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Kate Shackleton #13
A Mansion for Murder
1930, Yorkshire. Intrigued by a mysterious letter from a stranger offering important information, Private Investigator Kate Shackleton arrives in the mill village of Saltaire. At nearby Milner Field mansion, overshadowed by its reputation for misfortune and untimely deaths, she expects to meet the letter writer, Ronnie Creswell.
Kate soon hears the shocking news that Ronnie has been killed. At first his death appears to be a tragic accident at the mill, but soon it becomes clear that Ronnie's demise was no mishap. Kate is enlisted to help investigate the murder.
Kate moves into the tower rooms at Milner Field, as she tries to uncover resentments, industrial espionage, and old secrets in the close-knit village. Although she doesn't believe in curses, she wonders what sinister truth lies behind this latest in the litany of deaths connected to the infamous Milner Field.
Then just when things couldn't get any worse, a young girl in the village goes missing, and Kate must use all her strength and skill to unravel the mystery around the mansion once and for all . . .
Kate soon hears the shocking news that Ronnie has been killed. At first his death appears to be a tragic accident at the mill, but soon it becomes clear that Ronnie's demise was no mishap. Kate is enlisted to help investigate the murder.
Kate moves into the tower rooms at Milner Field, as she tries to uncover resentments, industrial espionage, and old secrets in the close-knit village. Although she doesn't believe in curses, she wonders what sinister truth lies behind this latest in the litany of deaths connected to the infamous Milner Field.
Then just when things couldn't get any worse, a young girl in the village goes missing, and Kate must use all her strength and skill to unravel the mystery around the mansion once and for all . . .
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2022
71 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Frances Brody
40 books672 followersFrances 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 14, 2023
So now I have read books 11, 12, and 13 in this series and still have not found the time to go back to the beginning and read book 1. I still intend to though.
A Mansion for Murder is a good, solid British mystery set in 1930 in Yorkshire. Private investigator Kate Shackleton receives a strange letter which causes her to travel to the town of Saltaire and more especially to the big house of Milner Field and the adjacent mill. She arrives to discover the writer of the letter has died and it is probably murder.
The mystery is interesting and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing all the way to the end. Kate is an excellent lead character, intelligent, thoughtful and well balanced. I especially liked the author's notes at the end which describe some of the history of Saltaire and the real Milner Field. Well worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A Mansion for Murder is a good, solid British mystery set in 1930 in Yorkshire. Private investigator Kate Shackleton receives a strange letter which causes her to travel to the town of Saltaire and more especially to the big house of Milner Field and the adjacent mill. She arrives to discover the writer of the letter has died and it is probably murder.
The mystery is interesting and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing all the way to the end. Kate is an excellent lead character, intelligent, thoughtful and well balanced. I especially liked the author's notes at the end which describe some of the history of Saltaire and the real Milner Field. Well worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 20, 2022
1930, Yorkshire. Intrigued by a mysterious letter from a stranger offering important information, Private Investigator Kate Shackleton arrives in the mill village of Saltaire. At nearby Milner Field mansion, overshadowed by its reputation for misfortune and untimely deaths, she expects to meet the letter writer, Ronnie Creswell. Kate soon hears the shocking news that Ronnie has been killed. At first his death appears to be a tragic accident at the mill, but soon it becomes clear that Ronnie's demise was no mishap. Kate is enlisted to help investigate the murder. Kate moves into the tower rooms at Milner Field, as she tries to uncover resentments, industrial espionage, and old secrets in the close-knit village. Then just when things couldn't get any worse, a young girl in the village goes missing, and Kate must use all her strength and skill to unravel the mystery around the mansion once and for all.
The thirteenth outing for Kate & it could easily be read on its own. I love Kate & recommend the whole series. An easy to read book with some twists & turns plus it features events from half a century earlier & the narrative switches between past & present. I loved the descriptions of the area, which I know well as I’m a Bradford lass. The characters have depth but the focus is on Kate & Jim. A well written. Easy to read engrossing read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The thirteenth outing for Kate & it could easily be read on its own. I love Kate & recommend the whole series. An easy to read book with some twists & turns plus it features events from half a century earlier & the narrative switches between past & present. I loved the descriptions of the area, which I know well as I’m a Bradford lass. The characters have depth but the focus is on Kate & Jim. A well written. Easy to read engrossing read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
November 5, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. The latest in the Kate Shackleton series, but works well as a standalone book - there isn't that much backstory that affects the plot. Kate is asked to investigate something but isn't told what the author of a letter wants her to look into. She arrives in Saltaire to discover a dead body - and other disappearances and mysterious happenings going back decades. Many different plot threads are well woven together, although a few seem to be left hanging (for example, a mysterious motorcycle is never really explained). Still, a nice easy read with some interesting history.
April 11, 2023
Kate receives a mysterious letter from a 22-year-old mill worker who claims he has information about the past she might be interested in. He can't say more in a letter but invites her to come to Salts Mill to meet him after his shift on Saturday. Shortly after Kate's arrival at Milner Field, the mansion Ronnie Creswell's parents manage, she learns Ronnie has been killed! He died in the reservoir during routine maintenance but the police suspect foul play and are looking at Ronnie's best friend David, who found the body. Kate doesn't believe David is guilty any more than she believes Milner Field is cursed. Does Ronnie's letter hint at reasons for someone to want him dead? It seems like someone is leaking secrets to a competing wool mill. Or was his letter related to the mysterious death of a child underneath Milner Field more than 50 years ago? Does Ronnie's old Uncle Nick hold the key to the mystery? Does Ronnie's 10-year-old sister Nancy know more than she lets on? When Nancy goes missing, Kate is certain she's solved at least one of the mysteries but how all the puzzle pieces fit, she may never know. Meanwhile, Jim Sykes is supposed to be investigating the traitor in the mill but he is preoccupied by the ill health of his wife Rosie. He can't stand not knowing what's happening to her in hospital. This case is a distraction but he's still worried.
This was a tough one to read. The body count is super high if you count people who died in the past and of natural causes. I had to skip to the end to make sure Nancy wasn't one of them before I read on. As a result, I kind of knew who killed Ronnie and why. By the time I finished the entire novel, I had a lot of unanswered questions. I like my endings neat and tidy and this one didn't satisfy me. The plot was a little too dark for me as well, especially the story of the shepherdess and the boy who died. On the plus side, being very familiar with textile mills, I enjoyed the details of this huge woolen mill and how it operated. Yes Kate, reservoir, to run the mill when there's no water or I guess by this time, to put out fires? The mills in my city seem tiny compared to Salts Mill! I enjoyed the mystery of Rosie Sykes a lot more. It was fun to guess and horrifying to read some of the medical treatments of the early 20th-century. The outcome of Rosie's mystery was a huge surprise.
I don't like Kat's narrative style. It's very detached even at the end when she becomes emotional over some news. I like her but I don't really feel connected to her. Her emotions are left out of the story. I suppose it's her nurse's training. She had to stay detached. In contrast, Jim shows more emotion than I can ever remember from him before. He and Rosie are back on good terms and still in love even after all these years. I was kind of surprised because I remembered her wanting to open a shop and him being kind of estranged from her. The kids are grown and it was good to get to Irene and Rosie better. Irene is the daughter of the house and she's worried about her Ma. If Rosie told her what was going on, Irene is smart enough to figure it out or ask the women at work. Between them all, they could give an educated guess. Because Rosie dismissed her concerns, they had to get Kate involved and I think that was tough for Jim's pride to have Kate pull strings. Rosie seems to be in good hands but yikes some of the treatments sound a little scary and unnecessary. I want more of Irene. I like her. She seems sensible and smart. The boys are not around. Mrs. Sugden comes along to clean Milner Field and get it ready for sale. The house is said to be cursed and while Mrs. Sugden doesn't believe in that, she shows annoyance that someone is making it seem that way. She has little patience for nonsense. I like how she's getting involved in the investigations now and how proud she is of herself for learning to drive. Kate has a great team!
