A murder mystery with a historical twist.. Set in Cornwall 1910 just as Halley's Comet was in the heavens destined to strike earth - or so many said.

The English upper classes were the worst offenders in their possibly doomed life.

Such a group were in this large house (Tithe Hall) , locking doors, sealing up windows etc. and at night a murder is committed.

To solve this murder there is an absolutely super, apparently slightly nutty, great aunt who joins forces with Stephen a young lad who had just started work in the house.

Lovely setting, great characters- so off you go to solve it yourself!

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin UK for the chance to read and review.

A wonderful murder mystery that had me laughing and trying to become detective all the way through.

This isn't my usual genre but I loved the premise and I was so glad I gave this a read. Ross Montgomery's writing style is clear and concise and had me hooked from the first page.

I loved the characters and their relationships, especially Stephen and Miss Decima. I would love to read more about our detective duo in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Ross Montgomery for letting me read my first advanced copy.

A funny and thoroughly enjoyable locked room mystery.

‘Murder at World’s End’ has many of the elements of our favourite golden age whodunnits: the stately home, the eccentric host, the odious houseguests upstairs and constant drama downstairs. What sets it apart is the crime fighting duo of Stephen Pike, a newly-hired footman and cockney rough diamond with some secrets to hide; and the indomitable Miss Decima Stockingham, an aged great-aunt with a potty mouth to rival that of Catherine Tate’s Nan.

The story is well written, humorous throughout, expertly paced, with a reveal that is surprising and unexpected. I hope to read more from this crime-fighting duo in the future!

I loved this old school kind of mystery. It is beautifully written with descriptions that make you feel like you are back in Cornwall in 1910 waiting for the comet to do its thing. The locked door mystery is done brilliantly. The mystery is resolved satisfactorily and there are no loose ends. The characters are well fleshed out and what a motley crew - from the spritely octogenarian and her sidekick (the ex-con) to the everything-must-be-perfect butler and the bumbling detective from Scotland yard. And there’s the humour that runs through the book with laugh-out-loud moments.
This book was a delight to read and I am looking forward to the next one.

The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery, expected publication October ‘25

Thanks to NetGallery for allowing me early access to this fabulous story!

🌊Trapped on a remote tidal Cornish island, the Viscount of Tithe Hall awaits the passing of Halley’s Comet ☄️, and see through his prediction that the end of the world has arrived. 🪦Of course, his family and guests don’t buy it, and neither do his servants. And yet the next morning the Viscount is murdered 🔪 , but all were sealed in their rooms under his strict instructions. 🤔 One new servant, a recently hired under-butler, Stephen Pike, is cast into suspicion, lest of all due to his past entanglements with the law. Fortunately, an unlikely ally appears in the form of elderly Miss Decima Stockingham, a foul-mouthed and clever matriarch, who is not afraid to cast all into suspicion, including her own family. Together they form a formidable team to try and catch the murderer, before they can escape. 🧐 🔍

Overview:
Buckle up, it’s the early 20th century, it’s old-timey England, and the class system is stronger than ever! 🤣 I have a huge soft-spot for old murder mysteries, and from the get-go this had the feeling of a timeless classic…. Of course that broke away the moment elderly Miss Decima strung a series of curse words across the page. She is sassy, she is unforgiving, and she is formidable! 👵

Stephen Pike steps up where Miss Decima falls short. Unlike Miss Decima, who so readily see’s the worst in everyone, he believes in their best, including that of himself. He’s a man who’s determined to turn his life around, pick up a few long words in the process, and change his future for the better. ✨

Although Miss D is a hard nut to crack, I empathised a lot with her. She’s endured a lifestyle of being a brilliant scientist, 🔭🔬but as a woman she’s been rejected from the community, and worse still, had her ideas stolen from her relatives to claim for their own. 😤 She’s bitter, angry, but she’s used to getting her way. I enjoyed that Stephen wasn’t a pushover, and made sure he also got his time in the limelight and fought to get his opinions heard too. This helped the dynamic fall away from the Holmes-Watson relationship, and created a much more balanced partnership, where both of their qualities shine. 🙏

