Murder is in the Air

Kate Shackleton #12

by Frances Brody

Frances Brody's twelfth Kate Shackleton mystery will positively intoxicate fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Nicola Upson.

A competition for the crown proves deadly when confidences are betrayed and secrets are spilled.

North Yorkshire, 1930. It's the season for warm and spirited countryside celebrations. Ever since the war, pubs have been in the doldrums, and in an attempt to promote and breathe new life back into the business, brewers select a charismatic employee as local queen--to be the face of their industry. And this year's queen, wages clerk Ruth Parnaby, has invited the ever intrepid Kate Shackleton and her niece Harriet to accompany her on public engagements at a garden party thrown in her honor. But when Ruth leads children to the stables for pony rides, the drayman is missing, later found in the last place imaginable--the fermentation room, deceased.

What looked to be a simple case of asphyxiation in the dangerous fermentation room is quickly clarified by the pathologist as murder--the drayman was already dead before he was taken into the room. Someone was looking to cover it up. The horse dealer who sold the pony to the drayman comes under suspicion, but more and more Ruth's nasty father, Slater Parnaby's strong motive to dissuade his daughter from any festivities lingers in Kate's mind, despite his having an alibi. The case is muddy, at best, and it's going to take Kate at her keenest to decipher the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime, Historical, Audiobook

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2020

About the author

Frances 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

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second book by this author and she really likes to research her topic, yet it is not force fed back to the reader as some authors are inclined to do.

Murder is in the Air: A Kate Shackleton Mystery is set in Yorkshire, England, in the 1920s and it is set within the local brewing industry. I was extra interested because I lived in the area for several years and know Masham and Theakstone's Brewery well. This book has been published under another title Death and the Brewery Queen which is also very apt.

I enjoyed the book very much but occasionally I felt the author was drawing it out a bit too long, especially towards the end. Certainly there were issues to resolve but it felt like starting a whole new book rather than winding down a finished one. Kate Shackleton is an interesting and likable character as is her partner Sykes. Sergeant the dog is pretty special too. All good and definitely worth 4 stars.

My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, this was the third one I’d read by Francis Brady and I must say they are growing in me!!! I love the fact that it’s slow-paced but, that was how they did things like that in the 1930’s. It reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel but, much more enjoyable.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a couple of Francis Brody’s books in this series and I’ve always really enjoyed them. They are set in an era after the First World War and are beautifully descriptive and have you thinking that you are reading an Agatha Christie book. The pace is slow but, set in this era suits it well and I find this way of writing very appealing. I have some more of her books to read and hopefully in time I can get hold of the whole series.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 12th in the Kate Shackleton series is said to appeal to avid Maisie Dobbs fans like me. But slow-paced MURDER IS IN THE AIR, set in 1930, just wasn’t my cup of tea. Others who love old-fashioned English mysteries may find it a perfect cuppa.

3 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 06 Oct 2020

Thanks to the author, Crooked Lane Books,
and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#MurderisintheAir #NetGalley

[Graeme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this quite intricate and detailed story, which managed to be unpredictable yet entirely plausible. The characters are interesting and well drawn; I am looking forward to other books in the series to again meet Kate Shackleton, an intelligent, kind, and no-nonsense private investigator, widowed by the Great War, and Jim Sykes, her utterly reliable assistant, who is an ex-policeman, forensic accountant, and investigational factotum.

My greatest dislike in mystery novels is clues that are laid out so disingenuously that a half blind and possibly senile donkey could say who done it, while we have to put up with laborious reasoning and tedious explanations. None of that here! As soon as I worked out the inferences and deductions, so did Kate, and no time was lost in getting the offender locked up by the always cooperative and never stupid Sergeant Moon of the local constabulary. Great work, Frances Brody!

I must add, as a postscript, that I borrowed another Frances Brody book, A Woman Unknown and found it much less appealing, to say the least. Since Death and the Brewery Queen was her latest work, I may be wrong about the earlier ones.

[Cathy]

This book didn't take long to read but it's been sitting in my 'reading' list because I mislaid it and then had library book deadlines.

The most recent in the Kate Shackleton series was a lovely light read, with some now familiar characters, and a murder I thought was too simple in solution to be the end of the story, but it turned out that wasn't the main mystery to be solved after all. It did keep me turning pages towards the end to find out what would happen.

