Death in Dulwich – Alice Castle – Bookshine And Readbows

*I received a free ARC of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources blog tour. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Blurb: Thirty-something single mum Beth Haldane is forced to become Dulwich’s answer to Miss Marple when she stumbles over a murder victim on her first day at work.

To clear her name, Beth is plunged into a cozy mystery that’s a contemporary twist on Golden Age crime classics. But can she pull it off? She already has a bouncy young son, haughty cat, a fringe with a mind of its own and lots of bills to pay, as she struggles to keep up with the yummy mummies of SE21.

Join Beth in #1 of the London Murder Mystery series, as she discovers the nastiest secrets can lurk in the nicest places.

Death in Dulwich is an excellent classic murder mystery, in the same vein as P.D. James, Elizabeth George or Colin Dexter.

There is an academic setting, an amateur sleuth, Beth, racing against the professionals (represented by the romantically interesting Inspector York), and plenty of motives for murder, from the historic or professional to the financial or the deeply personal.

I felt the pacing and writing style were crisp and well-balanced, and the various threads and clues built nicely towards the final dramatic reveal. I especially liked the way the author laced her traditional mystery with elements of the modern mummy-blog to create a well-rounded and realistic main character, and remind the reader that said character has a life outside the murder plot. I definitely empathised with her on the subject of school projects!

The storyline was easy to read and easy to follow, with just enough characters to be intriguing without overwhelming. I found that once I had started reading I had to finish in one sitting, as narrative flowed smoothly from one event to the next, pulling my interest along with it.

This book is the first in a series of London Murder Mysteries and I am extremely pleased to be on the blog tour for the second novel, The Girl in the Gallery too, so do look out for my review on 20th July. Having enjoyed Beth’s adventures so much this time, I am looking forward eagerly to the next installment!

She paused for a moment, taking stock and looking around, deciding she had to seriously regroup if she was ever going to get any lunch, with Janice or alone. Then, as she turned, something caught her eye. Something she could just see jutting out from behind one of the wheeled bins. Something which really shouldn’t have been there.
It was a foot.

– Alice Castle, Death in Dulwich

You can find more from Alice Castle at her website here, or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.