The Quartet Murders

Interesting storylines although it was a bit odd that for the 2nd book in a series the author had the characters working on someone else's patch
And the romance between two of the characters developed very quickly! From meeting in book one to being in love in book 2

So much for a quiet evening listening to a world-famous string quartet. DCI Oldroyd sees violinist Hans Muller shot dead before everyone's eyes, and his priceless violin stolen. And there are no clues as to who has done it.

A complex tale, with an ending not quite matching up to the rest of the story, but enjoyable nonetheless

4 stars

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd is attending a concert of the Schubert Quartet that will be playing one of his favorite pieces by Schubert. At the end of the concert a shot rings out and Hans Muller is shot dead. With Hans was a priceless Munsterhaven Stradivarius. Bedlam occurs and when all is calm it is discovered that not only is Hans dead, but the Strad is missing. Oldroyd teams up with DCI Sam Armitage and Andy Cater to work the case and the interviews begin.

The interviews have barely begun, with Hans’ death just three days old, when Martin Hamilton, the cellist in the Quartet, was shot to death in his home in London. His home was ransacked and his cello is out of its case. Upon close examination, Oldroyd discovers a secret compartment in the cello case, and it’s just big enough to fit a violin in it. They are convinced that he stole the Strad and now it’s been stolen from him – after his murder.

Something is going on and Armitage, Oldroyd and Andy all think it has something to do with the missing Strad.

This novel reads like an episode of Midsomer Murders in that the reader also gets to learn about the suspects and what is going on with them. We learn their motives and actions – it’s great. We learn almost all of what is going on, but the reader doesn’t know the details. Nefarious doings are underway.

In a sting, the truth of the stolen Strad is revealed. It was a tip about a conspiracy that the police received in the nick of time. The death of Martin Hamilton was solved as well. The story of the stolen Strads gets stranger yet. But the police seem no closer to learning about the first murder. Who committed it? How did they do it?

An idle comment by Andy puts a thought into Oldroyd’s head. And he turns out to be right. The case of the murder of Hans Muller is solved. The story behind the murder is torturous and filled with pain.

This is a fine book. It is well written and plotted. I like DCI Oldroyd and DS Andy very much. They are a great team. Although Steph played a minor role in this novel, she too, is a valuable member of Oldroyd’s team. I thought that this novel was not quite as good as The Body in the Dales. However, it was still a very good read and I will continue to read J.R. Ellis’ books in the future.

I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read, enjoy and review.

I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is the second book I've read from J.R. Ellis about DCI Jim Oldroyd and his band of Yorkshire based crimefighters. It's another fun story of sleuthing, this time focussed on classical music. Once again the police are definitely portrayed as the good guys, whereas everybody else seems to have an angle of some kind. A fun read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Quartet Murders, the second novel to feature DCI Oldroyd and DS Carter of Harrogate police.

DCI Oldroyd is in Halifax listening to a string quartet concert when the lead violinist, Hans Müller, is shot dead. He is perplexed when no trace of the sniper can be found and further perplexed when Müller's extremely rare Stradivarius cannot be found.

I enjoyed The Quartet Murders but found it less of a good read than its predecessor, The Body in the Dales. Much of this is, I think, due to me guessing early on how it was done and getting frustrated with Oldroyd for not seeing it. I also found it frustrating that the author completely ignores modern forensics in favour of the more old fashioned method of chasing leads and theories, e.g. there is no mention of checking for fingerprints on the gun or checking the serial number but they spend a lot of time chasing potential buyers of the violin. I also fail to get excited about antiques and the urge to collect rarities. Having said all that the novel is well plotted with several good, unexpected twists, a host of suspects and a well hidden motive and the chapter headings, each with a different story about a Stradivarius and totally unconnected to the plot, are informative about this niche market.

Oldroyd is not at his best in this novel. He is depressed about his failure to win back his wife and tired with the commute between Harrogate and Halifax so he spends most his time up blind alleys and chasing his tail until a chance remark from the philistine, DS Carter, puts him on the right track.

The Quartet Murders is a good read.

A brilliant book that I enjoyed very much. What a surprising ending to a story that was well told with characters that were very likeable. It was fascinating to learn a bit along the way about Stradivari and his instruments, something I knew very little about. Definitely 5 stars and I hope to read more by Ellis soon!

