Murder in Covent Garden by Anita Davison Book Review

About the Book:

Even though its famous opera house has shuttered its doors for the war, Covent Garden remains one of the most exciting, bustling areas of London. It’s where Hannah Merrill and Aunt Violet have their bookshop and, in spite of the recent spate of burglaries in the area, it’s generally thought to be a good neighborhood.

So Hannah is surprised when she sees a fellow shopkeeper – a jeweler named Jacob Cornelis – having a heated argument with a stranger. Especially when the next day Cornelis is found dead in his shop, apparently the victim of another burglary.

But what shocks Hannah more is when she meets the policeman supposedly there to investigate the crime. Because he is none other than the man who Hannah saw arguing with Cornelis the day before.

Hannah knows it’s up to her and Violet to investigate. But they don’t know they’re about to uncover a secret underworld of theft, murder and blackmail. And they must act fast, before the Covent Garden Killer strikes again…

My Review:

This is an entertaining cozy mystery and continuation of a series set in WW I London. Davison has broadened the mystery plot with additional actions going on with respect to the war, such as secret peace negotiations. Hannah's investigations leads her to other nefarious acts being committed, such as the theft of jewelry. The murder mystery is solved but it is a bit complex in the end.

What I like best about this series is the collection of characters. Hannah is a determined woman, much to the dismay of the men in her life. The female character aspect of the novel is enhanced by others, a female villain, a young woman who may take over a jewelry shop and an aggressive female reporter. I liked how Hannah's character related to them, showing her own strengths.

This is a good historical cozy mystery and an entertaining read. While it is the fourth in the series, it can be read on its own.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the previous books in this series: Murder in the Bookshop, Murder in the Library, and Murder at Midwinter Manor.

About the Author:

Anita is the author of the Flora Maguire Mysteries and the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books.The first three books in the serios, Murder in the Bookshop, Murder in the Library and Murder at Midwinter Manor are available. Book 4, Murder in Covent Garden will be released in the Spring of 2025.

Boldwood Books, 278 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)