Note: This copy of Murder Like Clockwork was provided by NetGalley.
This book follows the events of the first book in the series 10 Marchfield Square. We’re thrown back into the community of Marchfield Square where our ever mysterious but genial residents yet again find themselves embroiled in a mystery. This time though, the focus is mostly around just just two of the residents, Audrey and Lewis, who going by the way this series name on Goodreads, seem to be the main protagonists going forward.
Audrey discovers a terrible scene in one of the houses she cleans, only for the body and the crime scene to have miraculously disappeared by the time the cops arrive. Having already obtained a reputation after the prior incident, and inadvertently become the protégé to a tenant with an ever increasingly mysterious background, Audrey ropes in crime-mystery writer, friend, and tenant, Lewis to help figure out what the hell is going on.
As mentioned earlier, the rest of the residents of Marchfield Square don’t feature as prominently in this book, which is a shame but the author has ensured that they all do play a part which was nice. It also isn’t easy to have everyone constantly involved because then we’re entering into a situation where this community always seems to have murders happening which is a concern if there ever was any.
The story flows well and the plot is easy enough to follow while also being engaging. What really works is the fact these characters are just quite charming and have their own quirks which elevates the story. Add to the fact that we’re yet to find out a lot about some of these ever capable, well informed, and mysterious tenants who clearly were spies of some sort in the past, it hooks the reader to want to know more.
This results in a very comforting mystery read that gives readers the same feeling that one gets when reading an Agatha Christie novel. Charming characters, decent plot and mystery, well paced, it is definitely a cosy mystery to recommend. The reader will benefit more from reading the first book though to get more context and background for the characters as there are several dialogues and incidents from the first book that are referenced. All in all, definitely recommended.
Rating:
Links:
- Goodreads: Murder Like Clockwork – Nicola Whyte
- Blog Post: 10 Marchfield Square – Nicola Whyte