Long ago there was a boy named Nick who lived with his grandmother in a hut in the field. So long ago it was before the mill and before the mansion. So long ago, no one remembers that time at all. Young Nick was taken in by the mill system as a lad after his grandmother died. In school he met Miss Mason who became his beloved teacher. She showed him kindness and educated him. He would do anything for her. He also meets his distant cousin Billy, who is not so kind and friendly. One day when he helps her up from a fall on the canal path, he discovers a distressing secret about Miss Mason. Billy knows it too. Can Nick trust Billy to keep quiet? Nick does a favor for Miss Mason but has to live with that knowledge and keep it secret for the rest of his life. In the present, Ronnie Cresswell bears a strong resemblance to a boy who was killed back in Nick's childhood. Nick's memories come and go, get mixed up and he can barely see or hear. Every time he's questioned about the death of the boy, he denies knowing anything but the truth is there in his mind haunting him. Is this the secret Ronnie wanted Kate to investigate? I don't think it's worthwhile to pursue it after so many years. The perpetrator is likely dead and the only people to remember the boy are elderly. (at 70-something, Nick! and 90).
Ronnie Cresswell was a promising young man in the prime of his life. It's such a shame someone felt the need to kill him. He was a hard worker, a good friend, a great son and brother, a caring honorary brother and loving boyfriend. Mr. and Mrs. Cresswell seem elderly but they have a 10 year old, two teenagers and a 22 year old so they're not so old by our standards. They have lived rough lives. Even though they take care of this Victorian mansion, it's been abandoned for decades, is draughty and said to be cursed. Mrs. Cresswell is superstitious and won't stay a moment longer in a cursed house. Mr. Cresswell deals with his grief by retreating to his garden shed and working. Their 10 year old daughter, Nancy, doesn't seem to fully grasp the concept of death and is unaffected. She's so young and innocent. Nancy wanders around, going to stay with old Uncle Nick with her mam and wandering back to Milner Field. She's a chatterbox and gives Kate a wealth of good information. I like Nancy. She seems bright, curious and energetic. I hope she survives childhood and has a great adult life. The whole family seems very nice. We don't meet Stephen but we do meet Mark late in the story. He's a racecourse stablehand and passionate about horses. It's sweet he's devoted to a spindly mare that is not ever going to be a champion. He seems like a nice young man. Uncle Nick is the patriarch of the family but at 70 he's considered quite elderly. His mind seems very sharp sometimes, especially when he's confronted with memories of the past, but his mind wanders and sometimes past and present are confused. Can he be relied upon for information? Nick and Nancy seem close and it's a heartwarming bond they share. Nancy is an old soul and Nick keeps slipping back into childhood. He probably won't live much longer so it's good for him to share his stories with the youngest member of the family to carry on.
I don't believe David Fairburn murdered Ronnie. He was too distraught when he delivered the news and the two were best friends since childhood. Ronnie looked up to David, danced with David's sister Dorrie and the two families have always been close. David and Ronnie came to blows recently over a comment Ronnie made about David's sister Dorrie. Ronnie meant well and was trying to inform David of something Dorrie and David's wife were hiding from him. Ronnie was concerned like a brother and they briefly tussled like boys and it was over quickly. Constable Beale is an idiot. Still, Kate suspects Dorrie may hold the key to David's innocence IF she can get to Dorrie and get Dorrie to share her secret. It's not an unusual one and Kate isn't surprised. She may be a bit angry and I was furious over what happened but also not surprised.
Pamela Whitaker, daughter of the mill owner, was unofficially engaged to Ronnie. She might be wealthy NOW but her family wasn't always that way. She's a down-to-earth girl from humble roots who loves her family and loved Ronnie with all her heart. Pamela is rather stubborn at times, at least from her parents' point-of-view, but she's legitimately angry and afraid of them right now. She's convinced her parents had Ronnie done away with to keep him from marrying her. Poor Pamela! She has a big heart and a flair for the dramatic but I think she'll survive, even if her parents were involved. I HIGHLY doubt they would do such a thing even though they'd probably get away with it. Withholding consent is much easier. Withholding inheritance is even easier since Pamela can elope and live off an inheritance from her grandmother.
Mr. Whitaker seems like a good guy for a mill owner. He's passionate about the woolen industry and very knowledgeable. He possesses trade secrets learned from years of traveling and studying. Mr. Whitaker probably would have acknowledged Ronnie as Pamela's intended because Ronnie is a lot like Mr. Whitaker when he was younger. Mrs. Whitaker is a socialite and she's the one pushing Pamela into an arranged marriage with her godson. Kevin Foxcroft strikes me as a typical spoiled wealthy socialite. He's probably lazy, is arrogant enough to think all women fall at his feet because he's Foxcroft Carpets and totally convinced he's going to marry Pamela. Personally I think he comes across as slimy and Pamela doesn't seem interested. Her mother is delusional. Wishful thinking.
Aldous Gardner, estate manager, is another slimy weasel. I think he's lazy and arrogant and evidence shows he's associated with Kevin Foxcroft even though they're from different social classes. Gardner thinks he's all that because he's estate manager. Until now he's mostly been left to run the mansion as he sees fit and I gather he's been cheating the Whitakers and living like a toff while the village women do all the work of cleaning and making life comfortable or him. Yet, he has a new job lined up for when the mansion sells so I don't know if he has a strong motive for murder.
The maid Gwyneth has gone missing along with the good silver after a fancy dress party the Whitakers held in May. She's accused of stealing the silver but evidence points to it being someone else. I think she has run off with a man, maybe Kevin Foxcroft, and thinks all her problems are solved. I don't have a good feeling about her whereabouts though. With one person dead, possibly by Foxcroft's hands (killing his rival makes sense), wouldn't he want Gwyneth out of the way too? Mr. Charlie, Benson, an elderly janitor in the mill, remembers Kate from a previous case. He seems to be an eyewitness to something and knows who the perpetrator is. He gives Kate a few clues but he's elderly and unwell. Can his observations be trusted?
Mr. Cohen the lawyer is sharp and ruthless. I'm sure he can get David off for murder. He believes David is innocent but he can't prove it unless David is forthcoming. There has to be more trust involved and I gather these Yorkshire people don't trust easily and are very proud. Mrs. Harrison, secretary to Mr. Whitaker, is efficient, intelligent and devoted to her employer. Not in a lovesick way but in a devoted to the company because her boss is a good boss way. She's also an efficient mother. Her son Constable Harrison is on the murder case and he seems to be fair-minded and good at his job. He'll rise through the ranks quickly. Inspector Mitchell is the officer assigned to the case. He's working from afar but seems fair and accepts Kate's help. He isn't so sure her evidence is solid enough to act on though and seems to trust the CID's crackpot theories more than Kate! THEY have evidence but their evidence points to a different Ronnie than the one everyone else knew. Did someone set Ronnie up to be killed?
I'm glad I read this because of the textile mill connection. It gives me ideas to pass along on how to revitalize the old mills. I was also glad to find out the answer to Kate's longest held mystery but I'm not sure I'll auto request any more of these.
This was a tough one to read. The body count is super high if you count people who died in the past and of natural causes. I had to skip to the end to make sure Nancy wasn't one of them before I read on. As a result, I kind of knew who killed Ronnie and why. By the time I finished the entire novel, I had a lot of unanswered questions. I like my endings neat and tidy and this one didn't satisfy me. The plot was a little too dark for me as well, especially the story of the shepherdess and the boy who died. On the plus side, being very familiar with textile mills, I enjoyed the details of this huge woolen mill and how it operated. Yes Kate, reservoir, to run the mill when there's no water or I guess by this time, to put out fires? The mills in my city seem tiny compared to Salts Mill! I enjoyed the mystery of Rosie Sykes a lot more. It was fun to guess and horrifying to read some of the medical treatments of the early 20th-century. The outcome of Rosie's mystery was a huge surprise.
I don't like Kat's narrative style. It's very detached even at the end when she becomes emotional over some news. I like her but I don't really feel connected to her. Her emotions are left out of the story. I suppose it's her nurse's training. She had to stay detached. In contrast, Jim shows more emotion than I can ever remember from him before. He and Rosie are back on good terms and still in love even after all these years. I was kind of surprised because I remembered her wanting to open a shop and him being kind of estranged from her. The kids are grown and it was good to get to Irene and Rosie better. Irene is the daughter of the house and she's worried about her Ma. If Rosie told her what was going on, Irene is smart enough to figure it out or ask the women at work. Between them all, they could give an educated guess. Because Rosie dismissed her concerns, they had to get Kate involved and I think that was tough for Jim's pride to have Kate pull strings. Rosie seems to be in good hands but yikes some of the treatments sound a little scary and unnecessary. I want more of Irene. I like her. She seems sensible and smart. The boys are not around. Mrs. Sugden comes along to clean Milner Field and get it ready for sale. The house is said to be cursed and while Mrs. Sugden doesn't believe in that, she shows annoyance that someone is making it seem that way. She has little patience for nonsense. I like how she's getting involved in the investigations now and how proud she is of herself for learning to drive. Kate has a great team!
