Book-editor-with-a-flair-for-solving-mysteries Susan Ryeland is back in a fresh and witty new installment of Anthony Horowitz’s Atticus Pund book-within-a-book mystery series.
Returning to London from sunny Greece, Susan is tasked with editing a work of fiction that leads her into danger in real life. Pund’s Last Case is a continuation of the successful Atticus Pund series, which if you’ve read the other books in this series, led Susan into not only danger, but personal and professional disaster.
Her financial situation and innate curiosity, however, overcome her reluctance. Pund’s Last Case is an Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery set in the south of France in 1955. In it, Pund’s friend, Lady Margaret Chalfont, begs Pund to visit her at her magnificent villa, Chateau Belmar. But before Pund can arrive, she dies after drinking her afternoon tea. Pund’s curiosity is piqued. Why was she so eager to consult with him? When it is revealed that Lady Chalfont had been poisoned, Pund wonders why the murderer killed a woman who had only weeks to live.
Susan’s curiosity is piqued also. Why was young, unstable Eliot Crace, author of an unsuccessful series of his own, hired to write Pund’s Last Case? When Susan visits Eliot’s family home, Marble Hall, she’s shocked by the parallels between the death of fictional Lady Margaret Chalfont and Eliot’s grandmother, Miriam Crace, author of the world’s best-selling children’s books. As Eliot’s behavior becomes more and more erratic, Susan tries to help the young author, but another murder ensues and she becomes the number one suspect.
Readers will delight in Horowitz’s deftly plotted dual narratives. The anagrams, puzzles, and dishy commentary on the current publishing scene pull you in like a cozy chat.
Yes, Marble Hall has spoilers from the first two books in the series (Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders), but book three stands on its own and the book ends with the door open for more adventures for … oops not going to spoil that for you!
If you’re looking for an entertaining traditional mystery by an author at the top of his game, look no further than Marble Hall Murders.
Shari Randall loves a good traditional mystery. She won an Agatha Award for her first book, Curses, Boiled Again!, and as Meri Allen, she pens the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series.
I hadn't heard of this, so thanks.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for the Magpie Murders at my library.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to another visit with Atticus Pund!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a series to definitely look into.
ReplyDeleteI've read these, as well as watching the PBS shows. This one sounds like another winner.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely have to check this out. I’ve never read Horowitz, but I watched and loved both the Magpie Murders and the Moonflower Murders.
ReplyDeleteTerrific review. I love this series. Sure wish there are going to be more books in the series.
ReplyDeleteNow on my list. Thanks, Shari!
ReplyDeleteEnticing review. A new series for me.
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