Rating: 3.5/5

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC!

If *Only Murders in the Building* had a slightly British twist and way more conversations over cups of tea, you'd get *10 Marchfield Square*. It’s a cozy murder mystery with just the right touch of amateur sleuthing and eccentric neighbors, all wrapped up in a charming (but secretly shady) apartment complex.

Celeste Van Duran, the estate’s owner, recruits two unlikely detectives—Audrey the cleaner and Lewis the crime writer—to dig into a suspicious tenant murder when she loses faith in the police’s enthusiasm.

Their odd-couple dynamic is genuinely the highlight of the book. Audrey’s down-to-earth sensibility paired with Lewis’s self-serious crime brain gives the whole thing a fun, offbeat rhythm.

That said, it *is* a slow burn. There’s a lot of talking, a lot of speculating, and at times it feels like the plot is meandering around in circles. It doesn't help that there’s a sizable cast of quirky characters to keep track of—keeping a notebook on hand wouldn’t hurt.

Still, there are some solid twists, a nice “gotcha!” ending, and it’s cozy in the best sense of the word. If you're into murder mysteries that are more tea than terror, give this one a go.

When a murder occurs in Marchfield Square, the owner, Celeste, hires two of the other residents to investigate. Celeste doubts the police will focus on the murder, and enlists the aid of Audrey, her house cleaner, and Lewis, a crime writer. The interaction between Lewis and Audrey really enhanced the story, and the mystery offered many twists and turns as more murders occur. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is an interesting story, though I found it a tad long at times, a lot of talking about things that were happening, or not happening, but still interesting to read. Celeste Van Duren is an elderly widow who owns what was once a large house that had been subdivided into small apartments which she rents out to people she determines are in need and safe to rent to. Except Celeste made a mistake and rented to an individual that is a minor criminal who ended up getting killed in his suite, and not long after that, his wife was also killed. Celeste wants to avoid scandal so asks two other renters to investigate, Audrey who is a cleaner, for Celeste and for a cleaning company, and Lewis a writer who also has to work to support himself. Neither has any idea of how to investigate a crime, let alone two. But they go ahead by asking questions of the other tenants and they quickly find out that a lot of the tenants are hiding things, sometimes serious things. As I mentioned there is a lot of discussing that goes on, and that tends to slow the narrative down, though it still is interesting how these two people who have nothing in common come together to piece together what happened. And the ending was the gotcha! Thanks to #Netgalley and #Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC.

3.5stars-10 MARCHFIELD SQUARE is an adult contemporary, cozy murder mystery akin to Only Murders in the Building™ focusing on the amateur detective work of two of 10 Marchfield Square’s tenants.

Heiress Celeste Van Duran owns and operates 10 Marchfield Square, a former estate turned into apartments but when one of her tenants is murdered, and his wife mysteriously dies the next day, Celeste ‘recruits’ cleaning lady Audrey Brooks, and struggling crime writer Lewis McLennon to investigate the murders in the wake of what everyone perceives to be a less than thorough police examination. Hoping for any new revelations, Audrey and Lewis will stir up a proverbial hornet’s nest of secrets and lies, digging deeper into the lives of the tenants of 10 Marchfield Square. Everyone is suspect; confidences broken; the key to the murders lies somewhere in the walls.


10 MARCHFIELD SQUARE is a slow building, complex, convoluted and often confusing story of murder and mystery involving a large oddball cast of quirky, strange and questionable secondary and supporting characters. From a former actor, and attorney, writer and antiquities dealer, as well as the occasional criminal underworld element, the tenants of 10 Marchfield Square will themselves, become the prime suspects as their own lives will reveal the secrets everyone is trying to hide.


If you are a dedicated enthusiast of, and are invested in this type of story line, I recommend using a spread sheet, or at the very least, keeping paper and pencil handy, to keep track of the numerous suspects and their interconnected lives.


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Did you know that somewhere in London there is a teeny tiny square? Well, author Nicola Whtye discovered it, leading to her creating a similar spot for the setting of this very good, debut mystery.

Celeste, in her 80s, is the inquisitive doyenne of the square. She knows all of the residents who live in these close quarters. Sadly, it is known that one resident, Linda, has a husband who harms her physically. When he is murdered, events are off and running. Will his murder be the only one? No spoilers so read the novel to find out.

