As we speak I’m delighted to share my ideas on the newest e-book from the Marlow Homicide Membership sequence by Robert Thorogood, Homicide On The Marlow Belle. My because of writer HQ for the early copy through Netgalley. Right here’s what it’s all about:
Launch Date: 16 January 2025
Writer: HQ
In regards to the Ebook
Verity Beresford is fearful about her husband. Oliver didn’t come dwelling final evening so after all Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident novice sleuth, for assist. Oliver, founding father of the Marlow Beginner Dramatic Society, had employed The Marlow Belle, a personal pleasure cruiser, for an unique celebration with the MADS committee however nobody remembers seeing him disembark. After which Oliver’s physique washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Homicide Membership to leap into motion.
Oliver was, by all accounts, a fairly sophisticated chap with a status for bullying kids throughout nativity play rehearsals, and he wasn’t in need of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are satisfied they’ll discover his killer very quickly. However issues should not as they appear within the Marlow Beginner Dramatic Society, and this case just isn’t so clear-cut in any case. The gang might want to preserve their wits about them to unravel this case, in any other case a killer will stroll free …
My Ideas
Oh it’s so pretty to be again within the firm of Judith, Suzie and Becks. Clearly, it additionally signifies that we’re again within the firm of a killer as nicely, however the title of the e-book ought to have been a sufficiently big give away for that one, and, nicely, that’s what we’re actually right here for isn’t it? Marlow’s best novice sleuths are again and this time it’s a case of homicide at sea … nicely, on the Thames, however it’s shut sufficient. The truth that the sufferer fell from a ship with a really unique visitor record – the committee of the Marlow Beginner Dramatic Society and a former alumni and well-known Hollywood star – signifies that the variety of suspects is finite. However which ones would have a motive to have killed the MADS founder, and as all of them have a seemingly good alibi, with no witnesses as well, how will our favorite trio ever show it?
This e-book made me smile for thus many causes. I’ve been concerned in Am-Dram of various types over time and the number of characters that Robert Thorogood has created for this newest romp via Marlow’s dastardly doings might have been a trifle exaggerated in some methods, it was delightfully on the nostril in others. From the pompous director turned sufferer, to the not fairly nearly as good as she thinks she is Diva, you’ve each sort of persona frequenting the stage and positioning themselves as prime suspect in flip. A mechanic, a highschool dropout … what an enormous array of characters who, together with our sequence favourites and native Detective Tanika Malik, I used to be fully drawn into their world with a beautiful combination of amusement and intrigue.
Now, Robert Thorogood has a really robust pedigree in relation to making a perplexing, however completely entertaining thriller, and Homicide on the Marlow Belle isn’t any totally different. It must be just about not possible for judith and co to insert themselves within the investigations they approach they do, the truth is Tanika expressly forbids it this time round, not that it makes any distinction to Judith. However in the identical approach you wouldn’t query Miss Marple quietly taking cost in an investigation in St Mary Mead, I discover myself fortunately accepting one of the best intentions, and quiet, and likewise not so quiet, machinations of the Marlow Homicide Membership trio. In reality I find it irresistible. The creator has performed a canny recreation drawing them into this thriller, they very motive the police need them to remain away, being the one factor that has the sufferer’s household turning to them for assist.
With the finger of suspicion firing off in many various instructions (relying on whose finger it’s pointing at any given time), there are such a lot of questions and numerous misdirection too, sufficient to maintain the killer’s id below wraps till the right second for a reveal. It’s nearly the right Christie-esque large reveal, not simply the important thing suspects however your entire city readily available to listen to whodunnit. I really like the mix of humour, the contrasting characters of our three leads – Judith’s tenacity and fast mindedness, Becks along with her quiet contemplation and understanding of city, and Suzie who’s fast to judgment – particularly in relation to one of many suspects – however no much less decided and gung-ho than her buddies. Add in a component of reticence on her half for a motive that I used to be under no circumstances suspecting, and a little bit of an Eastenders fashion drum beat ending, and this was such a fabulously entertaining learn, I’m nearly unhappy I’ve learn it so rapidly (gone in a day!) as I miss the staff already.
Should you love the sequence, that is one other absolute cracker. Laden with witty narrative, good characters, stuffed with thriller, a component of underlying rigidity, and with an exclamation of ‘oh-my-gosh’ to spherical it off, I can’t wait to see what comes subsequent!
In regards to the Writer
Robert Thorogood is the creator of the hit BBC One TV sequence Loss of life in Paradise, and he has written a sequence of spin-off novels that includes DI Richard Poole.
He was born in Colchester, Essex. When he was ten years previous, he learn his first correct novel – Agatha Christie’s Peril at Finish Home – and he’s been in love with the style ever since.
He now lives in Marlow in Buckinghamshire along with his spouse, kids and two whippets referred to as Wally and Evie.
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