Another solid outing for Thorogood with this edition of Marlow Murder Club. There are the obvious comparisons between this series and Thursday Murder club, but each has a distinct feel.

In this round, the crime fighting trio are limited in their ability to solve crimes and be involved with the police. Can they skirt the law and still scratch the murder solving itch?
The plot is solid, character development is decently consistent, but the book lacks the pop of some of the others in the genre that wild boost it to 5 stars.

If you’ve read the first three of this series, you won’t be disappointed with this latest edition, however you may not be blown away either.

This is the 4th Marlow Murder Club mystery. This time Judith Potts and her friends Susie and Becks try to solve the murder of a man who was shot dead on a rented river cruiser where he hosted a small party. It was clever that instead of suspects gathered in the parlor, they were attending a play when confronted about the killing. However, I found it unbelievable how Judith strung all the clues together to reveal the murderer. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

As always, Robert Thorogood tells a fun, cozy mystery yarn chock full of great red herrings and filled to the brim with suspicious suspects. Having spent quite a bit of time with these characters now, it's so very enjoyable to spend some time with them each year and with that cliffhanger ending, I'm already dying for the next installment.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

The Marlow Murder Club books are some of my favorites and I look forward to reading them! These cozy mysteries are always fun and entertaining. Judith, Becks, and Suzie definitely make things interesting. As much as I love the series, this book just wasn’t my favorite. I felt like I needed more. Maybe the next one will answer the questions I have. (Hugo….?)
If you like a light hearted cozy mystery, I know you will love this series!


Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

A very good story, but a bit convoluted. It was difficult to keep track of everything, and I definitely did not see the ending coming.

The ladies are back at it again, this time sidelined from actively working with the police. Their investigative skills are finely tuned, and through many wrong turns, they finally arrive at the truth. I did not see this part coming.

Cleverly written and engaging, it will keep you guessing till the end.

This one's got our trio guessing, and myself for that matter due to multiple red herrings in play. Also, since the victim this time is the founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, 'the drama' is kind of expected :)).

It made a great guessing game as you followed the trio who had to work from the sidelines somehow, so as not to further complicate Tanika's situation. Tanika's situation alongside the personal problems the trio faced made it a more complex story as well as giving it a higher risk feel; I especially liked Judith's evolution throughout this one.

Once again, a great mystery in the series; can't wait for book 5!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another great installment in the Marlow Murder Club series! This one caught my attention right away, and the cast of suspects who each had potential to be the killer kept me guessing until the final reveal. I also liked the victim was not a great guy, and how that create more red herrings and drama when unearthing who could have killed. I did feel like a bit more insight into Susie’s life would’ve been nice during this book, because it felt like compared to Becks and Judith we didn’t get much from her. The cliffhanger at the end made me excited for the next book, because I have been waiting the whole series for them to truly delve into that area.

I love the series, and I was so excited to be back with Judith, Becks and Suzie! This crime-solving trio gives us all the friendship, cunning, and sass you could want plus the perfect cozy mystery setting in a small town called Marlow. This time around we join the trio as they try to solve a confusing murder on the Marlow Belle where everyone seems to have a motive and none of the clues add up.

I had very mixed feelings about this one; it seemed a bit slow at times and I felt like the interactions between the women wasn’t as fun as in previous books. I was also very concerned about how the mystery was wrapping up, but I never should have doubted that Robert Thorogood would take care of his readers in the end. I couldn’t put this down for the last 70 pages, and with that cliffhanger ending I can’t wait to read the fifth installment coming sometime next year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy! All opinions are my own.

I cannot recommend this series enough! It has characters that you will love, a mystery that brings fun and sometimes unusual twists. The setting is always interesting. Read this series!!

Judith, Suzie and Becks are back as a trio of middling detective and meddling neighbors. This time it's dead theatre manager/director Oliver Beresford who by all accounts had it coming to him. Lots of motives but all the suspects (of which there are only five) have alibis.

This took me a while to get into and maybe it was because I was reading it while there was a lot going on (holidays, summer vacation, and family in town) but it just didn't rope me in the same way that a REALLY GREAT mystery does. I enjoyed this but had trouble keeping certain characters straight and who knew what about whom. I also didn't love the storyline about Becks's daughter because I could see that conclusion happening as soon as we met Chloe's boyfriend. At least Suzie wasn't trying to buy motel stackable units this time (or whatever that scheme was in past books).

I do think it's fun that a lot of the well-known mystery writers sets one of their stories in the world of theatre because there are so many fun personalities and inside jokes (Simon Brett, Ngaio Marsh, Anthony Horowitz to name just a few).

Murder on the Marlow Belle is a delightful cozy mystery that perfectly blends charming small-town vibes with a classic whodunit. Fans of The Marlow Murder Club will be thrilled to reunite with Judith Potts and her friends as they dive into another puzzling case.

The story kicks off with the mysterious disappearance—and then murder—of Oliver, a complicated and rather unlikeable fellow who managed to make quite a few enemies. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Thames and a private party on the Marlow Belle, the mystery is both intriguing and full of clever twists.

I loved the camaraderie between Judith, Suzie, and Becks—they bring warmth and humor to the investigation, making the story as much about friendship as it is about solving the crime. The plot keeps you guessing, and the setting adds a cozy, atmospheric charm.

