I didn't realize this was book 10 in a series. I'm really into period pieces at the moment so was excited to read a cozy mystery set in the 1920s, where women were coming more into their own and the world itself was changing overall as well. The book was a bit too predictable and reading reviews for the previous books, that seems out of place, so maybe the author was having a bad day or trying something different, either way, i'd be willing to read the first 9 books if i could find them at my local library.

I like this series and this is another good read. A little slow at the start but holds your interest and gets better! As usual, the characters are believable and likeable and for those, like me, who prefer more cosy crime this is a good choice.

"A Snapshot of Murder" earns 5+/5 Suspicious Snappers...Entertaining!

Obnoxious is obnoxious, but murder is murder! Totally engaging. I personally love the post WWI era and the exciting changes that occurred in the 1920s...women's suffrage, property rights, and strong, independent women emerging. Set in 1928, Frances Brody has penned an engaging mystery with the admirable Kate Shackleford, daughter of a police superintendent, adopted, widowed, and an amateur private investigator making her an engaging and complex character. A photography buff, Kate joins the Headingley Photographic Society on an expedition into the countryside that Brontë made famous, but of course, it's a murder that captures everyone's attention...including karma? Using an entertaining first-person narrative, readers follow the entertaining story through Kate's perspective rich with vivid descriptions, a bit of humor, and dialogue that illustrated well the tone, emotion, and each personality. I enjoyed the dynamic between Kate and her niece Harriett as well as her style of investigating. For this newbie to Brody's work, there were enough references to keep me totally engaged. I love it, and the cover is almost a frameable piece of artwork...ready for more!

Frances Brody in A Snapshot of Murder immerses Kate Shackleton in a series of uncanny deaths in Yorkshire in 1928. Kate travels to the Bronte Museum with her photography society. Meanwhile the father of Carine, a friend, has just died and soon her husband is murdered. Whodunit? Too many suspects in area, Carine's former suitor, her husband's lover, and onlookers. Kate and her husband, the police, dig into the facts.

This is the first Frances Brody novel that I've read and overall it was a marvellous well-paced read, with all of the elements of a great murder mystery - plenty of suspects all with a variety of motives. The story is told in alternate chapters, by Kate Shackleton, the sleuth and passionate photographer and also the supporting characters. I liked the author's characterisation of Kate who was a strong and appealing protagonist. The brilliant and unusual plotting made this mystery quite special and I plan to read more from this series,

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

A Snapshot of Murder
(Kate Shackleton #10)
by Frances Brody

Kindle Edition, 448 pages
Published October 25th 2018 by Piatkus



Goodreads synopsis:
Taking the perfect photograph can be murder . . .
Yorkshire, 1928. Indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton is taking a well-deserved break from her detective work and indulging in her other passion: photography. When her local Photographic Society proposes an outing, Kate jumps at the chance to visit Haworth and Stanbury, in the heart of Brontë country, the setting for Wuthering Heights.
But when an obnoxious member of their party is murdered, the group is thrown into disarray. Is the murderer amongst them, or did the loud-mouthed Tobias have more enemies than they might have imagined?
Armed with her wit and wiles, and of course her trusty camera, it's up to Kate to crack the case, and get that perfect shot too 

***

3 Stars

This book was really slow for me. The murder didn’t occur until 50% into the book and I found myself speculating who might end up dead. I figured it would either be Tobias or Edward.

My favorite characters were Edward, Kate, Marcus and Derek. I found these to be the most compelling of the bunch. In the beginning, I was a little unsure who the main character was considering the immense amount of time focusing on Carine and her background with both Tobias and Edward.

I felt like this book could have been 100-150 pages shorter and be a much better title for the publisher. It reminded me of books of yore that prattled on and on and going seemingly nowhere before the point of the story was reached. It was wordy and long-winded.

The setting was interesting once they got to the area where the photography outing was journeying. I also thought the scenes with the dog discovering a body in the basement were particularly clever. I was surprised this was not elaborated on more considering how wordy the rest of the book had been.

I thought the whodunit was quite crafty and the killer quite surprising. Kate seemed to come to many conclusions “off stage” where the reader could not witness it. So in that case, it made the following of the clues particularly difficult.

All in all tis book had a lot of potential, A little overly wordy and long but the clever plot, whodunit mystery and the surprising killer more than made up for its shortcomings.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

____
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.

A Snapshot of Murder by Francis Brody is the 10th in her Kate Shackleton series. I’ve read three of her earlier books and I have to say that I didn’t enjoy this one as much. I think, though, that the setting is excellent, particularly in Howarth when the Bronte Parsonage Museum was opened in 1928. But I was disappointed to find that the murder could have taken place anywhere – it no connection to the Brontes, or to the opening of the Museum, apart from the fact that the murderer took advantage of being in a crowd of people and managed to slip away unnoticed.

