I listened to A Mansion For Murder on audio, narrated by Anne Dover.

I love cozy mysteries, and there is just something about a cozy mystery set in the past, that is especially enjoyable. Set in the 1930s, Kate Shackleton, our main character, is a Private Investigator, in Yorkshire. Something that is very unusual for a woman during this time period.

Kate and her team are engaged to investigate a murder and corporate espionage in the village town of Saltaire. During the course of the investigation, Kate Shackleton also learns of a cold case and a young girl goes missing. This added so much to the story, and I actually had some tears when the search was on for the young girl.

The mystery itself was interesting. There were lots of potential suspects and so I was never able to solve the mystery on my own. I absolutely loved Kate Shackleton's character. She was smart, determined, and kind. And her team were great secondary characters.

A Mansion For Murder is the 13th in the Kate Shackleton mystery series. This one can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Overall, this was an enjoyable cozy mystery. A real whodunit, with a bit of folklore, and talk of curses, that kept me guessing.

A solidly plotted and paced historical mystery.

This is my first experience with this series, but it was easy to drop in on the characters, even here at book 13. I didn’t feel like I was missing critical backstory or personal details.

The downside of that is that books like this need more well-drawn characters to keep my interest since the mystery itself is pretty textbook, and while
I liked our sleuth well enough, she felt pretty interchangeable with others from similar series.

A mill setting isn’t the most intriguing, but I think with strongly evocative atmosphere it would likely be fine. This book doesn’t ignore that aspect of writing entirely, but it’s not one that I would consider about average in terms of setting and sense of place. That said, I expect some of that might be driven by personal interest in some specific settings more than others.

In all, this was entertaining enough that I would read another, but not one that motivates me to rush out and purchase the rest of the series.

When I first picked up "A Mansion for Murder" by Frances Brody, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The unfamiliar world and characters initially left me feeling a bit disconnected, and I even considered putting the book down. However, I decided to persevere, and I'm so glad I did.

The story follows investigator Kate Shackleton as she receives a mysterious letter from Ronnie Creswell, urging her to visit him in Saltaire. Yet, upon her arrival, she is met with the tragic news of Ronnie's untimely death. Determined to uncover the truth, Kate finds herself entangled in a web of superstition, secrecy, and class divisions. With the help of her resourceful housekeeper Mrs. Sudgens and her friend Jim Sykes, a former policeman, Kate sets out to unravel the mystery behind Ronnie's murder.

As the investigation unfolds, Brody skillfully builds tension and intrigue, keeping me eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth. Despite the initial slow start, I found myself fully immersed in the captivating plot and richly detailed setting of 1920s Yorkshire. The intricate layers of the mystery kept me guessing until the very end, and I was thoroughly impressed by Brody's ability to craft a compelling whodunit.

While "A Mansion for Murder" is the 13th book in the Kate Shackleton mysteries series, it was my first introduction to the series. However, I'm now eager to delve into the rest of the books and immerse myself further in Kate's adventures. Brody's writing style and engaging characters have left me eager for more, and I can't wait to see what other mysteries await Kate Shackleton in future installments.

Overall, "A Mansion for Murder" is a captivating historical mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its well-developed characters, atmospheric setting, and intricate plot, it's a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive and satisfying whodunit.

the book is very slow and hard to get into. it also takes a while to get interesting and for the action to happen. the multiple storyline in the book makes it confusing and i can hardly keep track of all the details.

i was left with multiple questions at the end and it frustrated me, because the sole reason why i like mysteries and thrillers so much is because of the ahh, i see moment at the end.

there are definitely people who will enjoy this book, but sadly it's not for me.

Frances Brody takes Kate Shackleton to a Mansion For Murder in 1930 mill country. Ronnie Creswell finds some old bones and invites Kate Shackleton detective to Milner Hall to find out their story. When she arrives Ronnie is dead, murdered. Ill events continue to happen around Milner Hall which is up for auction and the mill. Kate has to find out what is going on before more die.

A Mansion for Murder was a complex historical cozy mystery which was well-developed and a great read. While I've never read any other book in this epic series, I did not feel lost or uncertain with the series or characters. The writing never made it feel like the author was info-dumping to fill in the backstory, but gave enough detail that I could quickly get a sense of who everyone was and enjoy the rest of the story. The murder itself was a layered mystery which kept me guessing to the end. Overall, this was a great read.

This was a NetGalley review.

I did not realize until the end of the book that the actual Milner Field mansion inspired this story. Ms. Brody’s books are so unique with strong storylines and well drawn characters. I look forward to future books in this series. Thanks to #NetGalley and #AMansionForMurder for advanced digital copy.