Long ago there was a boy named Nick who lived with his grandmother in a hut in the field. So long ago it was before the mill and before the mansion. So long ago, no one remembers that time at all. Young Nick was taken in by the mill system as a lad after his grandmother died. In school he met Miss Mason who became his beloved teacher. She showed him kindness and educated him. He would do anything for her. He also meets his distant cousin Billy, who is not so kind and friendly. One day when he helps her up from a fall on the canal path, he discovers a distressing secret about Miss Mason. Billy knows it too. Can Nick trust Billy to keep quiet? Nick does a favor for Miss Mason but has to live with that knowledge and keep it secret for the rest of his life. In the present, Ronnie Cresswell bears a strong resemblance to a boy who was killed back in Nick's childhood. Nick's memories come and go, get mixed up and he can barely see or hear. Every time he's questioned about the death of the boy, he denies knowing anything but the truth is there in his mind haunting him. Is this the secret Ronnie wanted Kate to investigate? I don't think it's worthwhile to pursue it after so many years. The perpetrator is likely dead and the only people to remember the boy are elderly. (at 70-something, Nick! and 90).
Ronnie Cresswell was a promising young man in the prime of his life. It's such a shame someone felt the need to kill him. He was a hard worker, a good friend, a great son and brother, a caring honorary brother and loving boyfriend. Mr. and Mrs. Cresswell seem elderly but they have a 10 year old, two teenagers and a 22 year old so they're not so old by our standards. They have lived rough lives. Even though they take care of this Victorian mansion, it's been abandoned for decades, is draughty and said to be cursed. Mrs. Cresswell is superstitious and won't stay a moment longer in a cursed house. Mr. Cresswell deals with his grief by retreating to his garden shed and working. Their 10 year old daughter, Nancy, doesn't seem to fully grasp the concept of death and is unaffected. She's so young and innocent. Nancy wanders around, going to stay with old Uncle Nick with her mam and wandering back to Milner Field. She's a chatterbox and gives Kate a wealth of good information. I like Nancy. She seems bright, curious and energetic. I hope she survives childhood and has a great adult life. The whole family seems very nice. We don't meet Stephen but we do meet Mark late in the story. He's a racecourse stablehand and passionate about horses. It's sweet he's devoted to a spindly mare that is not ever going to be a champion. He seems like a nice young man. Uncle Nick is the patriarch of the family but at 70 he's considered quite elderly. His mind seems very sharp sometimes, especially when he's confronted with memories of the past, but his mind wanders and sometimes past and present are confused. Can he be relied upon for information? Nick and Nancy seem close and it's a heartwarming bond they share. Nancy is an old soul and Nick keeps slipping back into childhood. He probably won't live much longer so it's good for him to share his stories with the youngest member of the family to carry on.
I don't believe David Fairburn murdered Ronnie. He was too distraught when he delivered the news and the two were best friends since childhood. Ronnie looked up to David, danced with David's sister Dorrie and the two families have always been close. David and Ronnie came to blows recently over a comment Ronnie made about David's sister Dorrie. Ronnie meant well and was trying to inform David of something Dorrie and David's wife were hiding from him. Ronnie was concerned like a brother and they briefly tussled like boys and it was over quickly. Constable Beale is an idiot. Still, Kate suspects Dorrie may hold the key to David's innocence IF she can get to Dorrie and get Dorrie to share her secret. It's not an unusual one and Kate isn't surprised. She may be a bit angry and I was furious over what happened but also not surprised.
Pamela Whitaker, daughter of the mill owner, was unofficially engaged to Ronnie. She might be wealthy NOW but her family wasn't always that way. She's a down-to-earth girl from humble roots who loves her family and loved Ronnie with all her heart. Pamela is rather stubborn at times, at least from her parents' point-of-view, but she's legitimately angry and afraid of them right now. She's convinced her parents had Ronnie done away with to keep him from marrying her. Poor Pamela! She has a big heart and a flair for the dramatic but I think she'll survive, even if her parents were involved. I HIGHLY doubt they would do such a thing even though they'd probably get away with it. Withholding consent is much easier. Withholding inheritance is even easier since Pamela can elope and live off an inheritance from her grandmother.
Mr. Whitaker seems like a good guy for a mill owner. He's passionate about the woolen industry and very knowledgeable. He possesses trade secrets learned from years of traveling and studying. Mr. Whitaker probably would have acknowledged Ronnie as Pamela's intended because Ronnie is a lot like Mr. Whitaker when he was younger. Mrs. Whitaker is a socialite and she's the one pushing Pamela into an arranged marriage with her godson. Kevin Foxcroft strikes me as a typical spoiled wealthy socialite. He's probably lazy, is arrogant enough to think all women fall at his feet because he's Foxcroft Carpets and totally convinced he's going to marry Pamela. Personally I think he comes across as slimy and Pamela doesn't seem interested. Her mother is delusional. Wishful thinking.
Aldous Gardner, estate manager, is another slimy weasel. I think he's lazy and arrogant and evidence shows he's associated with Kevin Foxcroft even though they're from different social classes. Gardner thinks he's all that because he's estate manager. Until now he's mostly been left to run the mansion as he sees fit and I gather he's been cheating the Whitakers and living like a toff while the village women do all the work of cleaning and making life comfortable or him. Yet, he has a new job lined up for when the mansion sells so I don't know if he has a strong motive for murder.
The maid Gwyneth has gone missing along with the good silver after a fancy dress party the Whitakers held in May. She's accused of stealing the silver but evidence points to it being someone else. I think she has run off with a man, maybe Kevin Foxcroft, and thinks all her problems are solved. I don't have a good feeling about her whereabouts though. With one person dead, possibly by Foxcroft's hands (killing his rival makes sense), wouldn't he want Gwyneth out of the way too? Mr. Charlie, Benson, an elderly janitor in the mill, remembers Kate from a previous case. He seems to be an eyewitness to something and knows who the perpetrator is. He gives Kate a few clues but he's elderly and unwell. Can his observations be trusted?
Mr. Cohen the lawyer is sharp and ruthless. I'm sure he can get David off for murder. He believes David is innocent but he can't prove it unless David is forthcoming. There has to be more trust involved and I gather these Yorkshire people don't trust easily and are very proud. Mrs. Harrison, secretary to Mr. Whitaker, is efficient, intelligent and devoted to her employer. Not in a lovesick way but in a devoted to the company because her boss is a good boss way. She's also an efficient mother. Her son Constable Harrison is on the murder case and he seems to be fair-minded and good at his job. He'll rise through the ranks quickly. Inspector Mitchell is the officer assigned to the case. He's working from afar but seems fair and accepts Kate's help. He isn't so sure her evidence is solid enough to act on though and seems to trust the CID's crackpot theories more than Kate! THEY have evidence but their evidence points to a different Ronnie than the one everyone else knew. Did someone set Ronnie up to be killed?
I'm glad I read this because of the textile mill connection. It gives me ideas to pass along on how to revitalize the old mills. I was also glad to find out the answer to Kate's longest held mystery but I'm not sure I'll auto request any more of these.
January 4, 2023
When Kate Shackleton received the letter requesting she come to Saltaire she wasn’t sure what to expect. The writer, Ronnie Cresswell, only stated that he had “a story about the past” that he must tell her and that he could say no more. But before they can meet Ronnie is found dead, drowned in the local mill reservoir. Did Ronnie know something that lead to his death? Kate is determined to find the truth.
The author created quite an intriguing plot that involves multiple crimes, past and present, creating a number of possible suspects and motives. I’ve read a couple of the books in this series and enjoy how the author has developed the central characters. I especially appreciate how Kate has evolved—a strong, intelligent female protagonist who remains caring and empathetic.
Unfortunately, I found the narrative, which jumped from past to present and back again, uneven and at times confusing. Also, the dialogue was, at times quite stilted (not a complaint I’ve had with this author before, so I was somewhat surprised by this).
