Iris Woodmore is not happy that Archie Powell has settled in her village. She is even considering moving to London to avoid him. Therefore she is the prime suspect when Archie is murdered...
Murder at Mill Ponds House is the 6th book in the Iris Woodmore series of cosy murder mysteries set in the 1920s. I would advise reading the series in order as parts of the plot refer to events in earlier books.
Iris and Archie are sworn enemies due to his criminal past which he blames on her. However when he is killed she certainly isn't gleeful despite their animosity. She finds herself suspected of the murder as she tries to keep a secret from the police. The only way to protect her secret is to catch the killer herself.
There is a traditional feel to this book thanks to the era it depicts. The impact of WW1 is felt by almost every character and the social, gender and class norms are challenged. I really liked Iris' character and the use of her first person narration allows us to better understand her thoughts and actions.
Murder at Mill Ponds House is an enjoyable murder mystery that kept me guessing.

This was an entertaining read, with fun characters. Reading the whole series would have been helpful, but still a good book. I definitely recommend to cozy fans!

Murder at Mill Pond's House is the sixth in the Iris Woodmore series. Set in Hampshire in 1924, Iris finds herself identified as the main suspect in the murder of her longtime enemy, Archie Powell.
The plot and series, in general, are so well plotted that I never know what's going to happen next. The identity of the killer had me guessing all the way through, and I didn't figure it out until the end.
Iris is a very unconventional heroine with an unconventional love life. I would need a crystal ball to figure out which male character I should be rooting for, although Percy is such a dote. It would be nice to have a proper romantic thread running through the series, even if it takes Iris some time to unwind it.
Murder at Mill Pond's House is a class whodunit with a recurring cast of characters. I recommend you read the previous books to avoid any confusion and to get to know these wonderful characters better.

I have enjoyed each book featuring reporter Iris. She is a modern woman as she pushes the boundaries of what society expects of the “weaker sex”. She is strong and courageous and not afraid to stand her ground. But her nemesis, whom she helped put behind bars, is back in the village and charming people left and right. Iris, however, knows his darker side which he happily demonstrates to her by threatening to reveal secrets she would rather remain hidden. In fact, he takes great pleasure in calling her out publicly so when he is found murdered, Iris is a reasonable suspect.

Sadly many of the people who should know better have been so bamboozled by the deceased that they believe the rumours about Iris. She struggles to prove her innocence while trying to keep her personal relationships private. Things go from bad to worse and there is a very good chance that she will be revealed in all her foibles. I find her adventures exciting and her character compelling. I did suss out the killer but for different reasons than I had suspected. And that was not the only epic twist. I was entertained from start to finish. Five purrs and two paws up.

Mill Ponds House – one of the four manor houses near Waldemere lake – is being turned into a home for men in unfortunate circumstances. That in itself is a worthy cause, even in Iris’ eyes – was it not for the fact that the her nemesis, Archie Powell, has been put in charge of the place. Following his prison sentence for shooting at her friends, Mrs Siddons and Constance Timpson, the charismatic, but dangerous man has never forgiven Iris for betraying him to the police. So it is with mixed feelings that she goes about her job as a feature writer for the Walden Herald. Interviewing the first three residents of the home, she is curious to uncover more about the men's background, and finds that one of them seems to have secrets – and her curiosity is peaked.
When Archie is found shot, with his own rifle, there are plenty of suspects, one of whom is Iris. Archie knew about her secret love – married Belgian, Marc Jansen – and had been spreading rumours, accusing her of adultory, though there never had been any. Several of her friends would also have reason to get rid of Archie.

Can Iris prove her innocence, and help find the real murderer?

Murder at Mill Ponds House is an intriguing whodunit, with plenty of dead ends to keep you guessing. I had an inkling halfway through the novel, but had no idea about the reason, which was a very clever twist near the end.

The pace moves the story along nicely, most of the time. Iris’ worries about having to reveal details about Marc to the police do become a little repetitive, and also selfish, at times. But she does realise she needs to help her friends as much as she can.

Iris’ character continues to develop well, in an era of great change for women, and her rather unconventional outlook grows stronger. She harbours doubts about staying, or moving to London for a more anonymous and fulfilling life. Her dilemma adds a realistic slant to her otherwise rather calm life (well, apart from the various murders she has to solve!).

Murder at Mill Ponds House is a clever whodunit, with a great twist at the end that you didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to more of Iris’ adventures...

Michelle Salter gives the reader a 1922 tragic mystery in which Archie, a troubled soul, who has made life difficult for the heroine is found murdered.
The police cannot figure out whodunit but the heroine had an argument with him before he was killed. In addition she is protecting the identity of a man whom she had a romantic but unfulfilled relationship who had decided to renew his marriage and moved to Europe Hidden identities and romances also complicate the story. Dive in and enjoy.

