England, 1920s: Marius Quin has been invited to speak to the Mystery and Detection Society. He’s both a writer and a private detective and is looking forward to a short holiday on the coast. Naturally, he’s there with several family and friends, including Lady Bella Montague, his partner in crime (but not romance, although it feels like Marius would like it if she was?). Soon after they arrive, they realize that it’s a bit of a set up: he’s invited to speak in front of a hostile crowd, one that wants to prove him wrong, that his stories wouldn’t work in the real world. When the head of the Society is found dead, Marius gets a chance to prove to the Society that even if his skills as an author might be lacking, his PI skills aren’t.

I enjoyed this book. I like historical mysteries in general, and this one was entertaining. When I picked it up, I didn’t realize that it was part of a series; I think this book works as a standalone but would be richer if the previous books had been read. And the ending left me looking forward to the next book in the series.

Recommended. I received a copy of this from netGalley.com that I voluntarily reviewed.

Truthfully this book was boring for me and I ended up DNFing, I will try again next year and maybe I can’t get out of the slump of reading this one

Marius has been invited by a Torquay book society to give an address to its members. He is looking forward to the event and makes a family trip of it along with Lady Isabella, who is part time detective with Marius.

At Torquay when the address finished, and when the audience questions started, Marius realises that the members are hostile and antagonistic and not like any book loving public he has met before. Openly critical of the methods used in his detective novels, they seem to want to humiliate him as much as possible. Marius begins to wonder why he was invited in the first place.

The patron Mrs Thistlewaite seems to control the entire society, which includes the hotel manager and even the local constable. When her body is discovered seemingly drowned, Marius and Isabella starts their enquiry along with their Inspector friend to search for the truth, because there are secrets galore and half truths abound. There are many suspects and many who are evasive and some who are downright crooked.

The setting of Torquay is picturesque and Marius himself is clever as a detective along with Isabella but hopeless as a wannabe partner! You really want him to have a bit of spunk and not be so gentlemanly but this was a very orthodox England.

Marius and company head to the Grand Hotel in Torquay in his fourth cozy mystery. An excellent tie-in with the Lord Edgington series, and even a guess appearance from several characters! Fast, fun, and fabulous - Benedict Brown's A Body at the Grand Hotel was a delight to read and listen to - 5 stars!!!

***p.s. - What a cliffhanger!!!***

Mr Brown has spun a tale worthy of a weekend retreat at the seashore. I love the depth of friendship that is between Marius and Bella, how he is the perfect gentleman at all times, respecting her choice of fiance, even if he doesn't agree.

I loved that this story was set in Dame Agatha's old stomping grounds and the elegance of Torquay and its surrounds as described sound absolutely marvelous, making me want to travel there for a visit some day.

The layers keep piling up, much like a petit-four and are obscured, much like a scone covered in cream and jam.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

Marius Quinn, a very successful mystery writer and part time detective, is invited to give a speech at the Grand Hotel in Torquay. All he has to do is to give a speech to the Mystery and Detection Society and answer a few questions. The Mystery and Detection Society is a very enthusiastic group run my Mrs. Angelica Thistlewaite and they are eager to hear Marius give his speech, however things don’t turn out the way Marius or Mrs. Thistlewaite thought they would. After the group tries to destroy Marius’ skills as a mystery writer and detective, Mrs. Thistlewaite turns up dead at the hotels’ swimming pool and all goes left after that. With the help of his friend Lady Bella and Inspector Lovebrook, Marius sets out to find who amongst all the people that hated Mrs. A Thistlewaite would be capable of killing her. There are several suspects but only one was capable of murdering Mrs. Thistlewaite.

The book starts with Marius Quinn, renowned author, being invited to be an honorary member of the Torquay Mystery and Detection Agency (TMDA) and to attend a gala in his honour. This invite drags him away from pondering his father’s mysterious disappearance and, against his better judgment he invites his family, who he describes as his ‘favourite loons and meddlers’. Thereby setting the scene for an amusing and engaging series of events and propelling Marius into another challenging murder mystery.

Marius’s family and close friends are an eclectic mix of characters and provide a comic counterpoint to the main story. The storyline is strong and engaging from the start. There are some nice twists and some lovely elements of humour. The story ends with a tantalising glimpse of Marius’s next murder mystery and I am really looking forward to the next instalment in this series.

I also particularly like that at the end of the book there are some interesting sections explaining the context, historical research and definitions of some of the more unusual words and references.

I wanted so much to really like this book. But it was so slow without much of a plot. Thanks to #NetGalley and #ABodyAtTheGrandHotel for advanced copy.

Mystery in Torquay,,
A grand hotel on the English riviera, a gala dinner and a very dead body. Mystery novelist turned sleuth Marius Quin along with partner Bella arrive at the Grand Hotel, Torquay in fine form - Marius is to give a speech at the opening of the gala dinner - but they soon realise that not everything is as it seems. When the host is discovered dead in the hotel pool, the duo commence their own investigation. A cosy historical mystery, much in traditional vein, with a host of eclectic and eccentric characters and a pacy plot. Most enjoyable.

