Thank You for the opportunity to listen to Death at the Dolphin by Gretta Mulrooney.

This was a charming little mystery set in a small town in post-war England, just the kind of setting I like.

A girl starting off her life after the unfortunate death of her mother, which could or couldn't have been her fault, stumbling upon a mystery that she tries to solve and ends up finding her people and her calling. What's not to like?

For fans of an English village mystery, especially one set in just after WW2, this is your book. Daisy Moore has been made redundant from her secret war work in the code-breaking center at Bletchley. And she's accidentally set fire to her family home, leaving her orphaned AND unemployed. So when she's offered a job by a friend of her family priest, she jumps. Hired as factotum for a somewhat glamorous actor who owns a hotel and lives separately from his wife, Daisy quickly finds a use for her particular set of skills.

Then comes the murder of a beloved local do-gooder in the hotel where Daisy works.

This is a solid mystery, with plenty of timely details and a fleshed-out setting. Daisy is a quirky, oddly naive young woman — though to be fair, one cannot overestimate the invisibility of LGBTQ+ during the late 1940's in the UK. I did not guess the killer, which is a sort of a touchstone for the genre, and for a moment forgot entirely that the guilty party even existed. And though I wanted to like it more, I found the book is breezy, entertaining, and fun. Narrator Emma Noakes does a nice job with the various English accents.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the advance listening copy in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

I really enjoyed this. At the heart of the story, it’s a simple murder mystery. But around this, Gretta Mulrooney has created a character who’s intriguing. Daisy has a shadow in her life. She moves from exciting post war London to a quiet Oxfordshire village to take up a new post. And there’s the interest; the author really captures the dynamics of post war life, village tittle tattle and the dynamics of relationships within the village.

It’s a gentle and engaging tale which I enjoyed. I’d listen to more from this author and thought the narration throughout was excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley and @Bolindaaudio for an ARC of this audiobook

Gretta Mulrooney's "Death at the Dolphin" offers a captivating glimpse into post-World War II England through the lens of a classic whodunit. Set against the backdrop of a quaint Oxfordshire village, the novel weaves together elements of historical fiction and mystery, creating a narrative that is both engaging and informative.

The protagonist, Daisy Moore, embodies the spirit of a generation emerging from the shadows of war. Her transition from London's wartime excitement to the insular world of Fernfield village provides a compelling contrast, highlighting the social dynamics of the era. Mulrooney's attention to period details, such as food rationing and the mention of Woolton Pie, adds authenticity to the setting, immersing readers in the challenges of post-war life.

The murder mystery at the heart of the story is well-crafted, with the victim's pacifist beliefs and connection to an Austrian Jewish refugee adding layers of complexity to the plot. The use of a hotel's trademark stone dolphin ornament as the murder weapon is a clever touch, tying the crime intimately to its setting.

Mulrooney excels in character development, particularly in her portrayal of Daisy. The young protagonist's determination to uncover the truth, despite the resistance she faces as an outsider and a woman, adds depth to her character and reflects the changing role of women in post-war society.

While the novel follows many conventions of the cozy mystery genre, it distinguishes itself through its historical context and the underlying themes of prejudice and social change. The tension between locals and outsiders, coupled with the lingering effects of the war, provides a rich backdrop for the central mystery.

"Death at the Dolphin" is an entertaining and thoughtful read that will appeal to fans of historical mysteries and those interested in post-war British society. Mulrooney's skillful blend of period detail, character development, and mystery craftsmanship results in a charming and thought-provoking novel.

This book has the makings of a good mystery that does not quite live up to its potential. After consideration, I think the problem is that there are too many characters that detracts from the actual story and gets in the way of properly developing Daisy's character. I did not like Daisy until very late in the book; although Inspector Thaxted faired better than she. That said, given the last few chapters, I will read the next book in the series.

The narrator did an acceptable job of voicing the characters.

Really enjoyed the story in this one, the plot was great. The premise led on to a really twisty storyline and a punch cast of characters, the only thing I would have changed was the cover art, which I thought could have been a little more refined or modern to entice readers, overall a great listen and I’ve recommended to the girls in my book club

Death at the Dolphin was an unexpected delight! This charming mystery, set just after the end of WW2, ticked all the right boxes - from an atmospheric setting of a small village to the wonderfully well-drawn, original and engaging characters and witty realistic dialogue. The narration was outstanding, bringing the story to life with distinct yet subtle voices for each character. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope for a sequel or perhaps another installment in the series.

I downloaded this audiobook from NetGalley and really enjoyed it.

In particular, l loved the main character, Daisy Moore, recently demobbed from war service into a world in which it’s hard for women to earn a living. She ends up in rural Oxfordshire as the factotum to the actor friend of her former priest and settles in for a bit of a dull post-War existence.

However, the murder of a local, initially blamed on a German Jewish refugee, soon sweeps Daisy into its investigation, using some of the skills she developed in her old job in Whitehall. By the end, the police are suggesting she sign up with them …

Three word review: Demobbed and dangerous.

EXCERPT: If only.

If only I hadn't been distracted by the cat.

If only I hadn't been obsessed by work and a crucial message from Antwerp.

If only I'd remembered to turn and check the hearth.

If only.

