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Murder Will Follow Mystery #2
Honeymoon with Death
A newlywed finds herself with someone newly dead in this charming historical mystery from the author of A Testament to Murder.
After a whirlwind romance and dream wedding, the new Mrs. Ramsforth is whisked away to an idyllic Greek island by her adoring husband. But as soon as they arrive at their luxurious hotel overlooking the azure sea, Damaris is struck by the feeling she’s been here before . . .
Puzzling over the familiarity, Damaris’ honeymoon goes from unsettling to a complete nightmare when she finds herself standing over a dead body, unable to explain how she got there.
Now only one man can save her—fellow holidaymaker and former Scotland Yard inspector Jasper. But even he starts to doubt Damaris’ innocence when he discovers that it’s not her first time embroiled in a murder case . . .
Now including the first chapter from Under the Guise of Death, the next book in the Murder Will Follow series.
“If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, particular Agatha Christie, you don’t want to miss this series. Plus it is fun to spend the summer in the Greek isles, even if it is just in the pages of a book.” —Girl Who Reads
“If you enjoy mysteries set in the 1920s with an Agatha Christie style, grab yourself a copy of this fantastic story!” —SplashesIntoBooks
“A delightful cosy murder mystery . . . A quick, fun read, perfect for a (beach) holiday when you need your dose of murder and mystery, but you don’t want to overexert those little grey cells with a dark and long-winded thriller. Recommended!” —FromBelgiumWithBookLove
After a whirlwind romance and dream wedding, the new Mrs. Ramsforth is whisked away to an idyllic Greek island by her adoring husband. But as soon as they arrive at their luxurious hotel overlooking the azure sea, Damaris is struck by the feeling she’s been here before . . .
Puzzling over the familiarity, Damaris’ honeymoon goes from unsettling to a complete nightmare when she finds herself standing over a dead body, unable to explain how she got there.
Now only one man can save her—fellow holidaymaker and former Scotland Yard inspector Jasper. But even he starts to doubt Damaris’ innocence when he discovers that it’s not her first time embroiled in a murder case . . .
Now including the first chapter from Under the Guise of Death, the next book in the Murder Will Follow series.
“If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, particular Agatha Christie, you don’t want to miss this series. Plus it is fun to spend the summer in the Greek isles, even if it is just in the pages of a book.” —Girl Who Reads
“If you enjoy mysteries set in the 1920s with an Agatha Christie style, grab yourself a copy of this fantastic story!” —SplashesIntoBooks
“A delightful cosy murder mystery . . . A quick, fun read, perfect for a (beach) holiday when you need your dose of murder and mystery, but you don’t want to overexert those little grey cells with a dark and long-winded thriller. Recommended!” —FromBelgiumWithBookLove
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 27, 2019
3.5 Stars
This is the second book in the Murder Will Follow series.
To me this book is an Inspector Jasper mystery because it was all about him. In the beginning it seemed like Mrs Ramsforth would be the main character but quickly we realize that although she is in the forefront of the story, Jasper is the one who holds our attention.
The mystery and all the elements of the mystery in this were top notch. It is probably the most complex mystery I have seen in a long time… worthy of Columbo and Hercule Poirot. And every thread was figured out in the end and revealed. You don’t always see that with a cozy mystery.
The main problem I had with this book were all the jumps in logic that kept happening. We weren’t following along as Jasper figured it all out. Jasper would come upon clues and just suddenly seem to know and figure out how it was all connected. I would have liked to see his process more. I needed less internal dialogue from all the secondary character and more sleuthing and discovering clues so we could enjoy figuring it out along with Jasper.
Good mystery but not great follow through. I will definitely pick up another Inspector Jasper mystery. He was my favorite part of this.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the second book in the Murder Will Follow series.
To me this book is an Inspector Jasper mystery because it was all about him. In the beginning it seemed like Mrs Ramsforth would be the main character but quickly we realize that although she is in the forefront of the story, Jasper is the one who holds our attention.
