historical-novel, Cotswolds, new-series, first-in-series, amateur-sleuth, 1924, author, friends, friendship, relatives, friction, gossip, ghosts, ghost-hunting, murder, murder-investigation, local-law-enforcement, locked-room-mystery, poisons, inheritance, suspense, situational-humor, sly-humor, village*****

Hoist on his own petard.
Once he published his book (rather under protest) he became the go-to person for a local wealthy spinster who believed that the family ghost might be afoot. Or not. His long time friend (and occasional nemesis), Val, joins in the fun and aggravation. Alas, a murder does occur and then he is pushed into becoming an amateur sleuth while the whole village has a gossip feast. Great fun and full of tongue-in-cheek humor. Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from HQ Digital via NetGalley. Thank you!

A murder mystery placed in a country village, reminiscent of St Mary Mead, between the wars. Enter Arbie and Val, lifelong friends, innocently drawn into a very unpleasant situation, to the displeasure of Val’s father, the local vicar, and Arbie’s uncle, the local eccentric.

This is a treat of a book, typical of stories written in the era in which this is set, with all the characters straight out of an old whodunnit. With passing references to that ‘Belgian chap’ and ‘Mrs Christie’, and plummy dialogue, it encapsulates the 20/30’s detective stories perfectly. There is a little too much of the ‘old chap, old girl, old thing, old bean’, etc, in the dialogue, and at times it does become a little stiff and stilted, but a nice denouement with all ends tied up.

All in all it’s good fun, light hearted and very nostalgic.

3.5* upped to 4*

Thank you NetGalley.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Murder by Candlelight, a stand-alone cosy set in the Cotswolds in 1924.

Arbuthnot Swift, accidental best selling author of A Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost Hunting, is asked by the village battle axe, Amy Phelps, to investigate a potential haunting in her home. When Amy is murdered Arbie finds himself, along with his childhood friend, Val, investigating.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder by Candlelight, which is an amusing, fun filled read in the vein of Lady Eleanor Swift or Lady Hardcastle. It has a good mystery attached and a clever solution that would never have occurred to me.

The novel is told from Arbie’s point of view and that is where the fun lies. He is indolent by nature and is disinclined to do anything that smacks of work, hard or otherwise. Unfortunately for him Val is interested in both ghost hunting and sleuthing so he takes the line of least resistance and takes on both challenges. It turns out he’s smarter than he wants anyone to know and manages to solve the haunting and the murder. There is a lot of humour to be found in his attitude and the dynamic between him and Val so I found myself laughing frequently. He’s a bit of a genius creation.

The plot has an exaggerated feel with all sorts of secrets and shenanigans to be uncovered. That’s exaggerated in a good way as it all adds to the fun. It kept me entertained and held my attention throughout. I won’t offer any hints about what Arbie and Val uncover as that would spoil the fun, except to say that everyone has a motive for murder, or if not a motive, a reason to come under suspicion. Some of it is guessable, but much of it comes as a surprise in the form of neat twists.

Murder by Candlelight is a fun read that I hope will be turned into a series, so I have no hesitation in recommending it as an easy way to pass a few hours.

This was such a fun read, and I’m happy to have discovered this new-to-me author! Dare I say, I hope this is the start of a new series?!

There were three elements that I enjoyed most about this historical mystery…writing, characters, and plot. The writing itself was lovely with lots of wonderful detail, accurate historical tidbits, and humorous sly wit. The characters, especially the protagonists, Arbuthnot (Arbie) Lancelot Swift and Valentina (Val) Olivia Charlotte Coulton-James, were well and delightfully drawn, quirky and with just the right amount of muddling to keep them lovable but not annoying. I liked that they shared a history of growing up together and how they knew each other so well under the surface. The plot was engaging, from the ghostly doings to the secrets discovered and the final denouement...it was entertaining and mostly believable. My favorite takeaway however were Arbie’s and Val’s personalities. Arbie’s put-upon reactions to his accidental fame were a riot, and Val’s strong, no-nonsense demeanor (especially in dealing with Arbie) was both refreshing and endearing.

I do plan to check out this author's backlist as I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted, locked-door mystery and do hope that this is not the last we’ll see of this dynamic duo.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing the free early arc of Murder by Candlelight for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Found on netgalley. Drawn to it by the blurb.
Kinda gave off some feelings of Nancy drew a bit but I also liked how the story was. Abostly enjoyed reading this book. Will be checking out this authors other books. 5 star book.
Kept me pulled into it. Couldn't put it down at all. Told a few people that they need to read this book and hopefully they do.

