A debut historic murder mystery, Murder in the Blitz (2023) by F.L. Everett is a jaunty tale with a feisty reporter. Set in 1940 England, during the bombing blitz, a young woman, Edie York works at the Manchester Chronicle. Edie gets promoted to Obituary Writer and whilst observing the Home Guard military exercise, sees an accidental fatal shooting. Although busy trying to pen the assigned obituary of a local businessman, she is determined to investigate in order to become the crime correspondent. Edie’s personal and professional lives intertwine, as she ponders a possible connection between her column and the rising body count. Whilst it’s labelled a cosy mystery, its plot twist, zesty characters, captivating time period and upbeat narrative give it a four star rating. A fine start to a new crime series, apart from the requisite sweet note of an ending. With thanks to Bookouture and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

Murder in the Blitz has a fresh voice in cozy mysteries with the main character, Edie, an aspiring journalist hoping to write the crime beat during WWII in Manchester, England. Her boss at the newspaper assigned her to obituaries instead, but she is still determined. I love the subtle women empowerment angle of Edie trying to rise to her dream job in a man's world. She is so relatable that it makes her easy to follow as she gets into scrape after scrape.

I also love the tone of the story. It's very fast-paced, reminding me of a typewriter's clicks. It also reminds me of b/w films from the 50s set in a news office, and everything is hopping, even the cadence of the voices. It's exciting.

The historical aspect is so well developed that I felt I lived through it with the characters. Down to the smallest detail, like food rations and gasmask requirements, it's all described just as I heard about it from the senior members of my family who lived through it. I can't even imagine how people would react today to living under such restrictions.

Lastly, the characters, particularly Edie, the story's narrator, are all well-developed. The bad guy was a little stereotypical by the end, but before the identity was revealed, this character felt as authentic as the other characters. The mystery is complex and also well-developed. I'll admit I identified the killer early on in the story. Still, I enjoyed Edie's investigation and discovering the "why," which is much more complex than I could have ever guessed.

This is the good start of a new historical cozy mystery with a quite complex plot, a feisty heroine and a fascinating detective.
Edie is a likeable, witty, and ambitious rookie journalist who wants more than typing, making tea and acting like a secretary. She wants to become a reporter and when she starts her first assignment, she will work hard to solve a mystery with the of having found more than she can chew.
It’s a slow burning story but, as it happens with a first in a new series, you get to know the characters and the environments.
I appreciated the descriptions of the life in a paper and well research and vivid historical background.
The characters are fleshed out and I can’t wait to read the next story as I want to know what will happen and how they will evolve.
It’s an entertaining and compelling read, a bit slow at the beginning but it never drags or made my mind wonder
Recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions are mine

3 Stars
One Liner: Decent but slow and long

Manchester, 1940
Edie York joined the newspaper office hoping to become a stylish and real wartime reporter. However, she ends up as a secretary, multitasking throughout the day but bored out of her wits. A certain development leads her to the soldier training site and makes her a witness to the death of a Home Guard soldier.
Edie is excited, knowing the case is her ticket to prove her abilities as a crime reporter. However, she soon realizes it’s harder than it looks, and the stakes are high.
DI Louis Brennan is arrogant and infuriating. He doesn’t even take Edie seriously. But when things get dangerous, he agrees to help her. Yet, it won’t be easy for Edie to find the truth. Can she solve her first case without getting killed?
The story comes in Edie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
As the first in the series, the book sets the stage by introducing Edie York and the setting. We meet various characters, though only a few are important for the plot. The WWII backdrop is well done. There are recurring instances of rations, air raids, volunteering work, etc.
The newspaper office and its employees are also easy to visualize. We see the difference in how men and women are treated at work and in general. This was when times were changing, and women were actively doing ‘men’s work’ but still got overlooked.
The plot, as such, is simple enough to follow. The mystery has interesting elements, too. However, the MC is a major letdown. While I understand her motivations and some of her actions, she fails to make a good impression for the majority of the book.
I’ve tried to excuse a lot since this is Edie’s first case (she is bound to stumble). Sure, she is talented at writing obituaries, and the unexpected promotion gives her a chance to investigate a crime. However, for someone who devours so many mysteries, she doesn’t seem to have a basic understanding of how to handle a case. Just about everything is a mess. It’s as if the MC doesn’t bother using her brain much (not until it’s too late). Surely, a wannabe crime reporter wouldn't say something like he’s my boyfriend (that too, a very recent development), so he can’t be a suspect (despite the red flags). Ridiculous!
The writing is heavy and slow. The first-person narration results in a lot of blabbering and excessive descriptions. This makes the book feel 100 pages longer than its actual 300-page count. Also, I dislike long chapters. The first chapter was long and ended at 10%. (This is an uncorrected proof, so I’m hoping it will read better in the final version. It’ll need helluva edits).
Despite everything, I am interested in the second book. Edie did seem like she learned her lessons. I can only hope she will display a better sense of judgment and balance in the coming book. Fingers crossed!