The story is set partly in a brewery, and I've just realised the book was released also under the title 'Death and the Brewery Queen'.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the twelfth in the series & is set in the 1930’s in Northern England . William Lofthouse owner of Barleycorn Brewery asks Kate to investigate some mishaps. When there they get caught up in accompanying wages clerk Ruth Parnaby’s engagements as Northern Breweries’ beauty queen. On one of Ruth’s first engagements, a garden party at the brewery, she leads children to the stables for pony rides but the drayman is missing, later found in the last place imaginable--the fermentation room, deceased.
What looked to be a simple case of asphyxiation in the dangerous fermentation room is quickly clarified by the pathologist as murder. Then another murder follows
I am really enjoying this series & like Kate, Jim & the other reoccurring characters, I found this to be a well written book although the pace was slow to begin with it did pick up & what started as a so so read turned into a captivating page turning one. There are plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings, but the ever level headed Kate works her way through to solving the crimes
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Springtime is in the air in North Yorkshire and Kate's artist friend Eleanor Hart has asked her to speak with her husband, William Lofthouse about the odd goings-on at his brewery. At first William is hesitant to explain, he claims he just wants paperwork sorted out and everything in tip-top shape for when his nephew James returns from touring Germany to take over the company. Then William reluctantly reveals there have been missing and cancelled orders and financial discrepancies. He's sure it's all a mistake. Kate volunteers Jim Sykes for the job. Jim uncovers proof of financial wrongdoing and even sabotage! The brewery is in trouble and Eleanor isn't helping, spending their funds on the new Brewery Queen contest. The Barleycorn Brewery accounts clerk, Ruth Parnaby, is sure to win. Ruth has been working hard learning deportment, breathing, elocution and everything she needs to win. She HAS to win- her mother's life depends on it. She's helped along by Miss Crawford, Mr. Lofthouse's secretary and Miss Boland, a former opera singer. When Miss Crawford asks to speak to Mr. Lofthouse privately about company business, he puts her off until the next day. On her way home, Miss Crawford is tragically struck and killed by a passing motorist. Mr. Sykes is certain it wasn't an accident and calls in Kate to investigate. Kate invites Mrs. Sykes and Harriet for the garden party in honor of the Brewery Queen. Harriet and Ruth soon hit it off and are eager to help the young children with pony rides but when the drayman and horse expert Joe Finch fails to appear, Kate becomes worried. She's horrified to discover his lifeless body in the fermentation room. It's going to take all of Kate's intelligence and resources to figure out what happened and why.

This story is rather disjointed. The jacket summary doesn't even cover the first half of the novel. The mystery of the mysterious events at Barleycorn Brewery and Miss Crawford's death is solved quickly and has nothing to do with the rest of the story. There's also a subplot about an abusive, alcoholic husband and father and his abused wife, his relationship with his children (gender norms) and a super random mention late in the story of a past romance for Ruth that never appears in the story. There is one other random subplot thread mentioned very late in the story than isn't relevant to the rest of the plot. There are a couple other editing errors I noticed. I think Crooked Lane needs some new editors. This is becoming a problem. The story starts with Kate's POV ("I") and switches abruptly to other characters without Kate identifying herself again. It was kind of hard to get used to all the head jumping in this novel, for some reason. I've read all the others and never really had a problem. The plot is pretty slow. I got to the point where I couldn't stay awake longer but I didn't have much left so I skipped a lot and checked out what happened at the end. I wasn't totally surprised by the murderer but I was at the same time. I kind of figured it out when Kate did.

I didn't really like the Brewery theme. I don't drink and I think beer smells disgusting and there are better things they could be making. I didn't see why replacing horses with vans was such a huge deal. It makes perfect sense. Britain's reluctance to enter the modern industrial age did not do them any favors in WWI and they should know that by now. One of the villains is never allowed to speak, isn't developed and just is mentioned as a bad 'un. They did something despicable for selfish reasons but I'm a bit confused exactly as to what was going on and why it was so bad. I also loathe beauty pageants and didn't like that part of the plot. For Ruth, if she wins, it's a ticket to a better life and I see that but does it have to be a beauty contest? Yuck. In the 1930s it was difficult for working men and women, especially women, to get ahead. Ruth has extra motivation because she has to help her mother.

As always, Kate is rational and unemotional. That doesn't mean she's not empathetic but she never really reacts to anything. She calmly deals with murderers and lunatics as she would anyone else. Perhaps it's her mother's poshness. She's a little more invested emotionally than Sykes. He doesn't understand the mentality of battered women because of his male privilege. He's very masculine and macho. He'd fight back. He doesn't understand psychological abuse and sheer terror of one's abuser. Mrs. Sugden is the most sympathetic of all the characters. She's warm and comforting and knows when/where she's needed. Harriet is young, energetic and optimistic. She's really coming into her own here. She's not just copying Auntie Kate, she shows a lot of empathy, kindness and friendship when it's needed. I think coming from a similar world, Harriet can understand her new friend better, whereas Kate is older and more posh. Because Kate was adopted she never had to look out for herself and her siblings or try hard to get ahead and make a better life. She's independent because she wants to be but if she needed help, her parents would help her. Sergeant Dog, as always, is the best character. They should learn not to count him out. He's proven worthy a few times now.

