It's winter, 1927, London. The city, with all its snowflakes and fireworks and pies and puddings, is ready to usher in 1928. And so is our one-hit-wonder, mystery-writer, protagonist, Marcus Quin, with a writer's block, a basset hound, a fancy car, a flat at St. James' and well, nothing in the bank.
When a chance encounter with his long-lost, one-true-love Bella, brings with it an invitation to a famous actor's lavish new year's eve party, our writer could hardly resist. Hence he ends up at the actor's mansion, replete with turrets and towers, Everham hall, on the eve of 1928, where drinking and drugs and fanfare leads to murder and mayhem.
All snowed-in, with a peculiar cast of suspects, each with their own hidden motives, Marcus and Bella play detectives. How does the mystery author fare when faced with a real crime? Well, that only Benedict Brown can tell you.

The writting is beautiful and era-appropriate. It's a classic mystery, a bit of a slow-burn, it delivers a perfect Agatha Christie-esque whodunnit and has a certain old world charm about it which simply spells Christmas.

Imagine snowfall, imagine a hot cup of cocoa, a cozy throw blanket, Christmas decor, soft melody and all that you would need is the Murder at Everham Hall for a perfect winter evening. It's as much a thriller as a subtle romance and my only complaint is that it does drag a bit towards the end.

I would highly recommend the audiobook, because not only would you fall in love with George Blagden's voice but also the jokes land perfectly, the British humour is on point and the narration elevates this to a whole new level.

Also, don't miss out on the extra bits at the end where the author gives us a sneak peek into his thorough research on the 1920s, and a glimpse into his writing process. This itself was so interesting, that if ever Brown decides to write a research piece on the glorious 20's, I would read it in a heartbeat.

Murder at Everham Hall had everything I adore in a mystery, but it somehow fell a little short for me. Marius Quin, our amateur sleuth, is invited by an ex-girlfriend, Bella, to a New Year’s house party at the home of her friend, actor Cecil Sinclair. As is to be expected, Sinclair ends up murdered and the house is snowed in, so the police can’t get to them. Marius, deemed the most likely to be able to solve a crime by virtue of being a (struggling) mystery writer, starts questioning people and hunting for clues. All of the guests are suspects, of course, except Bella who is Marius’ sidekick, but some have better motives than others.

I never really warmed up to Marius and had trouble buying into the situation. Marius is struggling with his second book and his childhood sweetheart/friend just happens to invite him to a swanky house party where there just happens to be a murder. It took me a while to believe the whole thing wasn’t just a setup to get Marius thinking again. For the record, it wasn’t. Cecil really is dead; he really was murdered; there really is a killer in the house.

I will say though that Marius is witty and trying to be charming. I did love his mother and aunt and uncle who he lives with. They were only in a couple of scenes, but they are a hoot. He also has a cute pet, as every amateur sleuth should, a dachshund with a tendency to cuddle up with Marius’ main suspects.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job. The characters were well defined and he gave a light edge to the whole thing. There is also a portion where Bella sings, which is lovely.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, Benedict Brown, and narrator George Blagden this audiobook advance copy was quite enjoyable. It is a tale reminiscent of Agatha Christie mixed with a dash of Clue and it is very well written. The hero is writer that is suffering from writers block that gets dragged to a manor house for the weekend over the holidays and the host is murdered. Unfortunately almost everyone has a good reason to want the host dead except the writer and so the hunt is on and who knows….it might become his next book😋

I’m so excited about this new series. This is the first time I have read this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like how the author took a different take on the detective and how he had a different career as he is learning how to solve a murder. I highly recommend reading this series.