The Quartet Murders sees the return of DCI Oldroyd and colleagues following the murder of a violinist at a performance and the subsequent theft of a very expensive and infamous violin.

The story then follows the Team's attempts to solve both mysteries and there are a number of twists and turns as you would expect.

The major downsides for me were the slightly rushed ending and the lack of prominence given to other main cast members.

Saying that it was an enjoyable read and I would hope that there' are further books in this series.

An Historcal Murder Mystery.
It all begins from a commission from a very wealthy duke asking to have made nine stringed instruments and adorned with his coat of arms on the backs of each piece.
This is the story of one such piece, a violin.
Today it is priceless. It is in the hands of an exceptional musician who is murdered during a concert he is part of and the violin disappears all in front of DI Oldroyd eyes as he was in the audience.
I love a good murder mystery and it took me quite a while ( nearly to the end of the book ) to find out who the murderer was. This book was entertaining and kept me enthralled until the Last page.
A little gem.
I would like to thank the author J R Ellis, Amazon Publishing UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy.
I like this mystery with music being a main character here.
I loved the setting and thought the book was plotted.

This is the second of J.R.Ellis Yorkshire Murder Mysteries that I've read. Some time seems to have passed since the first instalment although I'm not sure how much. I gather it is a little bit of time though, as his sergeants seem to have moved from a date to a full-on relationship.

DCI Oldroyd and DS Carter are faced with joining another local force to try and solve a seemingly impossible murder. The story covers everything from murder to international smuggling and high-value theft. I loved the story and the twists and turns that it took. I managed to work out some of the solutions, but there was so much going on that I didn't solve the whole crime.

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and I enjoyed the mystery. The only slight problem was that the main solution was, I felt a little cliched. This might be unfair, but of all the solutions to murders that I've read, I've come across this one a couple of times and it's my least favourite. Despite this though, I still really enjoyed the book as a whole and am looking forward to reading more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love how the whole storyline has been portrayed. The story makes sure you stay on the edge of your seat. Such a gripping, nail-biting read that will leave you wanting to turn those pages till you have devoured the entire book. It will definitely leave you wanting to one click all of this authors books. I'm going to be keeping my eye on this one for sure.

The Quartet Murders: A Yorkshire Murder Mystery
By: J. R .Ellis
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9781053903098

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd is thoroughly enjoying a concert of chamber music in a chapel in a small Yorkshire town when one on the quartet members is shot while performing onstage by an unseen assailant and the musician’s irreplaceable Stradivarius violin goes missing. No one is seen leaving the building, yet the murderer and thief aren’t found. Is this the work of a gang of art thieves with whom some of the locals are involved? A few of the local well-heeled gentry are known for their private collections of rare and priceless musical instruments. Before long another member of the quartet is killed, and his murder linked to the stolen violin. DCI Oldroyd assists his old friend, DCI Sam Armitage of the local Halifax police force, in unraveling the knotted strings of these mysteries. The police assume the two deaths and the theft of the violin committed by the same group of criminals. But are they connector or are they separate cases?

The main characters, Armitage, Oldroyd and Oldroyd’s associate, Detective Sergeant Andy Carter, are well-defined. Armitage “was a jovial character famously renown for his unhealthy lifestyle. A heavy smoker, he was fond of lunching on pork pies laced with brown sauce and his consumption of beer outstripped Oldroyd’s.” Oldroyd is a dedicated policeman as well as a classical music lover who’s longing to reunite with his ex-wife. DS Carter, who gets on well with Oldroy, his superior, is falling in love with Yorkshire as well as one of his co-workers, DS Stephanie Johnson.

The setting is well conceived. The town, down on its heels after the closure of its textile mills, is still lively with weekly market days and Christmas decorations. The red-brick chapel where the concerts are held is an eccentric venue for classical music concerts, according to Oldroyd.

Although the characters are likable, sometimes their personal lives get in the way of the story. Oldroyd’s contact with his sister furthers the plot as they discuss the deaths and theft, but his interaction with his ex-wife and daughter does nothing except slow the plot and drop readers out of the mystery. His daughter is usually off doing her own thing, except for cadging money from Dad. His wife is a downward drag on the story because of her somewhat defeatist attitude.