To summarize, Murder in the Blitz does offer a good setting and portrayal of the Blitz and how it affected ordinary people. As a mystery, it is yet to step up and deliver.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

First book in the Edie York mystery series by FL Everett. Edie is a newbie reporter in Manchester during WW2. So many WW2 books take place in London, it was nice to see one set in a different large English city. The mystery part of the book was somewhat slow to progress. However, I did enjoy that that pacing allowed the reader to learn more about the city and the residents in Edie's life. I look forward to future books in this series, as it is a different angle to the typical WW2 heroine novel.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

Edie wants to be a crime reporter but instead becomes an obituarist. She gets caught up in a murder with a surprising outcome. It’s a good first book in a series. There’s some surprises towards the end. I would be interested to see where Edie goes next.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This was such a fun read. I read this on holiday and it was just the right tone. Set in the Manchester that I know and love - in a time frame (WWII), that I enjoy reading about and with a oh so relatable leading lady. I hope the next one arrives soon. Very entertaining reading.

The concept held my attention, and I sensed great potential in this narrative. The portrayal of the Christmas blitz in Manchester carried a genuine feel, showcasing the author's thorough historical research. Regrettably, the heroine's lack of worldly awareness and her inclination to trust too readily proved to be distracting.

SPOILER ALERT.

Considering her ambition as a journalist aiming to excel in crime writing and uncovering profound mysteries, Edie's excessive suspicion of others (while not suspecting the actual murderers until it was too late) contrasted sharply with her tendency to freely divulge every piece of information she gathered to anyone she encountered.

Murder in the Blitz is the first of a new series of cozy mysteries by F.L. Everett. It is WWII-era in Manchester, England. when we meet Edie York, now out of the orphanage and workin as a typist at the Manchester Chronicle. She shares with Annie, her roommate and anyone who will listen, that she really aspires to be a crime reporter, but this is hardly a job for a woman in those days. She does get promoted to obituarist, and Edie tries her best to make the most of the opportunity.

Her editor gives her the name of the person he would like her to write about. He wants an in depth, spirit lifting story for the home front readers. To remember what they are sending their boys to defend. This assignment has proven troublesome. and places Edie at the scene of a possible murder. She literally ahas a crime story at her feet and she still cannot write about it. As the body count ticks up, Edie, her friends and colleagues become more intwined in mystery. Can she solve the mystery between bombing sorties?

The characters are great fun and I look forward to getting to know them better and see them further developed. For lovers of Magpie Murders, and Thursday Murder Club, this will be another entertaining series to cozy up too!

