Are you a fan of the game of Clue? Are you good at finding the guilty one? If you are, then you will absolutely love this book. A real-life game of Clue is about to begin, but in this game, there is more than one murder.
Six struggling writers are invited to a remote English village during the dead of winter to play a murder mystery game. The winner of this game will receive a very large and tempting prize. No one would be silly enough to actually commit a murder when they’re surrounded by mystery authors, would they?
But the game doesn’t stay a game for very long. When the first forty-eight hours are over, two of the contestants are dead. Not long after, a third is dead. What exactly is going on here? On top of it all, there is a huge snowstorm, leaving them cut off from the rest of the world. They do have plenty of provisions, but a murderer wasn’t in the plans.
As Agatha Christie would say, there is a cat somewhere among the pigeons. But which one of the guests is it? Or is it a guest at all? Perhaps one of the six staff members is the culprit. But why?
The story is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. The reason behind the murders, well, it surprised me who the guilty party was. Things are so much different than what they seem to be. Martin Edwards did a great job with this book and did a terrific job at keeping me in suspense and from guessing who the criminal was.
I don’t think there is a better way to spend an evening that with a cup of tea and this captivating mystery. If you would like your own copy of this book, I’ve provided an Amazon link below for you.
Amazon Link: Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife
Favorite Sentences:
Why would anyone want to spend their Christmas playing a mysterious game with a bunch of strangers in this remote corner of England?
The curse of a crime writer is a feverish imagination.
Checking in at Midwinter was like gaining access to a maximum-security prison.
Why in God’s name would I rake up what happened five years ago, just when we’ve finally managed to put it behind us?
Nicotine addiction might explain why he did something so stupid and dangerous as to creep around in a wild storm at dead of night.
Christmas in Midwinter was truly unforgettable, but not in a good way.
New Words Learned:
alacrity – promptness in response : cheerful readiness
carapace – a protective, decorative, or disguising shell
colliery – a coal mine and its connected buildings
cruciverbalist – a person skillful in creating or solving crossword puzzles
farrago – a confused mixture: hodgepodge
Geordie voice – refers to the distinctive accent and dialect spoken by people from Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding Tyneside area in northeastern England. It is characterized by unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical features that set it apart from other English dialects.
Japanese knotweed – scientifically known as Reynoutria japonica, is a perennial plant native to East Asia that is characterized by its hollow stems and broad, oval leaves. It is considered an invasive species in many regions, known for forming dense thickets that can crowd out native vegetation.
jobsworth – someone who always obeys all the rules of their job even when they cause problems for other people or when the rules are silly
manqué – short of or frustrated in the fulfillment of one’s aspirations or talents —used postpositively
maunderings – muttering or driveling speech; a muttering
pettifogging – dishonest or unethical in insignificant matters; meanly petty.
tattoo – a knocking or strong pulsation
temerity – reckless boldness; rashness
torches – flashlights
About the Author:
Martin Edwards has been described by Richard Osman as “a true master of British crime writing.” His novels include the eight Lake District Mysteries and four books featuring Rachel Savernake, including the Dagger-nominated The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge. He is also the author of two multi-award-winning histories of crime fiction, The Life of Crime and The Golden Age of Murder. He has received three Daggers, including the CWA Diamond Dagger (the highest honour in UK crime writing) and two Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America. He has received four lifetime achievement awards: for his fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, and scholarship. He is consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics and since 2015 has been President of the Detection Club.
