Monday 18 November 2019

Book Review - Murder at the Hotel by M. A. Comley

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Title: Murder at the Hotel
Author: M. A. Comley
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source:  Author supplied copy
Publisher: Jeamel Publishing Limited
Publication Date: 18th November 2019
Rating: 5 Stars

With heads still spinning from the recent murder at Carmel Cove's largest wedding, excitement mounts as a famous author books into the hotel with her entourage. Excitement quickly turns to fear and suspicion as another murder rocks the small community.

When a member of Ruth Morgan's amateur dramatic club is arrested for the crime, Ruth must once again take the reins and battle wits with not only her nemesis, the local Detective Inspector, but also the murderer who is determined to evade capture.

Grab this fast-paced cozy mystery today. Readers who enjoy Faith Martin's mysteries will enjoy this novel.

I really enjoyed being back in Carmel Cove, and seeing just what private investigator Ruth would be dealing with this time.  I'm loving the persistence of her boyfriend James, and his continual attempts to get Ruth to agree to be engaged.   And Ben the dog is adorable as ever. 

There are plenty of familiar faces in Murder at the Hotel, as well as a whole new cast of characters and all manner of potential suspects as the author being murdered wasn't the most pleasant of people. 

She was rather domineering, had a habit of threatening to sack staff members almost daily and seemed to hate her fans, and just didn't seem happy with anything.  Which of course means there were potentially many people who had it in for her,  although whether they were capable of murder is another thing. 

I love the pacing of this book, we get to know the victim, and her Ruth fits into the investigation, before the murder (which isn't a spoiler, it says so in the title!) occurs.  It gives a far more human and gentler approach to the writing and makes everyone feel that more human, a sign of the M. A. Comleys fabulous skills. 

I really enjoyed the slight insights into the publishing industry, although when the famous author featured in the book was introduced initially only by surname, I was instantly worried for a womens fiction real life author that I love, who shares a surname.. but thankfully it wasn't her! 

If you don't typically read books that deal with the dark side, as such, then this Carmel Cove cozy mystery series could be a great way of tipping your toes into a new genre.  There is a death, and a murder investigation but dealt with in a very gentle and human way and not filled with procedure.     Or if you are already a fan of cozy mysteries then this is definitely a series you may want to watch out for.   And I am finding it refreshing that the body count isn't too high,  makes such a change to not read about serial murderers, gives the crimes and motives a whole different angle.

Although I had suspicions throughout,  I was only reasonably sure who did it, a few pages before Ruth did, and I could have easily believed a handful of others would have had sufficient motives too. I do like a book that keeps me guessing.  

Another excellent addition to this incredibly promising series that proves that M. A. Comley really does excel at whatever sub genre she turns her hand to. 

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

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