The mystery and all the elements of the mystery in this were top notch. It is probably the most complex mystery I have seen in a long time… worthy of Columbo and Hercule Poirot. And every thread was figured out in the end and revealed. You don’t always see that with a cozy mystery.
The main problem I had with this book were all the jumps in logic that kept happening. We weren’t following along as Jasper figured it all out. Jasper would come upon clues and just suddenly seem to know and figure out how it was all connected. I would have liked to see his process more. I needed less internal dialogue from all the secondary character and more sleuthing and discovering clues so we could enjoy figuring it out along with Jasper.
Good mystery but not great follow through. I will definitely pick up another Inspector Jasper mystery. He was my favorite part of this.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
June 22, 2020
Honeymoon With Death, a Murder Will Follow Mystery, is a very readable murder mystery, the second with former inspector Jasper who is good company (with his dog Red) on this small Greek island. I do like his presence and his personality but would have liked more details of him physically. There was none that I noticed in this second book and I needed this as a reader who hadn’t read the first one.
The island however is very effectively evoked:
“Houses of intense white stone stood flocking together on a sloping hill. Small boats bobbed on the water of what had to be a harbour, with fishermen cleaning nets, old women selling vegetables and flowers, little children running about with a dirty dog in tow. To the right orchards stretched, trees full of green leaves and yellow peeping through.”
Conroy sets an intriguing plot with beetles and a skull appearing in the room of the newly married character Damaris Ramsforth soon after she arrives on the island. I found Damaris’s strange memories intriguing and how they disorient her is skillfully done. And then there are two deaths to be investigated.
I enjoyed this murder mystery but found a few things jarred, including the main character’s use of the words “How come?” which propelled me forward to the 21st century in a merciless fashion. There was also another character wearing a “tight green dress”. In fact any tight dress in the 1920s is an anomaly. Would have loved more details to anchor the story specifically to the 1920s, otherwise a pleasant read. Three and a half stars.
The island however is very effectively evoked:
“Houses of intense white stone stood flocking together on a sloping hill. Small boats bobbed on the water of what had to be a harbour, with fishermen cleaning nets, old women selling vegetables and flowers, little children running about with a dirty dog in tow. To the right orchards stretched, trees full of green leaves and yellow peeping through.”
Conroy sets an intriguing plot with beetles and a skull appearing in the room of the newly married character Damaris Ramsforth soon after she arrives on the island. I found Damaris’s strange memories intriguing and how they disorient her is skillfully done. And then there are two deaths to be investigated.
I enjoyed this murder mystery but found a few things jarred, including the main character’s use of the words “How come?” which propelled me forward to the 21st century in a merciless fashion. There was also another character wearing a “tight green dress”. In fact any tight dress in the 1920s is an anomaly. Would have loved more details to anchor the story specifically to the 1920s, otherwise a pleasant read. Three and a half stars.
December 30, 2019
If you enjoy mysteries set in the 1920s with an Agatha Christie style, grab yourself a copy of this fantastic story! I had thoroughly enjoyed reading 'A Testament to Murder', the first book in this series, so was eager to read this one and I wasn't disappointed!
A whirlwind romance swiftly followed by a dream wedding and honeymoon on an idyllic Greek island sounds like beautiful romance, however there are mysteries galore in this cosy murder mystery. Just why does the new bride, Damaris Ramsforth, find the honeymoon location so familiar? Even worse, how did she find herself standing over a dead body with no memory of how she got there or what she was doing? Is she going mad? What is wrong?
That's when the intrepid former Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper comes to her rescue. He's holidaying on the island with a local contemporary and he just can't help making his own enquiries. He's shocked to discover that this isn't the first time that Damaris has been involved in a murder enquiry. This isn't just one murder mystery but several puzzles intricately threaded together and difficult to untangle for everyone except, of course, the logical, determined Inspector Jasper. He's a less eccentric version of Hercule Poirot, with great deductive powers that help weave those threads into a complex tapestry with all revelations made in the end.
This is a fantastic story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone else who enjoys Agatha Christie style murder mysteries.
