Colleen Cambridge delivers an excellent whodunnit set in Agatha Christie's household!
I was very intrigued by the premise of this historical cozy, set in the early 1930s featuring Agatha Christie as a character. I had high hopes, and this book did not disappoint!
In A Trace of Poison, Agatha Christie's housemaid, Phyllida, is the sleuth solving a murder that happens among famous mystery writers who had once all actually belonged to a group they called The Detection Club. In real life and in this story, the members helped each other with different aspects of their writings and coauthored some works together.
In the book, members of The Detection Club include real-life authors Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chesterton, who all arrive to attend a Murder Fete to raise money for an orphanage. When an actual murder occurs, Phyllida will have her work cut out for her as all the suspects, mystery writers, know how to get away with murder.
I really enjoyed this! It felt inspired by classic Agatha Christie mysteries and Poirot. Well-written and deftly plotted, the pacing was good, and the references to Christie's fictional sleuths, books, and other famous literary detectives were all great fun. Phyllida is quick thinking and uses her wits, or "little grey cells," to solve a crime full of suspects, red herrings, and a twist or two. I genuinely appreciated that Phyllida solves the mystery rather than stumbles upon the murderer.
I hope there are more mysteries to come in this series. I cannot wait to read more! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to review this ARC!
My steep was Ruby Moon by Club Magic Hour. A tart and delicious hibiscus and elderberry blend that brews to a gorgeous deep red color! www.clubmagichour.com
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