This author is an ace with historical mysteries and this one is part of the newest series.

Author of mysteries and detective on the side, Marius Quinn finds himself in the middle of a murder while visiting the Grand Hotel to give a speech.

With Bella they try to solve what is going on, but every turn puts them at another clue and all seems rather wrapped up!!'

If you love mysteries, start at the beginning and don't miss even one in this series

Another great instalment (number 4) in this cosy mystery series. The story is set in this instance in the picturesque seaside town of Torquay. All the usual character's appear as Marius's whole family Inspector Lovegood and Lady Isabelle of course join him in Torquay where he is to give a talk. As is usually the case nothing is quite as it appears making for an intricate mystery with unexpected twists and lots of red herrings. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Marius Quinn's fourth adventure takes place on the English Riviera, Torquay. A guest of a mystery society, he is to spend the weekend at a top hotel, accompanied by his sleuthing partner Bella and his family. He finds that it is different from what he expected. His encounter with the mystery society is perturbing, as is his discovery in the hotel swimming pool. The complex investigation that follows is captivating and full of clues, suspects and twists that keep you reading. Complex characters and believable dynamics make this engaging. The mystery is twisty, and the final reveal is a cliffhanger that makes reading the next book a certainty for me. I also listened to the audiobook format of this story, and it works well. The narrator is excellent at bringing each character to life through Marius' viewpoint.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher but also purchased an audio copy.

This is the first book that I have read in this series I know that It wasn't essential to have read the previous books in the series as this story is totally a standalone but wished that I had so that I had a peep into their lives before Grand Hotel.
An all expenses paid break in Torquay's Grand Hotel for himself, his business partner, Lady Isabella Montague (Bella), his mother, his uncle Sam, aunt Elle and even his beloved Basset Hound, Percy was welcome.
Marius Quin is an author of mystery book but along with Bella, he runs a successful detective agency. Marius has been invited to speak at the Mystery and Detection Society's annual dinner at Torquay's majestic Grand Hotel, the hotel is more luxurious than they could ever have imagined, all was going well..........until it wasn't. Shortly after Marius began his talk he realised that no one wanted to hear what he had to say, he was heckled, his work was denigrated and the person responsible for inciting the crowd was non other than Angelica Thistlewaite, the same Angelica who had booked him, the same Angelica who was the self appointed leader of the community.
When the body of Angelica was found face down in the swimming pool the following morning Marius is determined to find the killer, but so any people had a motive, she was loved and hated in equal measure, as the police weren't very helpful it was down to Marius and Bella to seek out the killer.
There are so many suspects and they are all blaming each other, the story twists and turns until Marius finally has a lightbulb moment.
I really enjoyed this book although I found that it dragged a little in the middle, I loved the characters, I love how the author captures the style of speech of the era, I loved the witty banter, I loved the interaction between Bella and Marius (hoping that at some point she ditches fiance, Gabriel for Marius, the man who has always loved her), I love the way that the end leads neatly and amazingly into the next story.
Thank you Net Gallery for this ARC my review is totally voluntary.

Marius Quin is very pleasantly surprised when he receives a letter from the Torquay Mystery and Detection Society informing him that he has been chosen to become an Honorary Member. Not only that, the Society is holding a gala in his honor. Knowing Marius as we have over the course of the first three books in this series, Marius heads out to Torquay, bringing his basset hound, Percy and the rest of his extended family, plus Bella (Lady Isabella Montague) for the weekend.

And also, knowing Marius as we do, he finds a dead body and becomes embroiled in a neatly plotted mystery involving several mysterious characters, a suspect all but served up on a platter as the likely murderer, a love/hate relationship, a tangled family dynamic, and eventually the surprising conclusion.

And after all that, the final pages lead us into, sadly, a new murder and a perhaps a start in unraveling the mystery of Marius' father. I enjoyed this latest episode in the series and await the next book. 4 stars.

I am so excited to get into yet another Marius Quin mystery. I love this series so much. It’s entertaining, fun, full of surprises, and with a cast of quirky and unique characters. I also love that the story is narrated in first person by the protagonist himself, bestselling author and occasional private detective Marius Quin, who is quite charming and witty.

In this fourth adventure, Marius, who should be writing his third novel, is invited to give a talk at the Mystery and Detection Society in Torquay. As usual he is accompanied by his loyal hound Percy, his mother, his uncle and his aunt, and, of course, his first love and now close friend and partner-in-crime-solving Lady Isabella (Bella) Montague. The conference is not at all what he expected, but at least he gets to enjoy a luxurious weekend in what is considered the English Riviera. And while Percy seems to get a more special treatment than him, Marius and Bella get involved in another investigation when a body is found in the pool and it turns out that the victim was hated and loved in equal measure.