I like Kate Shackleton – she’s a competent private investigator, but the murder mystery was too easy to solve. It began well but it was obvious who was going to end up dead and although there are several suspects, it soon became obvious who the culprit was and my interest waned. And any sympathy I had for the murderer had just disappeared by the end of the book.

My thanks to the publishers, Crooked Lane Books for my review copy via NetGalley.

Having read all the other books in this series, I was looking forward to the next episode in Kate's life. This volume was disappointing. While the setting was interesting, there were many characters to keep follow. The victim was unsympathetic, and the villain was easily spotted. Didn't understand why the attempt was made to make the villain sympathetic towards the end, since that clearly wasn't the case. Will Kate's next case be more interesting?

These books, to me, are workmanlike - they get the job done, but I don't think a reader will be taken away by the stylish prose or surprised at the turn of a sentence. That being said, I find them perfectly cozy and serve me well at the end of the day. A recommend.

1928 and at the Headingly Photographic Society meeting an outings is proposed. Agreement is reached to visit Haworth to coincide with the presentation of deeds of the Haworth Parsonage to the Bronte Society. Seven menbers including Kate Shackleton and her niece Harriet Armstrong arrange to go but not all will return.
A somewhat slow paced well-written cozy mystery as we learn about the main characters and deeds from the past. Overall an enjoyable read.

Haworth! I'm a fan of the Brontes so a mystery set at the opening of the Bronte Museum was right up my alley, even though I'd not read the earlier books in this series. Kate, who is the intrepid amateur investigator, thought she was going on a pleasant photography tour but whoops- there's a murder. One of the seven members of the group- Tobias-is the victim. As you might expect, there are a variety of reasons why someone wanted him gone and Kate ferrets out the truth. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical mysteries.

This is my first foray into the Kate Shackleton series. As a stand-alone title, it was well written in that I didn't feel like I was late to the party. The characters were explained in a way that made it easy to follow along. There were a few references to things that happened in previous books but nothing that caused any confusion. The plot was interesting, centering around a murder in a photography club which is off the beaten path for murders. The characters were well thought out and interesting. I thought the whole story hung together well and has made me interested to read the previous KS mysteries. Well done!

I have been a fan of these intelligent, interesting mysteries from the start. That said, the series has been in a bit if a slump for me for the last several books. While the writing and characterization has always been and continues to be strong, I've been a little bored by the last few installments. With this latest, though, there's been a rebound. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, with it's quirky and interesting cast of characters and its thought-provoking central mystery. I'm looking forward to the next one.

"Critically acclaimed author Frances Brody is back with the tenth installment in her Kate Shackleton series, perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Nicola Upson.

Seven keen amateur photographers gather for the most popular openings of the decade. Only six will return.

Yorkshire, 1928. Indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton is taking a well-deserved break from her detective work and indulging in her other passion: photography. When her local Photographic Society proposes an outing to the opening of the Bronte Museum, Kate jumps at the chance to visit the setting of Wuthering Heights. But the setting proves to be even more sinister than the dreary classic when a member of their party is found murdered.

The event is one of the most popular of the decade, and each of the seven photographers were there to capture the perfect shot of a lifetime. But Tobias, the deceased, was known for being loud-mouthed and didn’t care to curb his demeanor. Kate deduces that he must have had several enemies. But soon, she begins to suspect that perhaps the murderer is amongst them. And before they shrink to just a group of five, Kate must pick back up her magnifying glass and sleuthing cap to crack the case in A Snapshot of Murder, Frances Brody’s tenth brilliant Kate Shackleton mystery."

I love Frances Brody, but to have her new story be set at the Bronte Museum in Haworth!?! Hold me back!

7 went and 6 came back. That's your first signal there's going to be a murder, but who and committed whom?

A Francis Brody mystery novel starring her amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton. It begins with a Photographic Society, which she belongs to, in 1928 and they're planning a visit to Haworth and Stanbury, in the heart of Brontë country, the setting for Wuthering Heights.

Tension begins when one of its newest members, Edward Chester, who did not commit to this journey, shows up ahead Edward Chester had a childhood crush on Carine Murchison, who is now married to Tobias Murchison. Edward and Tobias served in the same regiment during WWI and it was Carine's understanding that Edward had died in the war. Had Tobias purposely with held this major detail from her?

During the story, we find out that Tobias knows the family, whose house they are renting for this excursion. The mother and daughter are convinced that in their past relationship, Tobias had an intimate relationship with the youngest daughter, where she becomes pregnant and mysteriously drowns in a nearby reservoir.

The main character is Carine, whom during her childhood years, whose mother left one day, but said she would comeback and she never did. Her father's explanations did not satisfied her.

Back to the photographic society's outing in Stanbury and Haworth, tensions are running high and there is a sense of unease throughout the group and Kate Shackleton goes into action. Eventually, during church service, one of the individuals is murdered and this murder is further complicated by the discovering of Carine's mother's body found buried behind a wall at the Murchison's Photographic Studio, which took over from Carine's father.

