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Smart Woman's Mystery #3
The Supper Club Murders
The phones are out.
The roads have flooded.
There’s no way in or out.
And the murders have begun.
Ursula Smart and her mother, Pandora, are invited to a supper safari at Greystone Castle, with their ever-adventurous book club.
Their hosts are Lord and Lady Black, who bought their titles and have taken up residence in the castle at the edge of a picturesque Dartmoor village.
But the quaint, idyllic façade soon fades as festering resentments begin to surface. Ursula and Pandora sense all is not well at Greystone. And when the Midnight Gun fires, their suspicions are proved right.
Death is all around them in this ancient castle — in the priest hole, the murder hole, on the ducking stool.
The Smart women race to solve a seemingly impossible murder, even as the body count rises.
Who will be next?
The roads have flooded.
There’s no way in or out.
And the murders have begun.
Ursula Smart and her mother, Pandora, are invited to a supper safari at Greystone Castle, with their ever-adventurous book club.
Their hosts are Lord and Lady Black, who bought their titles and have taken up residence in the castle at the edge of a picturesque Dartmoor village.
But the quaint, idyllic façade soon fades as festering resentments begin to surface. Ursula and Pandora sense all is not well at Greystone. And when the Midnight Gun fires, their suspicions are proved right.
Death is all around them in this ancient castle — in the priest hole, the murder hole, on the ducking stool.
The Smart women race to solve a seemingly impossible murder, even as the body count rises.
Who will be next?
274 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2021
About the author
Victoria Dowd
21 books95 followersVictoria is a crime writer and her first novel, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder, won The People’s Book Prize 2020/2021. It was also In Search of the Classic Mystery’s book of the year 2020. It’s the first in the Smart Woman’s mystery series. The second is Body on the Island and the third, The Supper Club Murders is out on 16th September. They are a dark comedy take on the classic whodunnit.
She is also an award winning writer of short fiction, having won the Gothic Fiction prize for short fiction by Go Gothic. She was the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award and her work has been short listed and Highly commended by Writers’ Forum magazine. She was also long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in various literary and arts journals such as BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Gold Dust magazine and Dream Catcher. She has spoken at various literary festivals, most recently in Bath, and at various schools and book groups. Her historical fiction, The Painter of Siena, was published in 2016.
After studying law at Cambridge University, she was a criminal law barrister for many years, but finally hung up the wig in favour of more fictional crimes.
She is also an award winning writer of short fiction, having won the Gothic Fiction prize for short fiction by Go Gothic. She was the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award and her work has been short listed and Highly commended by Writers’ Forum magazine. She was also long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in various literary and arts journals such as BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Gold Dust magazine and Dream Catcher. She has spoken at various literary festivals, most recently in Bath, and at various schools and book groups. Her historical fiction, The Painter of Siena, was published in 2016.
After studying law at Cambridge University, she was a criminal law barrister for many years, but finally hung up the wig in favour of more fictional crimes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 25, 2022
Fun and murder go hand in hand in this third book of the series.
My third 5 stars for Victoria Dowd for making me laugh out loud with her books. Thank you!
Who can say what goes on behind closed doors?
Ursula and Pandora Smart are invited by Lord and Lady Black to stay at Black Towers, their castle on Dartmoor.
They think they are all going on a fun holiday, little suspecting that the serene village of Greystone is filled with all manner of lurking dangers, impossible to discern in the darkness.
Witches, magicians, cannon fire and drunken lords in the iron maiden. They certainly know how to party in Greystone.
Soon the village will be dubbed the Village of the Damned and the castle, the Tower of Death, as at the stroke of midnight, the Lord will have his head caved in with a cannonball and a witch will be drowned using a ducking stool.
My third 5 stars for Victoria Dowd for making me laugh out loud with her books. Thank you!
Who can say what goes on behind closed doors?
Ursula and Pandora Smart are invited by Lord and Lady Black to stay at Black Towers, their castle on Dartmoor.
They think they are all going on a fun holiday, little suspecting that the serene village of Greystone is filled with all manner of lurking dangers, impossible to discern in the darkness.
Witches, magicians, cannon fire and drunken lords in the iron maiden. They certainly know how to party in Greystone.
Soon the village will be dubbed the Village of the Damned and the castle, the Tower of Death, as at the stroke of midnight, the Lord will have his head caved in with a cannonball and a witch will be drowned using a ducking stool.
September 6, 2021
Smart Women Mystery #3
The phones are out. The roads have flooded. There's no way out. And the murders have begun.
Ursula Smart and her mother, Pandora, are invited to a supper safari at Greystone Castle, with their ever-adventurous book club. Their hosts are Lord and Lady Black, who bought their titles and have taken up residence in the castle at the edge of Dartmoor Village. Ursula and Pandora sense all is not well at Greystone. When the midnight gun fires, their suspicions are proved right.
I really like this series and in my opinion, this is the best book so far. We get a murder mystery with a little bit of humour thrown in. There's plenty of twists and clues in this well written story, There's lots going on but it's easy to follow if you have read the previous two books. It's also multi-layered and atmospheric. The characters are well developed and a mixed bunch.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #VictoriaDowd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The phones are out. The roads have flooded. There's no way out. And the murders have begun.
Ursula Smart and her mother, Pandora, are invited to a supper safari at Greystone Castle, with their ever-adventurous book club. Their hosts are Lord and Lady Black, who bought their titles and have taken up residence in the castle at the edge of Dartmoor Village. Ursula and Pandora sense all is not well at Greystone. When the midnight gun fires, their suspicions are proved right.
I really like this series and in my opinion, this is the best book so far. We get a murder mystery with a little bit of humour thrown in. There's plenty of twists and clues in this well written story, There's lots going on but it's easy to follow if you have read the previous two books. It's also multi-layered and atmospheric. The characters are well developed and a mixed bunch.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #VictoriaDowd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2021
Ursula Smart and her mother are invited to a supper club hosted by Lord and Lady Black. As the dinner party begins, Ursula and her mom notice that the hosts seem a tad bit unhappy. Seems like Lord Black .. who bought his title , by the way... is flirting relentlessly with the maid. Where there's smoke there's fire?