If you enjoy lighthearted mysteries with sharp writing, memorable characters, and a touch of suspense, Murder on the Marlow Belle is a perfect read. I can’t wait to see how the Marlow Murder Club’s adventures continue!

Rating: 3.5
This is the fourth book in the Marlow Murder Club series. The setup for the mystery was interesting with the murder having occurred on a ship and involved a cast of characters in the local theater group. I did not enjoy this one as much as the previous installments. The twist did not work for me and I thought the motive for the murder was a tad hard to believe. But it was fun to be back with Judith, Becks, and Suzie and I loved seeing Judith getting involved with the local theater production. The ending has me excited for the sequel!

Judith is back with Suzie and Becks to solve a murder aboard the recently, and only mostly, restored Marlow Belle. The town theater troupe is getting ready to stage their latest production with a very special guest star. But the celebratory party in advance of the show ends in the disappearance of the director, Oliver. Now, Judith herself is joining the production to get closer to the killer, but just how close does she want to get.

Again, this is charming read with memorable characters. Fans of the previous volumes will not be disappointed in the least, and fans of other similar cozy mysteries will enjoy this group of unlikely friends and crime-solvers.

The fourth installment of the Marlow Murder mysteries sees the return of our amateur sleuths- Judith, Suzie and Becks as well as our favorite detective Tanika Malik. This time the plot centers around the amateur drama society in Marlow and the boat they hired- The Marlow Belle. Lots of twists and turns in the plot with most of the characters looking somewhere between guilty of murder and victims of being framed. The answers don’t come until the very end of the book and the finale is unexpected. This was a good mystery and I liked it more than the third book.
The book ends on a cliffhanger. I don’t remember that being the case in the earlier novels in the series and I personally am not a fan of cliffhangers! But other than that, this was a fun, interesting twisty mystery to read. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance ebook copy of this book!

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review! I did the audiobook version for books 1-3 so it was nice to read it as an ebook and still use their voices in my head.

Book 4 focused on a murder of a local theater actor on a yacht with his theater costars and a famous actress. the mysterious circumstances remind me of the unsolved Natalie Wood death which they pointed out.

I thought the story was interesting about a theater group with a bunch of drama so pretty much everyone connected to him was a suspect. I had a top suspect the whole time but the twist at the end surprised me! the story did a good job showing how the victim wasn't a great person. they did gloss over how he basically groomed a teenager who was suffering from abuse which I didn't like. While I understand that murder is wrong, it is hard for me to like the trio because they didn't see someone as a victim of abuse and grooming. After 3 murders, you think they would be understandable on why people wanted to kill him or self defense.

Overall, the suspense was great especially at the play scene. I do like the side plot of Becks and her daughter since Becks didn't want her daughter to suffer. The cliffhanger ending was so great! I feel like we got snippets of Judith's past in the past books so the setup for book 5 is great.

solid, fun murder mystery set on a ship. the twists were pretty logical but also quite unique, and the setting was fun. the characters were intricate, too. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I was really excited to get an ARC of "Murder on the Marlow Belle," and it absolutely delivered on the promise of a delightful, charming mystery. This book whisks you right onto a riverboat in Marlow, and let me tell you, it's every bit as cozy and intriguing as you'd hope.

The Marlow Murder Club is back, and what a fantastic group they are. Judith, Suzie, and Becks just feel like old friends, and their dynamic is truly what makes this series shine. They're smart, funny, and incredibly endearing as they poke their noses into places they probably shouldn't, all in the name of solving a good crime. The banter between them is spot-on, and it's clear the author really enjoys writing these characters.

This time, the setting of the Marlow Belle itself adds a fun, contained element to the mystery. When a body turns up on the boat, the list of suspects feels just right for a classic whodunit, with plenty of secrets and red herrings among the passengers and crew. The plot twists and turns nicely, keeping you guessing, and while I had a few suspicions, the way everything unraveled felt clever and satisfying. It’s the kind of mystery where you’re constantly trying to piece things together alongside the characters.

While I truly enjoyed my time aboard the Marlow Belle, there were just a couple of moments where the pacing felt ever-so-slightly deliberate, but honestly, it hardly detracted from the overall charm. It’s a wonderfully executed cozy mystery that provides a perfect escape. If you're looking for clever plotting, a fantastic cast of amateur sleuths, and a delightful setting, definitely pick this one up!

★★★★☆

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Another delightful installment in this delicious cozy mystery series. I love going on adventures with Judith, Becks, and Suzie. This time around, they find themselves attempting to solve the death of Oliver Beresford, the founder of the local dramatics society. He’s a complicated man with a prickly attitude leaving him with no shortage of enemies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I want to be Judith when I grow up. I love this series, it’s so fun and entertaining.

I have loved watching the friendship and bond develop between Judith, Becks and Suzie. This installment was absolutely wonderful & the cliffhanger at the end!

Can’t wait for more Marlow Murders!

Thank you to NetGalley & Poisioned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I just love this cozy mystery series so much. This was another really fun and charming installment from Judith, Becks, Suzie, and Detective Malik as they try to solve the murder of an amateur actor who died upon a river boat. This is probably my favorite Marlow Murder Club book to date. Thorogood wrapped up the whodunnit perfectly, and the cliffhanger was excellent. Can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC!