What do you think?
Rate this book
Christmas Mystery #3
Murder at Maybridge Castle
Downtown Abbey meets Agatha Christie covered in snow in this utterly captivating murder mystery.
__________________________________
An invitation to die for. . .
Christmas 1937. An assortment of guests, including journalist turned amateur sleuth Daphne King, have arrived at Maybridge Castle, deep in the Cumbrian countryside.
Hector Hayton, once something of a fixture on the society circuit of London, has recently purchased the castle and transformed it into 'England's first and only bona fide haunted hotel'. Guests can enjoy a range of ghoulish activities, from séances with a local medium to tours of the forest bordering the castle, where newly-discovered graves suggest that it is the final resting place of countless women persecuted in the witch trials.
During a game of murder-in-the-dark, however, one of the guests is killed, and it becomes clear that Maybridge Castle lives up to its haunted reputation.
__________________________________
An invitation to die for. . .
Christmas 1937. An assortment of guests, including journalist turned amateur sleuth Daphne King, have arrived at Maybridge Castle, deep in the Cumbrian countryside.
Hector Hayton, once something of a fixture on the society circuit of London, has recently purchased the castle and transformed it into 'England's first and only bona fide haunted hotel'. Guests can enjoy a range of ghoulish activities, from séances with a local medium to tours of the forest bordering the castle, where newly-discovered graves suggest that it is the final resting place of countless women persecuted in the witch trials.
During a game of murder-in-the-dark, however, one of the guests is killed, and it becomes clear that Maybridge Castle lives up to its haunted reputation.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2023
157 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
September 29, 2023
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series. They were good fun and the mystery element kept me interested. Sadly, that’s not the case this time. It starts off well enough with various characters invited to spend a few days at a new haunted castle hotel. The first murder happens quickly and it’s clear that there’s something odd about it. We first met Daphne in Murder at the Theatre Royale. Since then, she has become an amateur sleuth and together with Miss Thewley, an elderly guest with a quite unnecessary cat, they start to ferret around looking for clues. By halfway through, I was thoroughly bored. There was far too much padding of a weak storyline and regular regurgitating of information gleaned so far. IMO, Moncrieff’s sleuth in the first book, Murder Most Festive, was a much more interesting character.
As in Murder Most Festive, I found another glaring anachronism. One of the characters is found to have several pairs of off white y fronts amongst his belongings. Y fronts were invented in the USA in 1935 and first went on sale there that year but they didn’t go on sale in the UK until 1938, two years after this story is set. We could perhaps try stretching our collective imagination to believe that someone in the USA gave him the Y fronts but I think it’s just a case of poor research.
I’m disappointed in this book and won’t be keen to read any more in this series sadly. 2.5 stars for a promising start.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for a review copy.
As in Murder Most Festive, I found another glaring anachronism. One of the characters is found to have several pairs of off white y fronts amongst his belongings. Y fronts were invented in the USA in 1935 and first went on sale there that year but they didn’t go on sale in the UK until 1938, two years after this story is set. We could perhaps try stretching our collective imagination to believe that someone in the USA gave him the Y fronts but I think it’s just a case of poor research.
I’m disappointed in this book and won’t be keen to read any more in this series sadly. 2.5 stars for a promising start.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for a review copy.
December 31, 2023
I've not read any of the previous books in this series, though it can be easily enjoyed as a standalone.
Whilst under the banner of 'A Christmas Mystery', which instantly sparked my interest as I wanted some Whodunit's this December - it doesn't feel massively festive.
I liked the notion of various guests gathering at a grand reopening of a supposedly haunted castle in the run-up to the Christmas 1936.
There's a whole variety of characters that are handedly laid out at the front of the book.
It is amongst this group that an initially harmless game of murder in the dark soon turns sinister.
Any book set around this time will inevitable draw comparisons to Christie and the author has a great handle on the golden age of detective fiction.
This was exactly the type of book I wanted, simple enough to enjoy whilst having an interest mystery at the centre.
Whilst under the banner of 'A Christmas Mystery', which instantly sparked my interest as I wanted some Whodunit's this December - it doesn't feel massively festive.
I liked the notion of various guests gathering at a grand reopening of a supposedly haunted castle in the run-up to the Christmas 1936.
There's a whole variety of characters that are handedly laid out at the front of the book.
It is amongst this group that an initially harmless game of murder in the dark soon turns sinister.
Any book set around this time will inevitable draw comparisons to Christie and the author has a great handle on the golden age of detective fiction.
This was exactly the type of book I wanted, simple enough to enjoy whilst having an interest mystery at the centre.
October 9, 2023
This was such a cozy, holiday whodunit mystery read and I loved it! It super quick in pace and short enough that you can binge it in one day or even one sitting.
I enjoyed the FMC. She was witty, smart, sharp and cunning. Her and Mrs.Thewley were quite the dynamic duo and so fun to read. I definitely got some Agatha Christie vibes from this and I'm not mad about it at all.
The mystery, the murder, the everyone is a suspect I absolutely devoured and couldn't look away from it.
The locked door trope has always been a favorite of mine and this book does it justice. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK and the author for my eARC copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
I enjoyed the FMC. She was witty, smart, sharp and cunning. Her and Mrs.Thewley were quite the dynamic duo and so fun to read. I definitely got some Agatha Christie vibes from this and I'm not mad about it at all.
The mystery, the murder, the everyone is a suspect I absolutely devoured and couldn't look away from it.
The locked door trope has always been a favorite of mine and this book does it justice. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK and the author for my eARC copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
November 29, 2023
The plot was good but I got bored halfway through. There were some absurdities throughout the book which were annoying, things that no one would actually do and I couldn't warm to any of the characters.
December 19, 2025
This book feels very much in the Agatha Christie lane, in a good way. The plot is tight, the characters are clear and easy to keep track of, and the writing leans into that old-school style without overdoing it. If you enjoy classic mystery language and pacing, this one fits comfortably within that genre.
The ending was a nice touch. It doesn’t flip the whole book on its head, but there’s a small, smart surprise that actually works—and that’s not something you get very often.
December 8, 2024
4,5 *
It was exactly what I expected and what I needed
Not something special ,not awfully unpredictable, but a very British murder mystery with some interesting characters.
It was exactly what I expected and what I needed
Not something special ,not awfully unpredictable, but a very British murder mystery with some interesting characters.
December 18, 2023
3.5. A great, festive cosy whodunnit. The partnership of two of the characters who were trying to solve the murders was spot on and with just the right amount of humour too.
November 23, 2023
Potentially a very good story line but takes far too long to get to the point without building up any kind of suspense until the final few chapters. Personally felt it drawn out and rather dull. Good language behind a flat story with a fair few inaccuracies. Not to my taste.
December 31, 2023
Very good for a cosy mystery. Flowed well and kept my interest throughout.
December 11, 2023
Приятна малка книжка. Не е някакъв шедьовър на криминалните мистерии, но определено носи усещането на криминалните класики от началото на 20-ти век.
Върви чудесно докато правиш нещо друго с ръцете си. Главната героиня ми беше леко дразнеща, но не чак толкова, че да не ми е приятна за слушане книгата. Вероятно няма да си я спомням до няколко месеца историята, но някои книги са просто за това - да бъдат добро развлечение и разсейване. :)
Върви чудесно докато правиш нещо друго с ръцете си. Главната героиня ми беше леко дразнеща, но не чак толкова, че да не ми е приятна за слушане книгата. Вероятно няма да си я спомням до няколко месеца историята, но някои книги са просто за това - да бъдат добро развлечение и разсейване. :)
December 1, 2024
We follow Daphne as she receives a letter to join a group of strangers and stay a few nights at the grand opening of a haunted hotel. During a game of murder in the dark someone dies… did they just fall or is it murder?
A festive Christmas who dun it, not much haunting goes on but a seance a tarot readings reveal truths behind closed doors.
Smooth read with some fun characters. Cozy festive book to sit with and drink a cup of coco.
A festive Christmas who dun it, not much haunting goes on but a seance a tarot readings reveal truths behind closed doors.
Smooth read with some fun characters. Cozy festive book to sit with and drink a cup of coco.
December 31, 2023
Dit boek heb ik in een dag uitgelezen, maar meer omdat ik me verveelde dan dat het een echt goed boek was. Ik ben best vermaakbaar als lezer, ik bedoel ik gooi vier- en vijf sterren naar boeken zolang het een beetje leuk was, maar ik vrees dat dit m niet echt was.
TEN EERSTE, de details die leidden tot de uiteindelijke oplossing waren zo’n bullshit dat ik het niet eens zag aankomen.
TEN TWEEDE, de personages hadden nul diepgang: echt helemaal niks. Helemaal aan het begin van het boek werden ze voorgesteld, elk personage kreeg een stukje in hun perspectief en dat was het. Ik had moeite met de personages uit elkaar halen en ik wist helemaal niks van ze; ew.
TEN DERDE, dit boek was zo verschrikkelijk langzaam. Ik wist niet eens dat ik in de climax zat totdat ik zag dat ik maar een paar pagina’s te gaan had. Tijdens deze zogenaamde climax (die langer duurde dan nodig was btw) werd het zo duidelijk wie het had gedaan dat ik bijna het boek gewoon weggelegd had. Niet goed dus.
TEN VIERDE, er is niet echt een vierde de eerste drie redenen waren al genoeg om het een matig boek op z’n best te noemen.