There were a few moments where I HOWLED! When I say that I snort-laughed out loud, I promised you that I wasn’t doing it in my head, but the sound was ripped out of my throat! I loved those moments, the humour was a complete surprise! 😆

I had a blast reading his book, it was like sinking into a hot bubble bath 🛀 with a glass of wine 🍷 on the side. I’ve read countless old timey murder mysteries, and this one felt so at home amongst my favourite novels. I suspect this is only the beginning of the adventures of the duo, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I wish this book every success on publication day!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 It's 1910 and Halley's Comet is due to pass by the earth, leading many people to believe the end of the world is nigh. None more so than the Viscount of Tithe Hall, who has instructed his staff to seal up the property at World's End in Cornwall.

Should the worst happen, the family and staff at the estate will be cut off from the rest of the world but emerge unscathed. His plan has a few important gaps though - not least that they're sealing themselves into a house with a murderer and he'll be dead before the comet passes by... This is a locked room murder mystery like no other!

In steps the unlikely duo of newly appointed under Butler Stephen who has just been released from Borstal and the family's Great Aunt Decima - a formidable and hugely intelligent woman labelled (as so often happened) as difficult and mad. Together they must find out who the murderer was, in part to clear themselves of the crime, but also to avoid being the next victims. Decima is a fabulous character with a filthy mouth and paired with Stephen's mixture of innocence and courage they are a brilliant duo and I'm pleased to hear this is the first in a series!

A murder. A murder in locked room. A locked room in a locked down house. A locked down house on an island cut off from the mainland by the tide for hours on end.
The newly appointed young footman who has been in borstal is the obvious suspect for the murder or the Lord of the manor. But the very sweary, cantankerous aunt of the victim is his alibi, if anyone will believe them. Can the two of them work out an unusual alliance and solve the mystery before he is taken off to prison?
I loved this murder mystery from Ross Montgomery. I kind of thought I would, given my huge love for his books for younger readers. The pace was excellent, the characters all with their own eccentric moments and the nods to other locked room mysteries of literature sublime.

A marvellous mystery. Five stars. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

A locked room mystery with a basis in science and the ridiculousness of the English Upper Class idiots in the early 1900s.

Truth: Halley's Comet did make an appearance around the earth in 1910.

Not truth: It did not hit the earth or cause Armageddon but it did show how stupid people can be.

Also true: Sometimes stupid people get murdered in their own impenetrable studies.

I am ashamed to say I figured out the murderer very early on and the method that was used to gain entry to the room but as I could not figure out any more I decided that I was wrong.

An interesting read with a cast of characters that Poirot would have enjoyed pulling apart. It has some very clever twists and the setting was an enormous house where getting lost is a given.

Loved this book from beginning to end! Not my usual genre but I was thoroughly hooked throughout.

It's fast paced, intriguing, funny, and keeps you on your toes. Look out for Miss Decima, he humour and wit is fantastic. Stephen as the other main character is likeable and I was rooting for him though the book. It is a great 'locked room' murder mystery that I must admit surprised me at the end.

I would love to see a follow up book about how Miss Decima and Stephen get on in London.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ross Montgomery and the publishers for the arc for this book.

As a massive fan of Montgomery’s books for children, I was thrilled to get my hands on his murder mystery for adults. Murder at World’s end does not disappoint. The characters are wonderful - eccentrics, layered, and bound by relationships that are usual and quirky. While I did manage to guess the ending ahead of time, it didn’t dampen the enjoyment. I devoured this book.

This book was very well written and kept me enthralled from start to finish. I didn't expect the end result and was completely surprised. Highly recommended read. I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and leave this review willingly.

I loved reading this book. It was like an old fashioned murder with a great twist at the end. Thanks for the early read.

A new author for me and one, I an delighted to say, I will follow for future reads.

Stephen Pike has been released from Borstal for being, basically, an idiot. He receives, whilst satting in a half way haouse, a letter inviting him to come to Tithe House on the island of Worlds End in Cornwall. He is there barely a day when he becomes involved with Miss Decima, an octogenarian whose language would put a sailor to shame!

