Uncle Malcolm is dying, he calls his family and various acquaintances to his side at his Villa on the Riviera. There he tells them of his plan......he’s going to change the beneficiary of his will at midnight every day......no-one will know whose name is on the document.....if he dies during that 24 hours, then the person named will inherit everything.......a spiteful, devious plan.

Malcolm’s neighbour, Jasper, is a retired Scotland Yard detective and the French police allow him to investigate the crimes. He interviews each of the potential heirs and gradually pieces together the jigsaw of clues.

What follows is an ingenious tale in the vein of Agatha Christie or Josephine Tey, a classic whodunnit that will genuinely keep you guessing right to the end. Vivian Conroy’s sublime writing brings to life the glamour of the 1920’s and the ‘monied’ class. I didn’t find any of the characters likeable but I was engrossed and needed to find out just who was the murderer is.....a thoroughly entertaining read.


I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers, Canelo/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review

Rating: 3.5*

“Never do anything yourself that others can do for you.” (Agatha Christie, The Labours of Hercules)

Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford brings together nine potential heirs to his vast fortune explaining he is ill, does not have long to live and informs them of his plan on how to determine who will inherit everything. Each one of the nine will have 24 hours as his heir and, should he die on that day, that person will inherit his entire fortune.

Vivian Conroy draws outrageously wonderful characters from Malcolm’s lily-livered nephew Hugh, his conniving wife Patty to his telltale of a former secretary Theodora. Not to mention Cecily, Malcolm’s former wife, her husband Howard and son Kenneth. None of them particularly like each other in some cases they downright dislike each other so there is no love lost amongst the potential heirs. The scene is set for a rip-roaring tale of mayhem and murder.

We are introduced to each of these individuals, none are particularly likeable but would one of them murder for for such an inheritance? Will they risk being the accused - for who is most likely to kill Malcolm on a given day other than the one who will inherit? However, they are not to be told whose name is on the Will on each day. So will alliances be made amongst this motley bunch? There are plenty of secrets amongst our characters will that be their downfall? Can someone be manipulated into murdering Malcolm?

“The game is afoot!” (The phrase comes from Shakespeare's King Henry IV Part I, 1597: "Before the game is afoot, thou still let'st slip." It is also a phrase used by Sherlock Holmes when pursuing a lead in a case.)

As the story unfolds we come to know a more of how our possible heirs think with regard to how they are going to get themselves into prime position to inherit.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave” (Sir Walter Scott, from his 1808 poem Marmion.)

Kenneth and Anna, two of the potential heirs, go out together on a boat but something happens and the boat overturns. Enter ex-Inspector Jasper who discovers Kenneth barely alive, and seemingly traumatised, washed up on the beach. Anna has survived as well, having swum ashore.

Deception! - lot’s of secrets, lot’s of manipulation makes for a story full of twists and turns.

Greed! - who is lying, who is telling the truth?

Jasper tries to persuade Malcolm to stop his inheritance plan there is too much is at risk.

“Everything must be taken into account. If the fact will not fit the theory---let the theory go.” (Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles)

And then a body is found! Jasper agrees to help the French police investigation. Malcolm is persuaded to suspend his plan but even so another body is discovered. Jasper revisits all the evidence. Two deaths and a number of strange incidents - What is happening? Who is really responsible?

Will Jasper work out the truth? Will you, reader, put the clues together?

This delightfully constructed mystery will keep you guessing to the end when, even if you think you got it, there is still a final twist and a little something more to ponder!

Jasper (ex Inspector Jasper of Scotland Yard), now living in France, will no doubt become a firm favourite for those who enjoy a twisty plot to the mystery books that they read. Vivian Conroy conjures up just such a plot in this splendid story set in the glorious surroundings of a French villa.

With thanks to Ellie at Canelo for the Blog Tour invite and to Canelo via NetGalley for an eCopy of A Testment to Murder. These are purely my own thoughts, for which I have received no payment.

Blog Tour

Please go to http://lovebooksreadbooks.com/2019/02/25/a-testament-to-murder-by-vivian-conroy/ for links.

