This book was just the right amount of creepy, and the premise was absolutely gripping. I enjoyed the unreliable witness aspect, with not knowing if you are able to believe the husband due to his dementia. This was a great book!

Love the theatre, love a good book and this one had what I wanted and needed as well as expected form a cosy mystery. I enjoyed this book, Great characters, a good storyline and plot, a few twists and turns and easy to read. There is suspense, murder, mystery and more all of which I enjoyed.

Well written and very entertaining, and enjoyable read that took me no time at all to start and finish. I look forward to seeing what else this author has written and will write in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I hadn't heard of this author before so I went back to book one to familiarise myself with the characters first.
A decent crime series, not really any plot twists just a steady crime to solve. Definitely worth a read for fans of Vera etc.

Brief overview of the Premise
A woman goes missing leaving her husband who suffers from dementia left to go wondering, looking for her. DI Sara Hirst and her trusty partner are on the case. Two bodies, one of which was a previous lover her Sara’s and a ghost story send her on a wild goose chase trying to find who done it at the Rosegarden Theater.

Rating overall
⭐⭐ .75

Themes – Love vs Career, Revenge

Genre
1. Mystery - 🕵️‍♂️ 🕵️‍♂️ 2 stealthy sleuths out of 5. It was pretty forced in my opinion. Everything seemed to come to the DI in a nice little 🎀 on the package.
2. Spooky - 👁️‍🗨️👁️‍🗨️ Prying eyes out of 5. It had some spooky elements but they

Characters
⭐⭐ - I found some of them fairly flat. This is not because I have not read any other books in the series. The story is viable as a stand alone. I just thought the most interesting characters were her partner and his wife.

Worldbuilding
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - The worldbuilding was actually the best part. I felt like the world was so tangible and it helped me engage with the narrative.

Story
⭐⭐⭐ - This story was very trope heavy and this was very distracting. The plot was good but the execution just didn’t really do it for me. The writing was not bad, but it wasn’t great. The story had its moments but again it was pretty flat at times. The beginning was great but it all just went down and dragged then didn’t really pick back up that when the exciting stuff happened it seemed forced and really didn’t make sense. It felt like this was happening because something had to happened. There was no real mystery for me. Again not a bad story but not great.

Tropes – Bad guy Wronged so you must die. Good Cop Bad at love. Sick partner. Strong Woman everyone wants dead. Homeless Witness reluctant talk, etc.

Final Comments: This unfortunately was just not what I am looking for in a DI/Cop Thriller/Mystery.
Who would I recommend to: I think people who really enjoy Cop Mystery series may.

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

This is part of the DS Sara Hirst series, set in Norfolk. The detectives are called to investigate a burglary at a townhouse belonging to an elderly couple. James Morgan has dementia, and his wife Carole has disappeared. James tells them she was at a theatre rehearsal.

I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, but I didn't feel as though I'd missed out on anything. I took an immediate liking to the characters, especially Sara herself. I noticed myself feeling an emotional connection with the characters later on, even though I hadn't read about them before. I enjoyed the theatre theme, and the story was entertaining.

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, Joffe Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

A rather cozy mystery that enjoyed more than I anticipated. Clever plot, many red herrings and unusual characters. First time I’ve read a title in this series and I’ll be looking forward to future works.

Intriguing mystery with plenty to keep you hooked, not read anything by this author before but would again. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

First book I have read from this author.. It had plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Great characters. Enjoyed the style of writing and the premise. All round great book. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

The Norfolk Theatre Murders by Judi Daykin is a captivating crime thriller set in a local theater in Norwich. The story begins with the mysterious disappearance of Carole Morgan, who is an actress at the Rosegarden Theatre. When a body is found beneath the stage, the case escalates from a simple burglary to a full-fledged murder investigation. Detective Sara Hirst, who is called to investigate, uncovers a web of false trails and dark secrets, including the involvement of an unhoused group camped next door and a haunting monk in black robes rumored to be connected to the theater's history.
The novel combines an intriguing mystery with rich character development, creating an immersive atmosphere for readers. The unique backdrop of amateur dramatics adds a charming layer to the otherwise tense and dark storyline. While some of the action feels repetitive at times, especially in the middle, the overall plot remains engaging and suspenseful.
As a fan of the theater, I found the setting and characters particularly enjoyable. The story offers a fresh perspective on a police procedural, incorporating themes of homelessness, dementia, and PTSD, which adds depth to the narrative. Although I hadn't read previous books in the Sara Hirst series, this installment works well as a standalone mystery. Overall, The Norfolk Theatre Murders is a solid, well-written thriller, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of Judi Daykin's work. 4 stars.

