A BRAND NEW COSY MYSTERY SERIES SET IN THE PICTURESQUE CITY OF YORK. FOR FANS OF FAITH MARTIN, BETTY ROWLANDS AND LJ ROSS.Meet Kitt Hartley: librarian, no-nonsense Yorkshirewoman … detective?‘Fabulous!’ *****‘Brilliant … a smashing holiday read’ *****It’s a perfectly normal day for Kitt Hartley at her job at the University of the Vale of York library, until Detective Inspector Halloran … University of the Vale of York library, until Detective Inspector Halloran arrives at her desk to tell her that her best friend, Evie Bowes, is under suspicion of murder. Evie’s ex-boyfriend Owen has been found dead – with a fountain pen stabbed through his heart – and all the evidence points to her.
Kitt knows there is no way Evie could murder anyone – let alone Owen, who she adored. Horrified that the police could have got it so wrong, Kitt decides there’s only one thing to do: she’s going to investigate Owen’s murder herself. She’s read hundreds of mystery novels – how hard can it be?
With the help of her assistant Grace, and the occasional hindrance of the library’s eccentric regulars, Kitt summons up all her investigative powers (absorbed over years of reading everything from Agatha Christie to Ian Rankin) and gets to work.
She soon discovers that down the quaint streets and snickelways of York lie darker doings than she’d ever dreamed, but she needs to watch her step: the murderer is watching her. And they haven’t finished killing yet…
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It’s a perfectly normal day for Kitt Hartley at her job at the University of the Vale of York library, until Detective Inspector Halloran arrives at her desk to tell her that her best friend, Evie Bowes, is under suspicion of murder. Evie’s ex-boyfriend Owen has been found dead and all the evidence points to her. Kitt knows there is no way Evie could murder anyone – let alone Owen, who she adored. Horrified that the police could have got it so wrong, Kitt decides there’s only one thing to do: she’s going to investigate Owen’s murder herself afterall she’s read hundreds of mystery novels with the help of her assistant Grace, and the occasional hindrance of the library’s eccentric regulars, Kitt summons up all her investigative powers (absorbed over years of reading everything from Agatha Christie to Ian Rankin) and gets to work.
This is the first book in the series & I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy murder mystery. I liked Kitt with her unusual attire for a librarian more suited to the 50s / 60s but I did find her arrogant & rude at times. I was drawn in as it was set in York, one of my favourite cities. The story flowed well at times the pace was slow then quickened then slowed which kept me engrossed throughout & I read the book in a couple of sittings. I really liked Evie & Halloran. Whilst there were some inconsistencies they didn’t spoil my enjoyment & I look forward to more in the series.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I was drawn to this novel for two reasons – I lean towards the cosy end of the crime market and the publisher suggests this is a novel for fans of Faith Martin and LJ Ross. As a huge fan of the latter, I thought I would give Murder by the Minster a try.
The story grew on me after a slow start, though I don’t think I’m the target reader. The novel has too much description for my liking, which slows the pace. The police procedural side seems somewhat dubious and unlikely, resulting in behaviour that’s unrealistic. If you’re not concerned about police procedure then it won’t spoil your enjoyment.
Kitt Hartley can be an abrasive and sometimes arrogant character, but she’s always interesting, her heart’s in the right place, and she has the determination to carry out her own investigation, assisted by some delightful friends and colleagues, such as Grace. Her knowledge of books is amply displayed with literary references throughout the story, possibly betraying some of the author’s favourites. It’s a nice touch that reveals more than Kitt’s intellect.
The story is easy to read and follow, well-paced and concludes with an exciting climax that ties up all the loose ends. I would have preferred another suspect or two to make it more of a traditional whodunit as the murderer’s identity was disguised more by a lack of information than by red herrings or false trails.
If you enjoy a cosy mystery with a strong central character, a touch of romance and a picturesque setting, you should enjoy Murder by the Minster.
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is one review I hope doesn’t come back to bite me. I hope it doesn’t come across as unduly harsh.
On the positive side, Helen Cox obviously knows how to write. (She’s a multi-published romance novelist.) I didn’t feel like pulling my eyeballs out while reading, and the story kept me reading from the first page to the last. Kudos for that!