Many thanks to Canelo for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review after reading and being totally enthralled by this fantastic murder mystery.
A whirlwind romance swiftly followed by a dream wedding and honeymoon on an idyllic Greek island sounds like beautiful romance, however there are mysteries galore in this cosy murder mystery. Just why does the new bride, Damaris Ramsforth, find the honeymoon location so familiar? Even worse, how did she find herself standing over a dead body with no memory of how she got there or what she was doing? Is she going mad? What is wrong?
That's when the intrepid former Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper comes to her rescue. He's holidaying on the island with a local contemporary and he just can't help making his own enquiries. He's shocked to discover that this isn't the first time that Damaris has been involved in a murder enquiry. This isn't just one murder mystery but several puzzles intricately threaded together and difficult to untangle for everyone except, of course, the logical, determined Inspector Jasper. He's a less eccentric version of Hercule Poirot, with great deductive powers that help weave those threads into a complex tapestry with all revelations made in the end.
This is a fantastic story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone else who enjoys Agatha Christie style murder mysteries.
Many thanks to Canelo for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review after reading and being totally enthralled by this fantastic murder mystery.
July 19, 2019
This was a brilliant cosy mystery set on a Greek Island in the 1920s that tied me up in knots trying to work out whodunnit!
Inspector Jasper was a great character and I loved his Labrador Red, so friendly and very well behaved.
Damaris was the perfect main character in this murder mystery, never knowing if she was completely innocent or if she was playing some dangerous game.
There were so many suspicious characters, mostly unlikeable that I couldn’t decide who was guilty and who was a red herring.
If historical cosy mysteries are your thing, then I definitely recommend this book. I’ve discovered a new favourite author and look forward to meeting up with Inspector Jasper again in A Testament to Murder, the first book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for my digital copy.
Inspector Jasper was a great character and I loved his Labrador Red, so friendly and very well behaved.
Damaris was the perfect main character in this murder mystery, never knowing if she was completely innocent or if she was playing some dangerous game.
There were so many suspicious characters, mostly unlikeable that I couldn’t decide who was guilty and who was a red herring.
If historical cosy mysteries are your thing, then I definitely recommend this book. I’ve discovered a new favourite author and look forward to meeting up with Inspector Jasper again in A Testament to Murder, the first book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for my digital copy.
August 5, 2019
Honeymooning on a Greek Island, sounds idyllic doesn't it, but what if you have a disturbing sense of 'deja vu'? Damaris still can't' believe she's married after a whirlwind courtship, to such a lovely man. On her honeymoon, she looks forward to her life with Teddy, but then things start to go wrong. How much does she really know about her husband? Why doesn't she like his friends?
The characters are flawed, and secretive, but is one of them hiding something deadly? The plot is written in the 'Agatha Christie'whodunnit style, set in the 1920s. Ex-Inspector Jasper a delightful fusion of a Poirot and Chief Inspector Japp, less eccentric, but with an enigmatic presence.
Damaris, is vulnerable and doesn't know who to trust, an unreliable protagonist, is she hiding something? The clues are plentiful but these are obscured by the many twists, and suspects, making the true antagonist hard to uncover.
If you enjoy retro murder mystery in a vividly described setting, this is one for you to escape with.
I received a copy of this book from Canel0 via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The characters are flawed, and secretive, but is one of them hiding something deadly? The plot is written in the 'Agatha Christie'whodunnit style, set in the 1920s. Ex-Inspector Jasper a delightful fusion of a Poirot and Chief Inspector Japp, less eccentric, but with an enigmatic presence.
Damaris, is vulnerable and doesn't know who to trust, an unreliable protagonist, is she hiding something? The clues are plentiful but these are obscured by the many twists, and suspects, making the true antagonist hard to uncover.
If you enjoy retro murder mystery in a vividly described setting, this is one for you to escape with.