A Body at the Grand Hotel was another five stars for me. I loved the mystery, the humour, and the relationship between Bella and Marius and their easy banter. The story is well-written and intriguing. There is a victim of murder who used to bully all those around her, so the list of suspects is quite long; there are also an incompetent police detective, a group of amateur know-it-all detectives, and witnesses who keep secrets. It won’t be easy for Marius and Bella to figure out the truth. If you love cozy mystery and historical novels, then I can’t recommend this series enough. Also, the ending was quite unexpected and shocking and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

A mystery writer/private detective’s invite to attend a gala in his honour for The Torquay Mystery and Detection Society at The Grand Hotel in Torquay soon turns into a murder investigation.
The novel evoked the glamour, the charm and sophistication of all that jazz of the 1920’s. Set against the backdrop of one of the (still) most prestigious hotels in Torquay, The Grand Hotel, the period/ locale details were on point not to mention the plot fell effortlessly into place with the perfect line up of murder suspects. No easy guesses here folks! In fact, there was just enough intelligent misdirection woven in to the plot to make the reader do the hard work of unravelling the investigation. As soon as you thought you’d worked it out, the plot pulled the rug from underneath you. The novel had a lovely use of plot conventions with its own unique style.
Marius, our not so amateur sleuth, he’s a private investigator and mystery writer, knows his stuff when it comes to taking on a murder case. His gentlemanly like approach towards suspects gave the air of a 1920’s bachelor detective. Bella, his friend and former flame, played her Watsonesque part perfectly. I also found Marius to be of public school boy stock with traditional views, however, he was a man of his time. This is the fourth book in the series and my first but it was delightfully easy to dive straight into.

Benedict Brown certainly knows how to tell a very good story. A Body at the Grand Hotel is, told in the first person with great aplomb, for want of better words to describe this quirky Murder filled with a cast of people who would not be out of place on the Stage.
Successful author of two Murder Mystery novels Marius Quin, is invited to a Gala evening to be held in his honour at the Grand Hotel in Torquay. All he has to do is to give a speech to the Mystery and Detection Society and answer a few questions.
How hard can this be and as he is suffering for ennui, he decides that a weekend spent on the coast would be a great idea. As it is a rather a splendid Hotel, he invites his family, as well as his long-time friend and business partner, Lady Bella Montague along.
He and Lady Bella have a very successful Private Detective Agency, having assisted Scotland Yard in several of their recent cases. There is an issue on the train on the way to Torquay and it is apparent once they arrive, that something is not quite as it should be; something is simply off!
After a somewhat grueling evening, Marius goes for a morning swim only to find a body on the floor of the indoor swimming pool and a man fleeing the area. And so begins a larger than life murder mystery that seems to have more perpetrators than make sense, as well as a group of amateur detectives who believe they can solve the murder before either Scotland Yard or the local Police.
A Body at the Grand Hotel is a most intriguing, very tongue-in-cheek, romp through the world of cozy Murders, which will keep every amateur armchair detective trying to solve how so many people could have sound reason to want to commit murder and who really did do it!
A Body at the Grand Hotel is the fourth book in the Marius Quin series with more to come from this very refreshing amateur Detective.

Once I got into the story I really enjoyed it. Quite a quirky tasle with lots of strange occurences and situations. The charaters were quite amusing and well described. The unravelling at the end was great fun!

Private Detective Marius Quin has been invited to speak at a hotel in Torquay at the Murder and Detection. society. He looking forward to it, but when he arrives he knows something is not right. When a body turns up in the pool the following morning, the mystery begins.
This is a great whodunit and is fast paced, loved the characters and the period it is set. It’s a cozy mystery with amazing descriptions of the period hotel and setting. This is the 4th book in this series and can be read as a stand-alone. A cozy 4 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

At the end of the last book, Marius got some new information about what may have happened to his father. But he is trying not to dwell on that and is excited to be distracted by a letter inviting him to be an honorary member of the Torquay Mystery and Detection Society. They are inviting him to give a speech the night before the local October Ball. Marius decides, why not? Bella, Inspector Lovelace, and his family all decide to come along as well.
When he gets there, he discovers that the group is not exactly the fans he had supposed them to be. Instead, he is thrown to the wolves by their leader, Mrs. Thistlethwaite. The same Mrs. Thistlethwaite who Marius finds dead in the hotel pool the next morning.
This is a twisty turning mystery that is maybe a little overwrought. There was some time spent in a crossover with Brown's Lord Edgington series and that did feel a little forced. The ending was interesting but I'm not sure everything was sewn together successfully. Still, an enjoyable read, overall.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out November 15, 2024
Follows The Castleton Affair
Marius Quin Mystery #4
ARC kindly provided Storm Publishing and NetGalley
Opinions are my own