A delightful series starter with careful attention to setting and historical detail. I look forward to following these characters' adventures.

A delightful beginning to this historical cozy mystery series! I found the setting unique and I became extremely fond of the characters Jane and Redvers. Several clues allowed me to guess the ending but overall an enjoyable, well-planned mystery! Will definitely read more in this series.

An engaging heroine and an interesting historical setting; I wish the murder itself had been a little more compelling.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an Advance Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's no wonder this book was nominated for an Agatha award. It's a great historical mystery set in 1920's Egypt with a range of interesting characters and an unpredictable ending. I absolutely loved our sleuth, Jane Wunderly and the mysterious and handsome 'Redvers'. We don't know whether this is his first or last name until the end.

Secondary, but just as interesting, to the murder mystery which happens at the beautiful Mena House in Egypt is Jane's past. She is the widow of a truly awful man. I loved the way that the author introduced this history to us because it informs the reader of the type of person Jane is and why she is naturally distrustful. I also loved that the author did not shy away from colonialism and its effects on Egypt and its national treasures while still maintaining the lightness that is needed for an enjoyable cozy history.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about Jane Wunderly.

Really fun, cozy book to read and cannot wait for the next. I can tell Jane Wunderly is going to be a character that I am going to want to hear adventures about for a long time.

This book was fun, but it never really caught my attention. It was really hard for me to place myself into the setting of the story as the reader.

This just hums with the best parts of mysteries from that Golden Age--there is even a retired Colonel, complete with pith helmet and cane. Jane Wunderly has a rough background. Widowed during WWI, she is thrilled to travel to Egypt with her former husband's Aunt Millie to see the Pyramids and everything else there is to offer. Jane is smart and a pleasure to read about. There is a taut mystery within the Mena House, a bit about Egyptian antiquities and family secrets. An all around good read!

I enjoyed reading this historical cozy. Jane and her Aunt Millie are visiting Egypt and staying at the Mena House. When one of the guests is found dead and the local police suspect Jane she sets out to clear her name and solve the murder. I enjoyed the setting and the characters. The mystery was good with some twists and turns and the solution made sense. I look for word to seeing where Jane travels next. Enjoy

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC. I love the Amelia Peabody series and have been waiting for another similar series and if this first book is anything to go by I will not be disappointed. A great first book. Great character development, with a good twist at the end. Looking forward to book 2

A great adventure mystery that I really enjoyed reading. The mystery itself kept me quessing, though I wish the book had been longer

Jane Wunderly is Not Like The Other Girls. Other girls dress up in ridiculously revealing dresses to impress men like whores. Jane has no interest in men.

Except for Mr. Redvers. I mean he doesn’t even tell her his first name, quite obviously lies to her or at least evades her questions but that doesn’t stop Jane from swooning about him while still insisting that she doesn’t need no men. Can we just stop with that? Either give me a character who says she has no interest in relationships and then sticks to it or one who says “Yeah. I want to marry (again) but I don’t want the first guy my overenthusiastic relatives who all think a woman without a man is worthless throw at me. I want to marry someone I actually care about.” In historicals that would still be unusual enough and would not give us the moral of “Actually, everyone wants a relationship and all those who say they don’t, just haven’t realized it, yet.”

So, no, I wasn’t a fan of the setup of the blossoming romance. Especially since, as mentioned, I saw no reason why she should even trust him…And if possible I was even less a fan of the mystery. I admit I’m already not the biggest fan of “Sleuth starts sleuthing because they/someone close to them is a suspect” but that wasn’t even a particularly well-done variety of that trope. It never feels like the inspector is really serious about his suspicions. He barely plays a part in the novel and the most threatening thing he does is ask her not to leave the hotel for a while. That leaves us with the “Sleuth starts sleuthing because they totally know better than the stupid police” trope, except that you could even argue that it’s not Jane doing the sleuthing but her mouth. Without her agreement. Yes, the phrase “And before I could stop myself I found myself saying X” gets overused in this book. Oh and what she finds herself saying is usually stuff she strictly speaking shouldn’t know and occasionally she does it while being alone with the suspect. Yes, Jane is one of the people you find pictured in the dictionary next to “Too Stupid Too Live”. But she still somehow survives…and solves everything thanks to a string of ridiculous coincidences. Because that what sleuths in bad cozy mysteries always do.

