An Exhibition of Murder by Vivian Conroy is the fourth book in Murder Will Follow mystery series but the first one that I have read.

I had no problem getting into the story nor have I felt that I have missed something due to the fact that I didn't start with the first book in the series.

This is an old fashioned, well told mystery that relies on well developed characters and ingenious mystery. Many clues are given throughout the story and nicely tied at the end.
The story is told at the nice pace with many twists and turns and red herrings to keep reader interested.

A priceless mask is found on an archaeological site and the new artifact is about to be shown at the exhibition. Journalists are creating rumors that it bring bad luck as it has already claimed one life. Former Scotland Yard investigator Jasper is invited to the exhibition by an old friend. A cat burglar is terrorizing the town at the same time.
When the murderer strikes again the whole town is in an uproar and it is up to Jasper to discover the truth.

This is a cosy crime series with a very unique set of characters and immersive writing. The mysteries are of an Agatha Christie style challenge and they are very satisfying to read. Vienna is brought to life very well indeed and the mystery of the death mask? Just very well done.

Fascinating to learn about the masks and such like!

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Canelo, in return for an honest review. This is the fourth book in this series. It is easily read as a stand-alone. Former Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper is visiting an old friend, Werner Herziger, in Vienna, Austria. Werner is the Director of a museum with a special exhibition, including a golden death mask found during an archeological expedition. His daughter, Beate, is engaged to the man who uncovered the mask, Sir Peter Treemore. He, with Erneste Demian and Kurt Muller, found the mask. Muller was killed during the dig. Demain is present for the exhibition’s opening night, along with Sir Peter’s 19-year-old daughter, when Sir Peter is found murdered with the death mask on his face. Was the murder committed by the notorious thief, the Lynx, or by someone much closer to Sir Peter? Given the proximity to all of the main participants, Inspector Jasper undertakes to solve the murder. This book delved into a great deal of psychological possibilities and written from several perspectives. It is not a traditional cozy mystery, rather is likened to an “Agatha Christie” era detective story. I prefer cozies so I found this one less appealing. The author writes well and develops the characters fully. I just didn’t find this book to my taste.

And my love affair with retired Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper continues. In her acknowledgements the author says she hopes “Jasper’s adventures bring joy to the reader and provide a few hours of pure sleuthing fun”, and I don’t know about other readers but I certainly enjoy the “Murder Will Follow” series to the max. For me it’s apparent in every word the love and respect she feels for the classic mysteries and Agatha Christie.

If you’ve read the previous books in the series you know exactly what to expect: a gorgeous location (although this time Vienna doesn’t play so much into the story), a fantastic plot involving psychology, dreams and one of my favorite topics ever in murder mysteries, archeological digs and the treasures found in them, a whole bunch of characters with lots of secrets and a tenacious detective that will do everything in his hand to uncover the truth with all suspects brought together for a denouement in classic Christie style.

“An exhibition of murder” was an engrossing read that kept me guessing till the end. Hopefully we will see Former Inspector Jasper again involved in another intriguing mystery pretty soon. And as a huge Agatha Christie fan myself I can honestly say that Vivian Conroy is fastly becoming the modern day queen of classic mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third (of the four) Murder will Follow series by the author that I have read, and I continue to thoroughly enjoy them. Once again, ex-police inspector Jasper, and his trusty labrador Red, are in the wrong place at the wrong time; on this occasion, the guest of a museum director about to showcase an exhibit in Vienna of a priceless tomb mask unearthed by archaeologist Sir Peter Treemore. Of course, on the evening of the grand opening a body is found, and Jasper sets off on his usual unofficial investigation to find the murderer.

Suspects aplenty, each of whom has his or her own motive and, as baffled as Jasper is by the case, we just know that when he gathers everyone together in the site of the original murder, the grand reveal with unearth the killer.

Part of the fun of the series is the clear pleasure the author has in paying homage to the classic Golden Age writers, and the subtle shifts in narrative perspective which allows the reader into the minds of each of the suspects, and Jasper too. It's all good fun and an opportunity to stimulate those little grey cells!