The plot moves along at a slow but steady pace; one wonders why a few more modern techniques of police investigation were not used, such as checking fingerprints at the two crime scenes. Sometimes, it seemed as if Oldroyd and Armitage were just scratching their heads and ignoring subtle clues from Alison, Oldroyd’s sister, and Miss Dobson. “Have you got anything, Jim? We’re banging our heads against a brick wall with this one,” Armitage says at one point.

The Quartet Murders is the second book in a series about DCI Oldroyd. Based on the plot of this book, I might or might not read the others. The main characters were likable and believable enough to create some interest in the other books in the series. This plot, however, could have use more punch. Overall, a rating of 3.5 -4 stars for The Quartet Murders.

The Quartet Murders is the second Yorkshire Muder Mysteries book and as thoroughly enjoyable as the first.DCI Oldroyd is enjoying an evening out in Halifax listening to a violin quartet, when suddenly one of the quartet is murdered in front of the packed audience. Simultaniously a rare Stradivarius violin is stolen from the dead musician. With DC Carter’s help the detectives begin to unravel the dark under world of priceless musical instruments. As the story unfolds so the tale twists and turns and everyone seems to have a secret to hide and a dark history to protect. J.R Ellis has once again written a fantastic murder mystery splattered with dramatic descriptions of the stark Yorkshire country side. Highly recommend this book and I look forward to to the next instalment.

The premise of the story was very intriguing. And although I had read other reviews saying that there was no interest to them of classical music and the loss of a valuable violin, I am very versed in music and appreciated all that information.

The author is very good at descriptive passages, but definitely needs improvement on dialogue. It very often doesn't sound "real". Also, There is not a whole lot of character information on the primary protagonists of this book, and what there is, is repetitive. Too many times we read of his separation from his wife, without really knowing what it was about. Too many times we read of Carter and his girlfriend, but really don't have a grasp as to who they are.

And, despite having a fascinating premise, the ending felt put together rather sloppily. All of a sudden, we find out the culprit without really seeing the logics that went behind that solution.

I requested 2 more books and I hope they are better.

Having recently read J.R. Ellis' first book I was pleased to be able to read his second which.was a very satisying and enjoyable read. The plot was steadily paced and I loved the additional information about Stradivari and his instruments,
Not only a good crime novel, a book that educates, and a writer who's work I will be sure to read more of.

This book is the second in the series and I liked it as much as the first. This book focuses on the world of music. It was an easy read and again everything was brilliantly described and well thought out. This story was a pleasure to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a follow up to the Body in the Dales by J.R. Ellis. The same characters are involved in another tricky murder investigation.
A member of a Quartet is shot during a concert in front of DI Oldroyd. The investigation takes you to Halifax, London and back in time to WW2. All over a Stradivarius Violin.

Looking forward to more in this series....

This is the second book I have read from this author. It was quite enjoyable. I sometimes found myself bogged down in all the information regarding musical instruments and the history of this particular violin, but it seems the author has an attention to detail on this subject. The relationship between Carter and Stephanie is not relevant and went from a casual flirtation in book one to an apparent serious relationship. Wonder why it is even included, as it has no bearing on the plot or information in the book. Overall, a good read for a light, clean mystery.

Good to catch up with DI Oldroyd and his team in another very interesting case. What is extremely interesting is that this author manages to also give you a tour of the Yorkshire countryside. Recommended and well worth a read.

The Quartet Murders by J. R. Ellis is another in the DCI Oldroy series. Violinist Hans Muller is murdered and guess who gets the case? Oldroy must seek out the answers he needs to solve this one. The writer does a wonderful job with keeping the information together and not jumping around. The chapters are fairly short. I felt like the characters were likeable weaved throughout well. This is a compelling story that will have you gripped waiting to see what happens.

Thank you to netgalley as well as ththe author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars ⭐️ out of 5

Detective Chief Inspector Oldroyd is at a chamber concert when the violinist is murdered. Someone also takes off with the violin which is a Stradivarius. He gets help from Detective Sergeant Andy Carter.
This is the second in the series. You do not have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. I really enjoy the author"s style of writing. He makes you feel like you a character in the story.

A priceless Munsterhaven Stativarius violin. Collectors will do anything necessary to possess it. Including murder.