All in all, just an average read. Here’s hoping that the next installment is better.
The author created quite an intriguing plot that involves multiple crimes, past and present, creating a number of possible suspects and motives. I’ve read a couple of the books in this series and enjoy how the author has developed the central characters. I especially appreciate how Kate has evolved—a strong, intelligent female protagonist who remains caring and empathetic.
Unfortunately, I found the narrative, which jumped from past to present and back again, uneven and at times confusing. Also, the dialogue was, at times quite stilted (not a complaint I’ve had with this author before, so I was somewhat surprised by this).
All in all, just an average read. Here’s hoping that the next installment is better.
March 1, 2024
A solidly plotted and paced historical mystery.
This is my first experience with this series, but it was easy to drop in on the characters, even here at book 13. I didn’t feel like I was missing critical backstory or personal details.
The downside of that is that books like this need more well-drawn characters to keep my interest since the mystery itself is pretty textbook, and while
I liked our sleuth well enough, she felt pretty interchangeable with others from similar series.
A mill setting isn’t the most intriguing, but I think with strongly evocative atmosphere it would likely be fine. This book doesn’t ignore that aspect of writing entirely, but it’s not one that I would consider about average in terms of setting and sense of place. That said, I expect some of that might be driven by personal interest in some specific settings more than others.
In all, this was entertaining enough that I would read another, but not one that motivates me to rush out and purchase the rest of the series.
This is my first experience with this series, but it was easy to drop in on the characters, even here at book 13. I didn’t feel like I was missing critical backstory or personal details.
The downside of that is that books like this need more well-drawn characters to keep my interest since the mystery itself is pretty textbook, and while
I liked our sleuth well enough, she felt pretty interchangeable with others from similar series.
A mill setting isn’t the most intriguing, but I think with strongly evocative atmosphere it would likely be fine. This book doesn’t ignore that aspect of writing entirely, but it’s not one that I would consider about average in terms of setting and sense of place. That said, I expect some of that might be driven by personal interest in some specific settings more than others.
In all, this was entertaining enough that I would read another, but not one that motivates me to rush out and purchase the rest of the series.
June 29, 2023
It's 1930, and once more Kate Shackleton finds herself among the textile mills of Yorkshire, when a young millhand writes saying he wants to tell her a story from the past. But by the time she arrives at the meeting place he assigned, Ronnie is dead, drowned in the reservoir beneath the factory where he works. As Kate tries to find out what he wanted to tell her, she is hired by the mill-owner to find the source of the industrial espionage in the factory. She also explores why the manor house, which is shortly to be auctioned, is believed to be haunted.
July 29, 2025
Interesting story of Kate Shackleton - an educated, independent widow who solves crimes and mysteries. In this book, she receives a letter from a young man who wants to let her know about something, but by the time she reaches him, he has been murdered. She stays behind to help with the estate as well as solve the mystery.
July 30, 2023
3.5 It was a slow read but I did enjoy it, especially the author’s note.
April 3, 2023
My Goodness! This is Kate Shackleton #13 and it's the first one I've read! Not typical of the mystery fiction I usually read, but a surprisingly entertaining book. Brody has created some fine characters. I assume that the trio of Kate, Jim Sykes and Mrs. Sugden appear in most of these books, if not all. They are all endearing characters. The plot of this edition is complex and has multiple scenarios. I found it engrossing and the additional characters interesting. Although it is a historical novel given that the time period is post WW I, it never smothers us with the historical cape. A good read.
January 20, 2023
i am sorry that I could not rate this book more than two stars. I read a previous Kate Shackleton novel which I liked a lot. It was what I would call a pleasant book-not exactly a cozy but the detectives are likeable and there is not too much blood and gore.
This book was very slow. It takes a while to get into the main action. Also it had too many sub mysteries that directed from the main plotline. In my opinion, mysteries with more than two plots get too confusing.
I was disappointed that I did not enjoy this Kate Shackleton because I did enjoy a lot another book in this series.
This book was very slow. It takes a while to get into the main action. Also it had too many sub mysteries that directed from the main plotline. In my opinion, mysteries with more than two plots get too confusing.
I was disappointed that I did not enjoy this Kate Shackleton because I did enjoy a lot another book in this series.
March 29, 2023
For me the pleasure from this book really emanates from its setting. With family connections in Saltaire and the Mill of Titus Salt and the River Aire one delights in local references, even if the 'Mansion' is no more.
The mystery, or mysteries, are rather slow page-turners and the sleuth matches that pace but we, and she, get there in the end.
The mystery, or mysteries, are rather slow page-turners and the sleuth matches that pace but we, and she, get there in the end.
October 30, 2022
I seem to have missed what happened to the god son. He’s alleged to have impregnated Dorrie - why? Simply because he’s a rogue? - and to be the source of the industrial espionage but I can’t find a conclusion. Also who was the motorcyclist?? Too many loose ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
‘A Mansion for Murder,’ thirteenth in the Kate Shackleton 1930s crime series by Frances Brody, centres on an unlucky Yorkshire mansion. Intrigued when she receives a letter from a stranger, Kate visits the Milner Field estate, near the mill town of Saltaire, to meet the letter writer. But Ronnie Cresswell, who promised to tell a ‘story from the past,’ has drowned. Can Kate discover this story for herself?
Milner Field has an unhappy reputation for bad luck, failure and death. Everyone around the mansion, and nearby Salt Mills, is hiding something. At the mill, a new contract may be lost because an employee is selling sensitive commercial information. And now Ronnie is dead. Some secrets relate to the present day, others are anchored in the past. So many secrets mean lots of red herrings hiding the truth. Ronnie’s death happens at the beginning of the story and a lot of characters are introduced together. Some are just names and I struggled to separate them in my mind, appearing briefly and not seen again.
Brody tells this story in two timelines, Kate in 1930 and a child in the past; the year isn’t specified, the chapters are simply headed ‘Long Ago’. Ronnie Cresswell works for the maintenance department at Salt Mills. His family are deeply connected with the local area. He lives with his parents at The Lodge on the Milner Field estate, which is now for sale. Ronnie’s parents, father [confusingly also called Ronald] is head gardener. His mother is housekeeper and there are three siblings, Stephen, Mark and Nancy. Ronnie, it emerges, is courting Pamela Whittaker, daughter of the Salt Mills owner. Not everyone is happy with their relationship.
The events of the past and present are thinly connected but they contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the once grand house and explain how local legends and rumour take root. I was left feeling that the creepiness of the house and its grounds was under-exploited. A number of sub-plots jog along, some of which amount to nothing much. But the story of Rosie and Jim Sykes is a good one. The most affecting storyline belongs to Miss Mason, the schoolteacher.
Not as tightly written as Brody’s previous Kate Shackleton novels perhaps, as seems to be the case with a number of recently-released novels, it was written during lockdown. Overall this is a good inter-war series with a thoroughbred lead character in Kate Shackleton. Set in a period of social change, Kate’s character and job reflect the alteration in women’s lives, the widening of their opportunities and ambitions, and the old-fashioned obstacles they must still bear.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
Milner Field has an unhappy reputation for bad luck, failure and death. Everyone around the mansion, and nearby Salt Mills, is hiding something. At the mill, a new contract may be lost because an employee is selling sensitive commercial information. And now Ronnie is dead. Some secrets relate to the present day, others are anchored in the past. So many secrets mean lots of red herrings hiding the truth. Ronnie’s death happens at the beginning of the story and a lot of characters are introduced together. Some are just names and I struggled to separate them in my mind, appearing briefly and not seen again.
Brody tells this story in two timelines, Kate in 1930 and a child in the past; the year isn’t specified, the chapters are simply headed ‘Long Ago’. Ronnie Cresswell works for the maintenance department at Salt Mills. His family are deeply connected with the local area. He lives with his parents at The Lodge on the Milner Field estate, which is now for sale. Ronnie’s parents, father [confusingly also called Ronald] is head gardener. His mother is housekeeper and there are three siblings, Stephen, Mark and Nancy. Ronnie, it emerges, is courting Pamela Whittaker, daughter of the Salt Mills owner. Not everyone is happy with their relationship.