Then as midnight strikes, someone is found brutally murdered and the Smart women find themselves investigating another perplexing crime. It's a dark and gloomy night, the castle is cut off by flood waters and there's no way in or out. Phone lines have been disabled.
Who will be the next to die? It was a locked room ... how did the victim die?
There's plenty of twists and turns along the way with the mother-daughter duo spewing sarcastic, dark humor at each other from start to finish. The mystery plot is intriguing. Although this is 3rd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. It's a locked room mystery reminiscent of those thrillers I read as a child. Looking forward to seeing what comes next for these sleuths.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Then as midnight strikes, someone is found brutally murdered and the Smart women find themselves investigating another perplexing crime. It's a dark and gloomy night, the castle is cut off by flood waters and there's no way in or out. Phone lines have been disabled.
Who will be the next to die? It was a locked room ... how did the victim die?
There's plenty of twists and turns along the way with the mother-daughter duo spewing sarcastic, dark humor at each other from start to finish. The mystery plot is intriguing. Although this is 3rd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. It's a locked room mystery reminiscent of those thrillers I read as a child. Looking forward to seeing what comes next for these sleuths.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 22, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it quite a lot. My feelings stayed the same with this one. It had laugh out loud moments. Plenty of twist and turns. An intriguing plot that kept me guessing. An atmospheric setting, and enjoyable characters! I look forward to seeing what these ladies get up to in the next book!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it quite a lot. My feelings stayed the same with this one. It had laugh out loud moments. Plenty of twist and turns. An intriguing plot that kept me guessing. An atmospheric setting, and enjoyable characters! I look forward to seeing what these ladies get up to in the next book!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 10, 2021
The Supper Club Murders is the third instalment in the Smart Woman's Mystery series, set in and around Dartmoor National Park, a vast moorland in the county of Devon, in southwest England. Dartmoor ponies roam its craggy landscape and the area is defined by forests, rivers, wetlands and tors (rock formations). Ursula Smart, her mother, Pandora, and Aunt Charlotte have been invited to the opulent and magnificent Greystone Castle by its proprietors and dwellers Lord and Lady Black (aka Lord Elzevir who bought his aristocratic title before marrying Marsha Mould) as Marsha Black had once been a member of their book club. The intrepid amateur sleuthing pair had never seen anyone killed by a cannonball, nor a body wedged in a priest hole, and they had definitely never seen someone undergoing medieval waterboarding. It was to be a weekend at the castle on Dartmoor, which looked down on everyone else in Greystone, the quintessential, picturesque English village. But behind the chocolate-box beauty and seeming tranquillity simmers a pot full of jealousies, resentments and greed. But most of all, those drystone walls and country cottage gardens hide secrets. All manner of secrets — some darker than others, some long since forgotten, some that refuse to die. When further details are sent about the visit it is billed as a ‘safari supper party’ and they are requested to take warm clothing and sturdy boots. It'll be a welcome break for Pandora from writing her true crime blog Death Smarts.
They begin to show their guests around who somehow end up being held prisoner in the gatehouse. Later, they can't help but remark on the absurdity of the night featuring witches, magicians, cannon fire and drunken lords in the iron maiden. They certainly know how to party at Greystone. The group later return to the castle from the village to discover the portcullis down, and the Midnight Gun lowered, something that would happen each midnight. Inside they discover Lord Elzevir dead on the hard stone floor. In the darkness, his face was frozen in a look of anguish and a dark stain was spreading outwards from his head. It had the unreal nature of a stage set, the final scene Lord Elzevir distinctly dead and everything perfectly placed — the blood, the body motionless behind bars, the lights faded. This a compulsive and enthralling locked room murder mystery from start to finish, and I loved the unique atmosphere of bleak beauty and isolation. It’s the perfect place for a mystery, set in a small, quaint village where festering resentments and long-held grudges quickly surface. But it also explores the tales of spirits, foul play and hauntings the area has given rise to and features myths, legends and tales from Dartmoor including Hound Tor and Lady Mary. The whole landscape is littered with burial mounds, stone rows, stone circles and ancient settlements making the story intensely creepy and thoroughly atmospheric. A compelling, absorbing and multilayered mystery complete with trademark snarky humour. Highly recommended.
They begin to show their guests around who somehow end up being held prisoner in the gatehouse. Later, they can't help but remark on the absurdity of the night featuring witches, magicians, cannon fire and drunken lords in the iron maiden. They certainly know how to party at Greystone. The group later return to the castle from the village to discover the portcullis down, and the Midnight Gun lowered, something that would happen each midnight. Inside they discover Lord Elzevir dead on the hard stone floor. In the darkness, his face was frozen in a look of anguish and a dark stain was spreading outwards from his head. It had the unreal nature of a stage set, the final scene Lord Elzevir distinctly dead and everything perfectly placed — the blood, the body motionless behind bars, the lights faded. This a compulsive and enthralling locked room murder mystery from start to finish, and I loved the unique atmosphere of bleak beauty and isolation. It’s the perfect place for a mystery, set in a small, quaint village where festering resentments and long-held grudges quickly surface. But it also explores the tales of spirits, foul play and hauntings the area has given rise to and features myths, legends and tales from Dartmoor including Hound Tor and Lady Mary. The whole landscape is littered with burial mounds, stone rows, stone circles and ancient settlements making the story intensely creepy and thoroughly atmospheric. A compelling, absorbing and multilayered mystery complete with trademark snarky humour. Highly recommended.
September 20, 2021
This is the third installment in the series about the Smart women - Pandora, her sister Charlotte, daughter Ursula and their friends, Bridget and Mirabelle. The opening chapters of this book were very promising - quirky (dare I say weird), dark and hilarious. The premise of the novel is that the women journey to a small village to visit Pandora's friend, Lady Marsha Black, and her husband in their bizarre gothic castle to partake in a village "safari" supper. This involves travelling around the village from house to house, with a different course of the meal served in each house. Things take a turn for the worse when a miserable and rainy gale descend upon the village, soaking the supper participants. Then events become more grim as murder victims begin piling up.