Setting the Scene: "December 1927. Mystery-writer Marius Quin has one previous bestseller, endless looming mortgage payments, and no idea how to write his next book. When his childhood friend Lady Isabella Montague invites him to an intimate New Year’s Eve party hosted by a narcissistic actor, Marius seizes upon the distraction. With his perpetually glum Basset hound along for the ride, he navigates the snowy lanes to the opulent estate of Everham Hall. As the celebrations begin, fireworks light up the sky, champagne corks pop, and then the host is murdered…

Snowed-in and with the police unable to reach them, Marius is the closest thing the panicked party has to a detective and he is swiftly nominated to find the killer. But when two more guests are attacked, Marius soon realises that solving mysteries is even harder than writing them. With Bella at his side, and a clutch of conniving suspects to choose from, can Marius find the culprit before the killer targets him?"

What I Thought: This is a classic golden age mystery in keeping with the likes of Agatha Christie or possibly Dorothy Sayers, but Marius is an unexpected main character. Initially, I was not a fan. He seemed very shallow, self-absorbed, and immature. I came close to giving up, but I am glad I did not. As the book progresses, he is revealed to be a surprisingly complex and likeable, though flawed, character. His old flame, Isabellla is equally interesting, a mix of maturity and vulnerability, with just enough stubbornness thrown in to make her interesting. The cast of characters, literally in this book, are typical of the "bright young people" and movie set of the 1920s. The mystery is well plotted, and I was surprised by the final reveal. I look forward to seeing what happens next with Marius and, hopefully, Bella.

This was a very entertaining audiobook. The 1920s English country home setting was delightful and I especially loved the descriptions of the unusual architecture and layout of the house (and the author’s description of its inspiration was really interesting). The protagonist, Marius Quin, is a mystery writer with a successful book behind him; however, he is stumped and unable to finish his second book. When he runs into a childhood friend who invites him to a house party on New Yer’s Eve he accepts. Little does he know that the host will be murdered and he will be pressed to solve the crime—providing loads of inspiration for his writing. The mystery is a variation on a “locked room” scenario with a small cast of characters trapped by a snowstorm. The dialogue is witty and the major twist at the end is well worth waiting for. The book is not extremely short but it does move at a quick pace. This is the first in a series and I look forward to further adventures of Marius and Bella! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

"Murder at Everham Hall" by Benedict Brown is the first installment in the new historical cozy mystery series. We meet a young writer, Marius Quin, when he tries to convince his publisher that his writer's block is temporary and that his second book will soon be published. Alas, he can just present the first chapter without knowing what will happen next. Fortunately, after leaving the publisher, he comes across his childhood friend, Lady Isabella Montague, who invites him to a Boxing Day party at the country house belonging to a famous actor. The event may deliver much-needed inspiration to Marius.

Well, the host is murdered, and Marius decides that he is the most suitable person to find the killer. It is not an easy task since the victim is a rather unpleasant individual, and all the guests at the party seem to have motives to kill him. But uncovering the truth is not the only goal of our self-appointed detective – he wants to rekindle his friendship with Bella, who is also excited to follow all hints leading to the killer. And so the pair becomes partners in solving the crime.

The mystery is light, with occasional solemn notes, because the 28-year-old Marius is also a vet of WWI. The author has a slight tongue-in-a-cheek sense of humor, and the first-person narrative sometimes results in funny dialog when Marius expresses his thoughts in a relatively unsophisticated way. I enjoyed listening to the story but didn't warm up to Marius or Bella. My favorite character was Percy, a dog with a penchant for favoring the most probable suspects. I also loved the songs in the audiobook and the fascinating author's note at the end. Hopefully, the detective collaboration of Bella and Marius will be developed in future installments into a good, cozy mystery/romance story.

Finished listening to Murder at Everham Hall, this is book one of A Marius Quin Mystery series. I don't read a lot of historical cozies and I was hesitant to get this one. As soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to read it. This was such a great cozy. There were a lot of characters and at first it was hard to keep track but after a couple of chapters I got them. This was the first book I've read by the author and I will definitely read the next book in the series and his other books. The book came out on 11/3, thank you Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing, and to NetGalley for the ALC.

