3.5 stars. This was "Knives Out if written by Agatha Christie." Set in 1938, multiple murders, lots of characters, detectives, an illusionist - there was a lot going on here. I took a screenshot of the family tree at the beginning of the book and referred to it a few times. This book would be ideal for fans of Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, but if you're used to more modern fast paced thrillers in the style of Freida McFadden, Taylor Adams, this book may not be for you.

Expected release date: July 16, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Magician-turned-sleuth Joseph Spector is back when he is approached by Lady Elspeth Drury to come to her estate to investigate a poison pen letter threatening the life of her husband, renowned judge Sir Giles Drury. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard Inspector George Flint is engaged by Caroline Silvius to investigate freeing her brother Victor from an asylum where that same judge sentenced him nine years ago after he attacked the judge. Both cases intersect at the Drury's manor where murders occur, leading to a web of intrigue and further death before the case is solved.
This entry in the series features two locked door murders of a sort, one conventional and one seemingly impossible killing that in its own way is of the locked door variety. The book had more deaths, more mysteries, more suspects and more ingenious methods of killing than the previous ones in the series, definitely succeeding in the one-up factor. As the stakes grew higher and the body count rose, the intensity in the book never let up. While I did correctly guess the conventional locked door killer and roughly how it was enacted, as well as picked up on a few fairly obvious clues as to culprits of some of the crimes in the story, there was so much going on that I in no way could have guessed it all. This series just keeps getting better, though it will be hard to top all that went on in this edition.