I received a copy of this book from Canel0 via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 18, 2022
Do you like cosy murder mysteries? Do you like historical mysteries? Do you like Agatha Christie? Then you should be reading Honeymoon with Death. This is the second in Vivian Conroy's Murder Will Follow series of cosy murder mysteries set in the 1920s, which you can read in any order. There is such a lovely ease to this book, as there was with the first one, that such makes for such an enjoyable reading experience. This one is set on a Greek island where a new bride is honeymooning and, as you may expect, things are not as they seem. This was a very smart choice of setting and the author did an excellent job in creating a strong sense of place. It was especially nice to be reading about a hot Greek Island, while wrapped up in bed in cold and rainy Wales. It is the sort of book that very much relies on you feeling a certain way about a certain character. Thankfully a lot of care and attention has gone into making sure that this is the case, so the mystery as a whole really works well. This is just the sort of cosy mystery I'm always looking for, so I'm glad that I know exactly where to turn to scratch that itch.
October 6, 2020
#2 in the murder Will Follow Mystery series, but it can also be read as a stand-alone.
Honeymoon With Death is a cosy murder mystery set in the 1920’s on the island of Kalos. mr and Mrs Ramsforth are on their honeymoon, but there is an air of intrigue about them. Then Mrs Ramsforth begins experiencing strange and macabre events that only she is witness too. Are these I. Her imagination or is someone deliberately trying to confuse and disorient her?
But then a body is found!
Inspector Jasper is back, he’s here on the island and decides to help Mrs Ramsforth and begins to investigate.
This is a fantastically twisty tale with a complex plot that will keep you guessing, a must read for fans of cosy crime.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of Honeymoon With Death.
Honeymoon With Death is a cosy murder mystery set in the 1920’s on the island of Kalos. mr and Mrs Ramsforth are on their honeymoon, but there is an air of intrigue about them. Then Mrs Ramsforth begins experiencing strange and macabre events that only she is witness too. Are these I. Her imagination or is someone deliberately trying to confuse and disorient her?
But then a body is found!
Inspector Jasper is back, he’s here on the island and decides to help Mrs Ramsforth and begins to investigate.
This is a fantastically twisty tale with a complex plot that will keep you guessing, a must read for fans of cosy crime.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of Honeymoon With Death.
July 2, 2019
What a delightful mystery this was! It reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel but written in today’s language, which made it easier to follow the story. But the plot itself was very Christie-esque. A woman on her honeymoon on a Greek island has flashbacks that indicate she has visited the island before, but she has no actual memory. There is a whirlwind romance that led to the honeymoon, a suspicious business partner, enigmatic painter, oh, and a dead body. Add in a retired Scotland Yard inspector on holiday who has to put it all together, and you get a cracking mystery in a beautiful setting. I was excited to see that this is part of a series, so I look forward to reading others involving Inspector Jasper. Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo, and the author for a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of this book.
June 30, 2019
“The sky was a wonderful blue and it was a perfect day for boating or swimming. But he was knee-deep in murder and it all got more mysterious with each revelation.”
My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of Vivian Conroy’s ‘Honeymoon With Death’ in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second in Conroy’s A Murder Will Follow series of 1920s cosy mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie as retired Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper is once more caught up in a complex mystery.
After a whirlwind romance and wedding Damaris Ramsford has been whisked away to a tiny idyllic Greek island by her husband Teddy. Yet almost from the moment she steps from the boat she feels unsettled. First, by a strong feeling of familiarity and then by a series of bizarre events that leave her fearful for her sanity. When she is discovered standing over a dead body, she becomes the natural suspect even though she claims no memory of what happened. Luckily former inspector Jasper is on hand!
I had enjoyed Jasper’s previous outing earlier in the year in ‘A Testament to Murder’ and was pleased to see him involved in another mystery even while feeling a bit sorry for him not having the peaceful Greek holiday that he was hoping for.
Conroy is open about her deep admiration of Agatha Christie and this shines through her writing and confident use of the tropes of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Here she has Jasper engage in the classic summation gathering so beloved of Hercule Poirot.
I am not a big fan of cosy mysteries as I am more drawn to darker crime fiction yet this proved a fun summer read with an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing. I will certainly be recommending it to my cosy mystery addicted friends.