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

This is the 4th installment of the Murder will follow series. Former Inspector Jasper of Scotland Yard is in Vienna on holiday where an archeological exhibit with a golden death mask reputed to be cursed is on display. Of course, the murder centers on the death mask and is it cursed, a journalist certainly likes that angle and there is also a cat burglar in the area. Lots of intrigue around the archeologists and it is up to Jasper to find the real culprit. These stories truly are reminiscent of the heyday of murder mysteries and the Christie era. This one does not disappoint. Well plotted and excellent storyline that keeps your attention.

Inspector Jasper comes to Vienna in the hopes of having a nice holiday and meeting up with an old friend. Naturally, murder follows him and he's thrown in the middle of a murder mystery complete with an ancient curse, gold mask and maybe a thief.

The plot of this book is fantastic. Is there a curse? What really happened at the dig site? Who's sleeping with who? Are people really who they claim to be? Who has an ulterior motive? There are so many questions, twists and turns in this novel that it does keep your attention. There are so many turns though, that it almost feels like the author tried to put too much into the book. There are so many characters that I would recommend writing names and relationships down on a note card to keep has a handy reference.

It was a good read, even if confusing at times that I would still recommend the book and I look forward to the next in the series.

What a ride this book gives one, full of suspects, lots of drama and so many twists and turns that one does not know which way is out. What a great read this book was, couldn't put it down and finished it quickly, entirely satisfied with the end.
Set in Vienna, with an Egypt death mask, a murder or are there two, a bit of Freud, and affairs added into the mix makes for a really good read.

Another thrilling novel by Vivian Conroy and her former Scotland Yard Detective Jasper, this novel begins with Jasper's arrival in Vienna to attend a friends museum at an exhibition of a death mask and other relics recovered from an archeological dig site. However before the exhibition starts one of the archaeologists who discovered the death mask is murdered, there are a lot of suspects and the local police do not want Jasper's assistance, can he discover who the murderer is before anyone else is harmed. An excellent novel and Vivian Conroy keeps on getting better, I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Once again Vivian Conroy has produced a brilliant book. I do so love the travels of retired Scotland Yard detective Jasper and his dog Red, and how everywhere he goes someone dies in suspicious circumstances. The books are written in such a way that you never think oh no not again, and the murders are written in such a way as to be believable and of the time period the books are set in. The stories are so reminiscent of the old golden age of crime in the vein of an Agatha Christie novel. Please continue to write this amazing series, I for one cannot wait. Please if you have never read any of the books in this series do so I promise you will not be disappointed

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.
Another really enjoyable sleuthing extravaganza from Vivian Conroy. Unashamedly "Agatha Christie", former Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper unravels his latest murder-mystery = #4 in this series.

Jasper is visiting his friend Werner Herziger in Vienna (with, of course, his dog, Red). Werner is the museum director where an exhibition is being staged, showcasing a golden death mask discovered on a archaeological dig. Werner's daughter Beate is engaged to Sir Peter Treemore who, together with Erneste Demain the dig's financer, and Kurt Muller - a worker who was killed when an excavation collapsed, uncovered the mask.
Rupert Rohmann, a struggling reporter, is perpetuating the idea of a curse attached to the mask and when Sir Peter is found dead on the opening night of the exhibition - his face covered with the mask - it seems the curse has struck again. Or has it? A window has been opened and the local police conclude that an infamous cat burglar - the Lynx - is responsible. Jasper isn't so sure.

Sir Peter was a widower with a 19yr-old daughter Violet who has been traumatised by deaths of people around her. She's always blamed herself, after all, if she didn't like someone they died. Suffering from dramatic and violent dreams she is unstable and manipulative. Her companion, Iris Phelps, protects her as well as travelling the world with her and her father. Violet's father was a womaniser, despite being engaged. He's consumed by his own self-importance and life-advancement..
Erneste Demain provides the money for the digs and enhances his less-than-knowledgeable reputation by giving talks about the archaeological finds.

But someone thinks Sir Peter is responsible for Muller's death and Violet asked Jasper to help protect him - his failure to do so only too clear.

Threatening notes, rumours, gossip and lies abound as Jasper tries to work his way through the barriers erected by a cohort of suspects, each having their own motives for murder, each protecting others to in turn protect themselves.

Well written and intriguingly enjoyable - watch out for the big reveal and a surprising twist!