I received an ARC of this from NetGalley and Canelo Publishing, in return for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

I have read Vivian Conroy's Lady Alkmene cozy mysteries and I loved them so I persevered with this book. It feels to me that the author is trying to make the leap from cosy mystery writer to series mystery writer on par with Agatha Christie or Georgette Hayer but it doesn't work. The first half of the book is basically the inner monologue of seven characters who keep repeating the same thing. The second half is more interesting but the plot is far too convoluted and every cliche, red herring and twist including the kitchen sink has been thrown.

A terminally ill man calls his family and friends together to compete for his entire fortune in a Testament to Murder.

Malcolm invites his ne’er-do-well nephew, Hugh, and Hugh’s gold-digging American wife, Patty, for a weeklong visit to Malcolm’s extensive estate. Malcolm’s ex-wife, Cecily, and his ex-partner, Howard, along with their 16-year-old son, Kenneth, are also invited. Theodora, his former secretary, also joins the party.

After everyone arrives, Malcolm announces that he is dying. He plans to rewrite his will every night leaving his entire fortune to one of his guests or staff. If he dies the following day, and that person is still staying in his mansion, that person will win it all. Even though mysterious events occur, including a murder, none of the guests leave because of their dreams of riches.

A French country house, a plethora of motives, and murder! If it sounds like an Agatha Christie novel, that’s because it is an homage to her work.

All the characters were deftly drawn with clear wants and needs. However, Agatha’s mysteries were always, at least potentially, solvable by armchair detectives. A Testament to Murder would be difficult to solve without information withheld until the conclusion. Still, what a slam-bam conclusion it was! It is a highly recommended thrill ride. 4 stars!

Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The French Riviera in the 1920s, and Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford is dying. He has summoned his potential heirs but seems to have no preference as to who should inherit his wealth. So he announces his plan to the gathered ensemble – every night, at midnight, he will change his will in favour of a single heir, one of those present. But he will not announce who the heir for the day is.

Thus begins an exercise in murderous game theory – should someone kill Malcolm and try and get away with it? Or frame someone else for it? As the deaths begin, luckily nearby ex-Inspector Jasper is on hand…

From the blurb for the book – “perfect for fans of And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, and Crooked House” – that’s a brave statement. Compare your book to the Queen of Crime’s most highly regarded works and you are bound to come up short. This is the second book I’ve seen recently that compares itself to And Then There Were None – seriously, stop doing that. For almost any book, the comparison is going to be “Not as good as And Then There Were None” or “It reminded me a bit of that much better book And Then There Were None.” I don’t recall a single title that would envoke “On a par with And Then There Were None”.

Plotwise, this is nicely convoluted, although the pacing is off, the first crime only happening after the halfway mark. The first half consists of the guests plotting and counter-plotting with and against each other as to the best way forward concerning Malcolm’s bonkers plan. No one seems to mind the thought of murdering him, and one character assumes that there is a killer before anyone gets killed. The characters act as if they know they are in a murder mystery, which adds a level of unreality to the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Inspector Jasper shows up and, I think, pretty much guesses the solution. There’s so much going on in the second half of the book that a large page count, or a shorter pre-murder section would have worked better. There’s a case to be made against any of the characters, and there’s an odd section where Jasper takes his time to do exactly that. I do understand why he does it, but he does it in such an accusatory way, I’m not sure why anyone listens to him when he gets round to the actual killer, which I think most readers would have spotted by now anyway.

And the final revelation… I read a book once where the murderer spends about eighteen months claiming sanctuary in a church while pretending to be insane. That’s nothing compared to the commitment made by the villain in this book.

There are some clever ideas here, but they are undermined by the pacing. Everything revealed at the end is mentioned earlier in the book, so the clueing is there. Fans of classic detective fiction may well enjoy the complex plot, but that’s not what Dame Agatha was about – her plots were beautifully simple while misdirecting at the same time. Still, this is a bargain on ebook, so why not give it a go?

Oh, I’ve no idea what a “Murder Will Follow” Mystery is, but this is the first in a series, so you haven’t missed anything.

A Testament to Murder was highly entertaining and suspenseful. A murder mystery set in the 1920’s begins with a game of chance as Malcolm wagers his life as well as the lives of his closest friends and relatives with an offer that is both dangerous and too good to refuse.
****
A Testament to Murder is a classic, “who done it” that leaves you wanting more. I thought Vivian Conroy’s use of imagery and character development was exceptional and set the stage for a perfect mystery novel. I found this to be a rather quick read because I needed to know what would happen next. So many great layers to this story!
****
The reason I am giving this book three stars is based primarily on my review of the ending. I was expecting more at the end, I was waiting for that dramatic twist of events, that surprise ending, but I did not get the crescendo I was hoping for. For me the ending fell a little flat compared to the build up that had occurred over the last several chapters. Overall, a good read and great writing makes this a great recommendation for mystery lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange with an honest review.