I was a little slow getting into this one. Probably because I wasn’t familiar with the world and the characters. I almost DNFed it, but since I had the ARC, I felt committed to completing and reviewing the book After putting it aside for a while and I’m so glad I did. Once I got my bearings, it was quite the page-turner.

Investigator Kate Shackleton receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell asking her to come to see him in Saltaire because he has a message for her about the past. Unfortunately, as soon as she arrives, she learns that he has died. Naturally, she must investigate, but she encounters superstition and secrecy, and class divisions that complicate matters for her. She enlists the help of Mrs. Sudgens, her housekeeper, and Jim Sykes, a former policeman, and friend. Together they manage to unravel the mystery and solve the murder.

A Mansion for Murder is the 13th book of Frances Brody’s Kate Shackleton mysteries series. It’s the first of the series I’ve read, and I’m eager to dig into the rest of the series. There’s nothing like finding an author or series you enjoy and discovering there’s a large body of work waiting to be enjoyed. Besides, I’m always a sucker for an anachronistically feisty heroine.

I received this advanced reader copy of Mansion for Murder from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

I was slow to get into this book. But it ended up being a pretty good mystery. A couple of deaths, some shading people and a glimpse of time when phones were scarce, policemen were more plentiful and no cell phones or cameras capturing every movement we make. I like reading about that time. People talked to each other and shared their life stories. A female private investigator would have been rare. Yet she is the main character and has a good head on her shoulders. I will read more of this series.

This well-written story is a bit slow at times and has a ghostly creepiness to it. However, I loved how bold, inquisitive, and proficient the characters were at gathering important information. The ending was the best part of the book because the story picked up as the mystery unraveled.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Don't be put off by this being the 13th of this well written, engaging series. It works fine as a standalone. Kate Shackleton is a private detective in 1930 Yorkshire. When she receives a letter from Ronnie Creswell, a person she has never met, speaking of a past secret that would be of interest to her, she decides to go meet him. Arriving in Saltaire and going to the Milner Field estate, she finds that she will never get to speak with Creswell. He is dead. Accident or murder?
While the police handle his case, the manager of the woolen mill were Creswell worked and died asks Kate to investigate for him. He suspects that there is someone trying to commit industrial espionage and force the mill to shut down. Does this have anything to do with the information Creswell wanted to share with Kate and does any of this tie into what many think is a local curse? With the help of her investigator and her housekeeper, Kate sets out to sort it all out.
With a wonderful cast of recurring characters and a puzzle full of the required twists, turns and red herrings, this is another well-crafted entry in an excellent historical mystery series. My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ronnie Creswell wrote to investigator Kate Shackleton requesting a meeting in Saltaire, on the grounds of a supposedly cursed mansion. The letter hints at events in the past that would interest her but would say no more until they met. As Kate waits with his mother at their lodge, word arrives that Ronnie has been found drowned in the reservoir of the textile mill where he worked. Kate is hired by the mill8s owner to look into the death. Someone has also been underbidding his mill on contracts that are up for renewal using his proprietary information. There had also been a theft from the mansion and the disappearance of one of the servants. When another body is discovered and Ronnie’s ten year old sister Nancy goes missing Kate begins to find connections between the events. Nancy was always curious and Kate believes that she observed something that could put her life in danger.

Ronnie’s mother was the housekeeper who was preparing the mansion for an auction. She could not bear to continue when she lost her son so Kate volunteers her own housekeeper, Mrs. Sugden, to temporarily take over. She also brings her investigator Jim Sykes, a former policeman, to investigate events at the mill. The three work well together, with Mrs. Sugden learning what she can from staff and Sykes calling on contacts from past cases. Kate is a widow who lost her husband in WWI. She not only employs Sykes and Mrs. Sugden, but they are her family. When Sykes’ wife has a health scare, it is Kate who arranges for her care and offers them both her support. She has an ability to put people at ease and look at things rationally. Fans of Miss Marple and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs will find Kate to be another investigator to add to their must read list. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus for this opportunity to review “A Mansion for Murder.” All opinions and comments are my own.

It’s Kate Shackleton’s introspection and self-examination that is once again highlighted in this book, the thirteenth in the justly acclaimed series by Kate Brody. Responding to a letter sent by a dead man, Kate and her associates set out for the company town of Saltaire (a fascinating real place -- you will want to look up its history, as the author encourages in a postscript) to undertake a solution to his death and other underhanded dealings in the place. They accomplish all this, of course, after an entertaining journey of clue-finding, interviews, some personal danger, and that introspection I’ve already mentioned. There are some truly soaring passages here, reminding Ms. Brody’s readers once again of life and loss, that this is a book that takes place after the horrors of WWI.