However, there are some serious issues with the book as a mystery and as a novel. I’ll try to explain.
1. Unbelievable/improbable elements.
A. The police procedures.
Suspects are arrested on flimsy, circumstantial evidence. The victims were poisoned with a chemical used in nail polish remover (after being drugged). This, obviously–or at least obviously to the characters of the novel–means that the killer must be connected with a nail salon. This is simply bizarre. Nail polish remover and its ingredients are readily available, and anyone (including people who don’t wear nail polish) can buy it over the counter. Why are the police adamant on this point?
B. There are other unbelievable things, too.
C. Kitt’s “investigation”
At multiple points, Kitt questions strangers about their relationships and such to the victims and/or suspects. She has absolutely no reason to be meddling.
Almost no one pushes back at her demands for answers to questions she has no business asking. Frankly, this is absurd.
2. Inconsistencies
A. Kitt’s social media use
Kitt tells a police officer early in the book, “I don’t have time to be messing around on social media.” (chapter 8)
I can buy that.
But later, she manages to do things that require a Facebook account. (Like receive friend requests!)
It’s obvious that she cannot have a Facebook account because if she did, she wouldn’t be ignorant of how to ignore a friend request, which is basic FB 101 knowledge. She’s also blissfully unaware that there are apps to see who’s viewed one’s profile. Grace must step in and inform her of these facts.
Yet this is a woman who is a librarian. These are pros who know how online research works. Furthermore, she’s only 35. That’s a few years younger than I am. By the time Kitt went to the university, almost every young person (in my social circles) could be expected to know how digital research worked. Certainly by the time she graduated, people were using social media! How can someone who came of age during the cyber revolution be this ignorant?
B. Evie’s relationship with another suspect
When the police arrest another woman, Evie claims, “I don’t know her that well.” The two women met during get-togethers with mutual friends. Yet she seems to know far too about her for such a casual acquaintanceship.
3. Dislike of main character.
To me, Kitt came off as rude, unnecessarily sarcastic, arrogant, and mean, often dismissing others who aren’t as “intelligent” as she is. (Such as Ruby, a quirky library visitor and the only character I actually liked.) She’s willing to drag in Grace, her assistant, into the investigation, overlooking that this could put Grace in danger (from the killer) and in jeopardy (with the police). While she is protective of Evie, which I like, it was difficult for me to have sympathy for this woman.
If she’d been much older, I might’ve found her ignorance a bit less off-putting. If she’d been a little more self-aware of her own short-comings, I might’ve liked her better.
Conclusion
As I said earlier, Cox knows how to write. There are lovely descriptions. There are fun references to classic mystery novels, such as the work of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The developing romance between Halloran and Kitt is well-done.
I really wanted to like the librarian-as-sleuth premise for a mystery series. For years, my mother was a paraprofessional librarian. I grew up around libraries and some incredibly intelligent librarians.
I understand this is a cozy mystery, so I can’t expect the same level of investigative accuracy as in a crime novel. Even so, there was no reason for the number of improbabilities in the book. Maybe cozy mystery fans can suspend their disbelief and enjoy Murder by the Minster. Unfortunately, I couldn’t.
cosy-mystery, law-enforcement, friendship, librarian, library, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth, York
Librarian Kitt has closed herself off from most people since her live in deserted her ten years ago, but she has one best friend and an assortment of dear friends at work who are the best sort of characters. But one day the stone faced pair known as Inspector Halloran and Sergeant Banks come to the University library in full view of friends and foe alike to question Kitt about her best friend, Evie, who has been taken in as the prime suspect in the bizarre murder of Evie’s ex who had recently dumped her. That’s only the first murder and the first confrontation! It’s a good plot, with more twists than a double helix! A side plot is of Kitt and Halloran learning why they have built walls around self while suspicious of a mutual attraction they discover. Besides all that, there are countless literary (especially of mysteries) references even to the point of groaningly bad jokes!
Thank goodness that Quercus Books gave in and granted my request for a free ebook via NetGalley!