Murder at the Mill

This is both a mystery and a character study of a family in crisis, each keeping his or her own secrets. This is a deeply engrossing, beautifully written book with wonderful descriptions such as that of a swan "shaking her feathers like a Brazilian carnival dancer showing off her bejeweled costume" which will make you stop and savor every sentence. The book begins with a death in the river, but you are left wondering who the victim is when the story switches to the Christmas preparations of the Wetherby family and showcases the tensions running throughout the family as well as the story of Iris Grey, an portrait artist in the midst of her own crisis who is renting their cottage and painting a portrait of Dom Wetherby, the head of the family. When the body is finally found and identified it becomes a story of the investigation - suicide or murder, as the complex characters continue to fascinate. Once I started this book I completely ignored everything else going on and kept on turning the pages, eager to continue the sage of Iris and the Wetherby's. This is one of the best books I have read in years, and I can't wait to see what else this author has in store.

Iris Grey is looking for a peaceful place to contemplate her marriage at a beautiful cottage owned by the Wetherby family. She is commissioned by Dom Wetherby, a famous author, do paint his portrait. The family seems picture perfect, but at their annual Christmas party, tempers flair and secret threaten to come to light. Then on Christmas morning a body is found in the river. Was it an tragic accident? Or cold blooded murder? Iris is drawn into a world of long hidden secrets, romance and murder.


To me the cover and tittle of the book made me think that this was going to be a cozy mystery, but it was actually quite dark and very intriguing. Iris is a painter but during her stay in Hampshire village she becomes an amateur sleuth. This book had multiple points of view which kept me on my toes. At one point I had a suspect in mind, but then another person became just as much of a suspect. compelling suspect. I look forward to the next book in the Iris Grey series.