Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

FIRST IMPRESSION:
When I was younger, I used to read an overwhelming amount of Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie and Enid Blyton’s countless mystery reads. Something about Omens of Death reminded me of those old-timey whodunnit vibes and I was left craving some good mystery. So here we are!

THE STORY:
Omens of Death is the first book in the Montague Pluke Cases. In the small town of Crickledale, Pluke is the man everyone relies on to keep the peace in the village. When the town is baffled by the appearance of a naked dead woman at the Druid’s Circle, Montague Pluke and his team of policemen are pressed for time to solve the case, especially when more bodies turn up.

THE GOOD BITS:
- I was thoroughly baffled by the mystery behind the naked dead woman at the Druid’s Circle. It kept me guessing till the very minute Pluke made the discovery himself.
- Pluke was quite an interesting character with his quirky fashion sense and his reliance on superstitious beliefs to predict developments in the case.
- I really liked the small village setting with its cast of quirky but homely characters. I also loved that Pluke knew everyone in the village and the funny personalities the reader meets along the way.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD BITS:
- Despite the wide variety of characters, I didn’t really feel deeply about any of them or form attachments to any of them. I usually like having at least a main character that I am rooting for but here, I didn’t really feel that deeply about anyone.
- There were instances when the writing was way too descriptive and rambling.
- I found the writer’s descriptions of females and female bodies to be rather cringe-inducing. I can’t really justify the author’s decision to include these details and I was repelled by these passages.
- However much I liked the mystery, the story’s pace starts out sedate and ends up way too brisk in the second half. It felt like the author was rushing to bring everything to a close and felt like that ruined an otherwise great mystery.

FINAL VERDICT:
Despite being centred around a great mystery with a quirky cast of characters, Omens of Death by Nicholas Rhea failed to impress me. I found the writing too dense and the author’s writing of females way too cringe-inducing. Even with the haphazard pace of the story, I still enjoyed reading Omens of Death though I wish it could have been more.

i always like the way Mr. Rhea's writing style and I enjoy the way he creates a mystery, and this book doesn't disappoint. the characters were great and I loved the storyline in this book.

Meet The Eccentric Pluke....
The first in the Montague Pluke cases. The eccentric Detective Inspector Montague Pluke finds his superstitious premonitions have an element of reality when he’s faced with a baffling case and a series of seemingly ritualistic murders. Lighthearted mystery with a quirky, eccentric and likeable protagonist in Pluke. A slow burn but an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book but i expected the plot to focus a bit more on the crime. It is definetly a lighthearted read and the quirckyness of the main character makes the book. It was overall a refreshing read.

I received a copy of this title from Netgalley and Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

This book was definitely a quirky cozy mystery.

While parts of the book were fun to read based on the uniqueness of the MC, it wasn't my fave.

The pacing was too slow for my taste and I wanted more about the crime itself. The book tends to lean more towards the MC with his quirks and wanting to solve a case but I would have like a bit more depth into the crime itself.

All in all it was a good book but I don't see myself continuing.

An entertaining and engrossing book. I liked Mr Rhea's Constable series and I'm liking Montague Pluke.
The quirky and eccentric main character is well thought and fleshed out, I liked him and I liked the rest of well written characters.
The setting is interesting and vivid, the mystery solid and it kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other instalment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Nicholas Rhea's 'Omens of Death' whilst not quite a thriller definitely sits better as a cosy, murder-mystery, especially with characters such as Detective Inspector Montague Pluke who to me seemed almost Dickensian in the manner in which he is described by the author, as well as his actions.

'Omens of Death' is a lighthearted read set in the quiet Yorkshire town of Crickledale where we follow an eccentric police detective in his first-ever murder case, despite his long career in CID (Criminal Investigation Department).

I loved the premise of this book. It really was a charming, quick read full of intrigue especially Rhea's research into odd and quirky superstitions surrounding death, luck and misfortune. The fact that the central character of Montague Pluke is almost a walking, talking caricature with his high waisted trousers, spats and thick antique raincoat.

I found that the author was able to bring light to what could have been quite a dark murder mystery through the use of supplementary characters - the gossipers, curtain-twitchers and small-town Ladies' Society. The only downside I had to this was Pluke's obsession with horse troughs. Though useful in their time, and I'm sure quite impressive, I found the addition of this particular hobby to be dull, lifeless and uninteresting.

Also, everyone loves a scandal, and what better way to induce a scandal into a story than by local people of good standing and "morals" partake in seedy pornographic films and photographs in the homes of their friends, neighbours and coworkers whilst holidaying abroad? Rhea managed to produce an intriguing novel which makes me curious as to what's next for DI Montague Pluke and the folk of Crickendale.

While I'm sure this book is lovely, it wasn't the book for me. I didn't finish it, as I thought it was disjointed and confusing. I'm giving it a 2 star rating, only because I didn't hate it. I just didn't care.

"A bad omen. A sign of sorrow. One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy...

Detective Inspector Montague Pluke has always been superstitious, so when he sees a lone crow fly over the Crowther’s home, he’s sure death is waiting in the wings.

And it doesn’t take long for Pluke’s premonitions to become a reality: the naked body of a young woman is found in a Druid’s Circle - a place thought by locals to be the site of black magic. Rumours circulate about human sacrifice and dark rituals, but Pluke’s not convinced the murder was committed in the circle.

Trusting his intuition, Pluke returns to the scene of that first omen of death: the house of Cyril and May Crowther. And when two more victims perish in suspicious circumstances, Montague Pluke is ready and waiting to catch the killer..."

Yes, ever since reading The Death of Westaway I've been drawn to that rhyme... though this book came first!

I have enjoyed the author's "Constable" series, but I found DI Montague Pluke a bit of a grind. The humour did not appeal, and some of the repetitions were tedious. Pluke's superstitions are interesting at first, but pall after a while. The plot premise had potential, but I was not inspired by it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for the digital review copy