This book was lighthearted and fun and an easy read. The main characters were likable and the mystery kept my attention. I liked being able to escape into this quaint and peaceful world, a fun diversion from reality for a while. It did take me a while to get into this book ... the flowy language at first put me off. But after a while I saw it as an important part of the old-time world the author was creating and it stopped bothering me. The solution to the mystery was a bit obvious for me, but I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it as a fun summer read.

Enjoyable and fast read. I really loved reading this book over some tea and visualizing all that Martin has to offer.

I received an ARC and the review posted is honest.

i thought this looked and sounded like the type of book that I might enjoy.

I was expecting a humorous cosy, and I felt that while this ticked the box for 'cosy', the tone of the writing was a little more serious than I expected. Having said that, it was very sophisticated, and a light, easy read. I would be interested in reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Ahh! This is a great traditional mystery! I really enjoyed Arthie!! He was a great investigator! I definitely got Golden Age detective vibes from this book! It was highly enjoyable and I would recommend this to traditional mystery lovers and mystery lovers in general.

This was a delightful little murder mystery! The characters of Arbie and Val had such chemistry as a crime solving duo that I couldn’t help but be amused by their banter. The mystery itself was quite intricate and had me guessing all the way through. Not once did I ever suspect the true killer! This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through, and flying through the chapters. I was however shocked at the abrupt ending to the book. I thought there must be at least a chapter or two left after the reveal but it tied up rather messily in a couple pages. Despite this however I am very excited to read more Arbie and Val mysteries if this becomes a series!

Thoroughly enjoyable in the classic whodunnit in the English tradition. Loads of low-key humour and some fine irony. Writing style rhyming well to the 1920s setting, with well brought-to-life comedic set scenes.
The young (22) sleuthing couple, Arbuthnot Lancelot Swift and Valentina Olivia Charlotte Coulton-James (to give their full and very proper names) aka Arbie and Val, are a rather good creation. The novel's storyline makes them join forces to answer Miss Phelps' (the grand dame of Maybury-in-the-Marsh (!)) call for help. Their childhood friendship and this sudden partnerships makes from some entertaining parring; their story could (and should!) be developed in further.
The plot of this fine entertainment revolves around ghosts... and murder, of course. The clues are clear; the characters, well defined; the ways and means, described without cheating. Red herrings are supplied in adequate doses. The police counterpart, Inspector Bernard Gorring, is a benign authority figure, in a polite an intelligent vein. All the characters, be them of criminal interest or just background colour, are brought to life succinctly but convincingly.
I enjoyed this divertimento a lot and can recommend it without hesitation if what is desired is to spend some hours in a quirky, fun and charming world. I definitely will be seeking to read the next in the series!

This cozy English murder mystery is absolutely perfect! This is The book I have been craving since I last read the Thursday Murder Clumub Series!
I just reviewed Murder By Candlelight by Faith Martin. #MurderByCandlelight #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

WOW. I loved this book. Firstly it is not my normal choice but I have read other books by this author so I thought I would give it a try. I loved the characters and the story flowed well. I also loved the setting, which is not overdone, like some books, where it is all about the town / countryside. It is well written and the characters are thoughtfully planned. ( and i could not anticipate the name of the boat, great choice!) I cant wait for the next installment.

Do ghostly goings-on account for the sudden death of Miss Amy Phelps after hosting a dinner party at her home, the Old Forge? Arbie Swift and his friend Val Coulton-James don’t think so after they conduct some overnight ghost-watches, and turn their attentions to everyone’s motivations. I really enjoyed the nuanced period details of life in the village and at the country house, and that the resolution was thoroughly grounded in the clues. This captivating locked-room mystery evokes the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and should appeal to fans of Agatha Christie, Ngoako Marsh, and also P.G. Wodehouse. Will we read more exploits involving Arbie and Val? I certainly hope so.

A charming cozy whodunit during the summer of 1924 in the Cotswolds village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh will have you guessing until the end.

Arbie is hired by Miss Phelps, the village’s wealthiest member, to find the family ghost that’s haunting her. His childhood friend Val comes along to help. Two murders ensue, and Arbie and Val follow the clues to solve the crimes.