ARC received from NetGalley

This mystery combines two of my great loves-- the 1920s and Egypt. American Jane Wunderly accompanies her wealthy Aunt Millie on a trip to Cairo. Aunt Millie is a trial and is thrilled that she now has access to quality liquor rather than the bathtub rotgut produced in America. They've settled at the Mena House and soon meet their fellow hotel guests. Included in the cast of characters is Colonel Stainton and his prickly, but beautiful, daughter, Anna, and newlyweds, Charlie and Deanna. A handsome banker named Redvers soon has his eye on Jane, and filling out the cast is the slightly oily and mysterious Amon.

Jane isn't interested in romance despite attention from Redvers and Amon. A widow whose own marriage proved not to be the fairy tale she had believed it would be, Jane will entertain a mild flirtation, but nothing more. She is a single, independent woman trying to enjoy a trip abroad.

Murder disrupts Jane's plans when she finds Anna murdered in her hotel room. The local police believe Jane may have played a part in Anna's demise, and she is now confined to the hotel. Unable to tour the much-anticipated pyramids, Jane vows to clear her name. As she picks away at Anna's life, she discovers that no one is who they say they are. It appears everyone has a secret, including dear old Aunt Millie.

Redvers, handsome and roguish, becomes the unofficial aide due camp in Jane's investigation. She's decided to trust her gut when it comes to Redvers, and her gut says he's trustworthy even if he's lying about being a banker. Soon, another body is found and the heat inside the Mena House matches the broiling temperatures of Egypt. With threats against her own life around every corner, Jane needs to find the killer before they find success in checking her out of the Mena House permanently.

With hints of Agatha Christie mixed with a dash of Elizabeth Peters, this was a roaring success. Jane is determined and fearless, yet not lacking in common sense like so many amateur sleuths. She has a past and is no shrinking violet. Even though it is set in the 1920s, Neubauer has not tried to make Jane a flapper. As Jane herself admits, she is too old to have learned flapper speak. The author has managed to create a thoroughly believable main character.

I'm eagerly waiting (and hoping) there is another book planned with Jane Wunderly. I recommend this book for fans of the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear and the Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal.

I suppose I just have to come to terms with the fact that although I like the idea of the cosy mysteries, most cosy mysteries are not written for me.

Take this one. It is a nice read. I did read the entire book, and it was a pleasant experience. It reads very easy, it kept me good company.
I chose it because of the unusual setting, 1920s Cairo and I have to admit the author did her best to give us a glimpse of the city at the time. Though I have to say that what characterised the town felt a bit pressed onto the story. For example, there’s a chapter about an excursion at the pyramids. Though I did enjoy reading it because it gave me an impression of what the pyramids looked like almost a century ago, I don’t see what it did for the story, since there wasn’t advancement neither in the romance nor in the mystery.

My problem with cosy mysteries, I’m coming to realise, at least most of the historically set that I’ve read recently, is that they are basically romances with an attempt at some mystery.
This was the same. The romance was really the main plot of the story, and though I can hardly judge since I’m not a romance reader, it seemed a bit confused to me. I did like the two characters, they are both nice and sympathetic, there’s good chemistry between them, but it seems like the author created unlikely complications for their relationship. I mean, even I know that romances need complications, but I think that if they had been a bit more substantial, I might have sympathised with the romance a little more.

he mystery was a total mess. It was totally unlikely. There was no reason why Jane and Redverse should start investigating the murder, and the investigation was chancy at best, based on non-existent clues and deduction. I dragged in the middle, as the romance took centre stage, and the end was illogical and felt a lot like an afterthought.
But again, this is probably more my problem than the story, since I took up this cosy mystery thinking it was a ‘mystery’.

It is a nicely-written story, with spank and an intriguing cast of characters. It’s probably a good one for romance readers, but mystery readers may end up finding it not really what they expected.