3.75

Maybe I should have recused myself right away from this review, but I promise I had no idea the story featured a basset hound, in this case Percy Anderson II. Although once again the basset in question doesn’t do much, the narrators verbal animation meant I could just picture Percy flirting with the young starlet or visiting the cook in the kitchen. He’s along for the ride for the story because the uncle of our main character, Marius Quinn, reminds him that Percy has been really “blue” lately and could use a “holiday”. That also begs the question, how did Percy get the last name Anderson?

“Murder at Everham Hall” is a fun life imitating art imitating life (or something like that), of a youngish, somewhat-reckless young man who writes a hit mystery novel but spends the entire check, as well as the unprecedented advance for the next book, only to find himself with one chapter. A good chapter, but only one.

The story is right there alongside all of the historical throwback mysteries with a house party at an old hall. This is takes place at holiday time with the party happening over New Year’s. The estate is actually owned by a popular, though not popular enough that Quinn has heard of him, actor who purchased it under somewhat disreputable circumstances. It won’t be a surprise for long to hear that he dies and most everybody in the house has one reason or another to have knocked him off. If you are looking for a groundbreaking mystery, this is not it. However, it’s that feel good Historical mystery with a lost love and remembrance of the recent war to end all wars. You really feel bad about the loss of love on some level between Marius Quinn, the hero of this new series, and Bella, the daughter of a duke who grew up as his BFF.

There is a longish author’s notes where he goes over some interesting things he learned through his research. I didn’t realize until then, but I have listened to the first and part of the second of the Lord Edgerton mysteries of which he is the author. I gave those a try, but the young male hero was just a bit too much for me and he’s not even the one who solves the mysteries, that’s his retired police chief grandfather. I may go back and listen to some, but I think Marius Quinn is more my speed. I look forward to the next one which it seems may be as early as February. I will definitely give it a listen.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for providing an unbiased review.

Quick Summary: A mystery writer slips into the role of amateur detective

My Review: Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown is A Marius Quinn Mystery. It is book one in an exciting new series set in the late 1920s.

About the Book: Marius Quinn is having trouble completing his new manuscript. As he is now under the gun to produce something of substance, he is very much feeling the pressure. When Marius runs into his old love, she quickly invites him to an old English estate for the holidays. While there, the host of the gathering is murdered. Quinn suddenly finds himself thrust into the role of master detective. During his investigation, old feelings emerge, secrets are revealed, relationships are exposed, and a killer taunts the would-be detective. Who will the murderer end up being?

My Final Say: Book one was a great start for Marius Quinn. He is a likable character with a solid backstory. His connection with his investigative partner was set up so well, to the point that more, most certainly, has to come for them. Friends and foes were positioned in such a way as to make things interesting. I cannot wait to read book two.

Other: I appreciated the presentation of the background research that went into creating this work. I found it all rather intriguing. Additionally, the narration of this book was spot on.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Audiobook: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have submitted are my own.

To be honest I am not an avid Cozy Mystery Reader, however the title and premise did have me intrigued especially since this is the launch of a new series. The short little book ~270 pages was very bland and what you would expect. There was nothing shocking or an unmasking that had my jaw on the ground. However it did entertain me for a few days as I read through Marius Quin's first whack at solving a murder mystery.
I never felt that "cozy" love for the main character that I feel is necessary for a Cozy to be a cozy. I actually thought he was an arrogant prick. But I am invested enough to read the following books in this series to see if his arrogance grows on me (You know how Kelsey Grammar's Frasier is a total snot, but you love him? I am hoping that is what Benedict Brown will do with our leading sleuth).
Benedict Brown did a great job of creating the locked room atmosphere and describing the scene. I felt the warmth from the fire, the heaps of snow and mysterious air. The story was just too simple and I did not think Marius was that clever, I like for my cozy leads to be one step ahead in solving the puzzle.
I cannot believe I am saying this because I hate dogs, but I absolutely LOVED his dog Percy Anderson II!
I think if you have never read a thriller book and are use to the more ameature sleuth style book you will enjoy it. It was just "cute" for me.
Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for this advanced copy read of Murder at Everham Hall, I was not influenced or paid ini exchange for this honest review.

