Like your mysteries cozy and set during the Golden Age of Crime? This is the first book in the Posie Parker mysteries, although this novel can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story in its own right. Set in London in 1921, ‘Murder Offstage’ is full of intrigue and red herrings. This is a classic murder mystery which will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey.
When Posie Parker’s childhood friend is robbed of a priceless jewel and becomes a suspect in a cold-blooded murder case, budding detective Posie vows she will clear his name. Aided by her seriously gorgeous assistant Len, Posie soon realizes things are not quite as they seem, and the darkly-glamorous world of London’s theatre and glittering nightclubs prove far more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
Just who exactly is the dangerous Lucky Lucy Gibson? And who is it she has killed in the lobby of the Ritz Hotel? And more importantly, what on earth has happened to Mr Minks, the much-loved office cat?
Now I know this book has been out for a while (it was published in 2014) but I wanted to bring it to your attention because it’s one of the best starts to a series I’ve ever read. So even though we’re now up to book 7 (The Saltwater Murder) and I’ve read them all, I’m going back to the first book and starting my review here!
So we start out meeting Posie in the glamorous 1920’s and this book is wonderfully evocative of that time! There really is something of the bright-young-thing about this book that I instantly loved. The central mystery is exciting and well plotted and as with all cozy mysteries, it establishes the sleuth’s motives straight off as she’s a private detective. I love an unconventional woman and this totally has that! She’s not a pushover, she’s feisty and someone you’ll instantly warm too. There are some exciting moments in this book too but you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out what they are!
Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3esm55G