth Green, a professor of poisons, has travelled to Oxford to deliver a keynote speech at Catte College when Father Christmas bursts into a formal supper, leaving a woman dead. It is not long before Elizabeth herself is in the firing line with the local Oxford Inspector, as more bodies start to fall. Meanwhile as the snow comes down and suspects mount, Inspector Abley and Sergeant Lemon are finding it hard to communicate. Will Professor Elizabeth Green help solve the puzzle before Christmas Day? Join her at Christmas as she navigates festivities among the dead bodies.The Series The Cambridge Murder Mysteries are set in the heart of Cambridge, England, featuring a vegan and animal-loving sleuth Elizabeth Green, and her sidekicks Inspector Abley and grandson, Godric. As the series unfolds, we learn more about these characters and their lives. If you like crime fiction, murder mysteries, whodunnits, women sleuths, traditional British detective stories, then you might like these books in the Bk1 ‘Poison’, Bk2 ‘Cursed’, Bk3 ‘Blood Moon’, Bk4 ‘A Christmas Mystery’, Bk5 ‘Valentine’s Day – Kiss of Death’, and the novella ‘Christmas Eve in Grantchester’.Or, if you just like a good mystery set in Cambridge with all the quirky peculiarities of the English, then The Cambridge Murder Mysteries might be for you too. If you enjoy intelligent storytelling, strong and vulnerable characters with twists and turns of the plot, then you’ll love the puzzles of these whodunnits.Charlot's fondness for Cambridge is replicated in her series, which has been described as evocative and authentic of this historic English city.And what of Professor Elizabeth Green? In her fifties, this female protagonist woman sleuth is quintessentially English. An eccentric professor in her ivory tower, she maintains a sharp wit, yet is flawed by her inability to connect well with people, instead giving off a cold, opinionated and sometimes acerbic air. Though very kind to all animals (dogs, cats and the rest!) - a vegan - and a great gardener, in truth she keeps her friends close, and only lets a few dear people into her world.Pick up this page-turning whodunnit series in the tradition of Agatha Christie and Miss Marple, Colin Dexter and Inspector Morse or Dorothy Sayers and Lord Peter Wimsey, and you’ll get a murder mystery fuelled by poison in the dark alleys of Cambridge today!

Genres: Christmas, Mystery

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2019

About the author

Charlot King is an international best-selling author, best known for creating evocative murder mystery novels including 'The Cambridge Murder Mysteries' series set in Cambridge England, which have been described as “gripping”, “page-turning”, and “refreshingly new”, and which are rapidly becoming well known and popular reads in the whodunnit mysteries genre.

'Poison' (Bk 1 of The Cambridge Murder Mysteries) was the debut novel published in 2015 and became a popular title for traditional British detective readers and women sleuth fans. Charlot has an increasing number of loyal readers who get notified through pre-order of deals, and also when her books go on sale through her mail list. Bk's 1-5 in the series are out now: 'Poison', 'Cursed', 'Blood Moon', 'A Christmas Mystery', 'Valentine's Day - Kiss of Death', and Bk6 coming later this year. There is also a prequel novella in the series, 'Christmas Eve in Grantchester'.

Charlot studied for a doctorate at the University of Cambridge and went on to lecture as a Don at Oxford University. She then moved to work for the BBC in Drama and worked in development in the UK film industry. Charlot is now a part time tutor at Madingley Hall, the University of Cambridge.

Reviews

[Little Red Readinghood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Almost a rare did not finish but skipped ahead to read last chapters. Written in present tense! Why? I totally dislike reading in the present tense especially a murder mystery. Second problem too many words. It needs to be edited down as scenes repeat and repeat and the forward action is lost. A shorter book would be more interesting. Give this author a little more time to mature in to the craft and then try a different book.

[Kkaadesheets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable. But, I’m not sure if it was editing or transfer to ebook but wording that made no sense would occasionally pop up. But a good convoluted mystery.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as cozy as I thought it might be, after choosing the book of a list of recommendations for cozy christmas mysteries.
I missed the cozyness ....snow and Oxford alone don't do the trick. And the protagonist professor Green is so annoying. Her antics and behavior irritates me to no end. Her arrogance and sense of entitlement is unbearable. If only I think of chapter 57 in the Bodleian Library, outright outrageaous behavior by that woman.
Certainly i won't read another book of the series as I just cannot put up with such kind of character and her disregard of anybody elses opinions, advises, feelings even.
Apart from that I found the narrative excessive and lenghty with lots of boring and dull details. I made it through the book but that is just about it.