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

1940. Edie York wants to become a crime reporter, but she is assigned to the obituaries for one Joseph Novak. On seeing a home guard man killed she starts to investigate that death, but finds a connection to Novak. Unfortunately she is not really that good at the job, and forgets the adage, 'trust no one'. But there will be more deaths.
Overall an enjoyable histroical mystery and hopefully as the series develops she will obtain some street intelligence.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Murder in the Blitz" by F.L. Everett is a delightful historical mystery set against the backdrop of wartime England. Edie York, a plucky young woman with dreams of becoming a real reporter, finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation when she stumbles upon the suspicious death of a Home Guard soldier. Despite the chaos of the Blitz and the best efforts of the dashing DCI Louis Brennan to keep her out of the case, Edie's determination to uncover the truth leads her on a thrilling journey.

Everett's writing captures the atmosphere of wartime England beautifully, immersing readers in the challenges and resilience of the era. The characters are well-drawn, with Edie's tenacity and wit making her a particularly engaging protagonist. The banter and chemistry between Edie and DCI Brennan add an extra layer of charm to the story.

As Edie dives deeper into the investigation, the plot twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the final pages. The pacing is brisk, making this a quick and enjoyable read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

"Murder in the Blitz" is a perfect blend of historical fiction, mystery, and a touch of romance. It's a delightful addition to the genre, offering a fresh perspective on the wartime home front while delivering a compelling and entertaining mystery. Fans of historical mysteries with strong female leads will thoroughly enjoy Edie's escapades as she navigates danger and seeks the truth in a time of uncertainty.

I enjoy historical mysteries. Add in a depiction of England during the Blitz and this story really drew me in. The female protagonist has a lowly job at the newspaper and her big promotion is when she gets assigned to write obituaries. I always thought that sounded like an awful job to interview the recently bereaved, but now there is a murder mystery involved in one of those who died during the German bombing. And there is a possible romantic attachment as Edie keeps encountering the police investigator.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review

I absolutely loved Murder in the Blitz, which is hopefully the first in the series featuring Edie York. It's set in Manchester during the blitz in December 1940 and the author really captures the atmosphere of a city under siege during the winter. After working as a secretary for many years at her local paper Edie is promoted to obituary writer, although her dream is to become a crime reporter. When Edie witnesses what appears to be an accidental death she begins her investigations into this death and others that follow.
I loved the Manchester setting, it's a city I know well and I feel is underrepresented in historical fiction. The novel is well paced and I raced through it over the course of 24 hours. The characters are all so well drawn and although Edie is naive I felt that this added to her charm and her ongoing character development. Edie is supported by a great cast of characters including her best friend Annie, a nurse, DCI Louis Brennan and undertaker Arnold and I hope they return in book 2.
4.5 stars. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This started out really good, but somewhere in the middle, the heroine let her brains dribble out her ears. Other than the willful blindness and deafness to the giant neon signs saying, "VILLAIN HERE", I really enjoyed the characters and the setting (during the blitz) cannot be beat for drama potential. Hopefully, future books will have the heroine act more like the investigative journalist she wants to be.

This mystery had an unusual setting: Manchester during the Blitz, which sets it apart from many historical mysteries that I've read. The descriptions of life during the Blitz were vivid and realistic, and the privations and fear of citizens were compelling. I did not love the mystery itself. It felt buried in the day to day life of the protagonist and was a bit hard to follow. I felt the protagonist was a bit too naive for her to be totally realistic.
The simile of a plantation slave being led to be drowned stood out as irrelevant and decidedly in poor taste.

I would recommend this with reservations to lovers of British historical cozy mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

3.5☆

I found the setting of this story quite interesting, following Edie's pursuit of her dream to become a reporter in wartime Manchester. The author skillfully weaves historical context into the story, immersing the reader more deeply. While the plot had moments of slowness, the added details to various characters and subplots didn't bother me much, as they contributed to the overall story, particularly considering that this is the first book in a series. However, the plot felt overly simplistic, and I felt quite frustrated with Edie for overlooking clear clues when the identity of the killer was so obvious.