We're introduced to another of Kate's friends, Eleanor Hart, an artist. Eleanor comes from a lacemaking family who lost their business. She seems kind but is either really bad with money, really clueless about her husband's finances or deliberately trying to ruin him. It wouldn't be the first time one of Kate's friends was up to no good. Kate does suspect Eleanor of wrongdoing. She fears she has a nasty, suspicious mind. If so, I must have one too for I suspected the same thing. It quickly becomes clear if Kate is right or wrong. Either way, Eleanor seems intelligent but lively and energetic. Her husband William is much older. He's ill and careworn. He's placed all his hopes in his nephew James swooping in to save the day. William is a bit naïve and clueless when it comes to handling the books and business matters. He's even sheepish about admitting there's a problem! I admire him for his hard work and dedicating getting him where he is but he's going to lose his business if he sticks his head in the sand. His nephew should be free to live his own life. Does he even want to return to take over Barleycorn Brewery? He seems happy in Europe and may have fallen in love with a German woman. I almost feel bad for him. All we know about James we learn from others. He's described as lazy and spoiled rotten. I think James wants an easy life and marrying a German brewer's daughter might bring him that life. I'm uneasy about him visiting Germany in 1930 though. I wonder how long he will stay and what will happen to him if he does marry a German girl and stays in Germany or even Vienna?

James has an old friend, Rory Tebbit, who works as a bank manager. The two young men have always been close. They must share secrets. Add to that fact, Mrs. Tebbit and her son have a stake in the Barleycorn Brewery and Mrs. Tebbit hasn't RSVPd to the garden party, it seems something shady is going on. How much does Mrs. Tebbit know? Is her son involved? He's a bank manager and should be upright.

Miss Crawford was my favorite human character. She's intelligent, on top of things, shrewd, and cares about the business. She also cares enough to help Ruth become Brewery Queen. I was shocked and terribly upset when she was killed, as was the entire village. She should not have died. Her death was a super tragedy and unnecessary.

The story centers a lot around the Parnaby family. Slater "Sniffer" Parnaby is a mercurial man. You never know what side of himself he's going to show at any given moment. He's a nasty drunk, a whiner and a loser. While he is right that working for a boss will never get him ahead, that's mainly because he's an alcoholic and also kind of lazy. He wants a better life and keeps coming up with crazy schemes instead of working hard like Mr. Lofthouse did. Mr. Paraby has another point that he served his country and deserves to be rewarded. We don't know whether he was this bad before the war of if his behavior is a result of PTSD. I believe, from Ruth's childhood memories, he was always like that. He has a nasty temper and it makes him abusive towards his wife and children. George Paranby has apprenticed as a cooper in the brewery, learning from his dad who learned from his dad and so on. George is not as clever as his sister and is more sensitive. His dad's bullying and abuse doesn't help and it gets worse as he gets older and doesn't conform to gender norms. (UGH! But at least we see it's not just women and gay men). George is sweet and caring. Ruth is made of tougher stuff. She's smart, quick witted, brave and loyal. She doesn't let her father get under her skin and feels protective of her brother and mother. Annie Parnaby is an abused wife. Her husband nearly killed her at least once and he constantly belittled her and put her down. Her story is heartbreaking. She's so shy, timid and fearful of anyone other than her children. She does what she has to do to survive (not what you think) and lacks the hopeful optimism of her daughter. If Ruth wins the Brewery Queen title, she thinks it will help towards getting her mother away from Mr. Paraby's control. The three other Parnabys will relocate and start fresh away from the rotten Slater Parnaby.

Joe Finch, drayman and horse caretaker, has beef with with Slater Parnaby. Joe is a kind man and caring. He does have a rescue hero complex. He's very kind to horses and people in need of his help. When he is killed, everyone is shocked. The only person who would want Joe dead is Parnaby. The only other person known to argue with Joe is a horse trader who abused a pony Joe bought for a shilling and rehabilitated. The horse trader seems the most likely suspect for murderer. There's a homeless family Joe has been hiding in the stables. Do they know something? Is one of them a murderer? If so, what could be their motive? Joe's wife, Yvonne, is gutted at his death. She's hurt and angry at the same time. I like her a lot. She's a smart, strong woman who knows her own mind. I feel very badly for her. Miss Boland is quite an eccentric character. A former opera singer, she's kind to help Ruth but she isn't without her share of the dramatic. I like her friendship with Mrs. Finch and her empathy towards Ruth. Miss Boland understands what Ruth's father is like and how much Ruth needs to win this contest. Miss Boland and her father had dealings with Mr. Parnaby in the past. Could their actions affect the present?