Above the Earth Hally's comet approaches and the house, On the orders of the the owner, Miss Decima's nephew, Conrad, the house is locked down, Literally. Every crevice, crack, window, fireplace is boarded up. Keyholes are filled with wax. Everyone is locked in their rooms as Conrad believes the comet will turn the everything upside down and the world will end with the few remaining having to start again.

The world does not end but when the study, where Conrad had decided to stay for the night, remains closed the door is broken open and Conrad is found dead, an arrow through his eye.

It now comes down to Miss Decima and Stephen to discover not only the murderer but to ascertain how, exactly, it was done.

There are plenty of red herrings, obnoxious relatives and puzzles. Written from Stephen's point of view this is an amusing, enjoyable, addictive read and I look forward to more of the duos adventures.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgally for the ARC.

An historic upstairs downstairs mystery with a golden age feel set in the historic time of Haley's Comet when there was a wave of panic and belief that it was the end of the world.

The story is told from Pike's point of view, a London ex con who is desperate to turn his life around and believes the footman role at a grand house will help him achieve that aim. But then he is put in charge of helping the crazy great aunt Stockingham that everyone hates, including her family.

The murder is unsurprising but the locked room aspect is well done. The bodies build up quickly and there is an extremely offensive detective to deal with along with the misogyny of the age which Stockingham has been dealing with all her life. However her character can be over the top offensive which made me feel less sympathetic.

The location of a mysterious castle like house across an often inaccessible causeway adds even more isolation to the story and the glimpses of emerging science and technology are fascinating to see.

I enjoyed the story and it’s a good start to the Stockingham and Pike mystery series.

I loved this book, kept me captivated from the beginning to the end with plenty of twists and turns and potential for a follow on book. I liked the fact of the historical setting with lots of interesting characters and an amazing setting.

A really fun and entertaining murder mystery. I loved the relationship that developed between Stephen and Miss Decima - the wealthy older lady, and the young man still rough around the edges from Bow. With the approach of Halley’s Comet in 1920, the grand house makes ready to face a new world. But one death leads on to others and it is down to Miss Decima and Stephen, plus a willing young maid Temperance, to solve. With hostility between the extended members of the family, the little team are not short of suspects.

An amusing, fast paced and very addictive read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me a copy of this ARC for review.

What a cracker old fashioned whodunnit!!!!!?
I absolutely loved it....written with humour and such well thought out personalities. And better than anything....a great ending with all loose ends tied up beautifully .

The book is set in Cornwall 1910 just as Halley's Comet was making the news.
A murder is committed in Tithe Hall the night they thought the world would end but who done it.

A sleuthing great aunt....whose is highly unconventional in her ways and an absolute hoot, joins forces with the new member of waiting staff just out of Borstal. Together they don't have long to find the killer before he strikes again.

Highly recommend this book. Brilliantly written right to the end.

Fabulous read ! It’s novel, exciting and rich in detail. Fairly rattles along and takes you with it on a rude note easily forgotten. This characters are well drawn and I kept reading well into the night !

Stephen Pike arrives at Tithe Hall to take up a new position which he desperately needs- he is destitute and has somewhat of a history. On arrival he finds no such position but fortuitously they need more staff, especially as they are shutting out the world for safety due to the passing of the comet. This is 1910 and the rich out power the scientists in what they believe and what they would have their household believe. However the woman who wrote the letter getting Stephen employment, Decima, has her own thoughts and plans. When there is a murder the night of the comet when everyone has been locked in their rooms, the two try to discover who the culprit is.

This is my first foray into Mr Montgomery’s work and won't be the last- I loved it. It grabbed me from the outset. The characters are so well described that they come to life between the pages and the plot, a locked room (literally!) is a clever one and well thought out with lots of plot twists along the way. I liked Stephen and his naivety of life in the big house which came across well. Decima is wonderful in so many ways and provides a smile more than once, not least of all with her colourful language (remember the era).

A thoroughly enjoyable book I loved. Off to find more from this very talented author.