My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of Vivian Conroy’s ‘Honeymoon With Death’ in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second in Conroy’s A Murder Will Follow series of 1920s cosy mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie as retired Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper is once more caught up in a complex mystery.
After a whirlwind romance and wedding Damaris Ramsford has been whisked away to a tiny idyllic Greek island by her husband Teddy. Yet almost from the moment she steps from the boat she feels unsettled. First, by a strong feeling of familiarity and then by a series of bizarre events that leave her fearful for her sanity. When she is discovered standing over a dead body, she becomes the natural suspect even though she claims no memory of what happened. Luckily former inspector Jasper is on hand!
I had enjoyed Jasper’s previous outing earlier in the year in ‘A Testament to Murder’ and was pleased to see him involved in another mystery even while feeling a bit sorry for him not having the peaceful Greek holiday that he was hoping for.
Conroy is open about her deep admiration of Agatha Christie and this shines through her writing and confident use of the tropes of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Here she has Jasper engage in the classic summation gathering so beloved of Hercule Poirot.
I am not a big fan of cosy mysteries as I am more drawn to darker crime fiction yet this proved a fun summer read with an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing. I will certainly be recommending it to my cosy mystery addicted friends.
May 13, 2019
A young couple on their honeymoon in a small Greek town are embroiled in a murder mystery. Mr and Mrs Ramsforth escape to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalo for their honeymoon. Upon her arrival Mrs Ramsforth is plagued by visions of her past, which she can not determine are real or simply images of her imagination. In the midst of trying to figure out what she is seeing, she is found standing over a dead body with no memory of getting there. As luck would have it, Jasper, a former British detective, finds her standing over the dead body and becomes determined to sort out why the woman died and what Mrs. Ramsforth is imagining.
The first couple chapters of this book were slow and darker than I had thought they would be. It quickly turned and grabbed my attention. So much so, that I finished the book in a day. Being from a smallish town, I appreciated the small town feel the author created. The author really understood how quickly rumors and gossip spread in a small town and how intertwined everyone is. The only complaint is that the main couple, Mr and Mrs Ramsforth, were very quick to get emotional and jump to really crazy conclusions. It was a distraction to the main plots when they are flipping out over a random comment. I couldn't put the book down and was desperate to determine who was the killer, who was related to whom and how, why did it happen, etc.
The first couple chapters of this book were slow and darker than I had thought they would be. It quickly turned and grabbed my attention. So much so, that I finished the book in a day. Being from a smallish town, I appreciated the small town feel the author created. The author really understood how quickly rumors and gossip spread in a small town and how intertwined everyone is. The only complaint is that the main couple, Mr and Mrs Ramsforth, were very quick to get emotional and jump to really crazy conclusions. It was a distraction to the main plots when they are flipping out over a random comment. I couldn't put the book down and was desperate to determine who was the killer, who was related to whom and how, why did it happen, etc.
June 28, 2019
This story is very reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "Sleeping Murder." A newlywed comes to a faraway land and starts to recover memories of a long ago murder. And by reminiscent, this is very much a variation on the theme.
Damaris Ramsworth received a free play ticket in the mail which led to her meeting her handsome and connected husband. Hers is very much a Cinderella story and she is living it to the fullest. But then her husband chooses their honeymoon as a surprise and the more she's on this Greek island, the more she wonders what, exactly, is going on.
First are the things that she sees (skull in her room, beetles all over) that no one else seems to. Then, there's the sense that she's been to this place before. But how? And it doesn't help that her husband's friends have "accidentally" run into them in this remote place. Waking up to find herself standing over a dead body is the last straw.
At any other time, Damaris would probably immediately be indicted for murder. But, lucky for her, Inspector Jasper is vacationing on the same island and is willing to take up her cause...
This book starts with a LOT of frenetic energy. It is hard to follow the story and then becomes even worse when trying to follow the logic Jasper uses to solve the crime. An okay story but I probably won't follow the series.
