Murder on the Marlow Belle (The Marlow Murder Club #4)

I’m so glad I waited on the audio for the latest installment of The Marlow Murder Club series Murder on the Marlow Belle. I think it made a huge difference for my enjoyment, plus I’m not sure I can do this series without Nicolette McKenzie’s wonderful voice talents! To embody our three protagonists Judith, Becks and Suzie with such uniquely distinct personalities is no small feat, and once again she’s taken Robert Thorogood’s latest mystery and elevated it even more.

Verity Beresford shows up on Judith’s doorstep one day asking for her help in finding her missing husband Oliver, director of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society. She last saw him on the pleasure cruiser The Marlow Belle during a trip down the Thames that Oliver had arranged for the MADS committee. When his body is found shortly after, all attention goes to those who were on the cruise.

Our suspects include the boat captain Lance Goodman, mechanic and amateur actor Toby Vincent, MADS technical director Duncan Wood, Oliver’s wife Verity, and a Marlow-bred film actress named Lizzie Jenkins. 

There’s nothing ground-breaking here. It’s a standard locked room mystery with a small suspect pool brimming with various motives to end Oliver’s life. He hadn’t exactly inspired any allegiance or goodwill! There’s a little comic relief in the form of a pretentious, blowhard aged actress named Mary Eddingham who puts on ALL the airs for whatever audience will listen to her. Actually she’s pretty annoying, but in a funny, eye-rolling way. 

Judith, Becks and Suzie are the stars of the show, as always, and continue to make life both easier and more difficult for DI Tanika Malik who has basically begged Judith to stand down from her sleuthing before it gets her in trouble. Does Judith listen? Those of you who’ve followed the series know better than to ask that! 

If you enjoy an Agatha Christie style mystery, where Poirot or Miss Marple are replaced by a headstrong, determined septuagenarian amateur detective and her two sidekicks, look no further. I personally think the series is best enjoyed on audio, and I wonder if some of my friends who just read it might’ve enjoyed it more in that format. Maybe not. I began with both my Kindle and the audio, but ended up just listening to most of it and followed along easily.

Overall, the mystery was decent. The ending used a ploy I’m not very fond of and the motive seemed weak, but I still loved watching Judith piece it all together, and the book ends on a very surprising cliffhanger! I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

★★★ ½  (rounded up)

Thanks to Poison Pen Press, NetGalley and author Robert Thorogood for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now.