The events of the past and present are thinly connected but they contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the once grand house and explain how local legends and rumour take root. I was left feeling that the creepiness of the house and its grounds was under-exploited. A number of sub-plots jog along, some of which amount to nothing much. But the story of Rosie and Jim Sykes is a good one. The most affecting storyline belongs to Miss Mason, the schoolteacher.
Not as tightly written as Brody’s previous Kate Shackleton novels perhaps, as seems to be the case with a number of recently-released novels, it was written during lockdown. Overall this is a good inter-war series with a thoroughbred lead character in Kate Shackleton. Set in a period of social change, Kate’s character and job reflect the alteration in women’s lives, the widening of their opportunities and ambitions, and the old-fashioned obstacles they must still bear.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
September 21, 2022
Frances Brody’s A Mansion for Murder is her latest Kate Shackleton novel and it features a real place – Milner Field near Saltaire in West Yorkshire. Kate is a private investigator, working with Jim Sykes and her housekeeper, Mrs Sugden. In 1930, Kate receives a mysterious letter from Ronnie Creswell, addressed to Mrs Gerald Shackleton, inviting her to meet him. Not many people would address her using her late husband’s name so she’s intrigued enough to accept the invitation. However, when she arrives at his home, she learns that Ronnie drowned that day. Kate and her colleagues get drawn into investigating Ronnie’s death and some possible industrial espionage at the mill where he worked.
Once again, Brody’s nailed the narrative tone of an intelligent professional woman. Most of the book is narrated in the first person by Kate but suddenly switches to third person when Brody needs to include a scene without Kate. This can be a little confusing, but I figure it’s a small price to pay for reading such good books.
The characters are well delineated and not so many that the reader gets confused. The plot is plausible and moves reasonably briskly. There are no laugh out loud moments and the tone is gentle and measured, primarily due to Kate’s narrative voice. There were a few errors in the early proof copy that I was given for review, but I’m sure they will be fixed before publication. None of them distracted the reader very much as it was obvious what was meant.
I really enjoyed the book and I strongly recommend it if you enjoy British mysteries set between the wars. The plot was unusual, although I guessed whodunnit for once by a process of elimination.
I understand that the American Federal Trade Commission requires me to state that I received a free review copy from Little, Brown Group via NetGalley. However, my opinions are my own and are unbiased.
#AMansionforMurder #NetGalley
Once again, Brody’s nailed the narrative tone of an intelligent professional woman. Most of the book is narrated in the first person by Kate but suddenly switches to third person when Brody needs to include a scene without Kate. This can be a little confusing, but I figure it’s a small price to pay for reading such good books.
The characters are well delineated and not so many that the reader gets confused. The plot is plausible and moves reasonably briskly. There are no laugh out loud moments and the tone is gentle and measured, primarily due to Kate’s narrative voice. There were a few errors in the early proof copy that I was given for review, but I’m sure they will be fixed before publication. None of them distracted the reader very much as it was obvious what was meant.
I really enjoyed the book and I strongly recommend it if you enjoy British mysteries set between the wars. The plot was unusual, although I guessed whodunnit for once by a process of elimination.
I understand that the American Federal Trade Commission requires me to state that I received a free review copy from Little, Brown Group via NetGalley. However, my opinions are my own and are unbiased.
#AMansionforMurder #NetGalley
March 21, 2023
Ronnie Creswell wrote to investigator Kate Shackleton requesting a meeting in Saltaire, on the grounds of a supposedly cursed mansion. The letter hints at events in the past that would interest her but would say no more until they met. As Kate waits with his mother at their lodge, word arrives that Ronnie has been found drowned in the reservoir of the textile mill where he worked. Kate is hired by the mill8s owner to look into the death. Someone has also been underbidding his mill on contracts that are up for renewal using his proprietary information. There had also been a theft from the mansion and the disappearance of one of the servants. When another body is discovered and Ronnie’s ten year old sister Nancy goes missing Kate begins to find connections between the events. Nancy was always curious and Kate believes that she observed something that could put her life in danger.
Ronnie’s mother was the housekeeper who was preparing the mansion for an auction. She could not bear to continue when she lost her son so Kate volunteers her own housekeeper, Mrs. Sugden, to temporarily take over. She also brings her investigator Jim Sykes, a former policeman, to investigate events at the mill. The three work well together, with Mrs. Sugden learning what she can from staff and Sykes calling on contacts from past cases. Kate is a widow who lost her husband in WWI. She not only employs Sykes and Mrs. Sugden, but they are her family. When Sykes’ wife has a health scare, it is Kate who arranges for her care and offers them both her support. She has an ability to put people at ease and look at things rationally. Fans of Miss Marple and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs will find Kate to be another investigator to add to their must read list. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.
Ronnie’s mother was the housekeeper who was preparing the mansion for an auction. She could not bear to continue when she lost her son so Kate volunteers her own housekeeper, Mrs. Sugden, to temporarily take over. She also brings her investigator Jim Sykes, a former policeman, to investigate events at the mill. The three work well together, with Mrs. Sugden learning what she can from staff and Sykes calling on contacts from past cases. Kate is a widow who lost her husband in WWI. She not only employs Sykes and Mrs. Sugden, but they are her family. When Sykes’ wife has a health scare, it is Kate who arranges for her care and offers them both her support. She has an ability to put people at ease and look at things rationally. Fans of Miss Marple and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs will find Kate to be another investigator to add to their must read list. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.
April 23, 2023
It is 1930, and private detective Kate Shackleton receives a letter from a stranger, Ronnie Cresswell, who indicates that he has information about the past which might interest her. He does not want to share the information in a letter, but instead asks her to travel to the village of Saltaire, where he will meet her and tell her what he knows. But when Kate arrives at the mill town, she learns that Ronnie has just been found drowned in a mill pond, located underneath the mill, and that there are signs of violence upon his body. At the same time, Mr. Whitaker, the owner of the mill and employer of Ronnie, has a task for her as well: it seems someone is trying to undercut his company and take over a lucrative contract, but he knows that the person could only do so if he or she has inside information and he wants Kate to find out who that person is. Soon Kate, her housekeeper Mrs. Sudgen and her associate, ex-policeman Jim Sykes, are staying in the local area and searching for clues - and then another body is found…. The above is a description of only two stories in this novel, the 13th in the Kate Shackleton series; there is also thwarted young love, an unsavory estate manager, a mansion up for auction, an old man with two secrets and a legend of a shepherdess and a well. All of which are woven together into a great tapestry of a story, one that fully absorbs the reader. Ms. Brody’s research is top-notch and her rendering of a small company town in wool country in early Depression-Era England is detailed and completely believable. I think the new reader would be best served by starting with the first novel in the series, “Dying in the Wool,” because a lot changes in Kate’s life between that book and this one, set about 10 years later, but whether one starts at the beginning or here, she is a character well worth meeting; recommended.
February 9, 2024
When I first picked up "A Mansion for Murder" by Frances Brody, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The unfamiliar world and characters initially left me feeling a bit disconnected, and I even considered putting the book down. However, I decided to persevere, and I'm so glad I did.
The story follows investigator Kate Shackleton as she receives a mysterious letter from Ronnie Creswell, urging her to visit him in Saltaire. Yet, upon her arrival, she is met with the tragic news of Ronnie's untimely death. Determined to uncover the truth, Kate finds herself entangled in a web of superstition, secrecy, and class divisions. With the help of her resourceful housekeeper Mrs. Sudgens and her friend Jim Sykes, a former policeman, Kate sets out to unravel the mystery behind Ronnie's murder.
As the investigation unfolds, Brody skillfully builds tension and intrigue, keeping me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth. Despite the initial slow start, I found myself fully immersed in the captivating plot and richly detailed setting of 1920s Yorkshire. The intricate layers of the mystery kept me guessing until the very end, and I was thoroughly impressed by Brody's ability to craft a compelling whodunit.
While "A Mansion for Murder" is the 13th book in the Kate Shackleton mysteries series, it was my first introduction to the series. However, I'm now eager to delve into the rest of the books and immerse myself further in Kate's adventures. Brody's writing style and engaging characters have left me eager for more, and I can't wait to see what other mysteries await Kate Shackleton in future installments.
Overall, "A Mansion for Murder" is a captivating historical mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its well-developed characters, atmospheric setting, and intricate plot, it's a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive and satisfying whodunit.