The most entertaining character by far is Aunt Charlotte, whose commentary left me cackling and guffawing in my easy chair. A sample: " 'Tony Voyeur, remember? Our resident magician. You'll meet him later. He is doing a very controversial gazpacho.' 'Are we all expected to join in?' Aunt Charlotte looked worried. 'I'm not very nimble.'" The visions and fainting spells experienced by Ursula began to wear on my nerves slightly as the story progressed however, and the friendship dynamics between Bridget, Mirabelle and Pandora were rather confusing since I had not read books one and two. The tone of the book was also rather inconsistent, with the later chapters having a darker and more serious tone than the early chapters. The novel ends rather abruptly, with an obscure reference to events which will presumably occur in the next installment.
Despite some confusion and inconsistencies, I did enjoy The Supper Club Murders and would be interested in reading the earlier books, which might alleviate some of my confusion around Bridget and Mirabelle. My overall impression is that author has not yet struck the right balance between humour, sadness and menace for the Smart women, but I am interested enough to keep reading. Many thanks to Joffe and NetGalley for this entertaining read.
The most entertaining character by far is Aunt Charlotte, whose commentary left me cackling and guffawing in my easy chair. A sample: " 'Tony Voyeur, remember? Our resident magician. You'll meet him later. He is doing a very controversial gazpacho.' 'Are we all expected to join in?' Aunt Charlotte looked worried. 'I'm not very nimble.'" The visions and fainting spells experienced by Ursula began to wear on my nerves slightly as the story progressed however, and the friendship dynamics between Bridget, Mirabelle and Pandora were rather confusing since I had not read books one and two. The tone of the book was also rather inconsistent, with the later chapters having a darker and more serious tone than the early chapters. The novel ends rather abruptly, with an obscure reference to events which will presumably occur in the next installment.
Despite some confusion and inconsistencies, I did enjoy The Supper Club Murders and would be interested in reading the earlier books, which might alleviate some of my confusion around Bridget and Mirabelle. My overall impression is that author has not yet struck the right balance between humour, sadness and menace for the Smart women, but I am interested enough to keep reading. Many thanks to Joffe and NetGalley for this entertaining read.
August 29, 2021
After reading book 1 & 2 a while ago, I was a bit worried how it would be starting this one. But I found it easy to enjoy this one as a standalone while it gave gentle reminders of what had already happened in book 1 and 2.
This was the first one I did as an audio and it was wonderful! I loved the smooth cat, the dinner members like Clue, and the little moments that made me chuckle. I was surprised by how many funny parts there were - forgetting how good this author's humor is.
It was very entertaining with an interesting mystery! I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This was the first one I did as an audio and it was wonderful! I loved the smooth cat, the dinner members like Clue, and the little moments that made me chuckle. I was surprised by how many funny parts there were - forgetting how good this author's humor is.
It was very entertaining with an interesting mystery! I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
September 14, 2021
The Smart Women return in this third addition to the series.
Ursula, Pandora, Bridget and Mirabelle what a strange mixture of totally unique characters. I will be forever curious how the author: Victoria Dowd thought them up but they have developed well over the course of the series but there is still the implication that they have much more to give.
The story begins as the 4 women arrive at Greystone Castle for a Supper Club Meeting. They are met by the housekeeper and so we are introduced to another set of weird and wonderful characters. The evening doesn't go to plan it is raining the women are taken on a wander around the homes in the vicinity of the castle getting wetter and more bedraggled all the time. When the evening is finally at an end they arrive back at the Castle to be confronted by the body of Lord Elsevir.
The women immediately put their investigative skills to work but they find that the locals to Greystone Castle have many secrets and even more lies to be uncovered.
This is a very intriguing book with many twists and turns and red herrings that the reader has to keep turning page after page all the way to the shocking ending.
A very interesting and intriguing read humour and murder go hand in hand in this series in a way I have never seen (or read) before. More please.
Ursula, Pandora, Bridget and Mirabelle what a strange mixture of totally unique characters. I will be forever curious how the author: Victoria Dowd thought them up but they have developed well over the course of the series but there is still the implication that they have much more to give.
The story begins as the 4 women arrive at Greystone Castle for a Supper Club Meeting. They are met by the housekeeper and so we are introduced to another set of weird and wonderful characters. The evening doesn't go to plan it is raining the women are taken on a wander around the homes in the vicinity of the castle getting wetter and more bedraggled all the time. When the evening is finally at an end they arrive back at the Castle to be confronted by the body of Lord Elsevir.
The women immediately put their investigative skills to work but they find that the locals to Greystone Castle have many secrets and even more lies to be uncovered.
This is a very intriguing book with many twists and turns and red herrings that the reader has to keep turning page after page all the way to the shocking ending.
A very interesting and intriguing read humour and murder go hand in hand in this series in a way I have never seen (or read) before. More please.
September 17, 2021
The Smarts were invited to a super safari at Greystone Castle by an old member of their book club who is now Lady Black. The arrival is like all murder mysteries with awful weather which cuts the village off from the outside world. An impossible murder occurs then more murders by historical torture. The main characters of the Smarts and members of the book club have history which runs through the series this been the third book. The Smarts have endured psychological trauma in previous mysteries which become a main factor in this story. There are plenty of twists in the solving of this mystery but reading previous books would help with the development of the characters.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2022
Book club night meets Cleudo. Suspense, drama moving between homes in a sleepy village. Who is safe and who is not? It took me a while to take on all the characters but i might look out for more on this series
September 19, 2021
2.5 stars
Right off the bat I didn’t realize this was the third book in the Smart Women’s Mystery series, but I can tell you that that does not really hinder the reading from understanding the story and connecting with the characters. The setting and “world” is fully realized but doesn’t feel like you have missed anything, or that you need to the previous books to help fully understand the setting. As for the characters while they were written clearly enough to understand that doesn’t mean they were likable to read about or interesting to read from their perspective. Also, there was a lot of repetitive phrases spread throughout the story and that got to be really grating the deeper you got into the book.
As for the mystery and murder itself, I had a really entertaining time piecing it together along with mother and daughter. Another thing I was a fan of was the creepy isolated atmosphere the author was able to create which just added to the murder mystery setting. And lastly I was very impressed that the author touched on the psychological trauma the characters had developed due to the murders and events from the previous books, so in that I wish I had read the first two books in order to see this character development. Overall I enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery as well a the setting and atmosphere the author created as the backdrop, but I wasn’t able to give this a higher rating due to the repetitive phrases and the writing style.
