On the one hand the actual murder in this is pretty well constructed and worked out. On the other I found actual culprit disappointing. The writing style and the main character seem to be trying to do Bertie Wooster meets crime (maybe a bit Blotto and Twinks?). All in all, didn't really work for me sadly.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me the chance to read this arc.
Have you ever opened a book, read a few pages, put it down, then went to a new book? I did this multiple times to this book. This is a type of story I normally love. A ghost hunter, mystery, set in a historical time frame, but I couldn't get into it. Every time I sat down to read it, I found the characters to be too silly, like caricatures.

I thought I would really love this, but it felt a little try too hard to me; I enjoyed most of the characters except our female lead. The mystery was fun, though, and I definitely revisit more in the series to see if this grows on me.

Set in the picturesque Cotswolds of 1924, this cozy mystery whisks readers away to a charming village where gossip abounds and now, intriguingly, murder is on the scene! The tranquil village is jolted by the shocking murder of the lady of the house, who has been poisoned with cyanide. Enter Arbie Swift, an amateur sleuth who, along with the vicar's daughter Val, finds himself thrust into the role of detective.

As Arbie and Val navigate their sleuthing efforts, they do so under the watchful eye of the local detective. Together, they unravel clue after clue, piecing together the mystery to uncover the identity of the perpetrator. The story captures the essence of the cozy mystery genre perfectly, featuring a quaint village setting, the nuanced manners and etiquette of the upper classes, endearing characters, witty dialogue, and a cleverly constructed locked-room mystery.

While the novel may not be considered high literature, it excels within its genre. It provides a delightful escape from more serious fare, offering readers a well-crafted and entertaining diversion. Overall, it's a charming and enjoyable read that ticks all the boxes for a quintessential cozy mystery.

I really liked this 'cosy', historical, murder mystery. With its old English house, creaky floorboards and lack of technology, it was reminiscent of a Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple story in places. It features plenty of red herrings and a wonderful dark, witty humour. I enjoyed this one!

Cards on the table - I like Faith Martin...she regularly writes fiction set in and around the Oxfordshire that I made my home almost twenty years ago.

This new series is set in a Cotswolds that's very much Agatha Christie territory from a century ago - the main difference is that I don't remember there being as much humour in Christies writing, definitely not in the homage style where the main characters are referencing Poirot.

My reading of the book has been on hold for months, it fell through a gap when iI took time off to focus on other things after a very busy couple of years - my loss as this would have been a great read for the Christmas / New Year period...

I enjoyed the book but it doesn't quite hit top marks - maybe because of that 1920's setting, not a period I've been heavily invested in (since my teens probably when I worked my way through the Christie catalogue)...I'd like to see the series continue but personally I'll be looking forward to a return to 21st century detection

Lighthearted mystery with an amazing setting! Cotswolds in the 1920s? Does it get more perfect! This was perfect for cozy winter reading!

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Murder by Candlelight is a Historical Cozy Mystery set in the village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh, in the Cotswolds, in 1924. Arbie Swift is an author, who has found new found success after the publication of his book, The Gentleman's Guide to Ghost-Hunting. He's the kind of famous now, where since he's an expert in all things ghost,has individuals seeking him out, asking for assistance with their own hauntings.

For example, he gets asked to the Old Forge, where the lady of the house, Amy Phelps, believes she is being haunted by a spectre. Arbie should know what to do, right? Hesitant at first, both with his new-found fame, and with the idea that he can actually help Amy with her problem, Arbie finally agrees to go stay at the Old Forge. After all, it could provide good content for his next book.

Unfortunately, while Arbie is there, Amy is murdered. Now Arbie finds himself in the unlikely position of detective, along with his dear friend, Val. As the two dig into Amy's life and family, they discover all sorts of potential suspects and motives. It's a race against the clock as they try to discover the identity of the killer, supernatural or not, before anyone else falls victim...

I have been in such a mood for Cozy Mysteries lately. I'm not sure what it is, the changing of the seasons, or the amount of stress that I have been under at work and in my life, but either way, I am eating them up. I picked this one up on a whim and devoured it in a day. I loved the quaint setting and Arbie as a main character. I think this story set-up a perfect jumping off point for a potentially long-running series.

As with many other Mystery series, I feel like this is the kind of story where you would just get more and more attached to the characters as the installments add up. It also had a distinct Christie vibe, which really worked for me. I loved that Arbie was an author of a ghost-hunting book, and whether or not he truly believes in all that, is something you'll have to discover for yourself upon reading. However, whether he does or not, it certainly sets him up to meet a lot of interesting people.

I also really enjoyed the relationship between Arbie and Val, which definitely deserves some more attention. I'm not sure if there are plans for this to be a series, or not, but I certainly hope so. I would be genuinely excited to continue on. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Cozy Mysteries, particularly if you enjoy Historical Cozy Mysteries, Mysteries set in a small town/village, or even if you are just a fan of Agatha Christie's work. I feel like Martin did a great job plotting this story, and keeping the Reader engaged, while also creating likable, believable characters.