To offset the sadness that brings Kate to the town, there’s a happy twist for once, amidst all the unhappiness and evil, for our trio of private detectives. I shan’t spoil it for you.

The flashback chapters might not be to everyone’s taste; they do slow the narrative down somewhat. But they add a sense of foreboding to the text, and that isn’t necessarily bad in a mystery setting.

Our book is resolved, of course; Kate and her colleagues do their jobs. (I must add that there is one plot line that we do not find out about; more’s the pity.) But it is a bittersweet victory, for tragedy occurs. That readers should find themselves moved by this is the sign of a well written book in the hands of a seasoned author. “A Mansion for Murder” delivers, and more.

1930 Kate Shackleton arrives in the village of Saltaire at the request of an unknown
gentleman who seeks her help as an investigator. On arrival, she finds the man initially
missing, then drowned under suspicious curcumstances.

Investigating further Kate discovers many facets to the murder - rival suitors for an
heiress's hand, control of a business through fair means or foul, old curses which the
current villagers believe to be true and prevalent today and unsaid, hidden stories
that have to be feretted out.

Slowly and diplomatically Kate along with her loyal troop of Mrs Suden and Mr Sykes
untangle a web of old and new animosities and a desperation on the part of one man
who is determined to escape the gallows.

It was also interesting to see how women who were capable and clever had to hide their talents,
work discreetly so as not to ruffle tge men's feathers.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

I discovered Kate Shackleton when looking for something to fill the void between Maisie Dobbs books. And Kate can hold her own. Kate and Maisie are similar - both private detectives in an era when women didn't do "that sort of work". Kate lost her husband in WWI, Maisie her fiance. Both were nurses during the War. But Kate is a little more human, more empathetic with the "lower classes" and not just educated, as is Maisie.

During a break in between jobs, Kate Shackleton receives a letter from a young man asking her to visit him because he has some information that he isn't sure who to tell, and he thinks she can help. But when she arrives, she finds the young man has just been found dead, possibly under suspicious circumstances. Not sure what to do, she is contacted by the owner of the wool mill and asked to look into some threats he has received, which gives her the perfect opportunity to also look into the recent death. She enlists the aid of her trusty housekeeper, Mrs Sudgens, and the ex-policeman who also helps her, Mr Sykes. As a side issue, Mr Sykes also has a problem of his own that works itself out.

Meanwhile, two older deaths are somehow linked, and may be linked to this new one, too. How does everything fit together? In the end, she does get to the bottom of the mystery. And a few others as well.

So now I have read books 11, 12, and 13 in this series and still have not found the time to go back to the beginning and read book 1. I still intend to though.

A Mansion for Murder is a good, solid British mystery set in 1930 in Yorkshire. Private investigator Kate Shackleton receives a strange letter which causes her to travel to the town of Saltaire and more especially to the big house of Milner Field and the adjacent mill. She arrives to discover the writer of the letter has died and it is probably murder.

The mystery is interesting and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing all the way to the end. Kate is an excellent lead character, intelligent, thoughtful and well balanced. I especially liked the author's notes at the end which describe some of the history of Saltaire and the real Milner Field. Well worth reading.

This is the thirteenth book in the Kate Shackleton series; despite having several of them in the TBR Cordillera of Doom, it is also my introduction to the series and to the author’s writing.

The story is set in an English textile mill village, Saltaire, established by a visionary mill owner in 1851. Many historical facts are woven through the novel, and there’s an interesting author’s note at the end, with further details. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the novel has a very strong sense of place, and an almost equally strong sense of time–as in, it’s firmly set in rural England in 1930.

Time as it passes in the story is another matter altogether, given the number of narrators.

In the novel, we have two timestreams, so to speak: the story starts with a snippet set “long ago” and narrated in third person past tense from the point of view of Nick, initially a young boy; and then we have Kate Shackleton narrating her arrival in Saltaire, where, shortly thereafter, she becomes involved in a suspicious death.

This narrative device is all good and well, but what tripped me more than a bit was having bits here and there narrated in third person past tense from the point of view of various other characters. Mostly because, if there’s a first person narrative, I expect the author to justify that (so to speak) by building the story exclusively from that character’s point of view. This is doubly true in a mystery.