This was a nice cozy mystery, with more twists than I expected. The premise of an author of detective novels becoming an accidental detective is not very believable, obviously, but the author cleverly uses tongue in cheek humor to have the narrator himself state this. I like dry humor, so the sprinkling of that throughout the mystery was nice. The audiobook was very well done and made it super easy to listen to. It’s the kind of mystery that had me intrigued, but never on edge, and picking up on clues, but never fully able to solve it. Overall very enjoyable, and I’m looking forward to the next one! Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Marius Quinn is struggling. After returning from The Great War and writing a successful novel, he has spent all his money and has writer's block. With his mother, aunt, and uncle depending on him, he has to write a book and write it now.

When his childhood flame, Bella, finds him in London, she invites him to a house party for New Year's Eve. During a snowstorm, the host turns up dead, and Marius lends a hand as a detective.

This was a nice cozy. I didn't like the person of Marius, but the narration was well done, and I was entertained throughout.

Bravo! The narration was spot-on! George Blagden did a masterful job of reading and bringing the story to life! This cozy English who-dun-it murder mystery is a welcome escape for what ails you.

Writer/detective, Marius Quin is invited to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Everham Hall with a cast of moneyed folks unknown to him, by Bella, his childhood friend and crush, The host is brutally murdered, the police are snowbound and Marius becomes the investigator with help from Bella.

Benedict Brown’s wit combined with the quirky characters is a delight. This is the first of a new series and I eagerly look forward to more!

I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook, Murder at Everham Hall!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my audio ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Pub day: November 3 - out now!

“I’ve noticed a tendency in me for optimism on sunny days and I do not approve of it one bit. I could’ve done with a healthy dose of my usual negativity, as I investigated the wicked deeds of man.”

This audio for this was so good! I was chuckling quite often from the dry humor and quick wit of the writing and the perfect delivery by the narrator!

I’ve never a read a book by this author and was so pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing, the atmospheric setting, and all the interesting characters. It also contains a sweet dog and cute pets are a huge win in my book! Truly enjoyed this so much and will definitely be reading more from Benedict Brown!

I think that if you, like me, enjoy cozy mysteries like those written by Agatha Christie and Richard Osman, you’ll enjoy this!

Thank you Dreamscape Select for the alc via Netgalley exchange for an honest review!

**I received an advanced listener's copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

The first in the new Marius Quin series, this is a fun addition to the 1920s-set house party murder mystery whodunits. I could see elements of Agatha Christie in this - a somewhat isolated house party, stuck together in a snowstorm, with a slightly reluctant amateur sleuth, and a grand reveal at the end of the novel. Plus, a red herring or two along the way! Very entertaining, and the voice narrator was great as the voice of Marius.

I would definitely read another in this series, as well as the author's other series.

Murder at Everham Hall by Benedict Brown.

This is the first in a series of books. It takes place in 1927 and features a slew of characters (which I sometimes found hard to keep track of). We begin with a chance meet up of Isabella and Marius…who were once lovers. Marius is now a struggling writer. Isabella is from a well known and wealthy family. Marius would love nothing better than to get back in her good graces…so when she invites him to a New Years Eve party at the home of a movie screen star…he jumps on the invite!
But once there, he realizes that his thoughts are not the same as hers…as she introduces her boyfriend…
He also meets the movie star, and the cast of characters.
And then the unthinkable happens, in the midst of a big snowstorm…the movie star is killed!
We spend the rest of the book with Marius and Bella trying to figure out whodunnit?!
I enjoyed the storyline and all the twists.
BUT, I feel like I needed to keep track of all the characters…as there were a lot!
3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 stars for me, round up to four.
Love the book cover too!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for an ARC of the audiobook which was just released on November 3rd.

