⋙ [PDF] Murder at the Mill A Mystery The Iris Grey Mysteries M B Shaw Books

Murder at the Mill A Mystery The Iris Grey Mysteries M B Shaw Books

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Murder at the Mill A Mystery The Iris Grey Mysteries M B Shaw Books

Family secrets abound in Murder at the Mill.

Painter Iris rents a cottage on the grounds of famous mystery writer Dom’s large Hampshire family estate. Iris is deciding what to do about her verbally abusive husband and failing marriage. When Ariadne, Dom’s wife, hires Iris to paint his portrait, Iris is happy to comply. However, when Dom is found dead in the river, the police believe it’s suicide. Iris cannot picture the vain and self-centered author taking his own life so she investigates.

Iris is a refreshingly new detective. She uses her eye for visual details to solve the crime. However, Murder at the Mill cannot be compared to the tightly plotted Agatha Christie books. The author never used one adjective when a ten-word simile could be used. Every character has a multitude of secrets that are repeated over-and-over throughout the book. The plot goes down dead ends without explanation. This is the first book in a new series. I would read another just because of Iris. I pray the editing will be better in the next entry.

Murder at the Mill is recommended for readers looking more for atmosphere than plot. 3 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.


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Murder at the Mill A Mystery The Iris Grey Mysteries M B Shaw Books Reviews

The annual Christmas Eve party given by author Dom Wetherby and his wife Ariadne is eagerly attended by Hazelford locals as well as television celebrities and the media. This year’s attendees include artist Iris Grey who is renting Mill Cottage on the Wetherby estate. Iris is taking a break from a troubled marriage and focusing on her painting. She is commissioned to paint the charismatic Dom’s portrait and in her dealings with the family learns there is another side to the members of the Wetherby family than what they show to the outside world. The morning after the party, Dom’s young son Lorcan tests his remote control boat in the Itchen River and discovers a body. Iris doesn’t agree with the direction the police investigation is going and is surprised to learn that in addition to her skills as an artist, she seems to have a talent for sleuthing.

The book begins with the scene in which Lorcan discovers the body, then flashes back two months. This method is effective because the reader is introduced to several characters, which creates tension as you are left wondering which one of these characters you’re getting to know will be the victim. About a third of a way into the book, the story goes back to the present and Lorcan’s gruesome discovery. When Iris is asked to look for clues by a member of the Wetherby family, she has her work cut out for her. There are many secrets within the highly dysfunctional Wetherby family which has far-reaching effects for them as well as their friends and colleagues so there are plenty of suspects. As the story continues, the author really keeps you guessing as to the motive of the crime and the identity of the killer.

I liked Iris more and more as the book progresses. She is smart, determined, and sympathetic even to those who may not seem to deserve the benefit of the doubt. The motive for the murder is more complicated than it seems at first and the outcome of the case isn’t what Iris or the reader expects. However, all of the events from the past and present result in a strong conclusion to an interesting novel. In a Question and Answer section at the end of the book, the author has promised a sequel, and I would definitely be interested in reading more mysteries featuring Iris Grey.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Minotaur Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Not what I was expecting, given the cover and seeing comparisons to Agatha Christie. I thought it was going to be on the cozy end of the spectrum but it's darker than a cozy. Now, I don't read cozies exclusively so I was not put off by that but the marketing was misleading. We do have a murder on the first page and that gets the reader's attention. The cast of characters was large and I did have to pay attention to the various points of view but that's something I have issues with no matter how good the book is. The pace is slow for quite awhile but it did pick up and I was glad I hadn't given it the 50 page rule and given up on it. It was worth the 4 star rating.
In classic mystery style of Dame Agatha, the setting is an English village complete with a stately home, a rich family, a seemingly happy one. Also typical are the many seething emotions and hidden skeletons. Lots of that. The amateur detective is the usual soon to be divorced woman seeking a new path in life but Iris is more than that. I loved her quirkiness, especially in her wardrobe. More than colorful, I wish I could dress that way. As an artist, it works well. She has been hired to paint the portrait of Dom Wetherby and is renting a cottage on his estate. The cast of characters on hand at the time of his death is large. Was it suicide, a tragic accident or was it murder? Who hated Dom enough to murder him? Many, it seems. Iris, of course, thinks it's murder while the police think it's anything but murder. In typical amateur fashion she sets out to investigate.
The writing is a bit over the top in descriptions but they are vivid and fit the scenes, adding to the mental image. A bit less of them would have worked just as well. Also, while the mystery is solid, the book could have been trimmed a little. As a first in series maybe it was trying to find its footing. I will be interested in reading the next entry to see if much has changed. Iris is a character I would like to meet up with again.
Family secrets abound in Murder at the Mill.

Painter Iris rents a cottage on the grounds of famous mystery writer Dom’s large Hampshire family estate. Iris is deciding what to do about her verbally abusive husband and failing marriage. When Ariadne, Dom’s wife, hires Iris to paint his portrait, Iris is happy to comply. However, when Dom is found dead in the river, the police believe it’s suicide. Iris cannot picture the vain and self-centered author taking his own life so she investigates.

Iris is a refreshingly new detective. She uses her eye for visual details to solve the crime. However, Murder at the Mill cannot be compared to the tightly plotted Agatha Christie books. The author never used one adjective when a ten-word simile could be used. Every character has a multitude of secrets that are repeated over-and-over throughout the book. The plot goes down dead ends without explanation. This is the first book in a new series. I would read another just because of Iris. I pray the editing will be better in the next entry.

Murder at the Mill is recommended for readers looking more for atmosphere than plot. 3 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.