Tag Archives: murder mystery

#BookReview ‘Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel’ by Lucy Foley #mystery #crime #AgathaChristie #Marple

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Switzerland 1950. Stunning mountain scenery, a single track railway. A snow storm forecast. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley is the first Miss Marple novel to be published for 50 years since Agatha Christie’s Sleeping Murder in 1976. Lucy Foley Miss Marple appears at first sight as the familiar elderly lady with her knitting, her dislike of the cold, her piercing eyes and acute observation. She is visiting with her friend Mrs Bantry (who appears in 4.30 from Paddington) and Mrs Bantry’s ultra-efficient personal assistant Diana Glass.
One morning the railway arrives at the hotel from the village below and inside is only one passenger who is dead. There are a number of suspects each with a strong motive, the guilt of each of which seems totally convincing until disproven by the French detective who happens to be among the guests. The setting starts off as a not-quite closed room location, a luxurious mountain hotel isolated by altitude with limited access to the village below. When the snow arrives everyone is trapped.
The list of potential villains is familiar from Christie. A film star. An ambitious politician and his timid wife. The politician’s wartime friend who seems completely out of place. Even nuns who ski and enjoy spa sessions. Some guests are strangers, some already know each other, many have secrets. Trapped inside by the blizzard, cracks begin to appear and tempers are tested. There are a variety of motives. Betrayal, jealousy, money, love, and revenge, perhaps connected to the Second World War.
One of the main viewpoints is that of Diana Glass, as an outsider she presents a first impressions overview of the hotel guests, staff and action. Of her cool efficiency she says, ‘We learned this during the war. You can’t be in a state of full-blown panic at all times. Normality, humanity – even boredom – creep back in at the most fraught of times.’ But can she be trusted? Can anyone be trusted?
A mixture of two writers. The first half, a Christie-like careful build-up of context and characters. The second half, a typical Foley rollercoaster rush to the end where everyone present seems guilty and the next victim could be anyone.
I missed the dominant presence of Miss Marple and wanted more. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel is a Lucy Foley novel with a sprinkling of Marple but like all Foley’s novels, it is an entertaining pageturner.

Click the title to read my reviews of these other novels by Lucy Foley:-
THE GUEST LIST
THE HUNTING PARTY
THE INVITATION
THE MIDNIGHT FEAST
THE PARIS APARTMENT

If you like this, try:-
‘The Doll’s House’ by MJ Arlidge #3HELENGRACE
‘The Monogram Murders’ by Sophie Hannah #1POIROT
‘The Pure in Heart’ by Susan Hill #2SIMONSERRAILLER

And if you’d like to share a link:
#BookReview MURDER AT THE GRAND ALPINE HOTEL by Lucy Foley https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-a5E via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- Kate Atkinson

#BookReview ‘Murder at the Playhouse’ by Helena Dixon @NellDixon #cosymystery #crime

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Murder at the Playhouse is another good adventure for Kitty Underhay, hotelier and amateur detective. Third in this nicely developing between-the-wars mystery series by Helena Dixon, Kitty now finds herself drawn into the theatrical world. Helena Dixon Starting weeks after the ending of the previous book, Murder at Enderley Hall, Kitty is still not on speaking turns with her fellow investigator, Captain Matthew Bryant. And she isn’t only missing their cooperation as detectors. But before she can work out how to break the ice after their quarrel, everyday turns into drama when Matt is arrested on suspicion of murder. A young girl taking part in a treasure hunt at a party, is found dead on the golf course. She was strangled with a bootlace, the bootlace given to her and her friend by Matt when they knocked on his door to enquire about clues. Kitty, who soon discovers that the party was hosted by Matt’s next door neighbours, the theatrical Davenport family, volunteers for charity work with the Davenport’s daughter Genny and goes undercover.
Kitty and Matt’s relationship has reached an interesting stage, past their acknowledgement of mutual attraction they must now face up to their differing social expectations. Kitty is determined to prove her credentials as a detective, able to handle difficult and dangerous assignments as well as Matt himself. Soon she is part of the theatre company as it prepares for a charitable production. Burning the candle at both ends, Kitty’s assessment of likely risk becomes a little wobbly as she pushes on in her objective to clear Matt’s name. The cast of theatrical characters includes some colourful, and distasteful, people, so there are plenty of suspects. Assigned as prompter, Kitty fears sitting in the wings will prevent her ability to eavesdrop and discover clues. So she engages the Dolphin Hotel’s housemaid Alice to assist her again. Alice, deft with a needle and thread, proves adept at organising the theatrical costumes and props and rallying the troop of child performers.
Needless to say, Kitty takes one risk too many and, not wanting to worry Matt while also wanting prove herself to him, does not tell him everything that is happening. In the background is the longer-running mystery of Kitty’s lost mother; where did she disappear to during the war?
Kitty is a very likeable heroine while Matt has a complicated history. He is a widow and a war veteran, more of both in this book. The plot moves on nicely and the whodunnit is full of possibilities without being so complex that the clues become entangled in an impenetrable knot. More please.

Here are my reviews of other books in the series:-
MURDER AT THE DOLPHIN HOTEL #1MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT ENDERLEY HALL #2MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER ON THE DANCE FLOOR #4MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER IN THE BELLTOWER #5MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT ELM HOUSE #6MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE WEDDING #7MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER IN FIRST CLASS #8MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE COUNTRY CLUB #9MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER ON BOARD #10MISSUNDERHAY
MURDER AT THE CHARITY BALL #11MISSUNDERHAY

And my reviews of the first in a new series by Helena Dixon:-
THE SECRET DETECTIVE AGENCY #1SECRETDETECTIVEAGENCY
THE SEASIDE MURDERS #2SECRETDETECTIVEAGENCY

If you like this, try:-
‘An Expert in Murder’ by Nicola Upson #1JOSEPHINETEY
‘The Cornish Village Murder’ by Fiona Leitch #2NOSEYPARKER
‘The Anarchist Detective’ by Jason Webster #3MAXCAMARA

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
#BookReview MURDER AT THE PLAYHOUSE by Helena Dixon @NellDixon https://wp.me/p2ZHJe-7Bd via @SandraDanby

COMING SOON… THE NEXT BOOK I REVIEW WILL BE:- Renita d'Silva