Damaris Ramsworth received a free play ticket in the mail which led to her meeting her handsome and connected husband. Hers is very much a Cinderella story and she is living it to the fullest. But then her husband chooses their honeymoon as a surprise and the more she's on this Greek island, the more she wonders what, exactly, is going on.
First are the things that she sees (skull in her room, beetles all over) that no one else seems to. Then, there's the sense that she's been to this place before. But how? And it doesn't help that her husband's friends have "accidentally" run into them in this remote place. Waking up to find herself standing over a dead body is the last straw.
At any other time, Damaris would probably immediately be indicted for murder. But, lucky for her, Inspector Jasper is vacationing on the same island and is willing to take up her cause...
This book starts with a LOT of frenetic energy. It is hard to follow the story and then becomes even worse when trying to follow the logic Jasper uses to solve the crime. An okay story but I probably won't follow the series.
July 1, 2019
I so enjoyed the first book in this series, and was very excited to get the chance to read and review the second - and, if anything, it is even better!
New bride Damaris Ramsforth is terribly in love with her new husband and is tremendously excited when he takes her on honeymoon to the Greek island of Kalos. Although Teddy comes from a wealthy family, Damaris has never had the means to travel before; why does their hotel seem familiar? With some strange goings-on, the new Mrs Ramsforth begins to doubt herself and struggles with her inner turmoil. Fortunately, former Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper arrives on holiday and sets his sights on working out what's going on. Can he get to the bottom of things and save her sanity?
It is no surprise that author Vivian Conroy is an admirer of Agatha Christie; this novel, in particular, is worthy of the great Dame herself. This isn't one puzzle but several, all entwined and very difficult to unravel - but never underestimate Jasper, the man with the logical mind. I couldn't have worked out things in my wildest dreams! A cracking read and one which played around with my head for the whole time. An amazing book which all mystery lovers are going to love! I'm looking forward to more in this series - this one fully earns every one of it's five stars!
New bride Damaris Ramsforth is terribly in love with her new husband and is tremendously excited when he takes her on honeymoon to the Greek island of Kalos. Although Teddy comes from a wealthy family, Damaris has never had the means to travel before; why does their hotel seem familiar? With some strange goings-on, the new Mrs Ramsforth begins to doubt herself and struggles with her inner turmoil. Fortunately, former Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper arrives on holiday and sets his sights on working out what's going on. Can he get to the bottom of things and save her sanity?
It is no surprise that author Vivian Conroy is an admirer of Agatha Christie; this novel, in particular, is worthy of the great Dame herself. This isn't one puzzle but several, all entwined and very difficult to unravel - but never underestimate Jasper, the man with the logical mind. I couldn't have worked out things in my wildest dreams! A cracking read and one which played around with my head for the whole time. An amazing book which all mystery lovers are going to love! I'm looking forward to more in this series - this one fully earns every one of it's five stars!
July 2, 2019
In “Honeymoon with Death” there wasn't one puzzle to figure out, but several, all intertwined and difficult to unravel in this delightful and engrossing murderous mystery. Masterfully written, the novel was reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery.
This was a really solid thriller with a great holiday vibe and the setting was the fictional, small Greek island of Kalos. I liked that the story was told from different perspectives allowing me to see the points of view of all of the characters. I had enjoyed retired Scotland Yard inspector Jasper’s previous outing earlier in the year in ‘A Testament to Murder’ and was pleased to see him involved in this mystery. Once again the inspector couldn't enjoy his holiday break because a murder had been committed and he had to find the culprit.
I loved Vivian Conroy's portrayal of Damaris Ramsforth so I was really rooting for her and hoping that nothing untoward would strike her. The finale of this second instalment involved an intricate finale. As with 'A Testament to Murder', "Honeymoon with Death" was an entertaining, fun read, perfect for when I wanted a dose of mystery/murder, but nothing overtaxing, dark or too long-winded. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my own request from Canelo via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
This was a really solid thriller with a great holiday vibe and the setting was the fictional, small Greek island of Kalos. I liked that the story was told from different perspectives allowing me to see the points of view of all of the characters. I had enjoyed retired Scotland Yard inspector Jasper’s previous outing earlier in the year in ‘A Testament to Murder’ and was pleased to see him involved in this mystery. Once again the inspector couldn't enjoy his holiday break because a murder had been committed and he had to find the culprit.
