Malcolm, an unpleasant and very rich old man, has gathered nine of his equally unpleasant family and associates into a villa and challenged them with his will. What a complicated premise it seems on the surface and clearly it isn't because two of the "heirs" quickly end up dead. Jasper, a retired Scotland Yard detective, is called in to sort things out and find the murderer(S). Things get better once he's on the case. Set in the 1920s, it's more or less a historical cozy. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a quick (it's short) entertaining read.

A Testament to Murder by Vivan Conroy is the classic mystery set in beautiful French villa where a wealthy dying man has invited his closest family and friends to spend his last days with.
He proposes to write a new will every day with new name in it, and if he dies on that day the person whose name is in the will, will inherit everything.
He has concoted a devious plan and he expects them to fight, argue and even kill for his money.
However his actions will result in a ending that no one sees coming.

Very well written and cleverly plotted, this book has that old fashion feel to it. Not much action but a absorbing psyhological game.
Characters are brilliantly defined, setting is absolutely gorgeous and even a scorching summer sun can't warm up the evil that lurkes beneath.

Like reading the script and character notes for a movie based on a game of Clue. This lively concept might have been a delight to read, but this treatment was unsatisfying. I found the settings too scantly sketched for the lush beauty of the region, and the characters lacking depth. Most action happened off the page, leaving us to only hear about it after the fact. I admire the ability to juggle multiple unreliable narrators but there's only so much conversation and inner monologue a murder mystery can sustain before the novelty of the concept ceases to entertain.

A bunch of unlikable, greedy, privileged aristocrats try to outsmart terminally ill, wealthy relative to cash in on inheritance. First world problems.

An easy read for fans of Agatha Christie and historical murder mystery.

Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford is a miserable, cruel misanthrope in possession of a great fortune and the Villa Calypso on the French Riviera. But none of his extended family and associates fares much better: his ne’er-do-well, drunken nephew Hugh with ridiculous artistic pretensions, Hugh’s shallow gold-digger American bride; Malcolm’s greedy ex-wife Cecily, who has remarried with Malcolm’s business partner and borne a possibly sociopathic son; Malcolm’s long-suffering but overbearing former secretary, spinster Theodora Cummings, and a pretty, too-good-to- be-true British nurse, Anna Case. These people are pitted against one another when Uncle Malcolm reveals that he’s terminally ill and that he will leave his vast fortune to a different legatee each day. If he happens to die on that day, the inheritor gets the lot; if not, a new beneficiary will be named at midnight. An invitation to murder? You bet!

Although the novel begins just a tad too slowly, once retired Scotland Yard police superintendent Jasper comes on the scene, I couldn’t put it down. Although newly written, author Vivian Conroy captures the flavor of Golden Age cozy mysteries with a dash (very small) of Patricia Highsmith. Not very many of the characters are what they seem. It would be too easy to reveal too much and spoil Conroy’s novel, so I will leave it at that. I really look forward to the future adventures of retired Superintendent Jasper.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Canelo in exchange for an honest review.

This is set up as a quintessential English country house (or vacation house) murder. A cranky, old, very wealthy, dying man invites nine potential heirs and tells them that he is going to be choosing one person every night at midnight to be the beneficiary of his will. No one will know who it is but each day, someone might end up being his sole heir, or being written out of the will. He is setting up the perfect scenario for someone to be murdered.
And someone is, but it's not the old man. Through a series of winding expositions, we learn the true solution. Or do we?
It is a short read but is one that starts slow until it careens toward an ending that was interesting but very convoluted.

Three stars
This book comes out February 18
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and publisher

A Testament to Murder by Vivian Conroy is a cosy mystery set in the glamorous setting of the South of France and with a cast of characters all of whom are furnished with reasons to wish others dead. The characters have been gathered together to the deathbed of a rich relative to bid him farewell before his demise and when they are arrive they discover that he has a curious plan about continually changing his will to test his potential heirs.
The book is full of classic Agatha Christie inspired mystery tropes, from the glamorous but isolated setting to the small group of unlikeable and suspicious characters. However, ultimately for me the book failed almost because it was so overstuffed with these references. There are too many characters, almost indistinguishable in terms of their motives for considering murder. There are too many murders and attempted murders. There are too many attempts on the part of characters to mislead and confuse other characters – eventually confusing and discouraging the reader.
And then there is a ludicrously complicated plan to unsettle and destabilise potential heirs by a wealthy billionaire on his death bed. This of course is an eerily common phenomenon in mystery fiction if almost wholly implausible. I don’t mind implausibility in my fiction so long as it is tongue in cheek implausibility. Many an author has poked self-referential fun at the deathbed will murder. However, here the plot device seems to be presented rather seriously.
This is the first book of a series – but what will tie that series together is not clear. Perhaps the main character, retired Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper, will be the thread. Again there are for me issues around this rather opaque and unconvincing character – he’s retired yet he gets to lead cases in France. He’s something of a reverse Poirot. And in what period is the book set? It has a timeless feel but not in a positive way. The language and social distinctions aren’t very convincing.
Overall this was a pleasant if undemanding and unremarkable read in a genre that has been done better by others. Conroy is very prolific and writes smoothly and well but alas is not for this reader.
I was tempted to give up before the end but read on valiantly, just to see whether my views might change but alas they did not..

I haven't read an Agatha Christie book, but this book is pretty much what I imagine them to be. The premise was certainly very interesting. All these different people gather in a villa, trying to kill each other so they can inherit money and fortune. It was filled with murder and mystery, and it managed to keep me entertained throughout the whole story.

There were too many characters, though. Names were just being thrown out and I didn't know who was who. Ultimately, A Testament to Murder was an entertaining and quick read, just not my cup of tea.

This is another book featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Jasper. This time he finds himself in a situation reminiscent of And Then There Were None. Set in the 1920's in a glamorous villa, a group of individuals have been brought together in a mysterious environment where it doesn't take long for a murder to occur. And then we're off and running! Written in the style of Agatha Christie, this is very well plotted and keeps you guessing about motives, victims and whether or not Jasper can figure things out in time. I will say, there are mostly very unlikeable characters in this story but they all fit into the story nicely and you aren't sad when one of them becomes a victim!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy to read for review.

Great 'closed community' cosy mystery with a twist.

At the lush Villa Calypso on the French Riviera, a dying billionaire launches a devious plan: at midnight each day he appoints a new heir to his vast fortune. If he dies within 24 hours, that person takes it all. If not, their chance is gone forever. And it's someone else's turn. But he is playing with fire. As every one of his heirs has a reason to see him dead, and not just for his money.

I have to admit that I found all of the characters extremely unlikeable (apart from Jasper) and felt that they were ciphers rather than fully-imagined characters; however, this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the twists and turns of the plot.

In the style of 'And Then There Were None', this is a well-executed 1920s-style mystery novel and would appeal to anyone who enjoys Golden Age crime novels.

A Testament to Murder features a group of people invited to a villa in order to witness the dying days of an eccentric billionaire. There, as they arrive, he gives some the hope of being the sole heir to his fortune. This includes his ex-wife, the new wife of his nephew, and his old secretary. In the process, buried secrets are revealed and things take an unexpected direction.

It’s set in the 1920s and you can really see some Gilded-age style classism and worship of wealth and power. I liked the setting and there’s some pretty spooky And Then There Were None vibes going on. Given my love for that book, these vibes added to the overall feel of the story and my enjoyment of it.

There are quite a few characters present and their personalities shine through in the book. All of them have their own agendas and reasons for wanting to get their hands on the fortune. I also liked how these characters are not surface-level and what we see doesn’t necessarily reveal what’s underneath. The author really kept some cards close to her chest here. It’s only towards the end that everything is revealed and it was pretty dramatic. If you like rich-people drama, this has that in spades.

I liked the character of retired Scotland Yard investigator, Jasper. While as an investigator, he should be impartial but he has his biases. I think it made him a more compelling character because as we dive in to his thoughts, we see that there are people he desperately wish to be innocent and he struggles to reconcile the need for impartiality with that. For me, it really humanizes the character.

The plot revolves around a dying billionaire playing a game with his guests. Every day, a new heir is chosen. If he dies on that day, the heir gets everything. It’s a dangerous game and one that can lead to his death. Indeed, he even states that he wants to see who would be brave enough to kill him and smart enough to get away with it. Predictably, this is alarming to some people, especially Jasper, and perhaps, tempting for his guests.

I liked the mystery in this book. I really enjoyed the fact that while it is a murder mystery, it doesn’t just revolve around it, and it’s not the only mystery either. In fact, the murder/s don’t even happen until around halfway through the book. There are other mysteries to solve, other questions requiring answers.

The murders weren’t shown in explicit detail and happen off-screen, as with many cozy mysteries. It also has one of the hallmarks of the mystery genre-the red herring. While I did find the red herring obvious, the actual murderer wasn’t and I wasn’t able to figure it out until it was revealed.

Overall, I liked A Testament to Murder for being a nice, atmospheric read. It’s the perfect read for a cold night and best enjoyed with a blanket and a hot drink.

Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford ,a very unpleasant and very sick man,has invited several guests,both family and,well not exactly, friends to his beautiful house on the French Riviera. He announces to his puzzled audience that he will draw up a different will every day. If he dies the person who is mentioned in that " daily" will inherit the whole estate. Of course there are risks,not in the first place for Mr. Malcolm himself but also for the beneficiary. If Malcolm dies he or she could become the number one suspect. Nobody has any doubt that a murder will be committed but the victim comes as a bit of a surprise,followed by another murder and some strange mishaps. Luckily the neighbour,a retired Scotland Yard man,is there to solve these crimes.
The story and setting(a weekend party in an isolated manor house)has strong links to Golden Age (and Agatha Christie )mysteries. And it works up to a certain point but it is a tad long winded and the "denouement "(in real Poirot style,all the suspects in the drawing room)and the gathering of evidence leading to this great revelation is missing something. Very hard to say what exactly but there it is...