#MurderAtEverhamHall by #BenedictBrown.

Check out all my upcoming reviews at #BookReviews_with_emsr on Instagram

From the moment I started listening to 'Murder at Everham Hall,' a cozy mystery by Benedict Brown, I was immediately drawn into the world of Marius Quin, a struggling writer in 1920s England. Brown's narrative is delightful, with a wit that had me laughing before the end of chapter one. The book combines the charm of a cozy mystery with the allure of historical fiction, making it an enjoyable and captivating read.

Marius Quin, the protagonist and narrator, faces the dreaded writer's block while attempting to craft his second book. However, his life takes a thrilling turn when he reunites with his childhood sweetheart, Bella, and receives an invitation to a New Year's party at the opulent mansion of a famous actor. As the story unfolds, a murder shakes the tranquil setting, thrusting Marius into a real-life mystery that provides an unexpected remedy for his creative struggles.

One of the book's highlights is the dynamic between Marius and Bella. Their complicated history adds a layer of complexity to their partnership, and it's a joy to watch them work together to unravel the mystery. I eagerly look forward to seeing how their relationship develops in the next installment.

The pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat with delightful twists and moments of suspense. I particularly like how each chapter seemed to end at a suspenseful moment, pulling the reader into the next chapter.

The narrator's performance is lovely, with voices for each quirky and likable character. Additionally, I highly recommend listening to/reading the author's notes at the end (also read by the narrator), which provide valuable insights into Brown's historical research and the inspirations behind the book's setting.

In conclusion, 'Murder at Everham Hall' is a delightful and captivating cozy mystery with a clever twist at the end. I am eager to read the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing an advanced audiobook copy. Benedict Brown has won me over as a reader, and I can't wait to explore more of his works.

Book Title: Murder at Everham Hall
Series: Marcus Quin Mystery Book #1
Author:: Benedict Brown
Narrator: George Bladen
Publisher: Dreamscape Select- Storm Publishing
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: November 3, 2023
My Rating: 4. Stars
Pages: 278

It is Christmas 1927, twenty-eight year old Marius Quin a Mystery Author as well as a WWI vet is on book tour in London. Marcus is excited that his first book- A Killer in the Wings” was published and he has an advance for his next novel-“Glimpse of Blood Moon”. However he has already spent the Royalties as well as the advance; however he is experiencing ‘Writers Block"!
By chance he meets (perhaps not by chance😏) Lady Isabella Montague –‘Bella’ his high school sweetheart. She invites him to a Boxing Day party at ‘Everham Hall’ to bring the New Year!

What better way for a mystery writer to start the New Year then solving a murder.
Yep~ the host is murdered. Marius is naturally drawn to the body and Bella is as well and the two start to investigate.

I enjoyed this story on so many levels -love author Benedict Brown’s wit and Marcus was great at delivering it!
Another fun thing is Bella singing a song our author wrote ~ aww so many talents!

The mystery was more involved that I expected-I read a lot of thrillers and was so sure I figured it out whodunit ~ Hmmm.
Another treat is the ‘History Lesson’ at the end of the book. Brown informed us of facts and what were some author liberties!
Looking forward to more Marcus and Bella adventures in Book #2!

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Select- Storm Publishing for this enjoyable audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 3, 2023

For a murder mystery, this book was so boring. There wasn't any tension, there wasn't any suspense, the writing style was quippy and it all unraveled exactly as you would expect an amateur detective novel would. I found my mind wandering often during this audio book yet I still had no trouble following Maris and Isabella's attempts to find the murderer before...well.. I think before anyone else died? But there didn't really seem to be any urgency either. Then a detective shows up and takes direction from Maris, which makes zero sense. I prefer books with more drama and suspense, this was a miss for me.