*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Bedford Square Publishers and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Blurb: Set in London in 1968, A CURTAIN TWITCHER'S BOOK OF MURDER follows the lives of the inhabitants of a suburban London street. But this is no ordinary road.
"Ask anyone on Atbara Avenue how well they know their neighbours, and they'll answer 'well'. After all, they see each other across the vast distance afforded by close proximity, and that is probably for the best...".
For the best, because Atbara Avenue is a street where, all too often, murder feels like the solution.
With a delicious cast of characters, dazzling plotting, and an utterly unique voice, Gay Marris' first book is remarkably accomplished. If you've been longing for a fresh and compelling new voice in the world of crime fiction, your wait is over.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from the blurb and cover of this book, but I feel like the book definitely surpassed my vague expectations by being a unique, clever and often humorous take on traditional murder stories.
In particular, Atbara Avenue is a witty send up of those mystery series (in books and on TV) that are all set in the same place and therefore see a ridiculously large percentage of their small community bumped off over time.
This book takes the form of a series of short stories, all interlinked by not only the setting but by certain characters popping up in each other's tales, and by Deidre and Reverend Desmond O'Reilly forming a happily married bystanders commentary on many of the events - although it turns out that even they have a buried secret or two lurking.
Not every single story features a murder, although most do, and nearly every story does include some form of ironic twist to keep you guessing. Here are some teasers for you:
1. Beneath Suspicion - An unhappy mother/daughter duo of Dollimores inhabit No. 17 Atbara Avenue, trapped in a mutual hatred that they can't seem to break free of... or can they?
2. Soul Mates - Poor young Colin Peabody at No. 34 insists that he is being haunted by his own soul, while everyone else blames the brain damage. But maybe he can find a solution with the help of Ancient Egypt and the Dollimores?
3. The Hands That Feed Us - The meek girl constantly helping round the church and his best friend's troubled (or just trouble) son become the ungrateful recipients of help from Old Gabe, as he opens the doors of The Laurels to them. But is it still saving someone if it is against their will?
4. Sticking to the Rules - Twin brothers Reginald and Richard Pyles of No. 3 are as divided in life as they were together in the womb. Or are they more alike than they thought?
5. Mixed Messages - Miss Trixie Cartwrights at No. 5 is all dolled up for her date with a certain Mr Pyles, but is she destined to be disappointed by the prospect of a long-distance romance or can she find happiness closer to home?
6. Sightseers - The cold case of missing teenager Lesley Bonnard (whose grieving mother still resides at No. 49) is revived with the inadvertent assistance of some German tourists. The only two suspects have ever been the neighbours' boys at 47 and 64, Robert Watts and Anthony Jobbins, now both grown men whose stories have always contradicted each other - but who is lying?
7. Keeping Mum - Deidre O'Reilly and her husband, Reverend Desmond, have a surprise visit at the vicarage from a mysterious young woman asking about a missing baby from the past. But do either of them have the answers she is looking for?
8. The Final Curtain - Back at No. 17, conman Mickey Milestone decides to try his luck at the Dollimore house and might just have met his match in deception. But who will get the last laugh when the curtain finally falls?
I love how the stories flow together up and down the deadly street, with familiar faces popping up as cameos in each other's stories and Deirdre bustling around righteously involving herself, for right or for wrong but always with the best of intentions.
This whole book is a pick'n'mix treat selection for murder mystery fans looking for something different, far-fetched but utterly satisfying and very, very memorable!
Ask anyone how well they know their neighbours, and they'll answer, 'Well.' They won't hesitate before replying. After all, they see each other every day, as they move through the ebb and flow of their existence. Their faces have become as familiar as the printed daisies on their kitchen blinds. The truth is, however, these people hardly know each other at all. They can't do, since propriety dictates they conceal the truly important details of their lives from view.
- Gay Marris, A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder
About the author
Dr. Gay Marris is a retired research scientist. Her career focused on insect ecology, parasites and honey bee health. A Curtain Twitcher's Book of Murder is her first novel, set in the suburbs of the deceptively dangerous suburbs of 1960s London, where she grew up. Gay now lives in York with her husband, a cat and a tortoise.
Twitter: https://x.com/gaymarrisauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaymarrisauthor/
Don't forget to check out the other blog stops on the tour for more great reviews and content (see the poster below for details)!
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