A retired Scotland Yard detective is invited to an estate in the French Riviera to investigate 2 murders where a Billionaire who is dying is playing a game, with friends, family and frenemies. He plans to change the sole heir of his will every night at midnight. The catch no one knows on any given day who is named the heir. Uncle Malcolm is playing a rather twisted game with deadly consequences. None of the characters are particularly likeable. Clearly has the Agatha Christie style and I did enjoy the mystery. Worth the read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for providing me an advanced digital copy of A TESTAMENT TO MURDER by Vivian Conroy. A murder mystery that is stand-alone as opposed to being part of a series. Jasper, a retired police inspector, is called in to determine who murdered two of the guests who’ve been invited to spend a week with a dying relative.
The invitation to visit is not without strings. Once the family arrives they learn of their Uncle Malcolm’s plan to change his will every night at the stroke of midnight to name a different heir for his multi-billion dollar fortune. The reason? To see if anyone of the relatives has the courage and the intelligence to murder him without being caught on the day they are named heir. The catch? He will not be providing any information regarding who is named on any particular day.
In the vein of such classics as Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, each character has something to hide and everyone lies about something to protect themselves or someone they love. To make it more complicated, Malcolm doesn’t die, although there are two murders that Jasper must solve.
An interesting premise, which provides the reader with an opportunity to speculate on who is committing murder and why. The book is evenly paced, throughout, with characters well-defined. The downfall for me is that none of the characters are particularly likeable or sympathetic. Jasper might be, but he is introduced late in the book and isn’t central to the action so much as he spends time asking questions and trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.
There is a “twist” at the end, which was the exact solution I expected to be the answer to this mystery. The author then throws out a short paragraph designed to cast doubt on one last person at the end, leaving the reader to decide the validity of the statement. It doesn’t change the outcome of who is the murderer, but does speak to the motive for the entire book. If a reader likes this type of open-ended solution, this may be the book for them.

Set in the Riviera of the 1920s, dying Malcolm Bryce-Rutherford had invited his potential heirs to his vast fortune for a visit. Terms of his will mean that murder or murders could be the eventually outcome.
For the story none of the characters are likeable and the ending was as I had predicted. But overall it was an enjoyable story.
A NetGalley Book

A Testament to Murder reads like a classic Agatha Christie mystery. I pictured former Scotland Yard Investigator Jasper to be like the British version of Christie's Hercule Poirot. This was a storyline that paralleled And Then There Were None very closely, so if you are entertained by a good mystery that leaves the reader guessing who the culprit is until the very end with shocking revelations about each character, you will thoroughly enjoy this.

A Testament to Murder is set in the French Riviera on the grounds of the Villa Calypso - a magnificent Mediterranean mansion over looking the spectacular view of the water. Malcolm, a cold-hearted and conniving billionaire invites all of his closest foes to partake in a twisted game of chance that will most certainly result in his (un)timely death. Malcolm shares with his numerous guests (including his wife, ex-wife. former business partner- turned wife stealer, their son, former secretary, detestable nephew, his uncouth American wife, and his nurse) that everyday until his dying day, he will be rewriting his will. Each rewrite will name a new member of their party as the sole heir to his riches. The problem? Who ever comes to find themselves as the recipient of his dynasty will be the main suspect in his death...and there's nothing they can do about it.

The disturbing, embarrassing, and atrocious pasts of those in the house begin to come to light as the days pass by. Who will crack under the pressure? Who has the will...to kill...?

You can really tell where Conroy got her inspiration for this one. The book screams Hercule Poirot, the ending especially (don't worry, you don't see it coming). I have a soft spot for Agatha Christie-like murder intrigue and the premise of A Testament to Murder felt just like that. You know, the multiple people gathered together, someone dies, everyone could have a motive type deal.

The part that fell flat for me, however, was the character development. They didn't really feel like real people as much as pawns to move the plot forward. They didn't respond to situations in ways that felt genuine and they were kind of interchangeable personality wise.

Sometimes it also felt like there was a little too much exposition and like Conroy was trying to stuff too many words into a sentence. And, totally a personal pet peeve here, but most scenes with dialogue went like:
He said, "words". Instead of "Words," he said. I'm OK with that for a few lines, but it feels kind of jarring

All in all a good cozy mystery with enough intrigue and twists to keep you interested. I just wanted it to be a bit more charming.

Wow, what a ride this book gives - full of red herrings and false leads, that you don't know which way is up.
The conclusion is surprising even if you saw coming - or was it? The book was, for me a real page turner, especially the end. Written in the style of Agatha Christie, with a sense of being here before, it suddenly verse in all directions before coming back to centre. I rather enjoyed it

An unusual and intriguing murder mystery. An easy read and a compulsive page turner! Will be looking out for more from Vivían Conroy

A great story line with brilliant main characters.. I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.