DCI Jim Oldroid is a connoisseur of classical music, frequently attending chamber concerts at every opportunity. Tonight, not even a wet, and cold November evening can dampen his spirits as he's in Halifax for a chamber concert in the Red Chapel Arts Centre. The internationally renowned Schubert String Quartet will be performing
Schubert's, greatest quartet: the one in D major known as Death and the Maiden, with its famous second movement, one of Oldroyd’s favourite pieces of music.


'The hall was hushed in expectation of a special performance of Schubert’s masterpiece. There followed an intense and dramatic first movement handled with masterful technique and power. And then the slow movement.
Oldroyd had always thought that the opening was like a funeral march; Death is stalking the maiden as in the old legend and Schubert’s earlier song. She pleads with him in a poignant and plaintive series of variations –‘Ich bin noch jung!’– but he is implacable. The music increases in menace and drama. Death draws near, enveloping her in a dance and then striking her down. A turbulent passage of agony climaxes in death throes but then subsides slowly into quietness and calm. The final bars convey transcendence; the opening themes are repeated but transformed, uplifted.

Oldroyd sat transfixed until the final chord faded out. There was utter silence. The quartet slowly lowered their instruments, and Muller gently placed the Munsterhaven Strad on to the little table.
As he did so there was a tiny thudding noise high up behind Oldroyd. A small circle of red appeared on the right side of Muller’s forehead and his eyes widened. He appeared to try to stand up, still holding his bow, then plunged forward, knocked over his music stand and crashed to the floor, where he lay still. The sheets of his score were scattered around him.
There were a few strangely still seconds of complete incomprehension in the hall, before it was realised that Death had claimed more than the Maiden that night in Halifax.'

********
The Quartet Murders by J.R. Ellis is the second book in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series.
We were first introduced to DCI Jim Oldroid and his partner, DS Andy Carter, in the enjoyable and intriguing debut The Body in the Dales.

***The Quartet Murders begins with a introduction into the factual history of the legendary Munsterhaven Stratavaruis instruments made in 1709, provided for us by the author, J. R. Ellis. I've included it in it's entirety as it speaks to the uniqueness and beauty of the storyline. For anyone interested, you can find it at the end of this review.

The books in this series are located in and around the small village of Harrington in the Yorkshire Dales.
Mr. Ellis takes full advantage of the setting by adding factual information surrounding the history and diverse landscapes that make up the Yorkshire Dales, working it seamlessly into the storyline. The factual elements and creativity give his stories a unique, fresh, and dynamic quality, and the overall effect creates more of a mysterious, cryptic, puzzling, and sinister nature as a backdrop as the story plays out. The characters are genuine and it's easy to grow fond of them in a short time.
I'm really been enjoying this series and am looking forward to reading the next book in the near future!
What could possibly happen next?!!


***'Legend

It is said that Count Munsterhaven’s messenger arrived at his famous destination in Cremona –No. 2 Piazza San Domenico –dusty and exhausted on a hot August afternoon in 1709. He was immediately admitted and given a refreshing glass of wine.
Having recovered a little, he was escorted up some rather rickety stairs to the workshop, seeing the apprentices at work and smelling the wood and the varnish. He passed violins and violas lined up in various stages of completion, like butterflies slowly forming in the chrysalis, before entering a tiny office where a man was sitting on a high stool at a desk looking at detailed drawings and diagrams. This was the genius himself: Antonio Stradivari, the most famous musical instrument maker the world has ever known.
The messenger bowed reverentially and handed a sealed envelope, borne hundreds of miles from Germany, to the master, who opened it and read the enclosed letter. Even though he knew of the count’s wealth, his eccentric pride and his love of music, what the master read still surprised him. It was a grand commission, not for one or two or even three instruments, as he had been expecting since the count’s recent visit, but for all the violins, violas and cellos of a chamber orchestra: nine instruments in all! Every string player would play a Stradivarius. The count was prepared to pay a fabulous price. Towards the end of the letter there was a neat, coloured drawing of the count’s coat of arms followed by a curious request expressed in an oddly formal style:

So that these instruments will be forever associated with me, you will receive my everlasting gratitude if, on the back of each one, you will cause to have painted my coat of arms as it here appears. Thus they will become the ‘Munsterhaven’Stradivarii and, I believe, a wonder of the world for evermore.