Michelle Salter returns with the sixth book in her Iris Woodmore Mysteries series, "Murder at Mill Ponds House," and it is another pleasant and well-written cozy mystery. Taking place in the familiar setting of the 1920s, this novel brings journalist Iris Woodmore into a personal and deadly investigation after her arch-nemesis Archie Powell is murdered following a bitter row with her.

Salter has a knack for transporting readers to another time and place, and "Murder at Mill Ponds House" is no different. The minutiae of the 1920s in a small English village are skillfully incorporated into the story, bringing with them a sense of realism and whimsy. Enthusiasts of the period will enjoy the subtleties of social relationships and the difficulties of women such as Iris working toward a career in a man's world.
The mystery itself is compelling, with a decent number of suspects and sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader in suspense. Although the identity of the murderer may not be a complete surprise to experienced mystery readers, the process of Iris discovering the truth is compelling. Salter plots the revelation effectively, letting clues develop organically and maintaining the suspense at a simmer throughout.

What really makes this series stand out is the Iris Woodmore character. She is a unique and accessible heroine – clever, strong-willed, and independent, but also flawed and vulnerable. In "Murder at Mill Ponds House," Iris is threatened not only with being wrongly accused of murder but also with the risk of her having a deeply personal secret revealed. This gives the story an additional layer of tension and emotional resonance. Whereas readers in earlier episodes may have grown frustrated with elements of Iris's private life, there is an impression of development and learning within this book that is a positive change.

The secondary characters, several of whom appear in earlier books, are well characterized and add substance to the story. The setting of an ordinary community seems realistic with its own gripes, loyalties, and seething resentments, all of which contribute to the mystery that is being unraveled.

For new readers to the Iris Woodmore Mysteries, "Murder at Mill Ponds House" is an enjoyable standalone, with Salter doing enough to get the reader up to speed on the most important relationships and continuing threads. But for readers who have been along since the start, they will certainly enjoy the further character building and the quiet references to previous events.

Overall, "Murder at Mill Ponds House" is a good and satisfying entry in Michelle Salter's Iris Woodmore Mysteries. It presents a well-structured mystery, an engaging heroine, and a nicely evoked period setting. Readers who enjoy cozy historical mysteries with a determined female protagonist and a splash of 1920s style will find a lot to like in this newest addition.
Recommended for Cozy historical mystery readers, Fans of strong, independent female leads, People who like a good, well-paced whodunit, and Fans of the Iris Woodmore Mysteries series.

I love these mystery books which are such an interesting read and very twisty. The characters were great and the story just flowed along at quite a pace. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I enjoy this author so much and what a wonderful new series!

Set in the 1920's, which is my favorite, provides plenty of history and time period perfection!

Full on engaging characters and a fascinating mystery that will keep you turning the pages. Cannot wait for more!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Michelle Salter for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Murder at Mill Ponds coming out March 9, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I forgot to upload my review! I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read one other book by this author. I definitely need to go back and read the other books in the series! I think this one had a really fun setting. Iris is a really strong character and think she made some progress from the last book. I’m really enjoying the way things are going in the series. I would definitely read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical cozies!

Another great book in this series that has improved more and more over the series. The characters have developed over time which is nice and mystery itself is intriguing, with plenty of twists and unexpected developments. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was happy to be back with Iris! If you’re new to the series, this does work as a standalone, although I think it would be helpful to have read at least one other in the series, because characters and themes from previous books appear here.

While I agreed with Iris that Archie was an awful person, I knew she didn’t kill him. She used her journalistic eye for details to unearth several secrets and clues. I did not guess the true culprit and I felt the tension of the mystery and the rush to resolve the case as I turned the pages.

As with other titles in this series, writing was vivid, bringing to life both the time period and the characters. The details are cozy and the mystery perplexing.

This is the 6th book in the "Iris Woodmore Mysteries" series.

The book has a solid plot and good development. It is a very interesting murder mystery which had me guessing throughout, but I was still confusing some of the main characters. Even after reading book 5 and 6, I still have a hard time feeling empathy for Iris, who is also the narrator, however she does a good job solving the mystery.

I might go back sometime and read the first books in the series to find out who Alice is, but I'm in no hurry.

It's a cosy mix of murder mystery and 1920s politics and society. Iris Woodmore is a provincial journalist and an unconventional woman who epitomises the social and political change in England in the 1920s. Iris is surrounded by a diverse and supportive group of friends, but she is less successful in her romantic relationships., Her latest proves to be the source of scandal in the small Hampshire town where she lives and works. This story draws on earlier events in the series and reintroduces familiar characters alongside new ones. The suspicious death puts Iris in the suspect role, and investigating the death becomes essential to save her liberty and reputation. I like Iris, a trailblazer and compassionate protagonist with a vulnerable heart. I enjoyed the 1920s world the author creates and the twisty mystery. The suspense builds to a climactic conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is an Iris Woodmore mystery; a cosy mystery set in the 1920s. The protagonist, Iris, attends the opening ceremony of Mill Ponds hostel. She and Archie, the person employed to run the hostel, have a mutual dislike for one another. Archie knows something personal about Iris that he could use against her. When Archie is shot dead, Iris knows that she may be considered a suspect.