I loved Vivian Conroy's portrayal of Damaris Ramsforth so I was really rooting for her and hoping that nothing untoward would strike her. The finale of this second instalment involved an intricate finale. As with 'A Testament to Murder', "Honeymoon with Death" was an entertaining, fun read, perfect for when I wanted a dose of mystery/murder, but nothing overtaxing, dark or too long-winded. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my own request from Canelo via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 18, 2019
I finished my 29th book of the year this morning!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I could read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just love cosy mysteries and I love books set in the 10s/20s. A combination of these two is sure to interest me.
Damaris and Teddy Ramsforth are on their honeymoon on a tiny Greek island. Damaris is still blown away that a man like Teddy fell in love with her, a normal girl from London who worked in an office.
When they arrive on the island, weird things start to happen. Damaris sees things, and remembers things she can’t explain. When there’s a murder on the beach, an old police inspector who also happens to be on holiday there, starts investigating.
I liked the setting of the book. In her acknowledgements the author says she loves Agatha Christie novels and this one kind of reminded me of one, especially the end where everyone is gathered together and the inspector tells his story Poirot-Style.
I thought there were too many coincidences in the plot however and that the solution is maybe a bit too complicated.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I could read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just love cosy mysteries and I love books set in the 10s/20s. A combination of these two is sure to interest me.
Damaris and Teddy Ramsforth are on their honeymoon on a tiny Greek island. Damaris is still blown away that a man like Teddy fell in love with her, a normal girl from London who worked in an office.
When they arrive on the island, weird things start to happen. Damaris sees things, and remembers things she can’t explain. When there’s a murder on the beach, an old police inspector who also happens to be on holiday there, starts investigating.
I liked the setting of the book. In her acknowledgements the author says she loves Agatha Christie novels and this one kind of reminded me of one, especially the end where everyone is gathered together and the inspector tells his story Poirot-Style.
I thought there were too many coincidences in the plot however and that the solution is maybe a bit too complicated.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
August 20, 2020
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second novel I have read by Vivian Conroy and I found it as original and entertaining as the first. This one starts with a young newly married couple arriving on the Greek island of Kalos for their honeymoon. All is idyllic and romantic until it looks like someone is trying to hurt the new bride. What I love about these books is that they told from different viewpoints - the characters are simultaneously the narrators and suspects. It’s a lot of fun and there’s always a surprising twist at the end. Can’t wait to read more.
This is the second novel I have read by Vivian Conroy and I found it as original and entertaining as the first. This one starts with a young newly married couple arriving on the Greek island of Kalos for their honeymoon. All is idyllic and romantic until it looks like someone is trying to hurt the new bride. What I love about these books is that they told from different viewpoints - the characters are simultaneously the narrators and suspects. It’s a lot of fun and there’s always a surprising twist at the end. Can’t wait to read more.
June 25, 2019
A very solid thriller with a fun vacation vibe! I liked that the perspectives jumped around so we could get points of view from all of the characters involved in this complicated thriller/mystery taking place on a very small island - and staying in third person helped me not get confused who we were reading about. The mystery and the reveal(s) all seemed very well-developed. Overall a quick and satisfying read. Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Digital Publishing for providing me with the eARC in return for an honest review!
July 5, 2019
Cozy Murder Mystery on a Greek Isle
This wonderful mystery is reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock film. The 1920's Greek Isle setting is excellent fantasy material. There are many twists and turns that the reader will not be able to guess the ending. The big reveal is wonderful as is the entire book. I enjoyed this book so much that I bought the first book in the series. I hope this author continues this series for many more enjoyable episodes. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
This wonderful mystery is reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock film. The 1920's Greek Isle setting is excellent fantasy material. There are many twists and turns that the reader will not be able to guess the ending. The big reveal is wonderful as is the entire book. I enjoyed this book so much that I bought the first book in the series. I hope this author continues this series for many more enjoyable episodes. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
June 3, 2019
So very twisty. Like a winding. Greek road taken from a goat path. Damaris is on her honeymoon when her husband surprises her with a trip to a small island, where unfortunately, they meet some friends of his. The quiet, personal time is invaded by Teddy's friends - whom Darmaris hasn't met before. Everything starts to go wrong.
A good read, with interesting characters and lots of different angles to the story.
A good read, with interesting characters and lots of different angles to the story.
June 3, 2019
Damaris Ramsforth is on her honeymoon with husband Teddy after a whirlwind romance. Now they have arrived on the Greek island of Kalos. But she starts having flashbacks, has she been to the island before. Then she is discovered by ex-Inspector Jasper, next to the body of a dead woman. Jasper decides to investigates the case, but what will he discover.
An enjoyable 1920s set cozy mystery though I couldn't take to any of the characters except Jasper.
A NetGalley Book
An enjoyable 1920s set cozy mystery though I couldn't take to any of the characters except Jasper.
A NetGalley Book
June 24, 2019
Poor Jaspar just wanted a Greek holiday and now he's found himself investigating a murder! Damaris was so happy to marry Teddy and thrilled when they went on honeymoon. But then things got odd. She feels she's been here before and then there's a murder and....she's a suspect. This is a mild historical cozy of sorts. You might indeed be reminded of Christie (in a good way!). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's nicely plotted, not too twisty, and just right for an afternoon read.
July 13, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and each one was a little complicated. This is a carefully crafted story with deep emotions. Its conceptualised in a way that you have to consider a number of suspects and then all the elements are woven together cleverly, despite all the twists and turns, I followed the threads to the end. Worth the read.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for my free copy for an honest review.
With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for my free copy for an honest review.
February 5, 2020
This book is an old fashioned mystery in the style of Agatha Christie, with a sun-drenched setting on a Greek Island, a weird case of deja-vu and plenty of strange characters. It is great fun to read, as long as you don't mind too many wild coincidences. I enjoyed it a lot but wouldn't give it 5 stars as it went a bit over the top at the end with too many suspects and too many revelations (and relations).
August 1, 2024
DNF: The book started out with some exciting elements of mystery, which put me in mind of Mary Stewart whose books are quite gripping. However, very shortly the action devolved into melodrama and the dialogue was soap opera-ish. There is no subtlety or suggestion, no psychology at play. I found the characters unattractive and unbelievable. Not only could I not suspend my disbelief, I no longer wanted to try.
July 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, it did put me in mind of the old books of the golden age of crime and to be honest Death in Paradise tv/ books. I had not read the first in this book but have bought it now and will read it soon. I thought the setting and the crime well placed and would have been true to the time period involved. A really enjoyable read
June 9, 2019
I feel so sorry for Jasper. He just wants to enjoy a simple vacation in his retirement and murder seems to follow him. I wasn't sure after the last book if Jasper would be the detective of the series or if it was more individual stories set during the 1920s. It was a fun read. Full review soon.
June 18, 2025
The second book of the series, it has the distinct Conroy's signature of a long gone charming style set in dreamily places. It was a well captured sleuth mystery, but there were too many side characters and story lines that got in the way.
May 14, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up to 4/5 stars for a solid start to a splendid cozy mystery.
Further review to come!
Further review to come!
September 1, 2019
Loved it
Interesting from the start and so hard to put down. In the end our plan to read only a chapter a day was abandoned.
Interesting from the start and so hard to put down. In the end our plan to read only a chapter a day was abandoned.
September 26, 2019
Great Story
A great story with more twists and turns than a maze. Great characters especially Jasper and an idyllic setting. Well worth a read.
A great story with more twists and turns than a maze. Great characters especially Jasper and an idyllic setting. Well worth a read.
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