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Right off the bat I didn’t realize this was the third book in the Smart Women’s Mystery series, but I can tell you that that does not really hinder the reading from understanding the story and connecting with the characters. The setting and “world” is fully realized but doesn’t feel like you have missed anything, or that you need to the previous books to help fully understand the setting. As for the characters while they were written clearly enough to understand that doesn’t mean they were likable to read about or interesting to read from their perspective. Also, there was a lot of repetitive phrases spread throughout the story and that got to be really grating the deeper you got into the book.
As for the mystery and murder itself, I had a really entertaining time piecing it together along with mother and daughter. Another thing I was a fan of was the creepy isolated atmosphere the author was able to create which just added to the murder mystery setting. And lastly I was very impressed that the author touched on the psychological trauma the characters had developed due to the murders and events from the previous books, so in that I wish I had read the first two books in order to see this character development. Overall I enjoyed the twists and turns of the mystery as well a the setting and atmosphere the author created as the backdrop, but I wasn’t able to give this a higher rating due to the repetitive phrases and the writing style.
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 10, 2021
This is the third book in a series of mystery novels but functions perfectly well as a standalone read if you are fine with allusions to previous adventures. The main character, Ursula Smart, finds herself at a dinner party in a giant house in a small village that turns into a classic locked-room murder mystery. The reader is introduced to an eclectic cast of characters at the party and in the village and as the book progresses, more of their dynamics and connections are explained.
The tone of this book is quite funny even though it's about dark subject matter including murder, relationship trouble, grief, and trauma. The humor felt very British and I appreciated the glossary for American readers to "translate" the British English. I think the book will appeal to readers who love a traditional murder mystery with a light-hearted attitude and quirky characters. Readers who have enjoyed the first books will probably get more from this than I did because they will understand all the references and jokes about previous cases!
I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the beginning, especially as the sleuthing and accusations picked up steam. I felt like the first half of the book was just waiting for the actual murder to occur for a long time. The first half would have been a nice time to get to know the characters better, but unfortunately, none of them were very likeable.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Dowd, and Joffe Books for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The tone of this book is quite funny even though it's about dark subject matter including murder, relationship trouble, grief, and trauma. The humor felt very British and I appreciated the glossary for American readers to "translate" the British English. I think the book will appeal to readers who love a traditional murder mystery with a light-hearted attitude and quirky characters. Readers who have enjoyed the first books will probably get more from this than I did because they will understand all the references and jokes about previous cases!
I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the beginning, especially as the sleuthing and accusations picked up steam. I felt like the first half of the book was just waiting for the actual murder to occur for a long time. The first half would have been a nice time to get to know the characters better, but unfortunately, none of them were very likeable.
Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Dowd, and Joffe Books for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 31, 2021
I love a good locked room thriller and this is a comically fast paced mystery romp. Book 3 in the Smart Woman Mystery series starts with Ursula and her mother Pandora Smart receiving an invite to the a supper at the Greystone Castle. They, along with members of their book club will participate in a "supper safari."
As they meet various characters that sport color related names much like a Clue game,
There are several mysteries at play here, including an interpersonal issue between the book club members. Ursula's own long deceased father also makes a few appearances.
The dialogue is witty and entertaining. There is a hint of madcap that makes me want to see this as a Netflix movie! I enjoyed the ending which tied up all of the loose ends. No read the earlier books to enjoy this mystery, but I will surely go back to read them now. If you like locked room mysteries, quickly moving biting dialogue and a fairly cozy ending to it all then this book is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #TheSupperClubMurders
As they meet various characters that sport color related names much like a Clue game,
There are several mysteries at play here, including an interpersonal issue between the book club members. Ursula's own long deceased father also makes a few appearances.
The dialogue is witty and entertaining. There is a hint of madcap that makes me want to see this as a Netflix movie! I enjoyed the ending which tied up all of the loose ends. No read the earlier books to enjoy this mystery, but I will surely go back to read them now. If you like locked room mysteries, quickly moving biting dialogue and a fairly cozy ending to it all then this book is for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley #TheSupperClubMurders
October 4, 2021
The Supper Club Murders is book 3 in Victoria Dowd's Smart Women's Mystery series.
Lord and Lady Black are living in Greystone Castle, having bought their titles and have invited Ursula Smart, her mother, Pandora, and Aunt Charlotte to the supper safari they are hosting. It'll be a break for Pandora from her true crime blog, called Death Smarts. Lord Black is also known as Lord Elzevir and he married Lady Black who was Marsha Mould, meeting her through their book club. The guests go on a tour around in the inclement weather, stopping to eat at different places and then the bodies start piling up...
Set in a picturesque Dartmoor village in southwest England, the author gives the reader a great atmosphere of bleakness and isolation in a beautiful locale. The mystery was very well done with lots of simmering resentment ready to boil over. A compelling, creepy and multilayered tale enriched with sarcasm and humour.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Joffe Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Lord and Lady Black are living in Greystone Castle, having bought their titles and have invited Ursula Smart, her mother, Pandora, and Aunt Charlotte to the supper safari they are hosting. It'll be a break for Pandora from her true crime blog, called Death Smarts. Lord Black is also known as Lord Elzevir and he married Lady Black who was Marsha Mould, meeting her through their book club. The guests go on a tour around in the inclement weather, stopping to eat at different places and then the bodies start piling up...
Set in a picturesque Dartmoor village in southwest England, the author gives the reader a great atmosphere of bleakness and isolation in a beautiful locale. The mystery was very well done with lots of simmering resentment ready to boil over. A compelling, creepy and multilayered tale enriched with sarcasm and humour.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Joffe Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 16, 2021
The Supper Club Murders is book #3 in the Smart Woman’s mystery series. Mother and daughter, Ursula and Pandora have been invited to a supper party at the castle of Lord and Lady Black. As the pair is joined by fellow book club members, Mirabelle and Bridget, they discover that they have been invited to a safari dinner, where they will travel around the village, dining with different people from town as they go. The more progress they make on the dinner, the more tensions begin to boil over between friends, family, and townspeople. Ursula and Pandora realize that the tension reached its boiling point when they discover the first of several dead bodies.