This is an excellent crime novel, and an enjoyable read. There are many characters however, and sometimes it’s hard to keep track of them all. There are all the members of the murder investigation unit, where surnames/ police ranks are mostly used, to add to the confusion. Then there are all the many players in the theatre team,
- staff, volunteers, the Board, the amateur actors. Later we get to the homeless encampment, inhabitants, and associated social workers….
It is a very convoluted story of murder and subterfuge, but well put together and the narrative keeps up a good pace. It is suspenseful at times, as we know that an abduction has occurred, but will the victim be found in time?
Altogether a gripping story and investigation by the MIT led by. Detective Sarah Hirst, fresh from a highly successful career in the MET in London. There are frequent detailed descriptions of the network of ancient streets and alleyways that abound in the centre of Norwich., not to mention the very quirky medieval buildings with hidden rooms.
I have not read any of this author’s work before this, but I will look out for her name, in any subsequent novels she writes.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

The Norfolk Theatre Murders by Judi Daykin is a delightful crime thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Set against the backdrop of a local theater in Norwich, the novel brings to life a complex mystery that combines the world of amateur dramatics with a chilling murder.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Detective Sara Hirst series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is well-written, with vivid descriptions that immerse the reader in the setting and make you feel as if you’re right there in the action. From the chaotic scene inside Mr. and Mrs. Morgan’s townhouse to the eerie, suspense-filled moments in the Rosegarden Theatre, Daykin does an excellent job of setting the atmosphere and building tension.

The plot itself is intriguing, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The character of James Morgan, an elderly man suffering from dementia, is particularly poignant. His sense of fear and urgency, along with the mystery surrounding his wife’s disappearance, adds depth to the story. Meanwhile, Detective Sara Hirst is a strong, intelligent protagonist, and I appreciated how her skepticism slowly gave way to determination as she unraveled the mystery.

Although this is Book 7 in the series, I was able to jump right into the story without any confusion. There was no overwhelming sense of continuity that required knowledge of previous books, making it easy to read as a standalone novel. However, I now find myself intrigued by the earlier books in the series, and I’m eager to catch up on Sara’s previous cases.

Overall, The Norfolk Theatre Murders offers a fantastic blend of suspense, intriguing characters, and a compelling mystery. Fans of crime thrillers will certainly enjoy it, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun yet gripping read. I’m excited to explore more of Detective Sara Hirst’s adventures!

What do you call a group of monks? If you live in this fictional version of Norwich you'd probably borrow from their feathered lookalikes (crows) and go for a murder of monks.
A ghostly figure shrouded in a monk’s habit appears in the Rosegarden Theatre late one evening and terrifies actress Carole who is locking up.
The alarm is raised next morning when the carer of Carole's husband finds the sick man home alone in a ransacked room. The confused husband, agitated by Carole's unexplained absence, claims to have been visited by a monk.
Finding CCTV footage of a monk on city cameras should be easy enough, but it's Halloween so police contend with costumed figures round every corner. The nightly ghost walks for tourists are led by an actor dressed as a monk. It's also the garb of choice for a local drug dealer, and, to add to the mix, a homeless man has taken to wearing a monk outfit he found in a bin.
The author creates a good sense of place with detailed descriptions of the theatre and of Norwich city centre.
Although mostly on the lighter end of the police procedural genre in tone and writing style, there is some on-page violence in the second half.
As well as seeing the investigation from lead character DS Sara Hurst's perspective, we read chapters from the theatre’s stage manager Ben and from social worker Nafisa, who is helping a nearby homeless community. The use of the three viewpoints builds suspense nicely.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Upon publication, I will post this review on my blog and GoodReads.

