So today I am super excited to be taking part in the blog
tour for Frances Brody’s new Kate Shackleton mystery, Death in the Stars. (Thank-you Little,Brown for asking me to take
part and for the copy of the book) LET US TALK ABOUT IT.
I liked it.
I did.
It’s kind of reminiscent of the Agatha Raisin series by MC
Beaton. I mean, it’s not like those books at
all but it’s that kind of lazy Sunday easy cosy read. It’s the kind of book
you can just sort of get lost in: you don’t have to think or feel too much; you
can just let the story take you, and take you it does. Ot at least it took me.
Perhas it’s the fact that I still – will always – love a good mystery, from my
very first Poirot book circa 1994, I have always loved a good mystery, or
actually since before that: I was such a sucker for Enid Blyton as a child. Perhaps
it’s the setting – I’m always drawn to the 1920’s, or perhaps it’s because I really rather liked
Kate Shackleton. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed this book and have already
handed my copy to my Mum – she’ll love it also, I can just tell.
Also the cover. It’s all kind of art deco-y and I’d have it
on my wall.
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| how cute are these little bitmoji things that you can make look like your own self though #cantgetenough |
Kate Shackleton is a PI (I think this is book 9 in the
series) and she’s hired by theatre star Selina Fellini to accompany her to
watch the Eclipse. Eclipse fever has gripped the nation, like it did back in
the late 1990’s – anyone remember that? – except a lot less was known then,
than is now and the whole Eclipse thing was much more fantastical than scientifical.
Kate thinks it’s a bit of a weird job at first although it’s totes obvious that
something’s bugging Selina. On the way home though, after the whole eclipse
thing is done and dusted, she realises she’s there for a reason after all,
because bad things keep happening to the people Selina knows and she wants Kate
to figure out why.
MURDER IN A THEATRE COMPANY I AM SO HERE FOR THAT.
I loved, as well, that it’s set round my neck of the woods.
I’m always such a fan of that – of being able to picture places I read about
because I know them. Giggleswick.
Not
only is it an excellent name for a town, I know where it is; I could get there
in 42 minutes in current traffic and I was once seeing a boy who grew up there,
so I could pop myself perfectly into The Yorkshire Dales in 1927 when Eclipse
Fever had gripped the nation and Kate Shackleton had no idea why actress Selina
Fellini needed a PI as an escort. It’s well thought out this book, and the
characters are all well rounded whilst the story is fresh and well-paced. Like
any good mystery should there are red herrings and enough twists and turns to
keep you guessing – the very best part of a whodunit after all is exactly that:
whodunit and I didn’t guess. I like that I didn’t guess. Sometimes I guess pretty quickly and then I'm annoyed for the rest of the story but this time? Nope. Kudos to you Frances Brody.
I haven’t read the
rest of the series – so I can tell you with absolute certainty that this book
works as a standalone – but I kind of feel a little bit like I want to read
them, now.