[Sara Challoner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that I didn't really enjoy this book and it was a struggle to finish it. I found the style - especially it being written in the present tense - quite irritating. The main character, acting as the detective, is rather unbelievable and also irritating. I know you have to suspend a certain amount of belief when reading this type of detective novel but the portrayal of the police and their procedures stretches this to the limit. I won't be reading any others in the series.

[Cheri Cabot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery at its best! The characters and story are always intriguing, and the setting of Cambridge is an integral part of the story. Professor Elizabeth Green, a professor of poisons, is a complicated character; brilliant, eccentric and opinionated, she helps the police solve murders involving poision. she trys to help her grandson, Godric, and her friend Inspector Abley while dealing with her on demons.
I suggest reading these books in order, starting with "Poison." I thoroughly enjoyed them all and I'm reading book #5 now, "Valentine's Day: Kiss of Death," and I am not disappointed!
If you like a strong female protagonist and a good mystery in a bucolic setting, this series is for you.

[Carol Hoefler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Mystery is another fun and intriguing murder mystery cozy by Charlot King. With a plot including twists and turns which keep the reader guessing to the delightful description, this is another King book to be enjoyed with a cup of Earl Grey. The rich details place the reader at the scene, and the delightful cast of characters enriches the reading experience. I hope there will be more from Charlot King.

[Lesley Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love the cambridge murder mysteries, characters who you end up loving and feeling you have know them for years, plots that get you thinking and then reveal to find you are totally wrong, for an excellent sit by a tree, the fire, on the couch,read pick up thise book because you wont put it down+and who doesnt like a christmas mystery. brilliant

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

christmas fun

A bit muddled, i often felt i was in the middle of the story instead of the beginning - but book 4 in a series. So obviously they need to be read in order. Characters quite quirky and interesting, Oxford instead of Cambridge. Improbable comes to mind. Still, I will read another.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of this series I have read. The characters are interesting and the storyline was good. The author was a bit too verbose and there was a tendency to ramble. I will try one more in the series before deciding if I want to follow with other selections.

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this book, which I don't often do after reading as much as I did of it, and given that it's a murder mystery. I'd picked it out of a list of Christmas mysteries, so it's a few books along in the series, which may have been part of the problem, as I generally like to start a series at the beginning. But although the main character and her nephew (and her dogs) were somewhat engaging, and it was set at Oxford University, the book was very slow-moving and I began to care less and less about "whodunit," so I cut my losses and moved on.

[GERRY Hermans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prof Liz Green's keynote speech is interrupted when Santa bursts in & is subsequently murdered & from there the prof is on the list of suspects investigated by the local detective. Was it poison, & who

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mystery, and I didn't figure it out until the end. This is 4th book in series & the situation & relationships between the characters definitely refer to backstory I don't have. But I like the characters so much I'm going to start the series from the beginning!

[Jim Greetham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent mystery

Charlot does it again with another surprise ending. Lots of plot twists. Nice to find out something of Oxford. Thanks, Charlot.

[lisa arling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. This author never disappoints! I really like the characters & her great storyline. As always, she keeps me guessing till the end!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great murder mystery to be solved.
What a great read this is and the pace was so fast towards the end that I could hardly keep up. 😊
Well done to Queen charlott for keeping me on my toes.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodreads thinks I finished this. Simply could not. Does anyone else miss real editors? This book certainly needed on.

[Bonnie Oscars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining!

This was I interesting and entertaining! Quite funny in spots! Great characters and intriguing events! I enjoyed this and was surprised at the ending!

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hate mysteries written in present tense. Did not like Elizabeth Green. Frankly, it was a waste of time.

[Devi]

Did not finish

[Patricia Rittenhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

This series is never boring and always has an unexpected twist. Keeps you on your toes trying to figure it out.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Dr. Sandy Starborneck and Haven Usrey and Michael Pussettt and why??? Isla??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Cambridge's amateur sleuth has done it again.
Professor Elizabeth Green finds herself driving to the historical University Town of Oxford in her Talbot, just prior to Christmas, to give an Academic speech at a prize-giving venue in one of the colleges.
Things all go wrong after being in the Town for just a few hours and the reader is led into a bout of mysterious deaths, and just when you have decided you know the reason and the 'who dunnit' all changes again and the author leads you down another path to yet another sudden death, totally unattached to the previous one.
Did Santa do it?