Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for this ARC. I have loved the first two int he series and was looking forward to this one. Its a very slow burner, not like the first two where your straight into the action; the first murder is not committed until nearly half way through the book (44%) but after that the action kicks and it becomes a page turner with a great plot, lots of twists and suspects.

If you are looking for a gentle, meandering, Halloween-themed cosy crime novel, this one might be for you. Featuring auctioneer Felicia Grant who resides in the historic town of Stamford, this book is one in a series but is equally enjoyable read in isolation. Can Felicia get behind the alarming and mysterious goings-on at a Halloween event at the Aquitaine Club before it is too late? I enjoyed the author’s strong characterisation of people and places, implicit sense of humour, and red herrings dotted into the narrative. Along the way I also got an insight into the antique and auctioneering industries, but the stand-out star of this novel is most definitely its protagonist Felicia who deserves several return outings, investigating mysteries elsewhere in Stamford. Highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free digital ARC that allowed me to read this cosy crime novel and to produce this review.

A lovely cozy mystery murder with a little more depth than most. Beautifully written & wonderfully descriptive it can be read as a stand alone but it’s a good idea to read the series in order to get a better understanding of the characters .

A Catalyst For Murder….
The third outing in The Stanford Mysteries and Felicia once again finds herself in deep water when a Halloween bash becomes a catalyst for murder most foul. Can she dig out some clues to find a killer? Another nicely penned mystery with a likeable protagonist in Felicia, a credible cast of characters, a well imagined and atmospheric sense of place and a plot peppered with twists. A worthy addition to the series to date.