You’ve been cordially invited to solve a murder-mystery game in Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards. Travel with six people with links to the world of crime writing for an all expense paid trip to Midwinter and let the game begin.
by Martin Edwards
Genres: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.
Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people's minds.
The game is set - but playing fair isn't on everyone's Christmas list.
In Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife, the author Martin Edwards invites readers to play along to solve the mystery game provided to our six guests by the Midwinter Trust, but when people end up dead, you’ll have two mysteries to solve.
The Midwest Trust has invited six down on their luck people who all have hands in the world of crime writing. Midwinter is a remote settlement in England and was a former mining village in the North Pennines. Now privately owned by the Midwinter Trust, it is advertised as a retreat.
The story begins with the perspective of Harry Crystal, a published author of thirty-two mysteries whose titles are a play on best-selling mystery novels. Harry was dropped by his agent, and you’d be luck to find his novels at a secondhand shop. The six guests don’t know each other, but all are familiar. In Harry’s case, he blames the Influencer for helping to end his career. The guests find themselves cut off from civilization when a winter storm bears down on them.
The author has set up the book so that readers can attempt to solve the murder puzzle as well or simply skip those chapters and continue reading. I got very close to piecing things together but confess I was distracted a bit by the actual murders taking place and figuring out the Trust’s motives for this whole elaborate game.
The story was a nod to murder-mystery games like Clue and literary fiction in the crime thriller genre. We are given multiple points of views but I confess Harry’s was my favorite. It’s not perfect, but I enjoyed myself and would recommend for a book club, particularly those who love mysteries.
About Martin Edwards
Martin Edwards has received the CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing, given for the sustained excellence of his contribution to the genre. His latest novels are the stand-alone puzzle mystery Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife and the Rachel Savernake books, most recently Hemlock Bay. The Rachel Savernake series has received two nominations for the CWA Historical Dagger and three shortlistings for the eDunnit award for best crime novel. British librarians awarded him the CWA Dagger in the Library in 2018 in recognition of his body of work. His eighth and latest Lake District Mystery is The Crooked Shore and earlier books in the series include The Coffin Trail, short-listed for the Theakston's prize for best British crime novel. Seven books in his first series, featuring Liverpool lawyer Harry Devlin, starting with the CWA John Creasey Dagger-nominated All the Lonely People, have been reissued by Acorn in new editions with introductions by leading writers including Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I love the nod to Clue with the title. Sounds like a fun read, I might enjoy this one actually and I don’t read a ton of mystery. Great review!
Sophie
I am glad you enjoyed yourself even if it wasn’t perfect!
Anne - Books of My Heart
Sounds very cute. Great review!
Jen Twimom
Oh wow, this sounds interesting and a good read. I’m not familiar with the author.
Katherine
This sounds so fun! I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read by this author and I love that you can try and solve the mystery on your own.
Mary Kirkland
That sounds like a good one. I haven’t played Clue in years.
Sophia Rose
This sounds fun!
Livia Nowlin
Sounds like a cool concept. I’ll see if my library gets it for lending to library patrons. Thanks for the recommendation 😀😊
Nadene
I am glad you enjoyed yoursel despite the imperfections.