The first volume in the "Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe" series is an entertaining and dynamic crime thriller in which Dawn Brookes presents her characters and the unfolding mystery with great flair. The story centres on Marjorie "Marge" Snellthorpe, who takes a trip starting in Romania with her sister-in-law, the sometimes annoying but inseparable Edna Parkinton. The relationship between the two elderly ladies is full of comic tension, yet they throw themselves into the investigation with unexpected harmony, which adds a light-hearted humour to the story that the reader will enjoy.

The mystery begins when the pair become embroiled in a murder case after an opera performance in Cluj-Napoca – the elderly diva Dolores Hagman is found dead outside the opera house. As the deceased was not the most popular person, the number of suspects soon increases, and Marjorie's and her friends' investigation uncovers more and more secrets. As the police and the self-appointed detectives try to unravel the case, Dolores' friends and family would rather continue their holiday than find the killer.

The uniqueness of the characters is notably outstanding. Marjorie, Edna, and their former and new friends – such as Horace Tyler and Frederick Mackworth – all have their own personalities, and after a while the reader can guess how they will react in certain situations. This predictability does not detract from the experience, however, but rather gives the impression that we are part of the journey and the investigation.

The book's strengths include a dynamic plot and a twisty storyline. Although the suspect pool is growing, the suspense is maintained throughout and the surprise ending ensures that the reader's attention is not lost until the very last moment. The only minor shortcoming is that the characters do not show any major character development, but this does not detract from the overall quality of the story, which is still entertaining and engaging.

The novel's unique atmosphere is also enhanced by the setting, with the Romanian locations adding an exotic charm to the plot. "Murder at the Opera House" is the perfect choice for those who love the world of classic murder mysteries and humorous detective stories.

Murder At The Opera House is a good, fun, and whodunnit cozy murder mystery. It starts out a little slow but it gets and keeps your interest quickly. Lady Marjorie and her Cousin in Law Edna go on holiday to Romania. They meet several other Seniors on the trip. They go see an Opera show and someone gets murdered. Lady Marjorie and the crew try to figure out who killed the person (s) and why, etc. Everyone has their opinions as to who done it and why. In the end you don’t know who is telling the truth and who you can trust. Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to receive a complimentary ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a reader copy.

The description held high hopes for me--a cozy mystery right up my alley. However, the simplicity of writing and heaviness of dialogue (and changing narrator perspectives!) really put a damper on this one for me. I should've liked it based upon the described plot, but it was a struggle to keep reading and finish it.

I really enjoy mysteries that star vital seniors and this book delivers. A group of four seniors become involved with murder while on vacation. One of their co-travelers on the trip, a former diva, is murdered while they are at the opera. There are plenty of suspects because this diva was not exactly well-loved by her family members and even one of the four has ties to her in the past. It will take some smart insight and dogged determination to follow the clues to discover who the murderer is.

The murder was solid with a number of suspects and twists to keep you guessing. I wish that the writer had given the reader a few more clues to figure out the culprit instead of relying on a last bit of information that the readers didn't get. There were a number of mentions of a previous incident with murder but this book is listed as number one. It was a bit confusing before I checked the series list and saw there was a previous novella that served as an introduction to the series.

There were funny moments which I enjoyed. The characters were well developed. I have to say that I didn't always like the sort of main character Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe, which the series is named after. She could come off as a bit stuck up and intolerant of her cousin-in-law, Edna. The chapters switch back and forth between the pov of Marjorie and Edna, who provides a lot of the levity. I really liked Edna who speaks her mind and lives audaciously. Go woman. Though, too much of either character could become too much. So they balance each other out well.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

🔎 A holiday in Romania was meant to be a peaceful getaway for Marjorie Snellthorpe and her ever-exasperating cousin-in-law, Edna Parkinton. But with these two, trouble is never far behind…

🎶 An Opera, A Murder, A Diva – What starts as a cultural trip takes a deadly turn when a petulant diva meets an untimely end. With an argumentative sextet of suspects, a few eccentric pensioner pals, and a growing web of secrets, Marjorie and Edna must put their differences aside to uncover the truth.

🕵️‍♀️ Determined Sleuths & Jaw-Dropping Twists – As the suspects seem more interested in their holiday than solving the murder, Marjorie and her friends face an uphill battle to unmask the culprit before someone else meets their end—or they find themselves behind bars!

😂 Mishaps, Mystery & Mayhem – If you love cosy mysteries with hilarious hijinks, a delightfully quirky cast, and a dash of classic sleuthing, Murder at the Opera House is an absolute must-read!