Danger, Death And Dubious Dealings.....
1926 Egypt, the luxury Mena House Hotel, socialites, gaiety and charm but amidst this setting lurks danger, death and dubious dealings. The first in a series featuring Jane Wunderly, American abroad and would be amateur sleuth. Entertaining mystery with a glorious setting, a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters and, whilst I was aching for more in the way of ambience given the setting potential, this was still an enjoyable, fun read and I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I received this book through NetGalley and found it fun. Jane Wunderly, who is vacationing at the Mena House along with her aunt, feels compelled to investigate a murder when the police look at her as a possible suspect. She is joined by Mr. Redvers on her investigation. She can't quite figure him out, but is drawn to him none the less. He has something to hide, but then so do a lot of other people staying there -- even Jane herself.

I enjoyed the mystery although many times I kept worrying about all the trouble Jane was getting herself into -- poking her nose into other people's affairs, breaking into rooms, etc. This book would be nice to curl up with on a cold snowy day for some adventure in a hot climate. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

It’s the mid-1920s and the awfulness of World War I is behind humanity, but there is plenty of danger and adventure to be found at the Mena House Hotel in Cairo. It’s an upscale destination for travellers from around the world, and Jane Wunderly is there as a guest of her late husband’s Aunt Millie, who is determined to find a new romance for Jane. Jane is resolute to avoid any entanglements, enjoy the holiday and check out the pyramids. But when she meets the enigmatic banker Redvers, Jane can’t help but be intrigued.

The Mena House Hotel is filled with a wide range of characters--a socialite who demands the spotlight, her retired military father, a creepy playboy who courts wealthy women, a young couple who befriend Jane, and hotel staff and local villagers…and everyone has his or her own secrets.

When Jane finds herself standing over the body of one of the guests, she’s suddenly defending her innocence as she tries to discover who committed the murder before she loses her freedom. Who can she trust? Who is willing to frame her for a murder she didn’t commit?

Ms. Neubauer has created a cast of characters who are intriguing and a mystery that has enough twists and turns to keep the reader wondering, as she draws you into the glittering world of the Roaring Twenties.

3,5 stars

The American Jane Wunderley is treated to a vacation by her aunt Millie to go to Egypt. Since it's the year 1926 this is a rather long trip from Boston. Jane was married to Millies nephew who died earlier in the Great War.

During the vacation they're staying at Mena House, a luxury hotel, with guests from all over the world. It's exciting times for Jane, she has dreamt of seeing the pyramids for a long time. But instead of seeing the pyramids, she finds a dead person at the hotel and her vacation is not relaxing any more.

📚

This is the first book in the new cozy mystery series about Jane Wunderley and I can totally see this being the beginning of a great series. The characters are not just about cozy things, heavier subjects like abuse are a central part of the story. The mystery itself is not the best I’ve read but I didn’t expect it to since it’s a cozy mystery :)

I recommend this to everyone who likes cozy mysteries!

The Emersons always stayed at Shepheard’s when they were in Cairo, but I still picked up this book because of my extremely fond memories of Amelia Peabody Emerson and her tribe of family, friends, associates and enemies from her series, which begins in 1884 with Crocodile on the Sandback, and ends with Tomb of the Golden Bird, set in 1922-23 when Amelia would have been 70 or thereabouts. Possibly. She was a bit cagey about her actual age as the numbers rose.

But still, Amelia and her redoubtable husband Radcliffe Emerson were practicing scientific archaeology as well as amateur detecting, through the years when archaeology in Egypt began to shift from treasure hunting to historical fact-finding. An evolution that is still continuing at the time period of Murder at the Mena House.

Jane and Amelia don’t miss each other by much in time – there’s only three years between Amelia’s final bow in 1923 and Jane’s trip to Cairo in 1926 – and they would have enjoyed each other’s company if they had met. Although if they had, Amelia would probably have rescued Jane from her sadistic husband a LOT sooner, instead of waiting for the war to take care of it for her.

While I may have gotten into this because of Amelia, Jane more than carries this story on her own – with able assistance from Mr. Redvers – or the other way around – whatever his name is. It’s fairly obvious to Jane that the handsome Redvers is hiding quite a lot, and not just the question of whether Redvers is his first or last name. Whatever he is, he’s definitely not like any banker that Jane ever met.