This book was a wild ride. I have not read any of the other books in this series, but they are on my TBR list now! The imagery alone left me wanting to actually visit the village and castle. I’m a sucker for any story that involves a castle in the first place, but then adding in so many nooks, crannies, and secrets, it was wonderful. The creepy atmosphere was enhanced with the strong use of description and personification. I enjoyed that all of the description and dialog had a very conversational tone because the reader hears everything from Ursula’s point of view.
Now that I have addressed how much I enjoyed the atmosphere, lets get to the important part, the mystery. I spent most of the book wondering when it was going to pick up and have something exciting happen. I’ll admit that I got a little bored reading about all of Ursula’s complaints and pettiness. However, any of my boredom was redeemed at the end. Everything that I thought was just filler, ended up being important. The complexity of the final outcome was very fun and well done. Every time I thought I had things figured out, I was wrong. Once I realized what had actually been happening, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I love when a good mystery sticks in my mind. The last quarter of the book flew by and left me with my mouth hanging open. The ending was moving and it left me wanting more.
The only parts of the book that I struggled a bit with was the characters. Ursula drove me nuts with her negativity. She seemed to hate everything and everyone. It was so bad that she barely expressed any positivity throughout the novel, taking away some of the roundness of her character. In her defense, she was in a horrible situation, walking around in the dark and in the rain with a whole cast of unlikable people, but one would think that she would at least find someone to think of kindly. Aunt Charlotte and Verity were the characters that I enjoyed the most. I was highly amused at Aunt Charlotte’s ignorance into any sort of references (I loved the Clue call out with all my heart). I will acknowledge that I may feel differently if I had read the other books in the series (I will update when I do). There were many references to things that had happened in previous books that I had a hard time understanding. I think I would have had an easier time understanding more of the supernatural elements if I had read the other books as well. Overall, I enjoyed how much they added to the atmosphere, but I didn’t always understand how they were adding to the plot.
As a last note, there were a few scenes, especially in the beginning couple chapters where I wasn’t sure who was talking. This problem sorted itself out as the book continues, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
3.5 stars, rounded up because of how much i enjoyed the ending
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and want to thank Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this book and find another interesting series.
This book was a wild ride. I have not read any of the other books in this series, but they are on my TBR list now! The imagery alone left me wanting to actually visit the village and castle. I’m a sucker for any story that involves a castle in the first place, but then adding in so many nooks, crannies, and secrets, it was wonderful. The creepy atmosphere was enhanced with the strong use of description and personification. I enjoyed that all of the description and dialog had a very conversational tone because the reader hears everything from Ursula’s point of view.
Now that I have addressed how much I enjoyed the atmosphere, lets get to the important part, the mystery. I spent most of the book wondering when it was going to pick up and have something exciting happen. I’ll admit that I got a little bored reading about all of Ursula’s complaints and pettiness. However, any of my boredom was redeemed at the end. Everything that I thought was just filler, ended up being important. The complexity of the final outcome was very fun and well done. Every time I thought I had things figured out, I was wrong. Once I realized what had actually been happening, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I love when a good mystery sticks in my mind. The last quarter of the book flew by and left me with my mouth hanging open. The ending was moving and it left me wanting more.
The only parts of the book that I struggled a bit with was the characters. Ursula drove me nuts with her negativity. She seemed to hate everything and everyone. It was so bad that she barely expressed any positivity throughout the novel, taking away some of the roundness of her character. In her defense, she was in a horrible situation, walking around in the dark and in the rain with a whole cast of unlikable people, but one would think that she would at least find someone to think of kindly. Aunt Charlotte and Verity were the characters that I enjoyed the most. I was highly amused at Aunt Charlotte’s ignorance into any sort of references (I loved the Clue call out with all my heart). I will acknowledge that I may feel differently if I had read the other books in the series (I will update when I do). There were many references to things that had happened in previous books that I had a hard time understanding. I think I would have had an easier time understanding more of the supernatural elements if I had read the other books as well. Overall, I enjoyed how much they added to the atmosphere, but I didn’t always understand how they were adding to the plot.
As a last note, there were a few scenes, especially in the beginning couple chapters where I wasn’t sure who was talking. This problem sorted itself out as the book continues, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
3.5 stars, rounded up because of how much i enjoyed the ending
I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and want to thank Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this book and find another interesting series.
September 18, 2021
The book club is back again in their third adventure! Plain old Marsha Mould is now Lady Marsha Black after marrying Lord Elzevir (rumoured to have bought his title) and resides at Black Towers, formerly Greystone Castle. All the renovations she is making there leave little time for reading but she has planned a weekend event – a supper safari, visiting several homes in the village with the aid of a map very conveniently found on her doorstep. All five ladies have been invited – the Smart women, Ursula and her mother Pandora, who is making a very successful attempt at a blog, Death Smarts, recounting their brushes with murder, together with Aunt Charlotte, and Mirabelle and Bridget who are now living together after Mirabelle felt abandoned by Pandora. Her nose is still out of joint when they all arrive in Dartmoor for the party. After four people died in the Slaughter House and another four on the Isle of Death, surely this must be third time lucky for our Famous Five? Together with an odd assortment of guests, including pagans, historians, a voyeur magician, vicar and handyman, and with tensions already mounting within the group, the supper party ventures out into a stormy night, cut off from the world with no phones or wifi. Each port of call gets that bit stranger and people seem to drop off until at last only our five women remain. The Midnight Gun cannon sounds for the closing of the castle gate. And then the murders begin…
As with the other books in this series, there is lots of superb wit and deliciously dark humour throughout this book, with its wonderful larger than life characters and dastardly plot. I would love to see these books being brought to life on television, such were the fantastic descriptions of the people in it. The scene is set and the main players introduced before the action commences and the killings begin, and the reader is gently led through a cleverly written trail of clues and red herrings to a super and satisfying conclusion. This is an excellent modern twist on the old classic style and I sincerely hope there are many more to enjoy! 5*
As with the other books in this series, there is lots of superb wit and deliciously dark humour throughout this book, with its wonderful larger than life characters and dastardly plot. I would love to see these books being brought to life on television, such were the fantastic descriptions of the people in it. The scene is set and the main players introduced before the action commences and the killings begin, and the reader is gently led through a cleverly written trail of clues and red herrings to a super and satisfying conclusion. This is an excellent modern twist on the old classic style and I sincerely hope there are many more to enjoy! 5*
September 22, 2021