This wasn't my favorite of the series. I think it can be read as a standalone without knowing the characters. I'm not crazy about this series and I don't know if I'll be interested in reading more. It's gotten too dark and Kate is too unemotional for me. I prefer cozy mysteries with humor and quirky characters.

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In „Death and the Brewery Queen“, already the twelfth in the Kate Shackleton’s series, Kate and her partner Jim Sykes are asked to investigate in the Barleycorn Brewery. There have been a number of mishaps, the numbers do not add up, some strange things have been happening and the young wife of the Brewery’s owner is concerned. Initially it is only Jim who is supposed to look into brewery’s finances, however after one death too many Kate also starts to investigate, as this what looked like a simple case turns into complex and complicated matter with murder involved.

Kate Shackleton stays true to herself, as well as her partner Sykes, they are both filled with morals and rules and I really like it in them, it makes them stable and predictable, but predictable in a good way.
However, this time, the good old characters seem a little bland compared to the background characters – firstly, there are many of them, and secondly, through interweaving so many subplots the author is almost forced to focus on them instead on the investigation and Kate and Sykes. On the one hand it’s a nice change, on the other I truly missed our detective duo. One of the characters is Ruby Parnaby, a beautiful and clever young woman, with her heart in the right place, who is working in the accounts department of the Brewery. Ruby’s father, Slater Parnaby, must be one of the most antipathetic characters ever, patronizing and almost always drunk, all the time trying to make his living by using Ruby’s winnings. Her mother, Annie, ran off before Slater could kill her and her brother George is the next to run away – will he be able to convince Ruby to flee before it’s too late?

I like Kate Shackleton, I really like this series, but I have the feeling that the last two, three books simply lost their spark and they’re not as thrilling as they used to be. In „Death and the Brewery Queen“ the storyline dragged too much for my liking, the idea itself was not as captivating and there were too many subplots, as if the author couldn’t decide what it is she really wants to write about. Nevertheless, I love Frances Brody’s steady storytelling and the way she adds twists, turns and red herrings to her stories.
I am also really not so sure about the end. It felt much too rushed and somehow unbelievable – whatever it was, it didn’t sit with me and for me it also didn’t work with the rest of the book. Also the introduction of the wayward nephew – I still am not sure what his role in this story was.

This time the author touched upon some different matters, some heavier issues. She writes about bullied children, mistreated wives, broken families. Maybe this is this change in tone that made the book this little bit different to the previous ones? Nevertheless, as always, the author transports us into her fictional world and times, adding many interesting historical details, especially about the brewery during this period of time. I enjoyed those little details and Frances Brody can truly capture the atmosphere and sense of her chosen period of time. The writing style is gentle and engaging and there is a touch of melancholy in her writing, and even when she writes about the killings, it always seems so tidy and calm, even if some of the characters truly had it coming their way. And, of course, you can easily see how much research went into this book – this is always something that I adore in Kate Shackleton’s series.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Karren Hodgkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with the fact that the only connection amongst the plots in this novel was the place. in which they took part (the brewery in a country village) and the agency that was called in for one became embroiled in the lives of a number of the families associated with it..

While there are indeed two deaths, the main villain was absent and so lacked character. Even his motive seemed questionable and so that aspect of the story felt thin. It also only took up a very small part of the novel, so I anticipated that this would develop further. It didn't.

The circumstances around the second death, when revealed, felt implausible and the outcome of that storyline was also a little strange, for me.

I then found the wrap up a little too tidy and unrelated to either of these investigations. So I think, overall, it just didn't gel. The various aspects all had great potential but just didn't come together for me.

I did read the book prior to this one and really enjoyed it.

My thanks to #Netgalley, #Crookedlanepublishers and the author for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent read by Frances Brody

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021 bk 130. I love Frances Brody's writing style - how we can see the main character's thought processes, but at the same time see what is going on among the people around her. That said, this book was written more in the style of a novel with multiple mysteries going on - and each solved one after another instead of one massive solving at the end of the book. This had the least mourning for her husband in her concern for other women who had lost their husbands/lovers - and I say 'excellent' that had become a little tiring. Yes, do continue to make brief mention as she does in this book, but I think as time continues on Kate would more and more keep her grief to herself. What made this more interesting was the footnote at the end about the author's own ties with a small brewery operation.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the start of the book fairly heavy going, I really struggled to get into the story and it didn’t help that Kate doesn’t get involved until a quarter of the way through. Fortunately the story improved and I quite enjoyed following Kate, although I found parts of the story a bit of a mishmash towards the end.
One very minor irritation was the change in the title from Death and the Brewery Queen after some books had already been published. This caused me some confusion when trying to find the book.

