Devi Nair
š±š Read on Kindle (ARC) š 336 pages ā± Approx. 4 hours read š·ļø Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton š Expected publication: January 15, 2026 š Genre: Mystery š ARC provided by NetGalley
I'll say this upfront: I liked The Chateau Murder better than The French Bookshop Murder. While the first installment laid the groundwork for Zoe Pascal's life and move to Sainte-Catherine, the second book felt more complete and confident in its storytelling, even without leaning heavily on the backstory. In fact, this could very easily be read as a standalone, which works in its favor.
This classic closed-house mystery setup gets a delicious tweak with the butler as the victim. Talk about flipping the script! The brooding, slightly dilapidated chateau sets the perfect dark and tense atmosphere for holiday murder, and Zoe Pascal has her hands full, wrangling a house full of jittery, motive-loaded characters. The frosty tensions build nicely, and the mystery keeps you guessing.
That said, while the premise is strong and the reading experience pleasant, it never quite grabbed me by the collar. The mystery unfolds competently, but without the spark that makes you desperate to know what happens next. I found myself enjoying the process rather than being truly invested in the outcome.
Would I Recommend it? The Chateau Murder is a perfectly nice, atmospheric cozy mystery with a grand French chateau, nervy holiday guests, and a dead butler who shakes up the classic formula. This one's worth a weekend read. However, this is not a series I'll follow any longer.
Chateau Secrets or Cozy Comfort? Do you love a slow-burn, atmospheric cozy mystery set in an old chateau, or do you need a mystery to fully pull you in from page one? Tell me which camp you're in.
Originally posted at viewsshewrites.com.
š±š Read on Kindle (ARC) š 336 pages ā± Approx. 4 hours read š·ļø Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton š Expected publication: January 15, 2026 š Genre: Mystery š ARC provided by NetGalley
I'll say this upfront: I liked The Chateau Murder better than The French Bookshop Murder. While the first installment laid the groundwork for Zoe Pascal's life and move to Sainte-Catherine, the second book felt more complete and confident in its storytelling, even without leaning heavily on the backstory. In fact, this could very easily be read as a standalone, which works in its favor.
This classic closed-house mystery setup gets a delicious tweak with the butler as the victim. Talk about flipping the script! The brooding, slightly dilapidated chateau sets the perfect dark and tense atmosphere for holiday murder, and Zoe Pascal has her hands full, wrangling a house full of jittery, motive-loaded characters. The frosty tensions build nicely, and the mystery keeps you guessing.
That said, while the premise is strong and the reading experience pleasant, it never quite grabbed me by the collar. The mystery unfolds competently, but without the spark that makes you desperate to know what happens next. I found myself enjoying the process rather than being truly invested in the outcome.
Would I Recommend it? The Chateau Murder is a perfectly nice, atmospheric cozy mystery with a grand French chateau, nervy holiday guests, and a dead butler who shakes up the classic formula. This one's worth a weekend read. However, this is not a series I'll follow any longer.
Chateau Secrets or Cozy Comfort? Do you love a slow-burn, atmospheric cozy mystery set in an old chateau, or do you need a mystery to fully pull you in from page one? Tell me which camp you're in.
Originally posted at viewsshewrites.com.