It also bothered me because, aside from Nick, the secondary characters who narrate feel chosen more or less at random.

There are a few threads narrated from Sykes’ point of view and only one longish passage from Mrs Sugden’s, who are Kate’s regular sidekicks (as she lets the reader know via one sentence each in the first chapter). But there are also passages from minor characters’ point of view, sprinkled without rhyme or reason I could make out.

Please note: I enjoy ensemble books, including mysteries, where the story is told from multiple people’s points of view. I am not averse to multiple narrators at all! However, going back and forth between first person to omniscient third person, even in deep point of view, is jarring for me. (The formatting of the ARC did not show transitions between scenes or narrators, which didn't help with this.)

With that (mostly) out of the way, let us get into the story itself.

We have a young man who, having arranged to meet with Kate, is murdered that same morning. We have a cursed property, with a story spanning centuries, and a young woman who refuses to name the man who got her pregnant. We have industrial espionage, star crossed lovers, and a grieving heiress. We have a fight between friends, and an old man whose witness testimony has been dismissed. We have an arrogant estate manager and a slimy godson. We have a significant theft and a missing cleaning lady. We have a young girl who sees and hears many things, and who tells what she knows to anyone who listens.

And we have Nick’s story.

I’ve said before that fiction has to make sense, but I should say, *genre* fiction has to make sense. In a mystery, all the disparate threads must come together to form a coherent narrative, where one should be able to follow how they tie together.

And with one exception, all the threads in the novel are satisfactorily tied off at the end; the last conversation at Ronnie’s funeral is particularly poignant, and I confess that I did not see the final revelation coming.

However.

We are told more than a couple of times that Kate has been a professional private investigator for over a decade, and that she has a reputation for getting results. And yet, at no time did I feel that she had a good handle on the events going on around her. Her inner dialogue wasn’t particularly organized, and neither was her approach to the mystery.

Even Sykes, the former copper, spends a lot of time distracted by personal issues, so even when he and Kate are supposed to be discussing the case, those conversations lack focus and clarity.

Further, we are told a few times that there’s active danger–above and beyond the whole, “that mansion is cursed, don’t enter”–but Kate doesn’t take any precautions, even around people she vaguely suspects of wrongdoing.

Which adds up to me feeling that a good chunk of the mystery mostly solved itself as Kate watched, rather than her working things out.

Then there are the things that should have been cut–starting with Sykes domestic disturbance. It contributed nothing to the mystery, yet took a fair bit of page space, and it was not the only plot thread or scene that did contribute anything meaningful to the solution of the mystery. Mrs Sudgen little jaunt? Could have been recounted in three paragraphs in a conversation with Kate. David’s ruminations while in jail. And so on.

I read the novel from beginning to end, no skimming, but damn, those 300 pages felt really long, The story felt bloated.

And that means that I never felt the tension and dread that a cursed mansion, a dead young man, and impending danger should have elicited.

So while I was satisfied with the end, and I found some parts of the novel quite moving (especially those related to Nick’s story), I am not the kind of reader Ms Brody writes for.

A Mansion for Muder gets a 7 out of 10

An intriguing and interesting plot that involves multiple crimes, past and present, creating a number of possible suspects and motives. This is the first I have read of this series and was attracted by the location which is not far from me. However some thread's didn't seem to get finished off and it would have been nice to have the Mansion described more since it is a real place. 3.5 rounded up. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kate is shocked when Ronnie, who wrote to her, is found dead but even more so when it turns out he was murdered. There's more to the mill town of Saltaire than meets the eye. as well as to Milner Field where she is staying. This is nicely crafted cozy stuff set in the post WWI era and featuring a quite intrepid investigator in Kate. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. If there are plot holes and implausibilities so be it- it's a good read that will be most enjoyed by those who have been following the series.

I really enjoy the Kate Shackleton Mysteries so I have already finished a preview copy of A MANSION FOR MURDER by Frances Brody, number thirteen in the cozy mystery series. Once again, Kate is immersed in the affairs of a small village (Saltaire) and its manor house, Milner Field, is purported to be cursed. She has arrived due to receipt of a cryptic letter from a local resident named Ronnie Cresswell who, sadly, is killed before they have a chance to meet. There are echoes of much earlier deaths in the region and Kate and her colleagues step up to investigate motives (industrial espionage? thwarted love affairs? covering up a theft?) with plenty of suspects and unexpected connections across generations and between social classes. Kate is a capable sleuth and Brody has developed another multi-faceted mystery to keep her readers guessing. Enjoy!