Today on the blog, I am featuring a 1920's murder mystery, A Testament to Murder by Vivian Conroy. This is Book one on the Murder Will Follow series.
Suspenseful from the first page to the last, A Testament to
Murder is perfect for fans of And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient
Express, and Crooked House.
A dying billionaire. Nine would-be heirs. But only one will
take the prize...
At the lush Villa
Calypso on the French Riviera, a dying billionaire launches a devious plan: at
midnight each day he appoints a new heir to his vast fortune. If he dies within
24 hours, that person takes it all. If not, their chance is gone forever.
Yet these are no ordinary beneficiaries, these men who
crossed him, women who deceived him, and distant relations intent on reclaiming
the family fortune. All are determined to lend death a hand and outwit their
rivals in pursuit of the prize.
As tensions mount with every passing second, retired
Scotland Yard investigator Jasper must stay two steps ahead of every player if
he hopes to prevent the billionaire’s devious game from becoming a testament to
murder…
My Thoughts
There are lots of Agatha Christie echoes in this 1920's cosy crime mystery. Set in the French Riviera, the scenery is lush and the isolated mansion perfect for the story. The eccentric Malcolm has summoned a selection of his nearest and not so dearest to attend him whilst he dies. Promising to name a different person each day as his heir, he sets the scene for one and all to consider murder. Will anyone take the bait? As the suspense builds as each day passes, the body count begins to rise.
It took me some time at the beginning to get all the characters clear in my mind and to work out any links between them. Greed and deceit are quickly on show but who is an innocent bystander and who is stirring the pot? This is such a well- crafted story. I was delighted when Jasper, the retired policeman appeared with his theories and he really made the story tick along. In fact, without him, |I would never have kept track of all the machinations! There are some real surprises and quite a twist at the end.
In short: A cosy crime mystery to savour!
About the Author
Armed with cheese and chocolate, Vivian Conroy sits down to
create the aspirational settings, characters with secrets up their sleeves, and
clever plots which took several of her mysteries to #1 bestseller in multiple
categories on Amazon US and Canada. Away from the keyboard, Vivian likes to
hike (especially in the Swiss mountains), hunt for the perfect cheesecake and
experience the joy in every-day life, be it a fiery sunset, a gorgeous full
moon or that errant butterfly descending on the windowsill.
Thanks to Vivian Conroy, and Ellie Pilcher of Canelo Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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