Stradivari gazed abstractedly into the distance for a moment, before taking up the letter again and studying the coat of arms.
Well, my friend, he thought to himself. What a request you have given to me! He smiled and nodded. Yes, you shall have your ‘Munsterhaven’Stradivarii –and I hope they will be, as you say, a wonder of the world.'


With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer, and J. R. Ellis for giving me all three books in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series for me to read in return for my honest review.

This is the second in the DCI Oldroyd/Yorkshire Murder Mystery series, although could easily be read as a stand-alone. This was recently re-published but has kept the same title, unlike the other two in the series. They are mysteries set in modern times, but with a wholesome old-fashioned style which makes a nice change from the nastiness of some crime series. (I read and enjoy those too, but need a break from time to time.)

It’s early December and Jim Oldroyd is attending a string quartet performance in a converted chapel in Halifax, when the senior violinist is shot dead, and his priceless Stradivarius instrument stolen in the confusion that follows. Leaping into action, Oldroyd secures the scene, and finds the abandoned rifle, but the killer is nowhere to be found and no one saw him leave. Asked to join the investigation by his old mate DCI Sam Alderdice, they find a large pool of suspects who may have been desperate enough to get hold of the rare violin, worth millions, but none who could’ve fired the fatal shot. A second murder leads them to London, allowing DS Andy Carter a chance to re-visit his old patch, and discover links to violent gangs, wealthy collectors, and Nazi Gold.

The author has a wonderfully atmospheric way of describing the Yorkshire scenes, both town and country, and introduces lots of intriguing characters, some returning from the first book, like Oldroyd’s sister, Alison the vicar.
The plot was detailed enough to be interesting without becoming overly complicated, and I certainly didn’t guess the perpetrator but was entirely satisfied by the reveal - there were clues enough to not feel cheated. The third book has also just been published and I look forward to reading it very soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book that I’ve read in this series. I enjoyed it just as much as the first one, maybe even a bit more. The story proceeded at a leisurely pace, sometimes maybe slightly too slowly. There wasn’t any overt violence, sex or bad language. The mystery was a good one, a bit twisty and with a satisfying ending that I couldn’t begin to figure out, even though I correctly suspected who the murderer was early on in the book.

The author really researched the musical instruments involved in the case, and I enjoyed the chapter lead-ins that described the history of various Stradivarius violins. Although they weren’t neccesary to the story, they were interesting and produced a sense, almost of awe, about these instruments.

This is a novel that will appeal to those who enjoy police procedurals, British mysteries and cozy mysteries.

This is the second installment of the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries. Detective Chief Inspector Oldroyd is known to solve the odd cases that dumbfounds his peers, but he is actually present as this murder takes place in an arts center with the Schubert Quartet playing. One of the members of the quartet is murdered and the case is difficult from the beginning with no one seen leaving the building and all present in full view of each other. Complications begin immediately with the theft of a Stradivarius violin from the murdered man, also in full view of the audience yet without anyone seeing the theft. As another member of the quartet turns up murdered the race to find the lost priceless violin and the murderer intensifies. This plot is not quick to unfold but very clever when finally revealed. This is a must read for fans of good British murder mysteries.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for this partnership.

History tells us that the Stradivarius violin is priceless and that people would kill to have it in their hands.

It all began when the famous violinist Hans Muller was shot dead in the middle of a concert and his violin disappeared, of course, the police could not find the killer. Oldroyd will investigate the world of musical instruments and discover many dark secrets. He will do everything to find the violin and the murderer.

A second book read before the first, I had not paid attention in my netgalley library. A very interesting story, being a fan of classical music, captivating filled with suspense and twists. I begin the first book of this step.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. DCI Oldroyd is back again and saving the day. Another great read, roll on book 3

Once again Oldroyd is in the right place, at the right time, when a murder takes place. Only this time it's a variation on a closed room mystery, with international twists. What seems like a murder, soon turns into a million dollar theft, and as the bodies start piling up, it takes officers in 3 different locations, to come up with enough information to even think about finding a solution. And then when the solution is found, the reader may just have to go back and reread where they might have missed some important clues in the beginning! This is a solid British procedural and if you haven't checked out this series, you should!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author J R Ellis for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Quartet Murders in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I found the storyline to be well thought out, written and very easy to follow. The descriptive setting makes the Yorkshires come alive.
Well worth a read. 3.5 stars.

