Beautifully Evocative....
Beautifully evocative historical murder mystery. 1940’s set, featuring Chief Inspector Mason who is determined to solve a cold case that has been hounding him for some twenty five years. With a vivid sense of place and credible characters this is an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Young Robert McFarlane’s body was found outside the local church hall on 30th September 1923. But, his cause of death was drowning, and he’d been missing for three days before his body was found. No one was ever arrested for the crime. No answers could ever be given to the grieving family. The unsolved case has haunted Mason ever since.

But, the chance discovery of another victim, with worrying parallels, sets Mason, and his constable, O’Rourke, on a journey that will take them back over twenty-five years, the chance to finally solve the case, while all around them is uncertainty, impossible to ignore.

Another thrilling murder mystery. Very crisp, fast paced story telling, with sufficient emotional hold throughout. The ending was bittersweet but it had to be so. Will definitely read more books by the author.

Such an unexpected gem of a read. Wonderfully written in a suitably retro style fitting perfectly with the 1940s storyline. Absolutely loved it, start to finish. Hope there will be a series of books to follow.

This was a really well written novel. The writing and characters really evoked the war era and the tenacity of Sam and his team was great to read about. It was not a long story and I raced through it to find out the truth behind the murders. Really enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, MJ Publishing for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Custard Corpses.” All opinions are my own.

Chief Inspector Sam Mason from the Erdington police force delves into an unsolved murder case from 25 years past to solve a present day one in “The Custard Corpses,” set in 1943. The title doesn’t have much to do with the actual dessert confection, the whys and wherefores of that become apparent soon enough.

The death of a child has brought up memories from the past, since an anniversary story has brought out the long dead child’s sister – who also alerts Inspector Mason to a similar case in another part of Britain. How this got overlooked he doesn’t know, but it sets off a chain of events that will soon prove to all and sundry they have a serial killer on their hands. He’s never forgotten what happened, thinks every year if something was overlooked, if there could be something new to investigate. And all of a sudden, there is.

Alongside the investigation, which the author handles with a deft hand in very engrossing fashion we get a look at the emotions and feelings that accompany a wartime Britain, including recollections from the first war. The author has Mason very involved in showing how that shapes his present day.

What’s interesting is how the advertising for a company that produces custard powder is the key to solving the case. And it’s Mason’s wife that produces a clue that brings about the link that starts to pull everything together. That was cleverly done.

There are very emotional scenes in this book, when they (Inspector Mason and his female constable) find the source of the images that are the basis for the staged murder sites. They have found their killer. The case is finally resolved, bringing closure to many families. Too bad that there wasn’t more cooperation amongst the police forces; it’s obvious that the murderer could have been found out much sooner, possibly. Our author, M. J. Porter doesn’t mince words when pointing this out.

“The Custard Corpses” is engrossing, a bit slow paced in places, but it does have to cover a lot of ground. My only strong criticism is that I do believe that Constable Higham is given a bit more responsibility than a female police officer would have had at the time.

There’s an author’s note that explains more about the real-life settings and situations used in the book that makes for interesting reading itself. I’d be happy to follow more of Inspector Mason’s exploits.

1943 Once again on the anniversary of her brother's death Rebecca McFarlane visits the police, her seven year old brother Robert was killed in 1923 and the case remains unsolved. This year she brings with her a newspaper report of similar old case. Back in 1923 Sam Mason was still a rookie but now he is a Chief Inspector and he investigates the cases with the help of Constable O'Rourke. But soon they find there have been more similar murders, and countrywide. But what is the connection and the motive.
An entertaining and well-written interesting historical mystery with its likeable main characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Books Go Social and NetGalley for a review copy of this one.

The Custard Corpses is a historical mystery/police procedural set in the 1940s and involving a cold case. Our story opens with Chief Inspector Sam Mason—not serving in the war due to an injury—who is visited by Rebecca McFarlane whose brother Robert had been found dead in mysterious circumstances 20 years earlier when he was only 7. The case was from a time when Mason was a rookie. In charge was his Chief Inspector Fullerton who had left no stone unturned, but had still been unable to solve it; this had preyed on his mind till his death after he retired. Rebecca has been seeking updates regularly but on this visit has brought with her a newspaper report she chanced upon, of another cold case. The case dates back to three years after her brother’s and the details are very similar. Mason is surprised because the station had sent out notices regarding Robert’s case but had received no reports of similar cases. But the lead is promising and he is determined to follow it up. He feels especially strongly about the matter because of Fullerton’s efforts as well as since the victim was known to his son. Tracking his new lead in Weston, he soon finds that not only is this other case similar, but there were also others. We follow Mason and his constable O’Rourke (for a time joined by a Scottish constable, Hamish) as they painstakingly gather information, compare details, and attempt to work out who was responsible for these dastardly crimes.