This was such a delightful start to a new cozy mystery series set in WWII Manchester, England. The protagonist, Edie York, has left the orphanage and is now out on her own, making a living as a typist at the Manchester Chronicle. She rents a flat with her best mate, Annie and together they dream of their wonderful future selves. Edie's dream is to be a crime columnist. A promotion to obituarist will just have to suffice, for the moment. While helping out a colleague, she stumbles across the accidental death of a Home Guard volunteer during their preparatory maneuvers. Or, was it? Perhaps there's more to this story and Edie leaves no stone unturned in pursuing it. The bodies accumulate and hopefully, Edie's is not next.

The writing of this story is solid and the research is spot on. The mise en scène is cinematic, right out of a WWII film. The tension builds gradually, accelerates as it nears the climax and then eases gently. The characters are developed well and slowly over the course of the story. (No need to give it away all too soon.) Edie is obviously quite naïve and hopefully, the series (and Edie) survive long enough to make her character a bit more credible for the likes of a newspaper reporter. It will be fun observing her mature through the war years. All in all, this was an excellent story and a very good introduction to a new series.

I am grateful to Flic Everett and her publisher, Bookouture for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: ‎ Bookouture
Publication Date: September 21, 2023
ISBN:‎ 978-1837905010
Pages:‎ 306 pages

Murder in the Blitz is the very promising new series featuring Edie York during WWII.

You cant help but like Edie who wants to be a Crime Reporter but is assigned to writing Obituaries

Sounds boring but it turns out its way more challenging than Edie could ever have imagined.

In fact it leads to murder.

The book was slow to start but I expect that in a new series as we meet the characters for the first time.

Once I met Edie, her roommate Annie , Arnold the undertaker and DCI Louis I was hooked and totally immersed in the book.

F.L. Everett writes descriptively: you can feel the cold, you can smell the smoke from the bombs and hear them fall.

I highly recommend Murder in the Blitz and I cant wait to see where Edie takes us next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a great new series.

4/5 stars: Set in Manchester during WWII, Everett weaves a great whodunit with historical anecdotes and the Blitz and it's effects on the lives of British citizens during wartime. I also enjoyed following Edie in her job as a obituary writer / reporter / amateur sleuth. Everett's characters are both complex and yet incredibly likable; Edie's ambitious and feisty. Most importantly, Everett's mystery plot’s well balanced with plenty of clues, red herrings and suspects that will keep you guessing. Take care; check the CWs. This is the first book in the Edie York series and I very much look forward to reading the next.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

3.5 stars

I gather this is the first in a series featuring the crime reporter Edie York. All I can say is that I hope she gets a lot less credulous in future novels. She certainly was ready to believe almost anything in this first book but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt if I read a future novel.

In this book Edie is working as a secretary at the Manchester Chronicle. The war is less than a year old but Manchester is becoming the target of bombings and Edie is desperate to do something more meaningful than typing.

Through staff loss she is put in charge of writing the obituary column ostensibly to find uplifting stories of ordinary brave citizens. Her first victim is Victor Novak. However as Edie seems to attract murders around her the obituary begins to blossom into a crime. To help her out she has her friend, Annie, an undertaker, a police detective and a newly discovered mother and son duo.

It's not as complicated as it sounds.

Anyway Edie is determined to make more of her role than she should but she's frankly the worst amateur detective ever. This is mainly because she thinks that all good looking, rich people are honest while the less blessed of society are all liars. Frankly Edie gives the impression that what she really wants is to be married with babies and no job at all, let alone a crime reporter.

In general Edie irritated the life out of me as she totally ignored every clue staring her in the face. She was terrible at interviewing everyone and ignorant of he surroundings to the point of idiocy.

I gave the book 3.5 because the writing is pretty good, the plot is easy enough to follow and it I'd the first outing for Edie. However I only read the first Rebus and loathed it so much I never read another.

I am sure this will appeal to readers who prefer a cosy mystery - fans of Richard Osman perhaps. It is pleasant enough and I'm sure Edie will grow as a person after this as long as she's not mooning after another matinee idol.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance review copy.