[Tansy Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably not best to start with the 12th book in an ongoing series, I suppose... I struggled with the very bland main/recurring characters and the lack of proper historical ground to start with -- Murder in the Air is set in the North of England in 1930 but I'd forgotten this by the time the review copy hit my Kindle, and there were almost no context clues for the first few chapters. I shouldn't have to Google to know what time period a story is set in!

However, the plot did hot up eventually and I found the village characters quite compelling, as well as the brewery setting.

[Eager Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could be more English than a murder in an English Brewery. This is reminiscent of the golden age mysteries with a small English village and detectives coming onto the scene trying to sort out why there have been a series of incidents that undermine the local brewery, and largest employer. The detective team is engaging but the focus stays on figuring the puzzle which is solved mid book as the murders move to a more important focus. It's a fun summer read and I'll look for more in the series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have I finally developed a liking for the Kate Shackleton mysteries? I rather think I have, or at least I've developed a habit of picking up a new one when I see it. Kate is hired by a brewer in 1930's Yorkshire to investigate who is trying to sabotage his plant. Then there's a hit-and-run death of someone who may know something. The culprit seems only too obvious, and is indeed tagged for the crimes. But we're only halfway through the story! Then there's another death--and the first killer is snugly behind bars. So Kate must go on and solve yet another crime. It's a strange structure, but the local color remains charming.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going to give this book 5 stars as it started as Mr Sykes's perspective, which was interesting. However, this was not the case, and kate took over. There was not much investigation if any which was quite BORING, then suddenly Kate shackleton announced the killer which left out the excitement of wondering who the killer is and putting the facts together to try figure it out ourselves and always get it wrong. I did like how we got to see more involvement of Harriet and some chapters from other people's perspectives. This book was more of a story kinda book than a murder mystery. The last chapter was quite sad but with a nice ending. THOUGHT THE BOOK WAS MISSING SOMETHING OVERALL.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder in the Air is the 12th book in the Kate Shackleton mystery series but this is the first one that I read. You can certainly read this as a standalone, as I did, but I think it would be more enjoyable to read others as I really didn't warm up to Kate and she really doesn't have a main role until almost midway through the book.

There were two unrelated deaths in this book. The first one is wrapped up and solved before the second occurs . In fact, the book blurb doesn't even mention that murder at all and goes right to the second. I'm not sure why the first murder was thrown in, the book would have done well to just focus on the second.

And when that murder is resolved, there was another villainous act that just drags the story on even longer. I can understand why it was added as it does wrap up a family situation but...


I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. however, the opinion expressed is my own

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Death and the Brewery Queen’, twelfth in the Kate Shackleton 1930s detective series by Frances Brody, is a story of two halves and two murders. As always, sensible Kate is on hand to bring calm and control to a messy situation.
Kate and her sidekick Jim Sykes are employed by a brewery owner to sort out some business irregularities at Barleycorn Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire. Is it a matter of employee pilfering, aggressive competitors, inefficiency or fraud? This is a low-key beginning, a gentle start which allows Brody to establish a wide cast of characters. The portrayal of the brewery and the town is the foundation for the series of linked crimes that follow. Threaded throughout the book is the story of Barleycorn’s wages clerk, Ruth Parnaby, and her quest to be crowned Northern Breweries’ beauty queen. The story is told in multiple viewpoints – Kate’s voice is first person, but in the voices of Mr Sykes, Harriet and Ruth we gather information that Kate doesn’t know. It does seem rather a long wait for the first death, after which the story speeds up and the false clues and connections begin to make sense.
Kate is a memorable, admirable heroine. She is firm and managerial when she needs to be, determined and unafraid of confronting male officialdom but also well-connected which helps break down barriers and find information possibly quite difficult to confirm quickly at that time. And she’s not afraid to take risks. She also proves empathetic to the struggles of the grindingly poor people involved in the outer circles of the story. Kate, a widow, has her own close family – niece Harriet, employee Mr Sykes, housekeeper Mrs Sugden, and of course her bloodhound Sergeant Dog – who each bring different but essential skills when on the hunt for a murderer.
This is a stop-start read, in contrast to the previous Kate Shackleton books I’ve read, but enjoyable nonetheless. Brody excels at drawing her 1920s and 1930s settings, so realistic and believable. A special mention for the scenes in Scarborough’s Grand Hotel, which I visited as an awestruck child.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...

