Cabaret Macabre

I love Tom Mead's books! I always have a bit grin on my face when I read them, they're well written great storytelling and characters, but they're also just great fun and enjoyable. I absolutely adored the first two books in the series: Death and the Conjuror, and The Murder Wheel.

Even though I know how to pronounce "macabre", whenever I see the title I keep pronouncing the two words to rhyme with "cabaret", which keeps making me laugh for some reason.

I still can't figure out how Tom writes these books. Murder mysteries and thrillers are difficult anyway but a locked room mystery? By their very definition they are an impossibility, and yet he's manage to create three impossible novels, and it still astounds me.

They're a bit of cosy crime, classic whodunnits, thriller, historical, with a little comedy; it really does have something for everyone. It's got a real Agatha Christie, traditional locked room story nostalgia about it that, whilst thrilling and entertaining, also provides comfort and warmth.

I suppose you can read the books out of order as they are all individual cases, but you'd definitely get more out of it if you've read the first two beforehand. It gives more time for character development and you really get absorbed in this world Tom's created. He has managed to create a spectacular sense of time and place, no matter the era or location.

I think this series would make excellent films. Almost in the vein of Kenneth Branagh's Poirot movies (although they're not perfect, they are wonderfully nostalgic). Having the same actor through all of them, keeping familiar aspects, make it a bit like Poirot or Morse or Marple; I think they'd be a wonderful watch, and it'd be interesting to see how Tom's seemingly impossible creations translate to screen.

This one is quite violent. Not overly so, it still works in context, and whilst I can't remember exactly the methods of the deaths in the first two books, this one seemed particularly gory, which was an interesting choice, but I think the balance with the traditional locked-room aspect is right.

I remember getting to about 80% of the way through and I STILL couldn't figure it out. It's all there, laid out for you, clues and hints, some things are even confirmed, and yet I still couldn't wrap it up, which is obviously very good for a whodunnit, you don't want it to be too obvious.

Were bits more unbelievable than others? Yes. Did I care? No. All of the traditional whodunnits have an element of impossibility about it, but I think that's what adds to its enjoyment.

I was worried that, by keeping the same main characters, and the same locked room mystery format, that the series might get a bit samey and lose it's excitement, but somehow Tom has managed to keep all the familiar aspects we want, but much each book fresh and different.

This is the third in this most brilliant series and, as always, although the main story is self contained, to get the very best from it, especially with regard to the characters, I would recommend playing catch-up first. I did just that when I realised this was book three, and I don't regret it!
So... we start with a bit of backstory... Victor Silvus has been residing in a private sanitarium since attacking Judge Sir Giles Drury who he accuses of being responsible for the death of his girlfriend a few years since. Drury's wife, Lady Elspeth believes that Silvus is responsible for threats that her husband has been receiving and seeks out retired stage magician (and part time sleuth) Joseph Spector to help her. Meanwhile Silvus's sister Caroline takes her concerns about her brother's safety to the police, Inspector George Flint.
So... two sides of the same case being investigated by two very different people... just wait til they collide!
And that's all I'm saying as, if you have read the series before, you'll know that it's gonna get convoluted and interconnected... and it does, deliciously so... have your wits about you as you continue...
I love this series as it is old school investigation set in the Golden Age of detective books. Paying homage to some of the great authors of that era. Characters are brilliantly drawn and all play their parts with aplomb. Plotting is always so very clever and well explained, making sense all the way through, even when first assumed to be impossible! Chock full of secrets, lies, manipulation, obfuscation, it's an absolute delight for readers who like to guess but who love to be challenged! One thing I do have to say is that in amongst all the above, the respect for the reader remains. Which is not always the case with this genre book.
And the ending, when it came... genius!
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive series, roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Have I read a book series out of order again… yes, I have dear Reader but book one and two is now on my TBR.

I really liked Tom’s writing style as it immersive and I couldn’t help but be drawn into the story. The story also had had great pacing, and I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting that Tom created. I can’t comment on the first two books in this series but there were so much packed into the pages of this book there was a lot of deaths, it was packed with mysteries, more suspects than a game of Cluedo and each death is more creative than the last. As the stakes were raised and the body count rose, the intensity in the book never let up.

The only way I can explain this book is an extraordinary balancing act between keeping the plot moving forward and so many death and possible guilty parties. This book could have easily become a hot mess but instead we have an astonishing piece of crime writing. This mystery had me completely intrigued, had me questioning everything and these two combined elements made it hard to put the book down.

I guarantee you won’t be able to anticipate all the twists and tricks Tom woven into this tale.