But it’s his not-so-well concealed talents that Jane needs when a young woman is murdered at the Mena House – and Jane is the prime suspect.

Jane may have originally come to the Mena House as a companion for her formidable Aunt Millie, but in the wake of that death and the accusation that follows Jane’s mission at the Mena House has multiplied three-fold, if not more.

She needs to clear her name. She wants to figure out who really did murder Anna Stainton, partly to clear herself and partly for the mystery of it. Jane is itching to solve not only that puzzle but all of the other puzzles that ripple out before her, like the identity of the young women that her normally rude and standoffish Aunt has suddenly become so fond of. And then there’s the identify of Mr. Redvers, and his true mission, whatever that might be.

When the murder Jane is accused of tangles itself up with the smugglers that Redvers is trying to catch, the game is definitely afoot. Occasionally camel-foot, but definitely afoot. Also sometimes a-car and a-truck.

Jane is after the murderer, Redvers is after the smuggler, and it begins to look like Jane and Redvers are after each other. If they can get past the many, many lies and half-truths they have told each other in the course of their somewhat impromptu investigation.

If they survive.

Escape Rating B+: Murder at the Mena House is a whole lot of historical cozy mystery fun. And it does a terrific job of opening up this new series. With its meticulous historical details, it also successfully evokes the Golden Age of mystery in which it is set. Poirot would be right at home in the Mena House.

At the same time, this story is written in the 21st century, and like Amelia Peabody written at the end of the 20th, the focus is on its female amateur detective, Jane Wunderly. As a character, Jane makes a good choice for a detective. She’s still relatively young, but as a widow she is less burdened by the restrictions that society placed on young women than she would have been if still unattached.

However, the mystery surrounding her marriage, while easy for the reader to figure out, adds to the depth of her character. She has secrets that, while we may have sussed them out, are not known to her friends and acquaintances, or even her family.

Not that any person in their right mind, as Jane certainly is, would give her Aunt Millie ANY information that could be used later in an attack. Aunt Millie is, frankly, the epitome of an old battle-axe, and the revelations of her own youthful tragedy do not significantly soften her character. Of all of the possible continuing characters for this series, she’s one I hope we don’t see a lot of.

I do hope we see a lot of Redvers, no matter what his name really is. He and Jane form a terrific partnership that contains just the right amount of will they/won’t they. Because Jane has an entire truckload of baggage that she needs to work through in order to be part of a relationship beyond friendship – but she’s getting there.

The mystery in this one, along with the oodles of historical detail, really do sweep the reader back in time and across the ocean to Cairo in the 1920s. In true cozy fashion, there are plenty of red herrings and a ton of misdirection, while at the same time important issues are at least touched on if not dealt with that would not even rate a mention in material actually written at the time this takes place.

And then there’s the antiquities smuggling subplot, which becomes a big part of the main plot. The illicit trade in antiquities – and murder – leads me right back to where I started, with Amelia. She would have been right at home in the Mena House helping Jane investigate this crime spree. I can see the passing of the torch, and I’m so there for it.

A good historical mystery that I truly enjoyed.
It's well written, the cast of characters is interesting and likeable and the historical background vivid.
The mystery was solid, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I was 9 years old. So I am definitely a Golden Age Mystery fan. When I first saw the blurb for this book, I was immediately intrigued. Egypt. 1926. Cairo. Fancy Hotel. Murder. Sounds like a setting Agatha would have applauded! So...yep....had to read it! :)

I'm glad I did! Jane Wunderly and her Aunt Millie are enjoyable characters. The setting and time period made for a great backdrop for a murder mystery. There were plenty of suspects and twists, and the story is well written. Just a very entertaining reading experience for a golden age fan!

The cover art is very eye-catching! It pulled me right into the story. Awesome artwork!

Murder at Mena House is the first book in the Jane Wunderly mystery series and is Erica Ruth Neubauer's first book. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories in this series....and more books by this author! I wonder what adventures and travels Jane will be having next? :)

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**