[Shelf Indulgence · Rating 3 out of 5]

We found this book to be an enjoyable read, however we wouldn’t quite class the writer as a ‘top crime writer’ like the daily Mail claim her to be. She’s no Agatha Christie. We know we shouldn’t compare, but it’s hard when some of us are big Christie fans.
One of us didn’t like that the male assistant Jim takes over just because Kate is a woman. It made the women seem undermined.
Despite this the characters weren’t badly written, we just found that Christie’s female characters had more about them, and that it was hard not to compare to the master of crime thrillers.

We believed this to be the weakest book in the series. The rest of the series gives you more of a sense as to who Kate is and there is a stronger thread running through the other books.

This book did demonstrate how professionals used to see women, which is why Jim paves the way for Kate and also why the female characters may have to rely on men more because of the era this book is written in.
It could be a bit disjointed because this book had 2 themes running through it. Her previous books were more cohesive and had a more clear breadcrumb trail set out for the reader.
She writes accurately about class and social status.

We liked Ruth, the brewery Queen, and would’ve liked to hear her story much sooner because I enjoyed her story.
One of us didn’t like the fact that barnaby was portrayed as a bad person when in actual fact his actions were likely due to him being shell shocked because of the war.

One of the things we like about Frances Brody is that she writes realistically. Most of her characters have got light and shade in them. Despite some of them doing bad things, there are often clear reasons why they did it.

The score was between 2 of us this week and the average came out at 2.7, which we’ve rounded up to 3 on goodreads because of the scoring system.

[Cindy Ladensack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the premise of this book (and beer ofc) but I felt like the execution just didn’t live up to its promise (I’ve felt this way about most of the more recent books in this series). Part of it, I think, is sloppy editing that makes this feel like a rough draft (see the beginning of ch 26, with two sentences in subsequent paragraphs that each say essentially “In the tennis court, a brass band played.” ) Also, I think the narrative switching between first person (Kate) and third person (various other characters) is a bit awkward. The characters, too, feel inconsistent in their actions and reactions. And the plotting—there is a first death, which isn’t mentioned in the overleaf and is not super developed; the second death, which is wrapped up, again rather nonchalantly, with 50-60 pages still to go; and then a kidnapping tucked on the end.... quite odd. I think it would have worked better to have the kidnapping happen before the mystery of Joe’s death is wrapped up, or even before Miss Crawford’s killer is found too—that way, much more dramatic tension: Parnaby would be the obvious suspect for two, if not all three; chasing down the nephew would be more exciting; and revealing Miss Boland as a killer would be much more shocking. The way it was presented just sapped the life out of the resolution of all three story lines. Too bad, because this book, and the series, has so much potential.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Brody creates unique personalities in the characters that populate this story. She writes some chapters that focus on the characters unique to this particular book that do not necessarily directly move along the mystery but it gives more insight into these characters. So much so in this book, the personalities of the recurring characters seem a bit bland (though I have read others in the series so I do remember them).

Instead of one mystery, there turns out to be three separate matters, at one place, that are investigated by the detective agency Kate owns, instead of one mystery. I think it slows down the pace a bit.

There are interesting historical details of the brewery during this time period and the portrayal of "Queen of an industry" beauty pageant practice. These little details can inspire an entire story and gives a sense of the time.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in return for a fair review.

[Wendy Charlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of Kate Shackleton best adventures but still a nice read. Characters are well observed and there is the same keen social observations of the time. She writes women who are work horses or decorative or artistic but Kate is insightful, intelligent and true!

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery angle wasn't up to the quality I expect from this excellent series but the story and characters were engaging and interesting so I didn't mind. Learning a bit about breweries in the 1930s was interesting, too.

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Shackleton manages to trip around some interesting 1930s Yorkshire locations to investigate a wide variety of murderous crimes and this story is about Barleycorn Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, where some pretty shady business is going on. But first I digress so please humour me: Many years ago Australia had glamorous beauty queen pageants and the most famous winner was Tania Verstak Miss International 1962 (I know women who were named after Tania) but apparently, or thankfully, no brewery-sponsored competitions. It is debateable whether or not such happenings were a good idea for women’s rights or self-image. With this Yorkshire investigation there is no glitz and glamour for Kate Shackleton nor the brewery queen. There is a ritual the younger brewery men suffered which I hope is also obsolete. Since this is book number 12 in the series, the last story in my Goodreads challenge, I will attempt to keep my review straight forward, albeit long. Note this book has two titles ‘Murder is in the Air’ and ‘Death and the Brewery Queen’ although the story is the same and I do not know the reason behind the different titles. It’s a solid narrative but with some choppy parts, cameo characters and my favourite ex-policeman Jim Sykes although he plays a lowkey clerical role in proceedings. Book twelve in this series and the synopsis here is a tragic death and a lot about local histories, suspicious characters, deadly chemicals and business rivalries. It’s a cutthroat business brewing beer to inebriate pub drinkers every Saturday night.