I have been a fan of Victoria’s work for a while now. ‘The Supper Club Murders’ is the third book in the ‘Smart Woman’s Mystery Series’. I read and loved the first two books in the series and I couldn’t wait to read this one. So without further ado, I dived straight in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Supper Club Murders’ but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into the story from the very start. In fact it didn’t take me long to feel as though I had been reunited with old friends in the form of Ursula and her mother. I was intrigued by the characters and by the crimes. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to Ursula and her mother. I found ‘The Supper Club Murders’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Supper Club Murders’ is extremely well written. Victoria has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Victoria’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Victoria has the knack of making you feel as though you are part of the story and I felt as though I was helping the ladies to solve the crime. This book had a fair bit of drama in it but there’s also a big dose of humour. I frequently chuckled away to myself as I imagined in my head what I had just read in the book. There was a bit of a shiver down the spine moment for me. Mention is made of a bigamist from South Shields in the book and my actual great grandfather was from South Shields and he was a bigamist.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Supper Club Murders’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Victoria’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I was drawn into the story from the very start. In fact it didn’t take me long to feel as though I had been reunited with old friends in the form of Ursula and her mother. I was intrigued by the characters and by the crimes. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to Ursula and her mother. I found ‘The Supper Club Murders’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Supper Club Murders’ is extremely well written. Victoria has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Victoria’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Victoria has the knack of making you feel as though you are part of the story and I felt as though I was helping the ladies to solve the crime. This book had a fair bit of drama in it but there’s also a big dose of humour. I frequently chuckled away to myself as I imagined in my head what I had just read in the book. There was a bit of a shiver down the spine moment for me. Mention is made of a bigamist from South Shields in the book and my actual great grandfather was from South Shields and he was a bigamist.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Supper Club Murders’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Victoria’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 8, 2021
Ursula Smart, her mother, Pandora, and members of their book club are gathering at Greystone Castle to attend a “supper safari”. It is truly a dark and dreary night. The rain is relentless, roads are impassable due to flooding, and phones are inoperable. As the night goes on, the murders begin and Ursula and Pandora are caught in the middle.
As I read The Supper Club Murders I could almost see this story play out in a BBC film. The atmosphere of the ancient castle, the quirky characters, the foul weather, and, of course, the inventive murders. The story begins a bit slowly but it picks up the pace and the end includes several twists that make it very enjoyable. The characters are quirky, a bit over the top and, in a few cases, a little weird. I found it to be mildly humorous but, mostly, I thought some of the characters were fairly unlikable, and the addition of Ursula’s issues with her father, who appears as a ghost, didn’t seem to fit in very well. Nevertheless, since I wanted to know how it ended, I felt compelled to finish the book. The last third moved quickly and the twists were worth the wait.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
As I read The Supper Club Murders I could almost see this story play out in a BBC film. The atmosphere of the ancient castle, the quirky characters, the foul weather, and, of course, the inventive murders. The story begins a bit slowly but it picks up the pace and the end includes several twists that make it very enjoyable. The characters are quirky, a bit over the top and, in a few cases, a little weird. I found it to be mildly humorous but, mostly, I thought some of the characters were fairly unlikable, and the addition of Ursula’s issues with her father, who appears as a ghost, didn’t seem to fit in very well. Nevertheless, since I wanted to know how it ended, I felt compelled to finish the book. The last third moved quickly and the twists were worth the wait.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
August 31, 2021
Ursula Smart and her mother Pandora have a tendency for murder to follow them around without them really doing anything other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time- or is that the right time perhaps? This time they are invited to a safari supper which involves going around different houses from the castle they are staying in (Black Towers- note the “s” not the wine!) and there they meet some rather eccentric characters. Ursula quickly finds that there are several who together make the case of Cluedo. Those of a certain age will find several puns and references to things from the post which I couldn't help smiling at.
This is a wonderful cozy crime series and each one works alone. Victoria is a criminal barrister turned crime writer and most certainly has a sense of not only how to plot a good story but also a wonderful sense of humour! Larger than life characters,a plot with twists and turns and lots of smiles along the way.
A fun read with a plot to make you think whilst smiling!
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
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August 31, 2021
Set in England, this book drips with atmosphere, wit, lies, secrets and insight into human nature. Layers of mystery enshroud dysfunctional characters. Ursula, her mother and her aunt visit Greystone Castle for a special dinner as a book club. Lord and Lady Black own the castle with its medieval touches such as dusty priest holes, moat and heavy gates. They have a reputation among the villagers who are not exactly bland, either. Lashings of rain flood the village, making escape from the creepiness impossible. Throw in murder and you have mayhem.
Locked room mysteries grab my attention instantly. I love that the mystery is actually mysterious (some aren't!) with clever details. Another of my favourite aspects is that the book is not all charm and fluff but has oomph and depth, a certain meatiness to mull over. It is obvious the author is a student of human nature with her marvelously apt quotes. Many of the characters are fascinatingly dark and most of us know an Aunt Charlotte!
Do read this series if you crave something different and original.
My sincere thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fun yet thoughtful book.
Locked room mysteries grab my attention instantly. I love that the mystery is actually mysterious (some aren't!) with clever details. Another of my favourite aspects is that the book is not all charm and fluff but has oomph and depth, a certain meatiness to mull over. It is obvious the author is a student of human nature with her marvelously apt quotes. Many of the characters are fascinatingly dark and most of us know an Aunt Charlotte!
Do read this series if you crave something different and original.
My sincere thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fun yet thoughtful book.
September 16, 2021
Very much a ‘cozy’ mystery; alongside the murders there is a fair bit of humour!
As the book club group head to Black Towers castle at the edge of a Dartmoor Village for the supper club they have been invited to, the rain is unrelenting. The castle is a bit creepy; imaginations are running at full speed and the tension between Lord and Lady Black is palpable. There is a definite undercurrent of something not quite right and as midnight strikes, a brutally murdered body turns up and the book group find themselves back on familiar ground of investigating another confusing crime.
This is a good solid mystery with plenty of fun and games woven through. There’s no way I would have been spending the night in a draughty, creepy old castle! This is my first foray into this series and I suspect I may have benefitted from reading the earlier novels and getting better acquainted with the characters but it was still a good read. There are some amusing observations and I had no chance of working out ‘whodunnit’. Rather enjoyable and recommend to lovers of fun, cosy mysteries. Four stars from me.