Thank you to the publisher, HQ Digital, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I truly hope this isn't the last I see of Arbie and Val!!

The Cotswolds, 1924. At the Old Forge in the quiet village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh a cry of anguish rings out: lady of the house Amy Phelps has been discovered dead. But with all the windows and doors to her room locked from inside, how – and by whom – was she killed Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift finds himself in the unlikely position of detective. The celebrated author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost-Hunting is staying at the Old Forge to investigate a suspected spectre, but now the more pressing matter of Amy’s murder falls to him too. With old friend Val, he soon uncovers a sorry tale of altered wills, secret love affairs and tragic losses – and plenty of motives for murder. When events take another sinister turn, Arbie must find the killer, fast. And to do so will mean cracking a most perfectly plotted crime. Absolutely loved everything about this book and highly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Publishers for a copy of “ Murder By Candlelight” for an honest review.

This was my first book by Faith Martin and I was really impressed by this book .
I loved the setting and the characters and it kept me guessing right to the end , if not whodunnit then how did they do it !
Hopefully this will be the first in a series with Arbie and Val as amateur sleuths

A cozy murder mystery set in the Cotswolds during the summer of 1924.

A forgettable closed-door mystery that had me checking page counts so I would know when this laborious slog would be over.

Arbie Swift is dared to go on a ghost-hunting mission for the local aristocrats, following the success of his book "The Gentleman's Guide to Ghost-Hunting." After the death of Amy Phelps, and the greed of her family, Arbie and Val, the daughter of the local cleric, set out to amateur sleuth their way to the end.

Involving altered wills, secret love affairs, and tragic losses -- while navigating the intricacies of village life -- Faith Martin does her best in weaving a tale that is only saved by the occasional witty banter.

Loved it. The plotline was good. The mystery aspect keeps you guessing what happens next and it is a well written humorous thriller. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The plot allowed for more openness as to where the mystery could go.

With its richly drawn characters, evocative setting, and tightly plotted storyline, Murder by Candlelight is a must-read for fans of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries. Faith Martin's deft touch and attention to detail ensure that readers will be thoroughly engrossed from the first page to the last, eagerly turning the pages to discover the truth behind the mystery lurking in the shadows.

Look no further for your cozy read! This was a fun mystery, set way back in time. I really enjoyed the period it was set in and the woodsy vibes

This is the first book in a new 1920's set cozy crime series by Faith Martin.

If you are looking for an easy going read with quirky characters, some fun as well as murder, a touch of the supernatural and plenty of twists, turns and red herrings, this is a book for you! 4*

I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Sometimes all you may want from crime novel is something light and frothy, not too much violence, a little bit of a puzzle and a gentle plot. I think that is what is commonly described as ‘cosy crime’ and "Murder by Candlelight" seems to be the very definition; I’m just not sure it is really my thing.

I am very fond of ‘golden age’ crime – written in the first half of the twentieth century, rather than set in that era – particularly as the writing can give a genuine insight into the thoughts and perspectives of society of that period.

Faith Martin certainly has an ear for that period of writing and frequently uses terms and phrases from that era and there is indeed a genuine puzzle at the heart of the novel (although there is a little too much of the ‘will they/won’t they’ hints toward romantic fiction, for which the author is known, in the story), but somehow the whole doesn’t quite gel for me. To be honest, I don’t think it is the author, so much as the genre. If modern cosy crime set in the early twentieth century is your bag, this will probably be just what you are looking for.

With thanks to the author, publishers HQ Digital, and NetGalley for providing me with digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A complex murder mystery with a supernatural flavour to it, lots of potential suspects throughout, and a satisfying reveal at the end. A worthy addition to the catalog of locked-room murder mysteries!

The characters are wonderfully written, and some of the sarcastic wit employed between them made me laugh out loud a few times, right up to the last scene!

A really enjoyable work from this author and, like lots of her other works, I hope this one turns into a series, as these are characters I would certainly like to hear more from.

A nice easy read...an unlikely detective uncovers a crime. Its a historical murder and really enjoyable to read. I've not read anything by this author before but I will definitely be looking out for more.

A cozy historical murder book!!!
We follow an unlikely detective as he uncovers a ‘perfectly plotted crime’.
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a nice easy cozy read! I hadn’t read anything else by this author but I’m inclined to investigate some of her other books after this!

Faith Martin is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Her style is quirky and fun, it's all so well written and her words are a joy to read. You know one of her books is going to be a good read before you even start the first page. The words bounce to life off the page, they're written with such joy. Set in 1920's Cotswolds, it's really cosy murder mystery with colourful funny characters. A really great read, as are all by Faith Martin.