This suffered a bit from a sophomore slump. The British procedural set in Yorkshire concentrates on DCI Oldroyd this time when he personally witnesses an assassination at the performance of a renowned string quartet in a nearby town. He pulls in DS Carter to assist him, leaving Steph far in the background. The "how" it was done is as stumping as who and why, and when it is discovered that a near priceless Stradivarius violin was taken in the chaos, the situation becomes even more muddled. Unfortunately the story does a bit as well, and the denouement is an old chestnut out of left field. Interesting information on Stradivari instruments and "Nazi gold" add distinction to the story. Good read, but not as good as the first in the series.

DCI Oldroyd is attending a concert when a famous violinist is murdered and his rare violin is stolen. The culprit is no where to be found and it's an intriguing puzzle, how did they escape without anyone seeing them?

The characters are likeable and DS Carter helps with the investigation despite being on holiday in London. The plot moves along really well and there are plenty of sub plots to keep you interested.

An enjoyable police procedural.

DCI Jim Oldroyd of West Riding Police is attending a concert by the famous Schubert String Quartet in Halifax. Just as the second movement comes to an end the lead violinist is shot dead. The shooter escapes and in the panic afterwards the famous and rare Stradivarius he was playing is stolen. The only motive Jim and his team can come up with is that a collector was after the violin. Shortly after the violin thief is also murdered. A really enjoyable read from start to finish - I look forward to reading more about Jim Oldroyd and his team soon.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and J R Ellis for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I truly hope you take the time to seek out this little treasure. It is jam packed full of suspects so you might want to take notes along the way if you like to try and figure out the "who dun it" or just sit back and watch it unfold. Great trilogy so far!

The second installment in Yorkshire Dales' detective series (Yorkshire Murder Mysteries #Book 1 did not disappoint. 
DCI Oldroyd comes back again to solve a crime of love, greed, hatred, passion and... music (thus, the quartet). Yes, it is to do with quartet - musical collective of 4 musicians, string quartet at that.

Two murders, missing Stradivari violin, Chamber Orchestra Society, Music school in London, East versus West, broken lives and blinding greed - all find their way into Yorkshire dales just before Christmas.

Oldroyd does his job in his own slow 'Oxford-educated' way. He is magician of sorts, pulling out ideas and suggestions out of thin air. He has helpers, a lot of helpers, from his assistant Carter to a group of stolen art hunters.

Crimes get solved by the end of the book. But there are no clear borders between good and evil. Oldroyd has done his job and can celebrate Christmas... until the next case.

This book was a slow joy to read. A very good change to the fast-pace of modern crime-fiction. Just what doctor ordered.

A very enjoyable read. Interesting characters and suspenseful plot. Not quite as riveting as the first book in the series, The Body in the Dales, but definitely worth reading, nonetheless.

#TheQuartetMurders #NetGalley

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery. Certainly an intriguing tale, with little hints to keep you guessing along the way. The best element for me is the relationship with Yorkshire Oldroyd and London Carter. Just love it the way it's developing from book 1 to this book. I'm looking forward to the next book for that alone, the mystery is an extra scoop of ice cream on the top. Definitely worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Quartet Murders by JR Ellis.

This is the second in the series of Yorkshire murders for JR Ellis, and once again I really enjoyed the setting. It's nice to see DS Carter settling into his new surroundings.

There was still quite a lot of head-hopping in this sequel. It's okay to swap out viewpoint characters, but it's usually best to give the reader a clue. This can be by changing chapter or by using section breaks between paragraphs. It's confusing, though, to suddenly see something from the point of view of someone else when you're already inside another character's head.

I was pleased to see that the investigation wasn't repeated over and over again in this story. There was much more quick recapping or mentioning the recap in passing before learning something new. I was also happy to see the author stick to fewer storylines.

My only real bugbear this time was when the cat, Godetia, did some of the police work for them. That didn't sit well at all with me. I didn't like having to suspend disbelief. It could have been written much less clumsily.

But it's another good tale, and I'd like to see more.

I look forward to new books by this author. I love the North Yorkshire setting, and we are really beginning to know DCI Oldroyd. I hope he writes more soon!

Was nice to read a book set in an area I was familiar with. Enjoyed hearing the descriptions of places I’d regularly visited. Thanks for the opportunity to read