The characters in the square all come across as individuals. There is everyone from Dixon who functions as Celeste's butler and more, to struggling mystery writer Lewis, young cleaner Audrey, lawyer Mia, and a number of others.

Looking for an enjoyable traditional mystery that runs to 400 pages ? Look no further. This is a delightful one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this title. All opinions are my own.

'10 Marchfield Square' gave me the same vibes as 'Knives Out' or 'Glass Onion,' not necessarily because of the plot structure, but because of how fascinated I was by the setting and characters as the mystery unraveled. Audrey and Lewis were an unlikely but very likable amateur detective duo.

I appreciated Nicola Whyte's blurb at the beginning, which explained where her idea for this story came from. It helped set the scene for this unsuspecting English square. I recommend this book to any fan of cozy thrillers!

Special thanks to the publisher, Union Square & Co., and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it!

This was an absolute gem! From the very first page through to the last, I was engaged in the story. Never once did the story feel long-drawn or too “cozy” that it became monotonous in plot—every moment counted which made it all the more precious. This is a cozy crime mystery novel with genuine depth. While I loved all the characters, I related more with Lewis! 😅

This story is an absolute delight! Marchfield Square is a close-knit, safe community—until one of its residents is found dead. The eccentric landlady, Celeste, recruits the personable cleaner Audrey and the introverted writer Lewis to solve the murder, and the result is a fast-paced whodunit brimming with charisma and charm. The dynamic between Audrey and Lewis is a perfect blend of contrasting personalities, bringing both humor and heart to the story, making them an unlikely yet irresistible detective duo. The square itself feels almost like a character, with its quirky residents and picturesque setting adding to the mystery’s allure. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, there’s another surprise. With a satisfying conclusion, this book is a wonderful read that balances suspense with endearing moments. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the perfect book to recommend to readers who enjoy Only Murders In the Building. Cozy, comforting and fun, it takes place in a small, picture perfect building in London. When a murder takes place there, the grande dame of the building talks a couple of her renters into investigating. Lots of fun characters and subplots really keep things moving. Lots of appeal for cozy mystery readers.

After a murder in the smallest residential square in London, elderly heiress and landlady Celeste van Duren isn't happy with the assumptions the police are making so recruits two of her tenants to investigate on her behalf. Audrey, her cleaner, knows everyone in the close-knit community and is well-liked while Lewis, is a struggling author who keeps to himself. As the pair hunt for clues, they discover that many of their neighbours have something to hide and the killer might well be within their midst.

This debut novel is an enjoyable cozy mystery read with a few satisfying twists. I loved the London setting and thought that Lewis and Audrey worked well together as amateur sleuths. This appears to be the start of a new series and I will likely read any follow-up book as I found myself quite curious about the backstory of Celeste and her man/valet Dixon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Celeste van Duren is an elderly widow who once lived in a huge London mansion with an interior courtyard. After her husband died, she decided to make an apartment for herself and her valet, Dixon, out of a part of the mansion, and convert the rest and its mews to various sizes of apartments and maisonettes, for a total of about 10. Celeste takes an almost proprietary interest in her tenants, all chosen by her, and she enjoys sitting in her sitting room window and observing her neighbors as they go through or sit in the courtyard.

To be honest, Celeste is not above looking in their windows, either. Like Jimmy Stewart’s character in the movie Rear Window, that’s how she views a crime scene. She had taken on Richard Glead and his wife as tenants shortly after her husband died and she considers she was not quite herself. Certainly she soon decided that Glead was not a nice man. And now Glead has been murdered.

Considering that Marchfield Square is securely gated, it’s not surprising that the overburdened police want to point the finger of suspicion within the walls of Celeste’s community. She decides to ask two of her tenants to accept a one-month job of investigating. Audrey, who shares a flat with her barrister friend Mei, cleans homes for a living, barely scraping by. Lewis is a young crime fiction writer who has been blocked for the last few years, and is a near recluse. This odd couple make a complementary team, though each is often frustrated by the other. Their investigation job soon becomes complicated by additional deaths, and along the way, they discover quite a few secrets among their neighbors—maybe even ones that might be worth murdering over.