Al in al is dit niet het slechtste boek wat ik ooit gelezen heb, maar ik verwachtte meer, zeker in deze genre. Geen aanrader :(
TEN EERSTE, de details die leidden tot de uiteindelijke oplossing waren zo’n bullshit dat ik het niet eens zag aankomen.
TEN TWEEDE, de personages hadden nul diepgang: echt helemaal niks. Helemaal aan het begin van het boek werden ze voorgesteld, elk personage kreeg een stukje in hun perspectief en dat was het. Ik had moeite met de personages uit elkaar halen en ik wist helemaal niks van ze; ew.
TEN DERDE, dit boek was zo verschrikkelijk langzaam. Ik wist niet eens dat ik in de climax zat totdat ik zag dat ik maar een paar pagina’s te gaan had. Tijdens deze zogenaamde climax (die langer duurde dan nodig was btw) werd het zo duidelijk wie het had gedaan dat ik bijna het boek gewoon weggelegd had. Niet goed dus.
TEN VIERDE, er is niet echt een vierde de eerste drie redenen waren al genoeg om het een matig boek op z’n best te noemen.
Al in al is dit niet het slechtste boek wat ik ooit gelezen heb, maar ik verwachtte meer, zeker in deze genre. Geen aanrader :(
December 17, 2025
Sad to say I found this very boring. I really struggled to get started and found the plot to be overly complex with far too many characters to consider the backgrounds/motivations of. The chapters had that classic Agatha Christie feel to them but I think they lacked the atmospheric tension that was needed. This just wasn’t for me.
October 27, 2024
Vlot leesbare whodunnit, die jammer genoeg niet optimaal gebruik maakt van zowel de setting in de aanloop naar Kerstmis, als de mogelijkheden die een landhuis biedt waar het zou spoken. Het verhaal kabbelt wat voort, interessant genoeg om te blijven lezen, maar niet pakkend genoeg om het in één ruk uit te willen lezen. De hoofdpersoon, onderzoeksjournaliste Daphne King, is niet heel scherp aan het speuren en mist voor de hand liggende aanwijzingen.
December 27, 2023
Murder At Maybridge Castle is a fun, absorbing mystery from a new author for me.
Firstly I really loved Daphne and enjoyed following her throughout the book. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with and I loved her ability to stand up up for herself when needed. She has some great sleuthing skills but also seemed very human at times as she got flustered in more difficult moments of the investigation. Her partnership with the fantastic Mrs Thewley was wonderful to read about and I often found myself laughing out loud at their exploits together. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Mrs Thewley as I’d love to see the two of them together again.
The setting of Maybridge Castle was an interesting one and I enjoyed exploring it alongside the guests. It’s definitely a castle with a tragic history which is alluded to throughout the book but I’d love to have explored a bit more. The features in the grounds seemed very interesting and, murders aside, somewhere I’d love to explore in real life.
I thought this book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. I did guess who the murderer was fairly early on but wanted to keep reading as I was so enjoying hanging out with the characters and I wanted to check that I was right (i was). This book is being called a Christmas Mystery but I’d say it could be enjoyed at other times as Christmas doesn’t really feature in the story. If you like cosy, fun crime books then you’ll love this book.
Firstly I really loved Daphne and enjoyed following her throughout the book. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with and I loved her ability to stand up up for herself when needed. She has some great sleuthing skills but also seemed very human at times as she got flustered in more difficult moments of the investigation. Her partnership with the fantastic Mrs Thewley was wonderful to read about and I often found myself laughing out loud at their exploits together. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Mrs Thewley as I’d love to see the two of them together again.
The setting of Maybridge Castle was an interesting one and I enjoyed exploring it alongside the guests. It’s definitely a castle with a tragic history which is alluded to throughout the book but I’d love to have explored a bit more. The features in the grounds seemed very interesting and, murders aside, somewhere I’d love to explore in real life.
I thought this book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. I did guess who the murderer was fairly early on but wanted to keep reading as I was so enjoying hanging out with the characters and I wanted to check that I was right (i was). This book is being called a Christmas Mystery but I’d say it could be enjoyed at other times as Christmas doesn’t really feature in the story. If you like cosy, fun crime books then you’ll love this book.
September 29, 2023
This is the third book by Ada Moncrieff that I have read and it was every bit as enjoyable as the other two. It had all the elements of a golden age crime story that I love. Set in 1936, in a castle in the wintery landscape of Cumbria. The stage is set for an interesting mix of characters to spend the weekend at Maybridge Castle. Of course it is not long before a murder takes place. We again get to meet Daphne who was in a previous book, Murder at the Theatre Royale, she joins forces with Miss Thewley, an elderly guest, to discover the murderer.
This was a great cozy crime story, just right for curling up by the fire as the nights draw in. I look forward to more books from this author.
This was a great cozy crime story, just right for curling up by the fire as the nights draw in. I look forward to more books from this author.