A dying billionaire invites nine people from his past to stay at the Villa Calypso with him and to learn who will inherit his wealth. This is a cue for murder as he plans to change who will inherit at midnight and if he dies during the following 24 hours that is who will be his heir. If he survives, that will be their chance gone. However, he won't reveal just who is named and they have to stay at the Villa to be given a chance to inherit. The nine are people aren't his best friends or closest relations, they're anything but! They include his ex-secretary,  his ex-business partner who is married to his ex-wife, his money hungry distant relatives - you get the idea!

The nine are rivals for the fortune and you're never quite sure who is telling the truth and what secrets and schemes they are hiding. There's also a retired Scotland Yard investigator who has been asked to keep an eye on everyone  . . . . . but there are deaths, deceit, danger and double crossing in this murderous mystery. It has so many twists and turns it keeps you guessing to the very last page where there is yet another statement that leaves you guessing just who was really the mastermind manipulator!

It is an Agatha Christie style mystery, full of clues, revelations and red herrings to divert your attention from the perpetrator. It is a real page turner and I'm so happy to discover it is the first in a new series by this talented author - I can't wait to read more from her!I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

‘”It has begun,” he said to the men, a strange satisfaction in his voice.’

Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford, a wealthy man nearing death, invites several members of his family to his villa on the Riviera and sets a cunning plan: at the stroke of midnight each night he will change his will, leaving everything to one of the assembled guests and staff, the name being changed each night. No-one will know who has been chosen on any given day. Will someone be ruthless enough to commit murder on the possibility that they may inherit everything….?

This is a modern take on a Golden Age classic murder mystery, and for fans of Agatha Christie this will be a fun, intriguing read. Conroy’s cast of characters is pretty much what you would expect; ex-wives, jealous husbands, a faithful staff member who harbours a grudge, an ex-business partner, and so on. And secrets, secrets galore! As the body count starts to rise, and several other accidents occur, one of Malcolm’s neighbours gets involved – and he just happens to be a retired Scotland Yard detective.

This is a decent, enjoyable murder mystery. You won’t get, nor should you expect, fully rounded and deep characters. The plot is the thing (to paraphrase Hamlet!). Everyone has a motive, and the villa setting is redolent of the 1920s Golden Age mystery. There are clues aplenty, and even more red herrings, and with a flourish the cast of characters are summoned to the sitting room to have the murderer revealed by Jasper, the detective – but not before everyone has been accused. Deliciously twisty, and observant readers may well guess the murderer before the end. Enjoy this for what it is, and you will find it a rewarding quick read.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book.)

This is a cracking mystery - a real enigma!

At his villa in the French Riviera, Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford gathers relatives and people of importance in his life, informing them of his impending death and the bizarre way he intends to leave his not inconsiderable inheritance to one of them. As we get to know these nine people, circumstances become more and more bizarre, eventually leading to murder and the suspicions of 'whodunnit'!

I have read several of Vivian Conroy's novels, and she writes beguiling mysteries but I think this one tops them all! This is worthy of the best authors around and could easily be mistaken for an Agatha Christie tale! Really well plotted with plenty of suspects and so much going on - I think I had everyone in the frame at some time or another! As with all the best stories, I couldn't put it down - especially as I neared the end and thought anyone could be the perpetrator. The characters are widely varied and well-drawn - and the inclusion of a friendly dog only added to my enjoyment. This is a stunning mystery set in the 1920's and I can't help but imagine it on the small screen; it would be compulsive viewing! This deserves each and every one of it's five shiny, sparkling stars, and a hearty recommendation from me to all lovers of a superbly crafted mystery.