There is no shortage of suspects when Ronnie, a drayman, is found dead in one of the brewery's fermentation rooms. Asphyxiation or murder? Over to Kate Shackleton and her investigation team of two, Mrs Sugden and Mr Sykes, or three if you count bloodhound Sergeant Dog. Woven through the story is Barleycorn’s wages clerk, Ruth Parnaby, and her long held dream to be crowned Northern Breweries beauty queen. Kate and the other characters are not given an overview or solid descriptions and there is a certain lack of empathy including the beauty queen herself. The locations are clear in my mind but engaging content is missing, particularly when interviewing or questioning likely suspects. There is great reliance on the reader to create their own Yorkshire, their own clues. Often no prodding is given, no insights like clothing, homeware design, village shops or even a waitress in the local café. Of course, this is the author’s style, just not immersive enough for me. After reading twelve books, one a month during 2025, I feel I have completed the Goodreads Challenge satisfactorily. It has been an enjoyable and interesting journey watching things evolve through Yorkshire’s past, the people, the industry, the after effects of WWI, and following Kate Shackleton’s line of work. Her manner is never out of place yet it takes boldness to do what she does in a man’s world. Twelve crime novels, one a month with Goodreads Aussie Lovers of Crime/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Annual Series Challenge 2025. Book 12 and Challenge completed!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review Murder Is in the Air (called Death and the Brewery Queen if you're reading in the UK). All opinions are my own.

Right off the bat we learn what Kate Shackleton does for a living – she’s a private investigator, along with Jim Sykes, her assistant. We’re in 1930 Leeds. She’s been contacted by the owner of a brewery to discuss some irregularities in operations, even to the point of sabotage, we soon learn – “trouble at ‘t mill,” or in this case, the Barleycorn Brewery.

Soon, our cast of characters grows. William Lofthouse and his wife, Eleanor, who own the brewery. A wayward nephew – what is he planning? Joe Finch, who’s there to help all and sundry, to his detriment, unfortunately. And finally, the family Parnaby, a family that includes a son and the daughter who’s the local county brewery “queen,” a young woman who is to represent the business at local events. Father Parnaby is for all intents and purposes an awful person.

Bill Sykes is assigned to work on the brewery case, figuring he’ll have a better insight into things. Pretty soon there’s a murder, a hit and run. Later on, we get another murder. And the troubles at the brewery seem petty in comparison.

Never mind these deaths, this is a story of a wounded family, a mistreated woman and bullied, sad children. The way that Ms. Brody portrays the Parnabys is heartbreaking. I wanted to jump in a time machine and whisk them all out of there. Kate and Jim and Mrs. Sugden, their housekeeper are Good Samaritans through it all. There’s always more to them than mystery-solvers in these books (this is the 12th, by the way. Probably shouldn’t start at this one. And why would you? Begin at the beginning, with this excellent series).

There’s one last drama, one last try at a “get rich quick” scheme. How awful people are, no matter who they are, so Frances Brody shows us. At least the Yorkshire brewery contingent has its day. In praise of ale, indeed!

An author’s note explains about the famous breweries that are the background for the story. One final thing to mention -- this is a multiple viewpoint book. Not everyone’s cup ‘o tea.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Murder is in the Air is the 12th Kate Shackleton historical cozy by Frances Brody. Released 6th Oct 2020 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 316 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a gently written, engaging historical (1930s) mystery series set in England. This entry sees Kate and her partner investigating a series of incidents at a brewery in Yorkshire. I love the slow paced golden-age interwar classic feel of these mysteries and this one fits in well. For new readers, it works very well as a standalone; the author is adept at providing backstory in context without info-dumping.

There's a quite impressive verisimilitude. There has clearly been a prodigious amount of research behind the setting and workings of an English brewery of the time, and it shows. The plot is character driven and their interactions as they learn about one another and their interrelationships both past and present allow Kate to disentangle all the plot threads and turn them into a cohesive whole by the end of the book. The denouement was somewhat melancholy for me. Sometimes (most of the time?) there's no perfect "happily ever after" and this is true here as well.

I highly recommend the series as a whole, and this entry specifically to any readers who enjoy golden age interwar classic mysteries in the British style. The writing, plotting, and pacing will draw inevitable comparisons with Josephie Tey and Christie amongst the period selections, as well as Nicola Upson and Imogen Robertson's modern period pieces. This is one series I really look forward to, and this particular offering compares favorably with earlier volumes in the series.