September 17, 2023
Murder at Maybridge Castle was an absolute treat. Very Agatha Christie in style with plenty of twists and turns. A wonderful, easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The MC, Daphne, was very aware of her shortcomings but used them to aid her in the investigation. My favourite character was Mrs Thewley! Her and Daphne made quite the investigative pair!
December 3, 2023
Intrepid reporter Daphne is invited to a haunted hotel by her girlfriend's cousin. It's supposed to be a break from the crime beat but when one of the party is found dead, Daphne must put her sleuthing hat on once more. Love these Christmas cosy crime novels from Moncrieff. Brilliant escapism.
December 21, 2023
Lovely, easy to read mystery book. Very well written and surely full of clues, if you are clever enough to pick up on them unlike me. Well recommended if you want a pleasant Christmas mystery which isn’t too Christmassy!
January 6, 2025
Didnt love it, didnt hate it 👍🏼
December 30, 2024
3.5 stars
this was a nice, simple, festive read to round out the year (though there wasn't much christmas mentioned in the book except for oranges with cloves lmao)
i liked:
- daphne and mrs thewley as an unlikely murderer-finding duo
- the side characters - they all had their unique traits that were important to the overall story
- the plot twist!
i did not like:
- the last few chapters - it felt very disjointed, like at one point i thought some pages were missing because it jumped from one thing to another. the story would have been benefitted for some more fleshing out towards the end. i just don't understand why it wasn't.
special shoutout to my mum who bought me this book as a souvenir from her trip to london purely bc she knows i like murder mysteries <3
this was a nice, simple, festive read to round out the year (though there wasn't much christmas mentioned in the book except for oranges with cloves lmao)
i liked:
- daphne and mrs thewley as an unlikely murderer-finding duo
- the side characters - they all had their unique traits that were important to the overall story
- the plot twist!
i did not like:
- the last few chapters - it felt very disjointed, like at one point i thought some pages were missing because it jumped from one thing to another. the story would have been benefitted for some more fleshing out towards the end. i just don't understand why it wasn't.
special shoutout to my mum who bought me this book as a souvenir from her trip to london purely bc she knows i like murder mysteries <3
May 6, 2025
If I could give half 🌟s I would give this book a solid 3.5 🌟s.
Apparently this is the lowest rated book in the set so I wasn’t expecting it to be out of this world, however I was pleasantly surprised.
I don’t think it’s necessary to read the books prior to this one as I don’t feel as though I missed anything, but I could be wrong 🤷🏼♀️.
This book is quite a serious Whodunit and the first murder comes around quite quickly but getting to watch a friendship bloom between Mrs Thewley and Miss King really helped keep the story going when it was reaching a slight plateau.
Duke being there was an added extra; who doesn’t like a book with a cat in it! 🐈
Apparently this is the lowest rated book in the set so I wasn’t expecting it to be out of this world, however I was pleasantly surprised.
I don’t think it’s necessary to read the books prior to this one as I don’t feel as though I missed anything, but I could be wrong 🤷🏼♀️.
This book is quite a serious Whodunit and the first murder comes around quite quickly but getting to watch a friendship bloom between Mrs Thewley and Miss King really helped keep the story going when it was reaching a slight plateau.
Duke being there was an added extra; who doesn’t like a book with a cat in it! 🐈
December 20, 2025
not as gripping as I'd have liked which is a shame as I had high hopes as I'd read murder at the theatre Royale by the same author and loved it!!
the plot is slow to begin and the ending whilst bringing everything together just didn't hold the gripping thrill I desired. still a good read with wonderful characters and a lovely setting which I'd have loved more detail on!
the plot is slow to begin and the ending whilst bringing everything together just didn't hold the gripping thrill I desired. still a good read with wonderful characters and a lovely setting which I'd have loved more detail on!
December 5, 2024
A cozy Christmas mystery set in a castle in the Cumbrian countryside in 1936 so a lot of " oh golly gosh, spiffing idea" and sherry drinking going on. A bunch of likeable characters and a cat outwitting a fiendish murderer. Not going to win a literary prize but a good cozy read on a cold day snuggled up with a hot chocolate
December 9, 2025
CAWPILE 6.43
3.5 STARS
Read on a rainy wet December afternoon.
I have read the two previous books but I can't clearly remember them. I did enjoy this, particularly the Cumbrian setting. Very easy to read.
3.5 STARS
Read on a rainy wet December afternoon.
I have read the two previous books but I can't clearly remember them. I did enjoy this, particularly the Cumbrian setting. Very easy to read.
December 13, 2023
3.5 stars
November 13, 2024
Loved the period of the book, easy read.
had you wondering until the end.
had you wondering until the end.
November 29, 2024
Loved it! ❤️
December 15, 2024
(2.75 Star Rating)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews