A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton
(The Mr. Quayle Mysteries, Book 1)
Narrated by Rafe Beckley

This audiobook was fun to hear. The narrator was perfect for the story and I felt like I could see the location and story in my mind's eye. It's 1925 and the Earl of Unsworth's loyal secretary, Mr. Quayle, has been tasked with finding out who murdered a mysterious girl during a birthday party at the Unsworth Castle.

Mr. Quayle's assistance isn't exactly appreciated by the official investigators but at least the head inspector is someone who knows and respects him from the last war. Also, Mr. Quayle fought under Earl Unsworth's late son in the war and Earl Unsworth cherishes him for that reason. I really like Mr. Quayle and am glad that there will be a second book so we can once again follow his amateur sleuthing abilities.

The story brings back the best of the old murder mysteries, so different from murder mysteries of today. There is a lot of traipsing around with a hoard of family members and friends following Mr. Quayle. He's determined to not let his employment with Earl Unsworth interfere with his finding the real murderer. He's doing this all for the memory of Earl Unsworth's late son, a person that I feel meant very much to Mr. Quayle. I hope in the next book we find out more about how the son and Mr. Quayle are so closely connected. I very much enjoyed this complicated murder mystery.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

Book Title: A Most Efficient Murder
Series: Mr. Quayle Mystery
Author: Anthony Slayton
Audiobook Narrator: Rafe Beckley
Publisher: BooksGoSocial Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery & Thriller
Pub Date: September 15, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars

Story starts when his Lordship the Earl of Unsworth is hosting his first party in over an age. The mansion has finally been renovated and his niece Fanny is turning eighteen. The party is nearly over when the butler says . .
“I do not wish to disturb you, your grace, but there is a body in the garden…”
Loyal secretary Mr. Quayle is on it. He is calming the guest and has called authorities.

Time: 1929 ~
Where: Unsworth Castle ~
Who: No one knows…or do they?

This is book #1 in the new Mr. Quayle Murder Mystery series.
This was a light enjoyable read.

I was a tad disappointed with the narrator. I guess my expectation was too high!

Want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date was September 15, 2022

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in a promising new detective series. As an avid fan of Agatha Christie books, especially those featuring Poirot, this book shares some similar qualities as the mysteries encountered by famous detective. Mr. Quayle is asked by his employer, Lord Unsworth, to assist the police in investigating the death of a young woman who was found in the garden on the night of a party. The party was in honor of Lord Unsworth's niece, Fanny, on her 18th birthday. But none of the family or friends gathered admit to knowing the woman. As Mr. Quayle digs into the mystery, we enjoy many of the elements of the golden age mysteries, including family heirs and inheritances, missing family heirlooms, estranged family members reappeared and old family manors with hidden passages. Most of the family members have opportunity to commit the crime, but what was the motive? Lady Constance, Lord Unsworth's sister, is desperate for her brother to name her son, Arthur, heir to the title since her nephew died in WWI, especially since it is her husband, Sir Robert, who is keeping the castle aloft with money for renovations. But it is no secret that Lord Unsworth wants to find a way to allow Fanny to inherit, something that Mr. Quayle and the previous secretary were working on, Mr. Quayle's predecessor having left under a cloud of suspicion some months ago. When the gardener's son ends up missing and is later found dead, Mr. Quayle knows that he saw something important on the night of the murder. The unravelling of the mystery leads him back to WWI and tracking the fates of many of the family members and ends with the final big reveal to the family in the drawing room, ala Poirot.
In addition to the obvious connection to Ms. Christie's novels, the connections to WWI reminded me of the Maisie Dobbs' series, at least the earlier books. I highly recommend to anyone who has read and enjoyed any of those novels or any fan of golden age mysteries. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Mr. Quayle was an officer in the war, then worked in the War Office, and left under a cloud. Now, he attempts to bring some order to Lord Unsworth’s papers and arrange the man’s affairs. When a murdered young woman is found during a party (and what should have been the moment when his Lordship announced his heir) for Lord Unsworth’s niece Fanny, Quayle is drafted by Unsworth to keep an eye on the police and their investigation and apprise the Lord of their progress. This all gets more complicated when all the suspected family members lie and shade the truth from the police, whether about the potential Unsworth heir or missing diamonds at the Hall. On the surface, this is a good old fashioned murder mystery. That’s about all it is, though. It is all surface. If you go any deeper, it doesn’t stand up. This is the beginning of a series, so maybe it will get deeper in the future. Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy the rambling English estate and the plight of the post-war society family. The mystery itself was well-plotted, and I did enjoy the interplay between Mr. Quayle and Inspector Wintle.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher.

Marred By Murder…
A party thrown by the usually unsociable and bookish Lord Unsworth is marred by murder in this hugely enjoyable and entertaining, traditionally styled mystery. Effectively portrayed in Golden Age style and set 1925, the reader is presented with an array of well drawn suspects and even more motives, as red herrings abound and more bodies pile, before a dramatic and, perhaps, unexpected denouement. This audiobook version is wonderfully and aptly narrated, adding nuance and atmosphere along the way making for the perfect listen. As an aficionado of the Golden Age of Crime, this did not disappoint but amply rewarded in droves. Billed as the first in the Mr Quayle mysteries, the second is now eagerly awaited.

Do you love British mysteries?! Well then, this is the next book for you! “A Most Efficient Murder” is the debut of the Mr. Quayle mysteries series. It follows Mr. Quayle in England 1925, as he investigates a murder on the grounds of the Unsworth Castle. Also, the audiobook was well narrated.

Thank you @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Last night I went to the theatre to see Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap which was great. The audiobook I am listening to now is A Most Efficient Murder by Anthony Slayton which is also a golden era novel and has Agatha Christie feels to it. This is a great old fashioned murder mystery, well plotted out beginning with a murder at a party at a country house. There’s a missing diamond necklace, secrets galore and red herrings. All over a thoroughly good British murder mystery. This is the first in a series and was narrated by Rafe Beckley who made it a pleasure to listen to. I am. now eagerly awaiting book 2! Many thanks to Netgalley and Books Go Social Audio.

Without giving too many spoilers, I just want to say: I am so done with insipid plot points in mysteries. This was a fun read until that happened, and then I was just really annoyed.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Anthony Slayton for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for a Most Efficient Murder. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Most Efficient Murder is set in England, 1925. The place is Unsworth Castle where the Earl and his family live. A young woman is found murdered on the grounds under mysterious circumstances. Soon the police come around asking questions. The family become angry at the police for asking so many impertinent questions. Mr. Quayle is Lord Unsworth’s efficient secretary. He’s tasked to find the real culprit and save them from scandal and despair.

I loved listening to this book! The narrator was awesome. Very old school British. The book reminded me of Agatha Christie books, which I love. Mr. Quayle was such a fun character and did most of the work. I just love murder mysteries set in grand houses.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys old school style 1920s murder mysteries!