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This story is a cozy who done it murder mystery which kept me guessing at who the real killer was. This book gave me major murder she wrote vibes.

This is the story of Majorie and her cousin in law Edna decided to go on vacation to Romania to start off their vacation by going to the opera that night with a travel group including their friend from the last trip Horace. They then met Frederick which they find out knows the family in their group that travelled together for a double birthday. There is a lot of drama in the family as they don’t get along well and during the Opera one of them ends up dead. Their trip gets delayed as the cops and Majorie and friends end up trying to figure out who did it.

I wasn’t aware when I started reading this book that it was a part of a series. Later I saw it was the first which confused me as the book shared a vacation they took perviously which made me feel I missed a lot of back story between Majorie, Edna, and Horace. It was hard to remember how everyone in the family that was traveling with the group was related. Overall it was an easy book to read and I’d read the next books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Marjorie Snellthorpe mystery and I found myself a bit confused. Per Goodreads, this is the first in the series, but as I read the novel, it became clear that there had been other mysteries. I did not understand why Marjorie went on holiday with her cousin-in-law, if she struggled with tolerating Edna. I actually found that I did not like any of the suspects, nor did I like the “amateur sleuths.”

There wasn’t much in the way of description for the setting, not the Opera or the country. However, they did speak a lot of the murdered woman’s history and had quite a few red herrings. As far as a mystery plot, there were plenty of clues, suspects, and possibilities to allow the reader to play detective.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

This cozy mystery embarks on a journey with Lady Marjorie and her cousin-in-law, Edna Parkinton, as they seek a peaceful vacation in Romania. However, their plans are upended when a fellow traveler is found dead following a night at the opera.

The novel shines in its portrayal of the spirited octogenarian sleuths, whose dynamic and witty banter add depth to the narrative. Their interactions, combined with a cast of quirky characters—including a petulant diva and other intriguing travelers—create a rich tapestry of suspects and motives. The unique Romanian setting further enhances the story, providing an atmospheric backdrop that immerses readers in the locale's culture and ambiance.

While I wish that the characters had a bit more depth, the pacing is great, the plot is twisty, and the mystery is cut with just the right amount of humor. Murder at the Opera House is a promising start to the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe series, appealing to fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy spirited protagonists and intricate whodunits

MURDER AT THE OPERA HOUSE
- Dawn Brookes

#3 A Lady Marjorie Snellthrope Mystery

Thank you @netgalley @stormbooks_co for the ARC.

After their last vacation being disturbed by a murder investigation Lady Marjorie accompanies her cousin in-law Edna to the vacation in Romania for missed peace and a relaxing vacation, where they are joined by a friend from the former trip and a new found friend who is to join them for the trip.

But it seems fate has some other plans when they find a noisy and argumentative group awaiting them at the hotel. And things turn take a rather Bad turn when they encounter the death of one of the sextet on their first night at the opera house.

When the death leads to questions and accusations the family seemed more interested in enjoying the holiday rather than finding the murderer.

Lady Marjorie being the inquisitive one decides to solve this case. But when another incident takes place which shakes everyone to the core will it be sensible to continue with the investigation??? OR should lady Marjorie take a step back and let the police handle the case???

This was my first book from Dawn and I'm surely going to read other books in the series. The book was fast paced and a cozy mystery though I could guess the twist early on I enjoyed the ride and the chase to get there.
The murder on the orient express vibes of the book was another add on that I liked so much.

Definitely worth your time.

Toodles 💕

Murder at the Opera House is my first foray back into mystery books in awhile and what a great start. I loved the older characters and their trying to solve the crime. The story was interesting, the characters/suspects crazy and the resolution fun. It was a good read and i cannot wait to read the followup .

Thank you netgalley for the arc read!
Loved this book was such an easy read and the suspense was just right! This was my first book by the author and definitely enjoyed it. Will look at more of her works.

I didn't love the characters but I found them entertaining and it was a fairly snappy read. I also liked the unique setting of Romania. I'd guess that as the characters develop more depth as the series progresses, they will become more enjoyable.

I enjoyed this book, appealing characters and an interesting plot in a foreign locale. The book is labeled as first in a series but there are multiple references to at least four of the characters solving a murder previously , so it was kind of confusing. The murderer was fairly obvious but getting to the how was challenging.