This was a bit of a mixed read for me as there were aspects, particularly the plot and the way Mason and O’Rourke piece together the puzzle that I really enjoyed but other elements that were not as satisfactory. When I started the book, the prologue (which definitely leads one to expect something creepy) captured my attention but at the same time I found the writing—in places the expressions used and language felt a touch too modern for time period (like ‘sicko’ for instance)—was taking away from my enjoyment a little.

But once we get into the thick of things, as details begin to come to light, more cases are revealed, I was once again completely absorbed. It was interesting that it is not Mason but his wife who finds the most important clue. I really enjoyed the process of investigation, with Mason and O’Rourke making various charts, comparing drawings and following clues. The murders themselves were rather unsettling so the case has a pretty creepy feel as well. Another aspect I enjoyed was the ‘Custard’ connection about which it won’t be fair to write any details but I will say, it was well done, creative and different.

While the investigation and build up, and even the whodunit were enjoyable, I felt at the end that the explanation, the ‘why’ as well as part of the connection between the events of the prologue and what we learn later were not as satisfactory, which made it feel a little flat for me.

But still overall, this was enjoyable read, especially for the plot and the interesting title and how that works out in the story. 3.75 stars!

Don't start this one before you go to bed, you'll be up all night wanting to read"just one more chapter." Great read not to be missed

For some reason this reminded me much of the Flavia DeLuce mysteries. I loved the time period and the historical references. I know this is a fictional story, but the way that M J Porter weaves history with fiction was so good. I felt like I was learning new things I had never heard or read about.

Really enjoyed this mystery.

Custard powder was rationed in WW2 & you were usually given one packet every couple of months, with the Shopkeeper marking off your ration book.

This was a first by this author for me & also the first wartime mystery I've read. I usually tend to steer clear of books by authors like Agatha Christie as I don't think I'll get on with them after reading so many modern thrillers & mysteries, but after reading this I think I might give one a try!

This has a fabulous plot, is suspenseful, tense & totally unputdownable. Full of unexpected twists & turns, this was an absolute gem of a book & I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read it before publication. I'm on the understanding that this is the authors first foray into writing a mystery, let's hope this isn't the last. Loved the way 'custard' becomes so relevant to the case.

Birmingham 1943, the country is at war...

Twenty years ago the body of a young lad Robert McFarlane was discovered, on the anniversary of his death, police are trying to get closure for the boys family & when they are passed some new information, the race is on to find the boys' killer!

Many thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in return for my honest review.

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Solving a 20-year-cold murder case in 1943 Birmingham, England knowing today's modern investigation techniques could lead a reader to pass on this story. Oh, but don't! MJ Porter created a masterful plot full of suspense and twists that kept me up reading late into the night.

When 7-year-old Robert McFarlane's body was discovered clean, clothed & left to be readily found on dry land in 1923, an autopsy determined he died from drowning. Every year the family sends reminders to the press and police that the case is still unsolved. No other clues were found for 20 years until the family finds a similar notice in the press from a small town far from Birmingham. Chief Inspector Mason starts digging and doesn't stop until they've found a dozen similar unsolved mysteries surrounding the death of children throughout Britain.

A great read for mystery fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. I devoured this book and now wouldn't mind a small bowl of British custard.

You know when you get so immersed in a book you don't want it to end yet are itching to get to the end to see what happens? This book falls into that category. Suspenseful and twisty, the story is set in 1943 Birmingham, England, during WWII. The war factors into it but it is not the focus. There is a different focus.

Young Robert McFarlane's body was found twenty years ago in 1923. On the anniversary of his death Chief Inspector Mason and Constable O'Rourke catch a sliver of hope and excitement in pursuing the case which has been bothering several people for so long. Family needed closure. Once they dig, they really dig. And find out far more than they had ever dreamed. Joined briefly by Constable Hamish from Scotland they draw piece after piece together. The crimes take them hither and thither to unexpected places. Drowned on dry land? How? And the similarities don't end there. I like the professional camaraderie between Mason and O'Rourke and the layers of mysteries just got more and more tense! Interestingly, the details are gritty yet the book is not a gritty one if that makes sense.

Man, I loved this unmissable book! It was impossible to walk away from. I literally caught myself holding my breath a few times. There are so many interesting bits I'm dying to mention but won't! All mystery readers definitely need to read this. I cannot possibly recommend it enough and am salivating at the mention of the next.

My sincere thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fabulous, FABULOUS book! What a treat.