Four stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Caren Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Murder is in the Air: Frances Brody’s murder mystery, Murder Is In the Air: A Kate Shackleton Mystery is the 12th in the series. It features Kate Shackleton solving multiple murders in a family-owned brewery.

Ruby Parnaby is beautiful and brilliant, working in the accounts payable department despite her employer having some truly patronizing views of women working. She’s got a terrible father, Slater Parnaby, who is hell-bent on using her to get rich by being as nasty as he can, and for most of the book, he is happy to cast himself as the villain. Her mother, Annie, ran off before Slater could kill her in a drunken fit and her brother, George follows since he’s the next one to get his dad’s wrath.

What’s most odd is that they’re not even the main characters of the book; they just feature in it heavily since the entire family works for the brewery that William Lofthouse owns and operates. And that’s the beauty of it. Nearly every character is tortured in a way that makes me think of soap operas.

This is one part period British TV drama and one part Agatha Christie novel. It’s intricately plotted and definitely suitable for readers who like their killings to be tidy. Despite some of the deaths sounding really painful, they’re all presented calmly, in this amazing he-had-it-coming way.

The other notable characteristic is the deeply feminist tone of the book. The women are capable, but most are being overlooked. And that’s a key factor of the time period. Women are overlooked as too poor or too dumb or too pretty to be of any good. But there’s one line that stuck out to me: If Lofthouse had set a greater value on this competent woman, Sykes thought, he might not be in this present pickle.

This was a fun read. Fans of Downton Abbey and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries are going to have fun with this book. Despite it being the 12th in the series, I picked it up without having to know much backstory about the characters. I’m not sure if I’d be as fond of it if I’d have read the previous 11 books, but this was a fun one to fall into.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this series by Frances Brody on my to-try list for a year or so, and finally laid hands on a copy of the 12th volume. The series ticks a number of my favorite reading elements: a smart female lead, set in England in the "classic" era of the 1930s, with a setting I have not encountered before--in this case, a small Midlands brewery suffering a few too many business setbacks.
Kate Shackleton runs a private investigation business, with the help of a former policeman, Sykes. Approached by William Lofthouse, the brewery owner, to have a look at operations and see if there is anything amiss, Kate sends Sykes to audit their books and business practices. Almost immediately, Sykes spots some unauthorized expenditures by Mrs. Lofthouse, and a small fiddle by the drayman, Joe Finch. Someone sabotages the newest batch of ale, on which William had depended to right the brewery's fortunes. William's secretary, Miss Crawford, has suspicions of her own. Before she can reveal something she learned to her boss, she is killed on the road, victim of a hit and run.
Kate joins Sykes and begins probing into Miss Crawford's death. Meanwhile, other forces related to the brewery are moving: Mrs. Lofthouse has initiated a Brewery Queen contest that has been embraced by the industry, and their own clerk, Ruth Parnaby, has advanced to the next round. Her father is the brewery's head cooper, but Slater Parnaby is a bitter, abusive man, and both of his children have taken the opportunity to leave home. Kate learns Mrs. Parnaby is living in hiding in a nearby village, having fled years earlier, aided by Joe Finch. When a body is found in the fermentation room, Kate and Sykes begin to draw together the strings of 2 plots against the brewery, both fueled by disloyalty and greed.
I'm hoping I can find the earlier books in the series, and learn how Kate came to be a P.I. This is a nicely penned volume with interesting characters and a nice blending of real history.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been a number of mishaps at the Barleycorn Brewery. While William Lofthouse, the owner, sees them as minor setbacks, his wife asks him to consult with kate Shackleton, a private investigator. Lofthouse had sent his nephew James to Germany to learn from their brewers in the hope that he would return and take over some of the responsibilities, but James has extended his stay. Kate sends her assistant Jim Sykes to meet the brewery staff and review their accounts and security. He is assisted by Miss Crawford, William’s secretary, who has discovered disturbing news. Before she has a chance to talk with Lofthouse she is murdered. Kate arrives on the scene as everyone is dealing with their grief from this loss.

Miss Crawford’s death comes days before she was to chaperone the brewery’s entry in the Brewery Queen competition. Ruth Parnaby, the wages clerk, is representing Barleycorn in the competition, but not everyone is supportive of her participation. While the event goes well for the brewery, the celebration is marred by the discovery of another body in the fermentation room.

Frances Brody’s story is one of sabotage, abuse, kidnapping and murder that draws the reader into the lives of her characters. From the drayman who adopted an abused pony to the cooper who drove his wife to leave in fear for her life you get to know these characters on a personal level. Kate, who has dealt with the loss of her own husband in the past, displays sympathy and understanding that allows people to open up to her as she investigates. She is a wonderful character that makes Brody’s series one that is easy to recommend. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.