DESCRIPTION:
The Christmas lights twinkle in the town square as merry carollers bring good tidings. But when a festive feud turns fatal, Sarah Vane is on the case!
While snowflakes fall outside, Sarah Vane cosies up in her cottage with a book when a leaflet for the Christmas choir flutters through her letterbox. Keen to sign up, she pays a visit to choir master Daffyd Jones. But her festive cheer crumbles like a mince pie when she finds him dead in his office. With just a week to go until Christmas, Sarah has a festive case to solve.
As Sarah talks to the devastated choir members, she soon discovers many had a reason to dislike Daffyd. Was it the soprano who was humiliated by him in front of the choir for missing her high note? His long-suffering wife suspected an affair – are her floods of tears fake? And why was his picture-perfect forever home put on the market just days before his death?
But with her tinsel in a tangle, another body is found, this time on the beach. The police think the poor lad had one too many at a Christmas party and fell off the pier, but when Sarah looks closely, she sees a clear link to Daffyd. Can Sarah catch the culprit among the carollers, or will she be dashing through the snow to her demise this Christmas?
A delightfully cozy, utterly compulsive and gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, J.R. Ellis and Clare Chase who are looking for their next addictive read.
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Title: Murder in the ChoirSeries: Sarah Vane Mysteries Book 4
No. of Pages: 280
Date of Publication: September 12, 2025
The delightful Sarah Vane cozy mystery series continues with another brilliant installment. Sarah, a retired GP, has settled into the charming village of Merstairs. Initially, she envisioned a peaceful life after retirement. However, her fresh start has transformed her into an amateur sleuth, as numerous murders have plagued the village.
Simply put, she takes it upon herself to solve these murders, even when the police would rather her just mind her own business. Currently, it is the Christmas season and Sarah is disconcerted when she finds the choirmaster, Daffyd Jones, dead in his office. Accompanied by her close friend Daphne and her loyal dog Hamish, Sarah embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind Daffyd’s death and identify the culprit.
Sarah’s stubbornness and determination drive her to investigate, despite the police’s ruling that Daffyd’s death was an accident. Her initial discovery that Daffyd was not well-liked further fuels her belief that his death was far from accidental.
This entertaining read showcases Sarah’s no-nonsense attitude. As winter approaches, it’s the perfect read to curl up with a warm drink. The series boasts lovable characters and intricate murder mysteries, making it a delightful fourth installment in the Sarah Vane series.
As a diehard series fan, I recommend reading the series in order. This approach allows readers to reconnect with familiar characters and story arcs. While Sarah’s dear friend Daphne’s quirks, particularly her constant clinginess to Sarah, slightly diminish the book for me, Hamish’s beautiful and loyal nature quickly restores the balance. With the slow-paced development of Sarah’s growing relationship with Charles, I eagerly anticipate the fifth book in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Before turning to crime, Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Her latest cozy mystery series, set in fictional seaside town Merstairs, stars retired GP Sarah Vane. It is published by Bookouture, who also publish Alice's nine-book Beth Haldane Mysteries series set in south east London. Alice also writes psychological thrillers for HQDigital as A.M. Castle.
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