This was a strong start to the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery series, it had that mystery element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting into this world. It left me wanting to read more in this world and was invested in the mystery element to this. Dawn Brookes wrote this perfectly and was glad it was so well done.

This book is a part of "Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Mystery" series. I hadn't heard of this series and hadn't read any book in this series, but that didn't dilute my pleasure of reading this book.

Lady Marjorie is a recently-widowed, senior woman who decides to take a trip to Romania with her cousin, Edna. No points for guessing the plot of the book - a woman is murdered at the opera house and Lady Marjorie solves the mystery with some help from her cousin and friends. Marjorie and Edna have a hate-love relationship. Marjorie is often annoyed by Edna's behavior, but also has spurts of empathy for her.

This book reminded me of "The Thursday Murder Club" series. A group of senior citizens, each one of them having their own quirky personality, a not-so-competent police force and the onus of solving the crime falls on the senior citizens.

The plot is very interesting and the book is fast paced. It kicks off with the murder at the opera, but the story soon takes a lot of twists and turns, keeping the reader hooked. Even though I was trying to keep all the clues and alibis in my head, I couldn't have guessed the murderer. Characterization could have been better - at times, characters are quite predictable and cliched. This doesn't take away the thrill of the plot.

An entertaining cozy murder mystery with loveable characters and cute humour. I very much enjoyed the friendship between Marjorie and Edna. It's not perfect but you can tell that they mean a lot to each other which makes the teasing between them even more adorable. The case kept me hooked and the writing style was very easy to get in to.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book. This was the first book I have read from this series and enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of this series. Marjorie and Edna are on their way to a Danube River Cruise from Bucharest to Budapest on the way to Bucharest they meet Fredrick, who is also going on the cruise and decide to travel with him to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the travelers. At the airport they meet Horace, a man they had met on a previous trip, also going. When they arrive at the hotel they get to meet the other traveling guest who happens to be a family. It turns out that Fredrick knows one of the women from years ago. That first night they all go to The National Opera. Marjorie is looking forward to it and enjoys it until one of the quests is found dead outside. Marjorie and Edna are thrown into another mystery to solve before they can enjoy their cruise.

An easy to read cozy mystery, short and quick

I haven’t read any previous books from this author but it wasn’t a problem. Thoroughly enjoyable too. The characters do have history but it wasn’t a real spoiler

Looking forward to the next book in this series

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

Definitely a cosy mystery, hardly any blood and gore at all. A senior's holiday to Romania turns out to be anything like their expectations. A night at the opera and one of their party, a demanding ex operatic diva storms off in an interlude and then found dead slumped against the wall outside. The police believe heart attack or similar. Our amateur sleuth, Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe is not convinced. Her holiday is with her ghastly cousin in law Edna, Horace (never quite worked out who he was), Frederick, long time ago fiancé of the dead diva plus the diva's husband, daughter, sister and brother-in-law plus a couple of friends. They were all pretty unpleasant characters and it wasn't long before I was rooting for Faith, their ever suffering tour guide. Another death occurred as they were on a train to somewhere and Marjorie was wondering who next (personally by this time the whole lot of them were candidates to me. She persevered and all worked out in the end. The fact that is was set in Romania was irrelevant to the story, it could have been Blackpool or anywhere. This was a shame as there were so many lost opportunities to describe context. Other than a brief bit about the opera house, all we got were people sitting around in hotels or cafes drinking coffee, apparently disgusting tea and brandy. Even Edna's wig shopping forays could have been anywhere. The family was certainly an unpleasant one, greed abounded as did mis-direction. The story was ok and decent enough for a quick read, no problems with the writing, just the characters and weak context. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe endures her sharp-tongued cousin-in-law, Edna Parkinton, to enjoy the delights of the Romanian Opera house. When a petulant opera diva is killed during their visit, Marjorie, Edna, and their fellow senior sleuths must sift through a web of secrets and suspects who seem more interested in their vacation than solving the crime. With tensions high and time running out, the pensioner detectives race to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again—or they end up behind bars.

I thought this was the first of a series, but it reads like there have been multiple adventures that came before it. Thankfully, enough information is given so that the reader is not left in the dark. Lady Marjorie was a fun character to follow. Edna, on the other hand, took some time to warm up to. Sometimes their bickering was a bit much, but I liked what each person brought to the mystery.

The case was interesting. I enjoyed how Lady Marjorie went about putting together clues to discover the culprit.

Overall, it was a cozy mystery, perfect for a weekend. Readers looking for a mystery with feisty, elderly protagonists will definitely enjoy this one.