As the book club group head to Black Towers castle at the edge of a Dartmoor Village for the supper club they have been invited to, the rain is unrelenting. The castle is a bit creepy; imaginations are running at full speed and the tension between Lord and Lady Black is palpable. There is a definite undercurrent of something not quite right and as midnight strikes, a brutally murdered body turns up and the book group find themselves back on familiar ground of investigating another confusing crime.
This is a good solid mystery with plenty of fun and games woven through. There’s no way I would have been spending the night in a draughty, creepy old castle! This is my first foray into this series and I suspect I may have benefitted from reading the earlier novels and getting better acquainted with the characters but it was still a good read. There are some amusing observations and I had no chance of working out ‘whodunnit’. Rather enjoyable and recommend to lovers of fun, cosy mysteries. Four stars from me.
December 26, 2021
The murder crew is back at it again. All five have been invited to a safari dinner (I know it as a progressive dinner) from a former bookclub member who is now the wife of a baron. Some people look down on Lord Black because he bought his title but it is a title nonetheless. And the safari supper will take place in the village, Greystone, surrounding their castle, Black Towers. It's a new place with some familiar characters though relationships have shifted dramatically - there is not nearly as much fighting between Ursula and her mother.
There are also new faces with some familiar names -- Scarlett Bradshaw, Joseph Greengage (a plum), Mrs. White, Reverend Vert (green), etc. And, while it is one of them that will die, one of their own will as well.
I really sort of slogged through the first book in this series (and I would still recommend reading it and the second books because they set up so much back story) but liked this one a lot. The characters are growing, infinitesimally but growing. The murder and solution aren't any less bananapants but even the new characters have depth that makes them interesting to read about.
There are also new faces with some familiar names -- Scarlett Bradshaw, Joseph Greengage (a plum), Mrs. White, Reverend Vert (green), etc. And, while it is one of them that will die, one of their own will as well.
I really sort of slogged through the first book in this series (and I would still recommend reading it and the second books because they set up so much back story) but liked this one a lot. The characters are growing, infinitesimally but growing. The murder and solution aren't any less bananapants but even the new characters have depth that makes them interesting to read about.
August 28, 2022
You know a book is going to be great when it’s a locked room mystery set in a castle. Add in that the owners of the castle are the philandering Lord Black, who, by the way, bought his title, and his wife, the insufferably obnoxious and odious Lady Black.
Ursula Smart and her mom Pandora, the latter an irrepressible amateur sleuth and true crime blogger, are invited to a dinner party at the castle. The women are very appropriately named. They’re intelligent, savvy, and share a delightfully sarcastic sense of humor.
The soirée is interrupted by a murder and the Smart women commence an investigation. Unfortunately for them, it is complicated by the dark and gloom of the night, disabled phone lines and flood waters preventing anyone from leaving or entering the castle.
The Supper Club Murders is the third in the Smart Women’s Mystery series but is the first book I’ve read. Nonetheless, I was able to read it as easily as if it were a standalone. Dowd is a master at creating great characters and plots which twist and turn smoothly. I look forward to reading the first two books in the series as well as any future ones.
Ursula Smart and her mom Pandora, the latter an irrepressible amateur sleuth and true crime blogger, are invited to a dinner party at the castle. The women are very appropriately named. They’re intelligent, savvy, and share a delightfully sarcastic sense of humor.
The soirée is interrupted by a murder and the Smart women commence an investigation. Unfortunately for them, it is complicated by the dark and gloom of the night, disabled phone lines and flood waters preventing anyone from leaving or entering the castle.
The Supper Club Murders is the third in the Smart Women’s Mystery series but is the first book I’ve read. Nonetheless, I was able to read it as easily as if it were a standalone. Dowd is a master at creating great characters and plots which twist and turn smoothly. I look forward to reading the first two books in the series as well as any future ones.
September 20, 2021
This is the first of Victoria's books I've read, and after chatting with her I was really looking forward to it.
Something I noticed straight away was the Agatha Christie vibe, not forgetting the links to Cluedo, with Lee Coleman a particular favourite play on words character name. Genius.
The 2 women who seem to have death following them around are invited to a travelling supper club of a small village.
From the outset there is sniping, small mindedness and a great cast of characters and possible killers.
This was so cleverly written that it truly could have been anyone. There's a slight hint of the supernatural with the appearance of a ghost or 2.
The actual murder is very clever, ingenious in fact. The isolated setting adds a layer of tension, especially when storms come along.
This is a character driven novel and each character only tells you exactly as much as Victoria wants you to know, when she wants you to know it.
I would say it's veered very much towards the light hearted end of the genre but would urge anyone who isn't sure to read it regardless.
Something I noticed straight away was the Agatha Christie vibe, not forgetting the links to Cluedo, with Lee Coleman a particular favourite play on words character name. Genius.
The 2 women who seem to have death following them around are invited to a travelling supper club of a small village.
From the outset there is sniping, small mindedness and a great cast of characters and possible killers.
This was so cleverly written that it truly could have been anyone. There's a slight hint of the supernatural with the appearance of a ghost or 2.
The actual murder is very clever, ingenious in fact. The isolated setting adds a layer of tension, especially when storms come along.
This is a character driven novel and each character only tells you exactly as much as Victoria wants you to know, when she wants you to know it.
I would say it's veered very much towards the light hearted end of the genre but would urge anyone who isn't sure to read it regardless.
September 29, 2021
Ursula Smart gets an invitation for a supper safari at a fancy castle, together with her old book club friends. What could possibly go wrong at this creepy remote location? 🤔
I got this book from NetGalley as soon as I read the synopsis. I was so intrigued.
Only afterwards did I realize it was the third book in a series. 😅
The story was clear enough, I did not need the background information of the previous two.
That said, let's talk. 😬
I was really feeling a good whodunnit. But it took a loooong time to get there.
The first dead body drops fairly deep into the story, and that was quite disappointing. 😔
The characters: I just could not keep them apart. In the conversation I practically never knew who was talking. Also the aunt was a strange character. 😒
The solving of the murder could have gone smoother. All of that meandering and not getting to the point, goodness me. 🙄
I think there are better whodunnits out there, but if you like over the top funny drama, you can certainly read this one. 😄
I got this book from NetGalley as soon as I read the synopsis. I was so intrigued.