The story follows investigator Kate Shackleton as she receives a mysterious letter from Ronnie Creswell, urging her to visit him in Saltaire. Yet, upon her arrival, she is met with the tragic news of Ronnie's untimely death. Determined to uncover the truth, Kate finds herself entangled in a web of superstition, secrecy, and class divisions. With the help of her resourceful housekeeper Mrs. Sudgens and her friend Jim Sykes, a former policeman, Kate sets out to unravel the mystery behind Ronnie's murder.
As the investigation unfolds, Brody skillfully builds tension and intrigue, keeping me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth. Despite the initial slow start, I found myself fully immersed in the captivating plot and richly detailed setting of 1920s Yorkshire. The intricate layers of the mystery kept me guessing until the very end, and I was thoroughly impressed by Brody's ability to craft a compelling whodunit.
While "A Mansion for Murder" is the 13th book in the Kate Shackleton mysteries series, it was my first introduction to the series. However, I'm now eager to delve into the rest of the books and immerse myself further in Kate's adventures. Brody's writing style and engaging characters have left me eager for more, and I can't wait to see what other mysteries await Kate Shackleton in future installments.
Overall, "A Mansion for Murder" is a captivating historical mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its well-developed characters, atmospheric setting, and intricate plot, it's a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive and satisfying whodunit.
October 13, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of A Mansion for Murder, the thirteenth novel to feature private investigator Kate Shackleton, set in North Yorkshire in 1930.
Kate receives a letter from Ronnie Cresswell, a stranger to her, asking her to meet him at his home in the grounds of Milner Field, a mansion with a reputation for bad luck and sorrow in the mill village of Saltaire. As she gets there she learns that Ronnie has been killed in what appears initially to be an accident, but soon becomes murder. Kate and her team are soon installed in Milner Field with a wide brief from Mr Whittaker, the mill owner.
I enjoyed A Mansion for Murder, which has an absorbing story and a few twists. It makes a change to read a straightforward story with no twisted motives or psychological study, so I relished it. There may be downside for some readers in this as the characters, apart from Kate’s assistant, Jim Sykes, who gets a big surprise, aren’t particularly well developed and are there simply to propel the plot forward. I like it as it makes for an easy read and I could focus fully on finding a murderer, an industrial spy and a thief. Not a lot going on, then!
The narrative switches between Kate’s present and schoolboy Nick’s “long ago”, which fills in events from about 60 years ago and allows the reader to suspect that Ronnie may have wanted to talk to her about them. It’s a clever mix of past and present, hinting at the past casts a long shadow trope. There’s plenty of food for light thought in the plot with its many strands and ramifications, but it’s still a story at heart. I read it in one sitting.
A Mansion for Murder is a good read that I can recommend.
Kate receives a letter from Ronnie Cresswell, a stranger to her, asking her to meet him at his home in the grounds of Milner Field, a mansion with a reputation for bad luck and sorrow in the mill village of Saltaire. As she gets there she learns that Ronnie has been killed in what appears initially to be an accident, but soon becomes murder. Kate and her team are soon installed in Milner Field with a wide brief from Mr Whittaker, the mill owner.
I enjoyed A Mansion for Murder, which has an absorbing story and a few twists. It makes a change to read a straightforward story with no twisted motives or psychological study, so I relished it. There may be downside for some readers in this as the characters, apart from Kate’s assistant, Jim Sykes, who gets a big surprise, aren’t particularly well developed and are there simply to propel the plot forward. I like it as it makes for an easy read and I could focus fully on finding a murderer, an industrial spy and a thief. Not a lot going on, then!
The narrative switches between Kate’s present and schoolboy Nick’s “long ago”, which fills in events from about 60 years ago and allows the reader to suspect that Ronnie may have wanted to talk to her about them. It’s a clever mix of past and present, hinting at the past casts a long shadow trope. There’s plenty of food for light thought in the plot with its many strands and ramifications, but it’s still a story at heart. I read it in one sitting.
A Mansion for Murder is a good read that I can recommend.
December 7, 2022
A Mansion for Murder is my first Kate Shackleton mystery. Shackleton is described as a female Sherlock Holmes, but honestly, while Shackleton proves to be an interesting investigator, she lacks the intuitive nature and attention to detail that define Holmes, who is truly a detective, just as the term "detective" is being defined. Frances Brody chooses a real location as the centerpiece for the plot for A Mansion for Murder. This mansion, which is not described in much detail, is real. Brody misses a good opportunity in not describing the mansion. There is a suggestion about tunnels that are used to steal silver and other goods, but there is no forthcoming details about the tunnels.
Shackleton has two able assistants, both of whom share time and narration as the plot unfolds. There are additional characters who also share narration, which is a significant problem. Maybe a third party narration would solve the jerkiness of so many different narrators. The shifting narration, sometimes with accompanying shifts in time, is confusing. Just when the plot gets interesting, Brody shifts the narration to another character. Perhaps a prologue focusing on Nick and Billy, and the teacher, would help clean up the novel and eliminate some of these time and narrative shifts.
I enjoyed the plot and thought it was interesting. Several of the characters were interesting, but it was not clear where the novel ended and the author's notes began. The Postscript section was confusing. This area needs some cleaning up. I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC and thank both author and publisher. One of NetGalley's strengths is the ability to introduce readers to new authors.
Shackleton has two able assistants, both of whom share time and narration as the plot unfolds. There are additional characters who also share narration, which is a significant problem. Maybe a third party narration would solve the jerkiness of so many different narrators. The shifting narration, sometimes with accompanying shifts in time, is confusing. Just when the plot gets interesting, Brody shifts the narration to another character. Perhaps a prologue focusing on Nick and Billy, and the teacher, would help clean up the novel and eliminate some of these time and narrative shifts.
I enjoyed the plot and thought it was interesting. Several of the characters were interesting, but it was not clear where the novel ended and the author's notes began. The Postscript section was confusing. This area needs some cleaning up. I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC and thank both author and publisher. One of NetGalley's strengths is the ability to introduce readers to new authors.
March 20, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus for this opportunity to review A Mansion for Murder. All opinions and comments are my own.
It’s Kate Shackleton’s introspection and self-examination that is once again highlighted in this book, the thirteenth in the justly acclaimed series by Kate Brody. Responding to a letter sent by a dead man, Kate and her associates set out for the company town of Saltaire (a fascinating, real place -- you will want to look up its history, as the author encourages in a postscript) to undertake a solution to his death and other underhanded dealings in the place. They accomplish all this, of course, after an entertaining journey of clue-finding, interviews, some personal danger, and that introspection I’ve already mentioned. There are some truly soaring passages here, reminding Ms. Brody’s readers once again of life and loss, that this is a book that takes place after the horrors of WWI.
To offset the sadness that brings Kate to the town, there’s a happy twist for once, amidst all the unhappiness and evil, for our trio of private detectives. I shan’t spoil it for you.
The flashback chapters might not be to everyone’s taste; they do slow the narrative down somewhat. But they add a sense of foreboding to the text, and that isn’t necessarily bad in a mystery setting.
Our book is resolved, of course; Kate and her colleagues do their jobs. (I must add that there is one plot line that we do not find out about; more’s the pity.) But it is a bittersweet victory, for tragedy occurs. That readers should find themselves moved by this is the sign of a well written book in the hands of a seasoned author. A Mansion for Murder delivers, and more.
It’s Kate Shackleton’s introspection and self-examination that is once again highlighted in this book, the thirteenth in the justly acclaimed series by Kate Brody. Responding to a letter sent by a dead man, Kate and her associates set out for the company town of Saltaire (a fascinating, real place -- you will want to look up its history, as the author encourages in a postscript) to undertake a solution to his death and other underhanded dealings in the place. They accomplish all this, of course, after an entertaining journey of clue-finding, interviews, some personal danger, and that introspection I’ve already mentioned. There are some truly soaring passages here, reminding Ms. Brody’s readers once again of life and loss, that this is a book that takes place after the horrors of WWI.
To offset the sadness that brings Kate to the town, there’s a happy twist for once, amidst all the unhappiness and evil, for our trio of private detectives. I shan’t spoil it for you.
The flashback chapters might not be to everyone’s taste; they do slow the narrative down somewhat. But they add a sense of foreboding to the text, and that isn’t necessarily bad in a mystery setting.