My thanks to publisher Canelo for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

I enjoyed this mystery full of reminder of Golden Age books.
It was engaging, entertaining and interesting.
The book is well written and I liked both the setting and the historical background.
There is no highly likable or relatable character, each of them - detective included - comes with a more or less hidden agenda but they were fun to read, even if a bit over the top.
The mystery was good, no plot hole, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books by this writer.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this ARC

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie, so I was very excited about this book. The premise of the story was very interesting. The story line was a bit slow to begin with and then it all got a bit very confusing when Jasper, a retired Scotland Yard police superintendent started to try to solve the mystery. Especially with how the backgrounds of each suspect were investigated.
Sorry, but Jasper is nothing compared to the ingenious Hercule Poirot.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. A mystery set in the 1920's which has something of the Agatha Christie about it. Good read with some interesting characters

Hats off to author Vivian Conroy for giving us a fun 1920s Agatha Christie style mystery, replete with a cast of possible heirs cloistered in a mansion with an eccentric millionaire toying with his will. This is a fun quick read with twists and turns galore and multiple incidents to be investigated. It even has a Poirot style full reveal at the end with the interesting character of a retired detective Jasper who lives next door. I thought the book might be part of a series with the detective, but it appears to be a stand-alone. I wouldn’t mind reading more in the series if there are any. If you are craving a classic murder mystery, this should give you a good fix.
Thanks to NetGalley, Canelo, and the author Vivian Conroy for an advanced electronic review copy.

A Testament to Murder was thiiiisss close to being as good as Agatha's books, but it fell short. Let me tell you why.

First, the supposed detective/police/whathaveyou was not likable. I would rather have the other character as the detective or none at all.

Second, I felt cheated by some information that were found but undisclosed before the revelation.

Third, when the plot thickened with a murder, author made it rained with murders or attempted murders. It was a bit much for my taste and not enough on the suspense.

Fourth, I can see the murderer a mile away.

Fifth, the revelation scene would be far more interesting had the characters became smarter than just parroting everything Jasper said. Every explanation, IMO, was assumption from Jasper. I didn't see Jasper procuring any evidence etc, but it might be just me wanting to skimread and running away ASAP.

However, credit when credit is due:

It had a perfect beginning. The setting, the characterisations, and the scenes were good and I attributed these to the author's excellent writing that made me eager to read more.

Although it got draggy in the middle (see point one and three above), it managed to still attract me right to the very end.

Overall, A Testament to Murder was a good beach read, something to read when you want a quick murder mystery complete with Christiesque characters.

2.5/5

<i>(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)</i>

My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of this cosy mystery set on the Riviera during the 1920s. It was clearly an homage to the work of Dame Agatha Christie.

The very wealthy Malcom Bryce-Rutherford has summoned his would-be heirs to his villa on the French Riviera. He is dying and has a rather twisted plan to decide which one of the nine possible heirs will inherit his entire estate. With tension running high it isn’t long until there is a murder. Malcolm seeks the assistance of his neighbour Jasper, formerly of Scotland Yard, to investigate.

Vivian Conroy clearly enjoyed exploring the tropes of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction with a twinkle in her pen. So we have a group of suspects, a retired Scotland Yard detective and a veritable shoal of red herrings before the final reveal.

I have to say that aside from Jasper and his lovely dog, Red, I found everyone at the Villa rather unlikable. Given what an unpleasant old codger Malcolm was I was a bit surprised that Jasper considered him a friend. Still my feelings did mellow as the novel reached its conclusion and secrets came to light and questions were answered.

Cosy mysteries are not really a staple of my reading diet but like the occasional romance they provide me with a few hours of pleasant diversion. This certainly fit the bill and I plan on recommending it and Vivian Conroy in general to my friends who devour cosy mysteries.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I would like to thank Canelo for asking me to review this book and to be apart of the blog tour.
Set in the 1920's here we have a very intriguing plot. Set in France Malcolm who is very rich is dying and has no family to leave his money to. Therefore he invites distant relatives and employees to the French Riviera and plays some what of an interesting game. Very Agatha Christie. At midnight he changes his will so a different person will inherit until he dies. As you can imagine this makes for a interesting read.
I really enjoyed this read with all the nasty characters that think of only themselves. A refreshingly different read to what I have read recently.