There are evil deeds afoot at the Rosegarden theatre in Norfolk. The historic building supposedly has a ghostly monk. But whoever is causing chaos and committing murder is all too flesh and blood. It seems impossible that someone would murder Carol who is well liked and is caring for her husband who suffers from dementia. Naturally all those involved in the theatre come under suspicion as do the homeless people encamped in a cemetery adjacent to the theatre.

There is a very moving secondary story that involves a social worker trying to help a homeless veteran who is suffering from PTSD. They become ensnared in the search for the killer who will not stop wreaking his revenge on those whom he thinks have ruined his life. The characters are fascinating and the reader gets swept along by the story. The protagonist, Sarah, manages to cobble the pieces together to reveal the villain but she makes mistakes that could cost her dearly. It all adds up to an exciting denouement.

The story moves along at a brisk pace and kept me engaged from beginning to end. Five purrs and two paws up.

When Ben Marsden was locking up the Rosegarden Theatre after all the actors and staff had left, he discovered the body of Carole Morgan, the woman who'd locked up the night before and hadn't been seen since. Her ailing husband had been home alone, and when DS Sara Hirst arrived to talk to him, she found the house in a shambles. Her brutal murder was quickly followed by another, and the only thing witnesses commented on was the monk's costume the suspect had been wearing. It was Halloween - was it a prankster and not the one they sought?

With a homeless camp opposite the theatre, and a worker who did her best to help those in need also nearby, it wasn't long before they were involved. The killer was escalating and Sara was frustrated. They needed to find him; they were sure they knew who it was, but he was proving elusive...

The Norfolk Theatre Murders is the 7th in the DS Sara Hirst series by Judi Daykin and once again, I loved it. Fast paced, tense and gritty, it kept me flying through the pages to reach the conclusion. I've been here with Ms Daykin from the beginning, and hope she doesn't intend stopping any time soon! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Joffe Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

Exploring different points of view and questioning how much people know are key to the enjoyment of this mystery. I found the uncertainty around what the husband knew to be real or induced by his medical condition a really interesting red herring. Fans of Joy Ellis will enjoy this author’s work as she shares the ability to bring depth and life to the context and characters.

A totally gripping crime thriller set in the historic centre of Norwich. The story starts off with three strands running in parallel with expectations that they will collide. The first team to be introduced is the cities social workers and in particular Nafisa and Zach, a homeless former corporal invalided out of the army, who she is trying to help. Next is the Rosegarden theatre staff and Ben the stage manager and finally Detective Sergeant Sara Hirst and her police colleagues.

Although this is seventh in the DS Sara Hirst series it does not drawn on previous books and can be read in isolation with no spoilers for the earlier books either. The historic details of the theatre and the city provide an excellent setting for a plot that has plenty of action and suspense. The main characters are well developed and the dialogue is well paced.

It is always a pleasure to find a new detective series to dive into. I would rate this 4.5 stars. This is my first in the series but definitely not my last with Sara Hirst.

Amateur actress Carole Morgan is found dead in the Rosegarden Theatre hidden in the priest’s crypt under the stage. Her husband suffers from dementia and no one believes his story that a monk came to the house to search the house and tell him Carole is gone. Detective Sara Hirst and her team are called to investigate. Her ex boyfriend Chris is also one of the actors.

It is a well written and satisfying mystery and I thank Netgalley and Joffre books for a chance to read and review the ARC introducing me to this exciting series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Judi Daykin for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Norfolk Theatre Murders coming out April 3, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I definitely need to go back and read the other books in the series. I really love murder mysteries. I’ve read a ton of books about theater murders. I really enjoyed the genre. I think this one was really fun. I love the setting. The characters were good. I think it was awesome that she was an actual detective. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

#thenorfolktheatremurders is the 7th in the Sara Hirst series by @judidaykinauthor, and it's terrific. I really enjoy these procedurals starring the Serious Crimes Unit - the multiple POVs, the red herrings, the suspense, etc. I also appreciate that you can start anywhere in the series and not be lost. This time, Sara and her compadres are after a brutal and sadistic killer who leads them on a good chase through the underground of Norwich. I was fascinated by the detailed descriptions of the Rosegarden Theatre and its environs, esp. the "grave trap." It's clear Ms. Daykin has done extensive research. Highly recommend.

P.S. thanks to #netgalley and @joffebooks for the ARC.