I enjoyed the English slang and language from the 20s and the village characters. Murder By Candlelight by Faith Martin is a delightfully cozy murder mystery. I will be on the lookout out for more whodunit's with Arbie and Val.

Thank you @netgalley #MurderByCandlelight #NetGalley #hqd #harperscollins

Like Agatha Christie or G.K. Chesterton, Martin hits so many book sweet spots, a mystery set in a quirky English village full of eccentric characters, during the 1920’s with a dash of other worldliness.

The unique part comes from the author’s rich yet whimsical writing. Arbie is a funny lead to follow, unmotivated & accidentally successful. His cohort Val is a vicar’s daughter, practical & unimpressed by Arbie’s success. When they are tasked with solving the murder of a woman who asked Arbie for help only days before, that’s when the story takes off.

I enjoyed this book immensely, from the first chapter I was drawn in. Arbie & Val are charming characters to go on the journey with. The thoughts they have about each other are hilarious! You get plenty of suspects, motives, inheritance issues, small town gossip & even hints of a ghost.

The book fences the line, reading as something comfortably familiar yet delightfully original, all at once. That winning combination will keep you quite entertained. If you love the Golden Age mysteries, this is a welcome addition to feel that feeling all over again.

This is the first book in a new historical cozy and it's an excellent start as I was hooked since the beginning.
There's an echo of Woodhouse, The Importance of Being Earnest, and some of the lighter golden age mysteries.
Arby and Val are an intriguing couple and I loved them: he's a well plotted character with a an interesting background and a ghost expert by chance. Val is a strong and clever women that knows what she wants.
The cast of characters is well developed and they could have been written by a Sayers or a Allingham.
A solid mystery, lot of humour, a cast of interesting characters.
I hope there's going to be a lot of books in this series, this one is compelling and highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

🇧​​🇴​​🇴​​🇰​ ​🇷​​🇪​​🇻​​🇮​​🇪​​🇼​

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲 Mystery
𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 Murder by Candlelight
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 Faith Martin
𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆
As the sun rises over the Cotswolds village of Maybury-in-the-Marsh, at the Old Forge a cry of anguish goes up. Lady of the house Amy Phelps has been found dead – but with all the windows and doors to her room locked, how – and by who – was she killed?

Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift finds himself in the unlikely position of investigating. The author of The Gentleman’s Guide to Good Ghost Hunting – an excuse for Arbie to indulge his love of travel funded by the owners of country houses who hear the supernatural in every creak and echo – might be more used to dealing with the long dead, but as he’s currently staying at the Old Forge to investigate a suspected spectre, Amy’s murder falls to him too.

With old friend Val, he begins to dig into the old lady’s death, and soon uncovers a sorry tale of altered wills, secret love affairs and tragic losses. But when a second victim is killed, Arbie has to find the killer fast – and to do so will mean cracking the most ingeniously plotted murder…

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
𝟭. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 3/5
𝟮. 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 4/5
𝟯. 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 5/5
𝟰. 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 4/5
𝟱. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 4/5

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 4

𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Those who enjoy murder mystery parties will enjoy Faith Martin’s newest work, Murder by Candlelight. Her main characters, Artie Swift and Val, bring an innocent dash of romance as well as a heaping spoonful of mystery. Her clever use of chemistry (in more ways than one) is sure to keep the reader turning pages rather swiftly (see what I did there?)! A very cunning and gift-wrapped whodunnit, one can’t wait to read the subsequent books in what is sure to be a long and lively series!

What a delightfully clever and witty story. I loved the setting and the author style of writting.

This book is a murder mystery with a ghostly feel. It would seem that a ghost is harassing the owner of the Old Forge and therefore the protagonist of the book, having some experience with this, due to his published book, "The Gentleman's guide to good ghost hunting", is asked to stay overnight to investigate. But the owner of the house, Amy Phelps, is found dead. Soon it is revealed that she was murder.

I love this book it was very entertaining. I liked the setting, and the language used was very funny. The authors style of writting is very precise in her description of the town and its people. I was completely submerged in the story and could not put it down wanting to know who done it and why.
When all was said and done the revelation was a surprise to me because the whole time I thought it was someone else.
Mrs. Faith Martin is a fantastic writer. This book was
Well done and I highly recommend it.

I did not finish this book. I got about 15% of the way into it and it just wasn't holding my attention.