Murder Under Moonlight: A gothic, dual-timeline murder mystery

by Delphine Woods

‘I was wrong. I believed a lie, and it has carved the heart out of me.’ 1900 Sceptic, Louisa Edwards, doesn’t believe in vengeful spirits. So, when a young woman turns up dead outside her front door, she scoffs at the rumours that the perpetrator is the ghost of Madam Buckley. There’s a murderer in her village. She is going to reveal them before they find their next victim. 1956 When Abigail Edwards discovers a secret letter at the bottom of her wardrobe, she is plunged into a mystery that spans half a century. Her mother once helped bring a murderer to justice, so why is she now saying she got the wrong man? Is it her dementia or was the real killer someone else all along? This is the second book in the Iris Lowe Mysteries. It contains dark, adult themes and sexual assault details that some might find triggering. It can be read as a stand-alone.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2021

Reviews

[Tonya Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agatha Christie fans, welcome to your next obsession. Murder Under Moonlight is a brilliant page turner that keeps you guessing until the end. This well-plotted novel is told in two timelines: one in 1900 where young girls in the rural village of Bodnem are being strangled, and in the 1950’s where Louisa Edwards, now suffering from dementia, is trying to remember what happened all those years ago. Enter Iris Lowe, one of the caregivers at Smedley Asylum who will use clues in Louisa’s letters to solve the murder more than five decades in the past.

With clever subtlety, chilling clues, and riveting characters, Woods creates a tale with plenty of twists for lovers of mysteries with a dark side. I loved this Gothic gem: is the bottle found in the frozen lake really filled with Madam Buckley’s vengeful spirit which has been let lose again because it’s been opened? The residents of Bodnem think so. The novel’s main conundrum which kept me turning pages was, while it appears young, level-headed Louisa helped apprehend the killer, why is she saying more than fifty years later the wrong man was punished for the crime?

Murder Under Moonlight is the second book in the Iris Lowe Mysteries Series. The main character from which the series takes its name is the perfect mixture of smart and curious, with a soft spot for the residents of Smedley she looks after. It seems there’s plenty of fertile soil to expand the series (one can hope!), as Iris uncovers more mysteries hidden in the pasts of Smedley’s aging residents.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok honestly the writing was very distracting. I couldn't keep up with all the names/people being introduced. And none of them had any real personality so they didn't stay in my memory. So many dead girls ! I lost track fairly early on. Also none of the characters seemed likable in the least. The main protagonist was extremely annoying. She was not really a detective just making random guesses about who the murderer could be. She kept changing her mind about who the suspect was and in a most foolish manner would accuse whoever she thought had done the crime straight to their face, without witnesses (no sense of self-preservation!). It's a wonder she wasn't knocked off!

[Jean Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, emotionally intense novel. The narrative flows seamlessly between the two decades, 1900 and 1956 in which this story is set. The main characters and the others who play smaller roles are all vividly portrayed and the interaction between them is both entertaining and heartbreaking.
This novel will appeal to historical mystery fans who like depth and intricate relationships between the protagonists.
I received a free ARC of this book from the author but this review is voluntary

[Rebecca Gregory-Chifos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written

Although this was a much darker mystery than I usually read, I found it fascinating. The characters were strongly three-dimensional; given realistic motivations. The time period was accurately described. And I appreciated the upbeat ending.

[Mrs mim Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow on book from
Tye Woman on ward 13
Lots of names to remember as the story unfolds, but a great read and great storyline

Thoroughly recommend

[Jane Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good tale

This is a novel of many parts .The story jumps not only in time but also in the telling of the tale.

[Samantha Leake · Rating 5 out of 5]

In hooked

What a fabulous story, I just couldn't stop reading!
Straight on to book 3, they never dissapoint, a real page turner.

[Tom Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read this is, characters that are easily imaginable and believable, The plot of the story is extremely well written and flowed easily. This story had me gripped from the first pages, I love a tale where I can’t guess the ending and this one didn’t disappoint. I look forward to reading more books from this author.
It has to be on your “must read” list.
I received this book for free from the author for free and wanted to give an honest review.

[Billie-Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book. I enjoy the way these books are written.