I'm convinced that I was responsible for my mother's death. Her regular refrain, railed through a dense fog of fag smoke, used to be: 'Daisy Moore, you'll be the death of me.' It demonstrated a certain prescience n her part. I was a head-strong, curious, accident-prone child, breaking limbs, tearing my skin, falling - usually onto my head. The first time I did that, I was two and came tumbling down the narrow, lino-covered stairs. Maybe all the bashes on my skull accounted for the way I turned out.

I view myself as an accidental killer. That may be why I take to solving crimes. A kind of restitution.


ABOUT 'DEATH AT THE DOLPHIN': Even in peacetime, death is just around the corner.

London, VE Day, 1945. As Britain takes its tentative first steps into peace, Daisy Moore’s secret wartime work at Whitehall comes to an end.

Convinced that she caused her mother’s death, homeless and with no other job in sight, Daisy should be happy to find herself in Fernfield working at the Dolphin hotel. Instead, she finds the quiet corner of Oxfordshire oppressive and small, and she misses London.

Then a body is found in one of the rooms with the head bashed in by a stone dolphin from the window ledge. The victim is Lucinda Laidlaw, a local charity worker and a pacifist. The villagers thought she was a busybody, and they don’t like foreigners.

Daisy is sure she can use her skills to identify the killer. She spent the war decoding ciphers, and murder is surely just another puzzle. But Inspector Thaxted isn’t convinced he needs the help.

The list of people who wanted Lucinda dead keeps growing and Thaxted’s investigation is going nowhere. Then Thaxted’s prime suspect, a young Jewish refugee, is attacked and left for dead. Can Daisy and the inspector work together to find the killer before anyone else dies?

MY THOUGHTS: Life after the war wasn't the peaceful idyll that one might think. There was still rationing. People were still suspicious of outsiders. And people like Daisy, who had held down important jobs in the war effort found themselves unemployed and, in Daisy's case, homeless.

Daisy is intelligent, has an enquiring mind and finds her position as general factotum to an actor who also owns a hotel, not particularly stimulating. So when the prominent and much-loved Lucinda Laidlaw is found in an unoccupied hotel room with her head bashed in, Daisy can't resist trying to solve the murder.

I liked Daisy. She's not backwards incoming forwards. She's bright, intelligent and likes cats. She's not afraid to test her theories and ruffles more than a few feathers, including those of Inspector Thaxted who, at one point, cheerfully admits that he would like to throttle her!

The village where the mystery is set is small, the inhabitants close, the class structure very much in evidence. The inhabitants like nothing more than a good gossip amongst themselves, but when it comes to sharing information that might solve a crime, they're a bit more close-lipped and loyal to their alliances.

I honestly had no idea who had killed Lucinda but, when it came, I greatly enjoyed the resolution.

If you enjoy a good old-fashioned whodunnit, Death at the Dolphin will satisfy your needs.

I enjoyed Emma Noakes narration of Death at the Dolphin.

P.S. I note that Gretta Mulrooney passed away in 2023, so there may well be no more of this series to come which would be a great pity. But she does have a good catalogue of back titles which I intend to explore.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#DeathattheDolphin #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Gretta Mulrooney was born in London of Irish parents and did an English degree in Derry. She has been published for over twenty-five years. Gretta was always an avid reader of crime fiction and decided, in retirement, to turn to crime. She passed away in 2023.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bolinda Audio via NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of Death at the Dolphin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Historical fiction stories can be so realistic and this one is. This story is also very relatable to one’s life during the wartime. Daisy Moore has a lot to think about and go through. To find out what you’ll need to read the book.

Thank you, Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. I had a hard time getting through the book, the characters and the plot were all over the place. The narrator definitely was not monotone, she had a very lively voice, but often times was really distracting and made it difficult to concentrate on the dialogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda for an advanced copy of this audiobook. I throughly enjoyed this mystery and I can’t wait for the next one. The narrator was perfect. I’m debating if I want to read the next one or wait for the audio version to come out, because I really do think the narration enhanced the experience.

Death at the Dolphin” by Greta Mulroney offers a compelling setting in post-war England, with a promising mystery at its core. However, the book takes quite some time to get to the pivotal murder, which made it difficult to keep my attention fully engaged. Despite the slow start, the story eventually unfolds into a decent whodunit, making it worth the wait for those with patience.

This book would be a suitable recommendation for my patients, who typically have extended stays and may appreciate a story that isn’t too graphic or triggering. The slower pace could work well for readers who prefer a more gradual buildup in their mysteries. While it didn’t entirely capture my interest, it’s still a book I’d consider purchasing and suggesting to others in need of a distraction during challenging times.

Since there wasn't a sample for the narrator, I went to audible and clicked on a few samples of Emma Noakes. She sounded like a pretty good narrator to me, so I requested the book from netgalley.

The good: the narrator certainly is interesting to listen to. She's got a lively delivery, not monotone in the least and has different voices for everyone.

The bad: she has way of speaking for some of the characters that can only be described as "low talking". It's a whisper, mumble, gurgle - gravely voice. I had a heck of a time hearing and then understanding the dialog in places. I realize that many narrators will modulate their voice to be very soft and then loud again. But this is speaking softly while mumbling, and that is very annoying. I never adjust the playback speed-I always listen at 1.0 speed, so this is not operator error because the speed is altered.
DNF at 25%
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.