Our book is resolved, of course; Kate and her colleagues do their jobs. (I must add that there is one plot line that we do not find out about; more’s the pity.) But it is a bittersweet victory, for tragedy occurs. That readers should find themselves moved by this is the sign of a well written book in the hands of a seasoned author. A Mansion for Murder delivers, and more.
May 30, 2023
A Mansion for Murder by Frances Brody
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
1930, Yorkshire. Intrigued by a mysterious letter from a stranger offering important information, Private Investigator Kate Shackleton arrives in the mill village of Saltaire. At nearby Milner Field mansion, overshadowed by its reputation for misfortune and untimely deaths, she expects to meet the letter writer, Ronnie Creswell.
Kate soon hears the shocking news that Ronnie has been killed. At first his death appears to be a tragic accident at the mill, but soon it becomes clear that Ronnie's demise was no mishap. Kate is enlisted to help investigate the murder.
Kate moves into the tower rooms at Milner Field, as she tries to uncover resentments, industrial espionage, and old secrets in the close-knit village. Although she doesn't believe in curses, she wonders what sinister truth lies behind this latest in the litany of deaths connected to the infamous Milner Field.
Then just when things couldn't get any worse, a young girl in the village goes missing, and Kate must use all her strength and skill to unravel the mystery around the mansion once and for all . . .
My Opinion
This is a series that I have not been reading in order, but I don't think that it is necessary. Kate Shackleton receives a strange letter inviting her to visit Milner Field and the local mansion. This was a nice easy read with some great descriptions of the area. An entertaining read and a great addition to the series.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
1930, Yorkshire. Intrigued by a mysterious letter from a stranger offering important information, Private Investigator Kate Shackleton arrives in the mill village of Saltaire. At nearby Milner Field mansion, overshadowed by its reputation for misfortune and untimely deaths, she expects to meet the letter writer, Ronnie Creswell.
Kate soon hears the shocking news that Ronnie has been killed. At first his death appears to be a tragic accident at the mill, but soon it becomes clear that Ronnie's demise was no mishap. Kate is enlisted to help investigate the murder.
Kate moves into the tower rooms at Milner Field, as she tries to uncover resentments, industrial espionage, and old secrets in the close-knit village. Although she doesn't believe in curses, she wonders what sinister truth lies behind this latest in the litany of deaths connected to the infamous Milner Field.
Then just when things couldn't get any worse, a young girl in the village goes missing, and Kate must use all her strength and skill to unravel the mystery around the mansion once and for all . . .
My Opinion
This is a series that I have not been reading in order, but I don't think that it is necessary. Kate Shackleton receives a strange letter inviting her to visit Milner Field and the local mansion. This was a nice easy read with some great descriptions of the area. An entertaining read and a great addition to the series.
Rating 4/5
July 20, 2025
Not a patch on the earlier Kate Shackleton mysteries - I'm beginning to wonder if this series has run its course.
Kate receives a mysterious letter from a young man who works in a woollen mill, asking her to visit on a specific day because there is something he wishes to discuss with her, but when she arrives, she discovers that his dead body has just been discovered. Foul play is suspected, and since Kate would like to stick around to investigate, she is delighted when the mill owner engages her to investigate suspicions of espionage within the company.
It's a good setting for the crime and Brody provides us with some interesting characters - she is particularly good at creating engaging and believable child characters. Unfortunately, the plot (or rather, plots, since there are several intertwining mysteries) is both too complex and too flimsily put together. There are some gaping holes in the structure and an infuriating number of loose ends. I also found the surprise announcement at the end totally ridiculous. The book feels rather as if Brody were giving in to pressure from her publisher to churn out 'another Kate Shackleton for this year' rather than taking the time to produce a well crafted story. Fans of the series may enjoy skim-reading this (it really doesn't repay slow reading), but for newbies, I'd recommend reading one of the earlier installments instead.
Kate receives a mysterious letter from a young man who works in a woollen mill, asking her to visit on a specific day because there is something he wishes to discuss with her, but when she arrives, she discovers that his dead body has just been discovered. Foul play is suspected, and since Kate would like to stick around to investigate, she is delighted when the mill owner engages her to investigate suspicions of espionage within the company.
It's a good setting for the crime and Brody provides us with some interesting characters - she is particularly good at creating engaging and believable child characters. Unfortunately, the plot (or rather, plots, since there are several intertwining mysteries) is both too complex and too flimsily put together. There are some gaping holes in the structure and an infuriating number of loose ends. I also found the surprise announcement at the end totally ridiculous. The book feels rather as if Brody were giving in to pressure from her publisher to churn out 'another Kate Shackleton for this year' rather than taking the time to produce a well crafted story. Fans of the series may enjoy skim-reading this (it really doesn't repay slow reading), but for newbies, I'd recommend reading one of the earlier installments instead.
December 30, 2025
This is book thirteen in the Kate Shackleton Mystery series. I have read twelve books, one a month, for my Goodreads Crime and Mystery group challenge and owned those books but this one is a library loan and not part of the reading challenge. A story with many emotions, good, bad, sad and hidden personal knowledge woven into a murder mystery or two. I found this book maintained the fascination of the series for me, an engrossing addition, with active and interesting characters sensitively connected over different time frames. Investigator Kate Shackleton sometimes relies on intuition during investigations and occasionally she relinquishes duties to business partners Mrs Sugden and Jim Sykes. Mrs Sugden rarely betrays high emotions but she does get her own chapter.
Kate is hands-on there in Saltaire village and her demeanour seems more compassionate but elsewhere there’s drama aplenty so she focusses on nearby Milner Field mansion (once real). Page 181 my favourite quote from Kate “It did add to the eerie atmosphere. I felt a powerful waft of cold air by the dumb waiter in the mock-Tudor dining room at the mansion.” Shiver! For me this became an interestingly convoluted story, following up on clues and grim consequences, threads of the rich, the poor, the workers, of births and deaths. Weather doesn’t get much mention in the series but there is a nod to war and the death knell for stately homes plus the decline of local industries and factories across Yorkshire. Sykes gets the last word “ta-rah”.
Kate is hands-on there in Saltaire village and her demeanour seems more compassionate but elsewhere there’s drama aplenty so she focusses on nearby Milner Field mansion (once real). Page 181 my favourite quote from Kate “It did add to the eerie atmosphere. I felt a powerful waft of cold air by the dumb waiter in the mock-Tudor dining room at the mansion.” Shiver! For me this became an interestingly convoluted story, following up on clues and grim consequences, threads of the rich, the poor, the workers, of births and deaths. Weather doesn’t get much mention in the series but there is a nod to war and the death knell for stately homes plus the decline of local industries and factories across Yorkshire. Sykes gets the last word “ta-rah”.
March 16, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
I discovered Kate Shackleton when looking for something to fill the void between Maisie Dobbs books. And Kate can hold her own. Kate and Maisie are similar - both private detectives in an era when women didn't do "that sort of work". Kate lost her husband in WWI, Maisie her fiance. Both were nurses during the War. But Kate is a little more human, more empathetic with the "lower classes" and not just educated, as is Maisie.
During a break between jobs, Kate Shackleton receives a letter from a young man asking her to visit him because he has some information that he isn't sure who to tell, and he thinks she can help. But when she arrives, she finds the young man has just been found dead, possibly under suspicious circumstances. Not sure what to do, she is contacted by the owner of the wool mill and asked to look into some threats he has received, which gives her the perfect opportunity to also look into the recent death. She enlists the aid of her trusty housekeeper, Mrs Sudgens, and the ex-policeman who also helps her, Mr Sykes. As a side issue, Mr Sykes also has a problem of his own that works itself out.
Meanwhile, two older deaths are somehow linked, and may be linked to this new one, too. How does everything fit together? In the end, she does get to the bottom of the mystery. And a few others as well.
I discovered Kate Shackleton when looking for something to fill the void between Maisie Dobbs books. And Kate can hold her own. Kate and Maisie are similar - both private detectives in an era when women didn't do "that sort of work". Kate lost her husband in WWI, Maisie her fiance. Both were nurses during the War. But Kate is a little more human, more empathetic with the "lower classes" and not just educated, as is Maisie.
During a break between jobs, Kate Shackleton receives a letter from a young man asking her to visit him because he has some information that he isn't sure who to tell, and he thinks she can help. But when she arrives, she finds the young man has just been found dead, possibly under suspicious circumstances. Not sure what to do, she is contacted by the owner of the wool mill and asked to look into some threats he has received, which gives her the perfect opportunity to also look into the recent death. She enlists the aid of her trusty housekeeper, Mrs Sudgens, and the ex-policeman who also helps her, Mr Sykes. As a side issue, Mr Sykes also has a problem of his own that works itself out.
