A Halloween Murder by Mary Grand Book Review

About the Book:

Susan has always taken comfort in the peaceful rhythm of life on the Isle of Wight. But when her daughter Zoe invites her to a Halloween ghost walk at a remote castle, Susan has a sense of foreboding she can’t quite shake.

It’s meant to be a bit of fun for the group of old school friends, the thrill of an overnight stay behind the castle’s ancient gates. But when one of them is found dead, the weekend away takes a sinister turn. With the castle locked down and the group trapped inside, it soon becomes clear the killer would have been amongst them.

As the police begin their investigation, Susan can’t stand by and watch. She knows her daughter, and she knows Zoe’s friends – none of them could be capable of such a terrible act. Could they?

My Review:

This book is part of a series by I felt it read well on its own. Susan, an older woman, is a good heroine. She is overcoming some issues and growing. The pace of the plot movement is good and consistent. The plot is complex and there are enough twists and red herrings I could not identify the villain early.

Grand's writing style is good and there is a good sense of setting. It would make for a good fall read with the mysterious atmosphere of the castle. It is good for readers who would like a cozy mystery with a Halloween theme.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Mary Grand is the bestselling author of murder mysteries set in the current time but in the style of classic whodunnits. These are set on the Isle of Wight where she lives and writes, and the island landscape is an important feature of her books. The first three novels with Boldwood, starting with The House Party, are stand-alone murder mysteries. The next four are part of a series featuring amateur detective Susan Flynn, starting with A Seaside Murder (originally published as Death At Castle Cove}.

Mary's writing career started with three self-published novels starting with Free to Be Tegan, which is set in Wales, where Mary was born and grew up, and two anthologies of short stories Catching the Light and Making Changes. These earlier novels are in the women's fiction genre, featuring central characters who find strength in overcoming adversity.

Boldwood Books, 392 pages.

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