Carine is the prime suspect and she is also dealing with the discovery of mother's body behind the wall in the studio, once owned by her father.

The story has a good premise and the author has been able to construct a murder mystery based on past experiences, coupled with the current setting.

I was somewhat dissatisfied that it took so long for the murder to be committed in the and the police investigation was routine and the court sentencing I thought was compassionate for the accused, because of all the deceptions, lies, betrayals, coupled with the accuser's mental state.

I have enjoyed every book in this series and this one didn't disappoint me. The time period is one of my favorites and Kate Shackleton is a very complex strong character. She is a private enquiry agent and an amateur photographer. It was the photography theme that caught my interest rather than the Bronte angle. Kate is a member of a photography club and seven of them set for a weekend visit to a Bronte museum. Kate and her niece are joined by Tobias and Carine Murchison, Derek, a newspaperman, Edward Chester and Rita. Little does Carine know what is in store for her this weekend involving her husband and Edward. Murder joins the group and it's no surprise that the victim is so disliked with the group that the list of suspects is very long. Kate sets out to track down the killer with some help from her niece, Harriet.
While this reads fine as a stand alone, I'm glad I have read them in order. But, then again, I prefer to read series in order. The series is considered a cozy but this entry is a bit on the dark side. I found it to be a very pleasant read to accompany my pot of tea over a winter weekend. Book number eleven is already on my TBR list even though I have no idea what it will be about.

Kate likes photography and belongs to a photography club. They decide to do some traveling together as a club activity. The first place they go is to an opening of a Bronte Museum. Seven go. Only six come home...

Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published April 9th.

In the midst of the ceremony when everyone is crushed together in a crowd, the president of the club falls over dead. It's no accident or health problem, he's been stabbed. But by whom?

The cops won't let them go home, so they stay where they had taken rooms and answer cop questions. Kate has some of her own. She knows the wife's first love has returned after months of rehabilitation for his war injuries. She knows a young man from the paper loves her but he's way too young to be a real love interest. And before she gets back home, Kate learns another of her secrets.

The mystery and the characters were interesting and kept me reading but how the author tied up the ending was just a little too neat. See what you think and let me know.

This is the 10th Kate Shackleton mystery, and if you are just arriving, welcome, and get comfortable! Kate and her village coterie are remarkably prone to proximity to murder, and she and her ad hoc crime-busting team are on the job again when the local photography club goes on an outing.

Its always a comfort when the corpse and murderer are the least attractive members of the suspect group, rather than the characters the reader really loves. I found the cast of characters sufficiently complex that I didn’t truly love or unequivocally hate any of them!

This is a fun, undemanding village cozy that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have not read any of the other books in the series but this book does well to stand alone. Kate Shackleton belongs to a photography group. Seven of them decide to take a trip for the weekend. It is 1928 and the opening of the Bronte Museum which they plan to attend as do many other people. Tobias Murchison who is not liked by many dies and the crowd is so thick that it is hard to tell when he actually is stabbed. Kate will help Marcus Charles to find out who did it. Which of their group would want Tobias dead?

A Snapshot of Murder
By: Frances Brody
Crooked Lane Books
Mystery and Thrillers
Publish Date 19 April 2019
Pages 448
#ASnapshotOfMurder #NetGalley
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This book is set in the year 1928 in London. The time is in April.
Characters are Harriet the niece of Kate Shackleton. She has been living there for about 7 months.
Kate Shackleton is a private investigator of sorts. Her husband Gerald is no longer around since the war.
Carine Murchison is a photographer friend.
Tobias Murchison is Carine Husband. He isn't well liked.
Edward Chester Carine's old flame
Carine's father
Derek another Photographer
Rita a friend of Carine's
This story is mostly about Carine and her family. When she was five her mother was going away but promised to come back and get her. Her mom never came back. She has had dreams off and on about a spot in the cellar in the studio that belongs in the family. Carine takes pictures just like her mother and Grandmother. Carine stopped going to school at the age of 13 because her Dad needed her to take pictures to make a living. Carine never did know her Grandma but is named after her. The Studio is name Carine Photo Studio. Her father is a drunk. Carine falls in love with a Poet named Edward Chester. Her father doesn't like and does everything in his power to stop this relationship which he does. Edward goes off to war and is killed. After the war she meets Tobias who happened to a friend of Edwards and tells her of his death. Carine's father likes Tobias and helps him to marry Carine.
As the story goes on Edward returns from the died but is disfigured from the war. The books tells why Carine thought was dead.

As the time has now changed to summer they go to an old farmhouse to see the parish hand over and old church for a museum for the Bronte Sisters. During this trip Tobias ends up dead. Who killed him or did he kill himself. Why him and someone else.
There were a lot of characters and each of them had a reason but who did it and why. I did enjoy this book and recommend that you read it. There are some interesting turns. Since this is a thriller/ mystery it is hard to go into details because I don't want to spoil it for you.