This book was always a bit too much. The hated dying family patriarch who is playing a game with his will? Not uncommon in mysteries. But the game being “I change my will every day and leave everything to one person” instead of constant threats of disinheriting and allusions to maybe mentioning certain people? A bit too much. The prospective heirs who all want the money and all have major – often exaggerated – character flaws? Not uncommon at all. But when the characters are only exaggerated flaws – the would-be-artist nephew who never finishes anything, his wife who laments there that she had though marrying someone with a double-barred surname would mean more money, the secretary who is obsessed with her boss, the parents who do anything to hide her son’s fuck-ups, the son who…constantly fucks up – that’s just too much.

And the same was true for the plot. Too many coincidences. Too many shocking plot twists. I genuinely enjoyed some of them, but at some point, it just turned into another and another and another and I stopped being surprised and just rolled my eyes a lot.

I’m not completely averse to trying another book by the author in case this was an attempt at a parody and the characters in her other books are not quite as much of a caricature but I’m not rushing out to get one right now.

An intriguing mystery, set in the 1920s, with an interesting premise. Malcolm, a wealthy old man is dying, and with no immediate relatives he invites several distant relatives and former and current employees to his bedside at his Villa in the South of France. He then announces that he will change his will at midnight every night to a different inheritor, but not announce who it is, until the day he dies and the person listed inherits everything. So let the fun begin...
Next door neighbour Jasper, a former Inspector from Scotland Yard, is on hand to witness the following mayhem as the gathered frenemies all try to one up each other with their greed. Then a body is found, and Jasper then has to piece together what happened from the lies and cover ups from those with much to hide...and gain!
A book full of nasty characters, but you can't help but smile at their antics. I'm sure Jasper would have like to have locked them all up at one stage or other. All are self serving, and have trouble trying to hide it, and it lends an air of distrust between them all.
All in all this is a fun book, leading up to a final Agatha Christie-like denouement, which possibly went on a little too long, but I can honestly say I had no idea at all who the killer was, or the reasons for it. I believe it is to become a series, so I'll have to look out for the next installment. Recommended for lovers of Historical Mysteries.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I begin with the story in this book, I have to give a bit of background from where I approach this tale. I am a fan of Agatha Christie's books. The people I have met over time who did not like her books were those who found the actual whodunit buried among the very avidly described characters and their foibles. This book has modelled itself on the format of the old classics but falls short when it comes to just that bit for me.I will explain that statement in more detail towards the end of the review. 

An old man on his deathbed has collected the people associated with him in life around him. He then presents them with a picture of who will inherit after him and basically heralds the start of the games. The people who have answered his call do not like him (he is not likable in any way) and start to debate what their course of action should be, they all hope to inherit untold wealth whether the deserve it or not. The story itself is pretty interesting, and there are enough red herrings thrown our way in the guise of multiple attacks on the almost heirs. The gold- digger with the useless husband, the ex-wife who married the man's ex-business partner, their son, an enigmatic nurse , an ex-cop and the ex-secretary are all interesting choices for the criminal but here came the issue. They were all not fleshed out enough, I felt like I was being told what they were doing and not shown much and there was no clear indication of the fact that this was based in another era other than the fact that once again the cover proclaimed it.

This is not a deal breaker for most people and although I guessed the answer I was forced to second guess it a few time, I need more from a classically styled story. I needed to feel with the people introduced to me and get invested in their eccentricities. This is why I indicated earlier that my interest lie more heavily on the people themselves than their actions/reactions. I would recommend this to people who like reading this genre and to form their own opinions about it after reading it.

Nine heirs and one billionaire. You know there is going to be trouble. Wherever money accumulates very seldom will you find the heirs amicable. This is one difficult bunch of people -relations and outsiders and all heirs to the particular frame of Malcolm's will.

It seems that Malcolm is actually inviting someone to murder him. One attempted murder, two murders, three incidents which are not murder but almost there puts a lot of tension within one house whose inmates are prohibited from leaving till the inquiries are over. The list of suspects can cover all and Jasper, retired British police living in France is giving a hand to the French authorities in trying to solve these murders.

All the people in the house have a history related to Malcolm - our billionaire. Some are known like his ex wife, his ex partner who stole his wife, his secretary, his nephew, There are some who are unknown and when the story unravels it shows all have grudges and cudgels to take up with Malcolm for slights done to them, injustices shown in the past some of which he is unaware to give him his due.

The ending is most enlightening. Something I did not envisage and even that ending though clear enough, still left you with one doubt clouding your vision at the end as to who was the real culprit here.

A very different take on mystery murder, similar to an Agatha Christie.