*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Blurb: When feature writer Ruth Finlay and her elderly neighbor Doris Cleaver visit an antique and collectibles market in the small town of Myrtle Bay, they get a lot more than they bargained for.
After Ruth's old tennis coach is found dead, they discover that there's no lack of people who harbor a grudge against the victim, and a tangled web of family ties and lies begins to unravel. But can Ruth and Doris find the killer in time to avert a second murder?
A quirky feel-good mystery laced with intrigue, Murder in Myrtle Bay is the first book in Isobel Blackthorn's 'Ruth Finlay Mysteries' series. Set in small town Australia, it is a sure pick for any fan of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries!
This is a fascinating odd-couple cosy mystery set in small-town Australia. The investigating duo - Ruth and Doris - make for very contrasting styles, as Ruth attempts to stick to her orderly routine of running, writing and rustling up multiple course meals for her dad and her elderly neighbour, while Doris provides a wonderfully chaotic whirlwind of unexpected drop-ins, bright colours and breezy attitude, and the odd petty crime thrown in to liven things up!
The murder suspects are limited from the beginning to just seven or eight people, but with a multitude of motives, oodles of opportunities, and a whole slew of suddenly suspicious behaviours, Ruth has her work cut out for her trying to untangle what really happened to her favourite tennis instructor. Especially as Doris seems to blow hot and cold as to whether she actually wants to solve the murder, or just wants to pin it on her arch-nemesis, Bob, and have done with it.
I felt increasingly anxious as the plot unfolded, less about the murderer, and more about the pressure on Ruth as she attempts to juggle everything going on in her life, with what seems to be very little support. I felt so sorry for her at times! And yet, she keeps all of those plates spinning and fills them with some truly delicious meals too... I was drooling as I read, with all of the yummy food mentioned throughout.
This is definitely a series to look out for, for cosy mystery fans and foodie readers alike. I do hope Ruth gets a friend who will look after HER in the next book!
I was admiring a large dresser thinking of where I would put it when Doris murmured, 'Ruth.'
It was the low tone of her voice. It was the way she had said my name. It was the way she appeared frozen to the spot that made me turn straight away.
She was standing between a cabinet and a dining table. I went over and found her staring down at her feet. As I grew closer, I saw that she was staring at a body lying face down on a Persian rug.
- Isobel Blackthorn, Murder in Myrtle Bay
Find more from Isobel Blackthorn at her website here, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.
Murder in Myrtle Bay is available on Amazon right now, and you can check the links for my reviews of two other Isobel Blackthorn novels: for Twerk check here, and for A Matter of Latitude check here.
Don't forget to stop by the other blogs on this tour (see the poster below for details) for more great content and reviews!
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