Murder at Monterey by Ellen Read

A weekend away and a murder in this delightful cosy mystery story.

I had the honour of reading an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) of this enjoyable book. I’m so glad I did.

Released today 16th June, Ellen Read has created another beautiful story. Set on the 1920s/30s, it was the era of elegance. Although this is book six, it is standalone. I fell in love with the characters and wanted to know more about them.

Alexandra and Edith are close friends, so much so that they feel like sisters. The former and her husband live in Thornton Park with her father. They are all deal in antiques, so priceless artefacts figure highly in the story.

Alexandra, Edith, their husbands and her father are invited to the engagement of Miss Prudence Carmichael. This is strange because Alexander and Edith have had little to do with the woman since they left finishing school years before.

The weekend sees a houseful of invited guests, mostly relatives of the Carmichael family. Jealousy, murder, and theft, are rife and keep everyone on their toes.

This is a great story because it also tells of friendship, camaraderie, and love, especially between our main characters. It’s a lovely world to immerse yourself into, a gentler age to live with charming etiquette that makes a lasting impression. I recommend it,

Blurb

A long weekend at the seaside should be enjoyable for the Thorntons, but murder soon changes everything.

Mr George Carmichael has invited them to his home to celebrate the birthday of his elder daughter Prudence. Alexandra and Edith can’t understand why, because even though they had attended Miss Violet’s Finishing School together, they never liked Prudence Carmichael, nor she them.

Alexandra suspected that Mr George wanted to quiz her father over the prices of his various antiques. This had happened before, but they’d never all been invited.

After travelling from Thornton Park to Queenscliff, a town on the Victorian coast, they arrive at Monterey, the Carmichael’s home. On the first evening, tensions run high between Prudence and her younger sister, Winifred, over the possession of an emerald necklace.

Alexandra also discovers that almost everyone has their hand out wanting money, as if they consider George Carmichael their personal bank manager.

Later that evening when murder happens, Alexandra isn’t surprised. However, she is astonished at who is murdered.

The Thornton Mysteries (6 book series)