I've read all the previous books in the series, and followed Iris and the other characters. I really like Iris, as she's a strong protagonist, and every time I read about her, I feel a connection with her narrative. I appreciate the bonds Iris shares with the other characters, like Elijah and Marc. Although I disliked Archie’s treatment of Iris, I wanted to know the truth about what happened.

This latest instalment was another entertaining mystery that kept me guessing. If you haven't read the other books in the series, I'd say there's enough background information for it to work as a standalone, but if you enjoy cosy mysteries, I would recommend the previous books in the series as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

It’s 1924 and Iris Woodmore is doing what’s she’s always wanted to do - working as a reporter and living in her beloved home town with friends and family around her. But the reappearance of her nemesis Archie Powell makes her wonder if she should flee to London and avoid the menace he brings. It is no secret she hates him and the pair are seen arguing more than once. When he is found murdered Iris becomes a serious suspect. Can she clear her name before the police arrest and charge her with his murder?

I adore the 1920s setting of this story. We get to find out what life was like for young women after the First World War - and the changes in society brought by the conflict. Not everyone has adjusted to the new normal though, and Iris continues to fight to be respected as a reporter.

Iris didn’t make it easy for herself. Her relationship with a married man, although chaste, was still a secret and she was unwilling to open up to anyone about it. This made her seem even more suspicious and she couldn’t really blame the police for suspecting her. Even her friends were baffled at her behaviour. I like the continuity on this latest mystery, with faces from the village continuing to be a part of Iris’s life. The ties of the community worked well and allowed the reader to understand Iris better.

An enjoyable mystery.

The suspects were all nicely lining up, and I did not see that ending coming!

So we’re back following Iris in this sixth book as she navigates fighting for her independence as a working woman in the world of the 1920’s and solving crimes.

I liked that we knew almost straight away Iris was going to be the main suspect – this made for an exciting storyline. There were plenty of other suspects, too, with motives and a couple of reasonably interesting red herrings.

All in all, it offered what I’d expect from the genre with added extras. For starters, the world building made you feel like you were living and breathing the 1920’s. At the same time, the novel also kept the feel of a small town through the characters surrounding Iris.

Whilst there is a continuation of Iris’s life and friends, I had only read the previous book (see my review here) and picked up the characters easily. I also liked that not everything is rosy or easy for Iris in her personal life. It added more realism to the story.

The ending was really memorable for me and gave the feel of a traditional whodunit, which I loved. I thought this was really well executed.

I’d had half a thought as to why the murder took place in the book, but I could not guess the killer. I’ll leave it to you to puzzle this one out…

In 1924 England, reporter Iris fears blackmailer Archie will reveal her potentially scandalous secret. When Archie is murdered after arguing with her, Iris must find the real killer while hiding the identity of the one person who can provide her alibi.

Another fun cozy mystery in the series! I’m glad Archie is gone. I’m eager to see how Iris’s character will grow now that she’s free of him. The mystery is high stakes and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for this ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another ‘20’s cosy mystery from Michelle with Iris as the main character and this time, murder suspect. Her volatile relationship with Archie is the focus this time, and when he turns up dead, she’s the main suspect. Witnesses see her slap him and hours later, he’s dead. Now it’s her turn to clear her name.

As usual, her friends rally round to help prove her innocence and clear her name before she flees for good to London. Should she leave her home town or stay and fight? There’s a few suspects throughout and some secrets that people would prefer to remain hidden that have a nasty habit of revealing themselves.

Brilliant cosy mystery series that gets better with each book, and I can’t wait for the next one.

The small town of Walden never asked for a bad man like Archibald Powell. A misogynist who attempted to kill businesswoman Constance Timoson and Mrs. Siddons, MP with a riffle. Stripped of his ecclesiastical office and after serving time in prison, he has been given a new chance and is back at Walden behaving like the awful nasty man he is. He has set his eyes on Iris, the local journalist and someone he may have had feelings for in the past. He also hates her because she is the one who turned him in when he went on his killing spree. Archie believes to have information on Iris that if she doesn't leave him alone and support his cause, he will release Iris' secret. However, Archie doesnt get a chance to cause much harm because he is immediately found dead, killed with his own rifle. All witnesses and circumstantial evidence point to Iris. It is now up to Iris, Elijah her editor and Sergeant Ben Gilbert to find out who of all the residents of their small town hated Archie the most to see him dead.

Deliciously suspenseful, A Murder At Mill Ponds will have you wondering how the death and murderer were connected and why!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this cozy small town murder mystery.