Only afterwards did I realize it was the third book in a series. 😅
The story was clear enough, I did not need the background information of the previous two.
That said, let's talk. 😬
I was really feeling a good whodunnit. But it took a loooong time to get there.
The first dead body drops fairly deep into the story, and that was quite disappointing. 😔
The characters: I just could not keep them apart. In the conversation I practically never knew who was talking. Also the aunt was a strange character. 😒
The solving of the murder could have gone smoother. All of that meandering and not getting to the point, goodness me. 🙄
I think there are better whodunnits out there, but if you like over the top funny drama, you can certainly read this one. 😄
September 16, 2021
The Supper Club Murders by Victoria Dowd is the third installation to her Smart Women’s Mystery series. Ursula R. Smart and the other Smart women accept an invitation to dine with a Lord and his Lady at a castle on Dartmoor only to become entrapped in a village of perpetually discontented characters and a series of murders. This is a caustic tale full of maddening events and twisted, nonsensical, alcoholic characters anointed with tongue-in-cheek names. The disquieting narrative is sharp witted and drilled with biting humor but is sometimes redundant and overdone. Unfortunately, the first murder does not occur for several chapters, so by the time the corpse is discovered, the reader, like some of the book’s characters, may not care. The story is thickly layered with sarcasm, anxiety, and bickering, which often effects a slowly paced narrative. Recommended for adult readers who enjoy tales of continuous discomfort. #NetGalley
June 13, 2024
1.5 stars. hard to rate. i didn’t find this book as gripping as the last two, which was really disappointing. in fact, i found it rather boring and slow. i only kept reading because i wanted it to be over.
but, this author does twists SO WELL. it really picked up in the last 15-20% of the book, when it all unraveled and we found out who the murderer was and their motivations. it’s just a shame that this story only got interesting at its end.
something that really bugged me was that there was little to no character development in this instalment, which was frustrating and part of why i was so bored by this book. and nothing was mentioned about spear from the previous book except for one throwaway line that was meant to make us wonder.
but, like i said before, this author does twists so well that i’ve still downloaded the next two books in this series, hoping that they will be better. and that there are way less metaphors and similes, because come on.
but, this author does twists SO WELL. it really picked up in the last 15-20% of the book, when it all unraveled and we found out who the murderer was and their motivations. it’s just a shame that this story only got interesting at its end.
something that really bugged me was that there was little to no character development in this instalment, which was frustrating and part of why i was so bored by this book. and nothing was mentioned about spear from the previous book except for one throwaway line that was meant to make us wonder.
but, like i said before, this author does twists so well that i’ve still downloaded the next two books in this series, hoping that they will be better. and that there are way less metaphors and similes, because come on.
September 14, 2021
ARC from Netgalley
This is the third book in a series, but it felt readable as a standalone for someone who hasn't read the other two. I thought this was a fun, twisty murder mystery that really got going in the second half of the book. There were several times reading this that I was certain I had figured it out, but ended up totally wrong.
Most of the characters in this book were pretty unlikeable, including the main group of women who are in each book, so I didn't feel particularly attached to anyone. The group of villagers who are being murdered and being investigated for murder were almost entirely awful people, so at a certain point I didn't care who kicked the bucket I just wanted to find out who did it.
This is the third book in a series, but it felt readable as a standalone for someone who hasn't read the other two. I thought this was a fun, twisty murder mystery that really got going in the second half of the book. There were several times reading this that I was certain I had figured it out, but ended up totally wrong.
Most of the characters in this book were pretty unlikeable, including the main group of women who are in each book, so I didn't feel particularly attached to anyone. The group of villagers who are being murdered and being investigated for murder were almost entirely awful people, so at a certain point I didn't care who kicked the bucket I just wanted to find out who did it.
September 2, 2021
First book I’ve read in this series and it’s a bit hard to follow along if you haven’t read any of the previous books first. A lot of stuff is mentioned and I could only assume it was from previous books as no nothing is brought up to clarify things. That said, the mystery was very intriguing! Everyone goes to the country manor and a murder occurs; lots of clues and running around and red herrings abound. Then the reveal! And the twist! And another twist! It reads serious, but in my head I just kept seeing it like the movie Clue. Overall enjoyable, but perhaps read the other books first before starting this one.
September 4, 2021
The phones are out. The roads have flooded. There’s no way in or out. And the murders have begun.
We’re back with the Smart women and their book club! After being invited to a safari supper at Greystone Castle by their ex-book club member Lady Marsha Black the crew all find themselves plunged into a murder mystery in the dark remoteness of Dartmoor where even the pet monkey, Dupin, becomes a suspect! With so many vibrant characters, secrets aplenty and the wittiness of our favourite women, this book has everything.
I am a severe Victoria Dowd and Smart Women fan and this book did not disappoint. I love all of the characters so much, especially Aunt Charlotte! Her constant misunderstand of situations and not knowing who certain people are always makes me chuckle! There are some comedy-gold one liners throughout the book and I love that about Victoria’s novels - yeah, it’s sad someone died but here’s something hilarious too! I love the development of the characters and their relationships from the previous two books, especially between Pandora and Mirabelle.
For any lovers of a whodunnit with dynamic characters, this one is for you!
We’re back with the Smart women and their book club! After being invited to a safari supper at Greystone Castle by their ex-book club member Lady Marsha Black the crew all find themselves plunged into a murder mystery in the dark remoteness of Dartmoor where even the pet monkey, Dupin, becomes a suspect! With so many vibrant characters, secrets aplenty and the wittiness of our favourite women, this book has everything.
I am a severe Victoria Dowd and Smart Women fan and this book did not disappoint. I love all of the characters so much, especially Aunt Charlotte! Her constant misunderstand of situations and not knowing who certain people are always makes me chuckle! There are some comedy-gold one liners throughout the book and I love that about Victoria’s novels - yeah, it’s sad someone died but here’s something hilarious too! I love the development of the characters and their relationships from the previous two books, especially between Pandora and Mirabelle.
For any lovers of a whodunnit with dynamic characters, this one is for you!
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