Meanwhile, two older deaths are somehow linked, and may be linked to this new one, too. How does everything fit together? In the end, she does get to the bottom of the mystery. And a few others as well.
April 17, 2023
I was a little slow getting into this one. Probably because I wasn’t familiar with the world and the characters. I almost DNFed it, but since I had the ARC, I felt committed to completing and reviewing the book After putting it aside for a while and I’m so glad I did. Once I got my bearings, it was quite the page-turner.
Investigator Kate Shackleton receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell asking her to come to see him in Saltaire because he has a message for her about the past. Unfortunately, as soon as she arrives, she learns that he has died. Naturally, she must investigate, but she encounters superstition and secrecy, and class divisions that complicate matters for her. She enlists the help of Mrs. Sudgens, her housekeeper, and Jim Sykes, a former policeman, and friend. Together they manage to unravel the mystery and solve the murder.
A Mansion for Murder is the 13th book of Frances Brody’s Kate Shackleton mysteries series. It’s the first of the series I’ve read, and I’m eager to dig into the rest of the series. There’s nothing like finding an author or series you enjoy and discovering there’s a large body of work waiting to be enjoyed. Besides, I’m always a sucker for an anachronistically feisty heroine.
I received this advanced reader copy of Mansion for Murder from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
Investigator Kate Shackleton receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell asking her to come to see him in Saltaire because he has a message for her about the past. Unfortunately, as soon as she arrives, she learns that he has died. Naturally, she must investigate, but she encounters superstition and secrecy, and class divisions that complicate matters for her. She enlists the help of Mrs. Sudgens, her housekeeper, and Jim Sykes, a former policeman, and friend. Together they manage to unravel the mystery and solve the murder.
A Mansion for Murder is the 13th book of Frances Brody’s Kate Shackleton mysteries series. It’s the first of the series I’ve read, and I’m eager to dig into the rest of the series. There’s nothing like finding an author or series you enjoy and discovering there’s a large body of work waiting to be enjoyed. Besides, I’m always a sucker for an anachronistically feisty heroine.
I received this advanced reader copy of Mansion for Murder from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2024
I listened to A Mansion For Murder on audio, narrated by Anne Dover.
I love cozy mysteries, and there is just something about a cozy mystery set in the past that is especially enjoyable. Set in the 1930s, Kate Shackleton, our main character, is a Private Investigator, in Yorkshire. Something that is very unusual for a woman during this time period.
Kate and her team are engaged to investigate a murder and corporate espionage in the village town of Saltaire. During the course of the investigation, Kate Shackleton also learns of a cold case, and a young girl goes missing. This added so much to the story, and I actually had some tears when the search was on for the young girl.
The mystery itself was interesting. There were lots of potential suspects and so I was never able to solve the mystery on my own. I absolutely loved Kate Shackleton's character. She was smart, determined, and kind. Her team were great secondary characters.
A Mansion For Murder is the 13th in the Kate Shackleton mystery series. This one can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, cozy mystery. A real whodunit, with a bit of folklore, and talk of curses that kept me guessing.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
I love cozy mysteries, and there is just something about a cozy mystery set in the past that is especially enjoyable. Set in the 1930s, Kate Shackleton, our main character, is a Private Investigator, in Yorkshire. Something that is very unusual for a woman during this time period.
Kate and her team are engaged to investigate a murder and corporate espionage in the village town of Saltaire. During the course of the investigation, Kate Shackleton also learns of a cold case, and a young girl goes missing. This added so much to the story, and I actually had some tears when the search was on for the young girl.
The mystery itself was interesting. There were lots of potential suspects and so I was never able to solve the mystery on my own. I absolutely loved Kate Shackleton's character. She was smart, determined, and kind. Her team were great secondary characters.
A Mansion For Murder is the 13th in the Kate Shackleton mystery series. This one can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, cozy mystery. A real whodunit, with a bit of folklore, and talk of curses that kept me guessing.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the advanced digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
February 8, 2023
Set in 1930 Yorkshire, A Mansion for Murder is compelling, enchanting and engrossing, full of unique bits and perspectives. It is the thirteenth in the delightful Kate Shackleton series.
Detective and widow Kate Shackleton receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell of Saltaire who refers to a past secret. Kate and her sleuthing team consisting of her housekeeper Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes enter the scene. Unfortunately, Ronnie dies before their arrival at Miner Field Mansion. Old bones, new murder and a disappearance deepen the case and add an element of urgency. There is even a mysterious tower and even more mysterious Uncle Nick who has stories to tell.
Many of the characters are likeable and and the layers of secrets are unraveled beautifully at just the right times. I also like the setting, subplots, history and era. Author Frances Brody has a special way with details which makes her stories easy to envision.
Interestingly, Saltaire is a real town and Miner Field was a country house nearby. This novel whet my appetite to know more so I happily got lost in further research.
Historical Fiction Mystery fans, do try this worthwhile and thoroughly enjoyable series.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this spellbinding book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Detective and widow Kate Shackleton receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell of Saltaire who refers to a past secret. Kate and her sleuthing team consisting of her housekeeper Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes enter the scene. Unfortunately, Ronnie dies before their arrival at Miner Field Mansion. Old bones, new murder and a disappearance deepen the case and add an element of urgency. There is even a mysterious tower and even more mysterious Uncle Nick who has stories to tell.
Many of the characters are likeable and and the layers of secrets are unraveled beautifully at just the right times. I also like the setting, subplots, history and era. Author Frances Brody has a special way with details which makes her stories easy to envision.
Interestingly, Saltaire is a real town and Miner Field was a country house nearby. This novel whet my appetite to know more so I happily got lost in further research.
Historical Fiction Mystery fans, do try this worthwhile and thoroughly enjoyable series.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this spellbinding book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
March 21, 2023
Don't be put off by this being the 13th of this well written, engaging series. It works fine as a standalone. Kate Shackleton is a private detective in 1930 Yorkshire. When she receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell, a person she has never met, speaking of a past secret that would be of interest to her, she decides to go meet him. Arriving in Saltaire and going to the Milner Field estate, she finds that she will never get to speak with Creswell. He is dead. Accident or murder?
While the police handle his case, the manager of the woolen mill were Creswell worked and died asks Kate to investigate for him. He suspects that there is someone trying to commit industrial espionage and force the mill to shut down. Does this have anything to do with the information Creswell wanted to share with Kate and does any of this tie into what many think is a local curse? With the help of her investigator and her housekeeper, Kate sets out to sort it all out.
With a wonderful cast of recurring characters and a puzzle full of the required twists, turns and red herrings, this is another well-crafted entry in an excellent historical mystery series. My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
While the police handle his case, the manager of the woolen mill were Creswell worked and died asks Kate to investigate for him. He suspects that there is someone trying to commit industrial espionage and force the mill to shut down. Does this have anything to do with the information Creswell wanted to share with Kate and does any of this tie into what many think is a local curse? With the help of her investigator and her housekeeper, Kate sets out to sort it all out.
With a wonderful cast of recurring characters and a puzzle full of the required twists, turns and red herrings, this is another well-crafted entry in an excellent historical mystery series. My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2025
This is the 13th novel in a series of books featuring Kate Shackleton. Kate is a private investigator and the selling point of this particular series seems to be that it is set in Yorkshire between the two World Wars. This is the first of the series that I have read, so I may be missing some useful background information on Kate and her assistant Jim Sykes. This may be why I was not particularly engaged by this story. It probably also didn't help that I was on holiday while reading it and didn't get to read a consistent amount each day. Perhaps as a result, I did find it difficult at times to remember who particular characters were, and how they were linked to each other. As I've mentioned the USP of this series is the setting in 1930s Yorkshire, but I really didn't think that the atmosphere of the time and place were well conveyed in the narrative. The story itself is quite low key. In the beginning it appears that a tragic accident may have taken place and it is quite a way into the story before it is actually confirmed by the police that a murder has taken place. So, in summary, I quite enjoyed reading this, but I don't feel the need to seek out any more of the Kate Shackleton mysteries.
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