The book alternates short chapters from the points of view of Audrey, Lewis, and Celeste. The jumps are never confusing; they help flesh out these key characters. The story is a breath of fresh air on the cozy mystery scene. Not cutesy, not trying to copy other authors’ successful formulas, just an appealing set of characters and a twisty plot. If only there were a diagram of Marchfield Square and a character list, it would be like a modern version of something from the Golden Age of Mystery. I was pleased to have the book wrap up in a way that allows the possibility of a series.

A lovely cozy mystery. Personally, I enjoyed the switching between characters for each chapter as it kept the pace fast and the plot moving along. The characters all felt well developed and with scope for more to come if a sequel was on the cards. I think a character list and map of the square at the start would have helped me to understand some of the geography a little better but by the end I understood who everyone was and how the mystery unfurled.

This was a clever and fun mystery. There is a little enclave in London which is comprised of a once grand mansion, renovated and divided into apartments and suites. The owner is Celeste, a rather mysterious and nosy octogenarian who created the living arrangements with her late husband. Dixon is her assistant, valet, and protector.

A dead body is discovered in one unit, belonging to an abusive husband who nobody is going to miss. His wife discovers the body and immediately becomes the key suspect. Celeste is unhappy about this and taps two other tenants to investigate in case the cops refuse to look elsewhere. Lewis is a once successful but lately writer-blocked novelist who keeps totally to himself and doesn't mingle with anyone. Audrey is a cleaner, bright, capable and social.

The two are an odd but effective investigating unit. The characters in the building and the main cast are nicely drawn and fleshed out and the book moves at a nice narrative pace. This was a fun read with a nice bit of quirkiness at the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Cozy and full of twists that kept me guessing until the very end! While I enjoyed the characters, I didn't find myself connecting to them as much as I would have liked to. The pacing of the plot felt like there was a bit too much going on to really develop strong feelings for the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I feel like this book ended up being what I wanted a certain other series involving senior citizens solving cosy murders to be. It was lovely to have that itch scratched, particularly after being let down by the other one! In a small British residential square, Celeste, an octogenarian with a keen eye for the happenings in her buildings, has hired two of her tenants to solve a murder (which eventually turns into more than one!). Without giving too much away, the twists and turns are good, the suspects believable, the police intervention and consequences realistic, and the whole journey a thoroughly fun one!

I really like the main characters and their voices (particularly Audrey - I did find that sometime Lewis was a bit unrealistic, but that is to be expected given his age and general vibe!). The points of view are well done in this book, and I found myself tearing through to get to the next part. I did think that there could have been a bit more focus on some of the connections, but all in all, this is a tight murder mystery with a lot of fun to be had. Looking forward to seeing the next one in the series, should there be more!

This was a strong murder mystery novel, and had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with the first page. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this, it had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. Nicola Whyte has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

This is a fun cozy mystery told from multiple perspectives. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the London setting. The short chapters and alternating narrators make this a quick read. Would recommend!

Fans of the cosy mystery genre will love this quirky whodunnit centred around a London apartment building (content warnings for domestic violence). Before you sign a lease, be aware that Celeste van Duren watches over her tenants with a protective eye and a pair of secret binoculars. Celeste is 82 years old but refuses to sit on the sidelines as residents in her building are murdered - she needs the inside scoop & the police aren't up for the job. I thought Celeste was a hoot, and when she recruits Audrey (a cleaner) and Lewis (a crime writer) as her deputy investigators – the criminals don’t stand a chance. I enjoyed the fact that Audrey and Lewis had their own personal and professional obstacles to overcome while they’re hunting down the killers. The two amateur detectives balanced each other well in terms of skills and personality quirks. Each tenant in the building felt well-imagined with their own backstories to discover. The pacing flowed well and I had a giggle over some of the character descriptions – looking at you "human potato in a white wig". I’d definitely follow more adventures set in this cosy London apartment complex. I have a feeling there are a lot more secrets buried in the foundations.
Review to be shared on FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date. Thank you to Netgalley & Publishers for the early reader copy.

Absolutely loved this book! I am such a fan of Only Murders in the Building and this definitely is similar. Some parts in the investigation were slow, which is why I rated 4 stars not 5, but overall was such an intriguing and fun story. I always love a whodunnit and the characters were so fun to see their development and relationship grow.

Clever riff on And Then Were None but hobbled by length (50 to 100 pages could have been cut), too similar sounding character POVs and a lackluster (and not very believable) reveal