The Murder at Redmire Hall

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Murder at Redmire Hall, the third novel to feature DCI Jim Oldroyd of the Harrogate police.

When debt ridden Freddy Carstairs, Lord Redmire decides to revive his father's locked room illusion to raise much needed funds he invites DCI Jim Oldroyd to witness it on live TV, but nothing goes to plan and when the room is unlocked Freddy is found stabbed to death. Freddy wasn't a nice man, being a compulsive gambler and womaniser so all the invited friends and family had a motive but no means as they were all filmed watching the illusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Murder at Redmire Hall which is an intricately plotted novel with some excellent misdirection and sleight of hand. The plot has two mysteries - how and who, both of which have ingenious solutions. I must admit that the technicalities of the how rather passed over my head (not being of a technical bent) but I can admire the idea behind it which is very clever. As the explanation is short it didn't impinge on my reading pleasure. The who is much more to my taste. I didn't have a clue and spent the whole novel trying to work out who among the many suspects had the strongest desire to see Freddy dead. In retrospect many of the clues are there but I failed to put it together. It's very well done and had me turning the pages furiously.

With a limited cast of suspects characterisation is more important than in many whodunits. The Carstairs family, led by the loathsome Freddy, are not a likeable bunch so each one of them is a viable suspect. Oldroyd has a fun time offending their aristocratic sensibilities because being in that environment brings out his inner socialist. He is still battling loneliness after his wife left him and nurturing false hope of a reconciliation without changing his workaholic ways which is why she left him in the first place.

The Murder at Redmire Hall is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another good story from J.R. Ellis..... I would say this is like a classic who done it... Lots of possibilities and a couple of twists and turns.
Loving this series of books...

Yes, this is another great book by J. R. Ellis with our favorite detective DCI Oldroy. This time there is magic and intrigue involved. Lord Redmire needs money because he has a gambling problem. He decides to perform a magic trick in a locked room. However, the trick is on him because a knife is found in his back. Ther are many questions that need answers. Can Oldroy figure it out in time? In a way that only Ellis can, he writes with such passion and develops characters that only enhance his storyline. His descriptive qualities are beyond what we see in other writers. Maybe I am partial because I do love this POV and have enjoyed the other books tremendously. I would recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers of the whodunnit genre.

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


5+++ stars ⭐️ out of 5

A great third outing in the Yorkshire mystery series.

I get a certain frisson being in a gothic manor house in the English countryside ensconced in a locked room mystery. I may not be as brave if I were there in real life, but in a novel, well I lap it up and this was a great mystery which I really enjoyed.

The premise was exciting from the off – a trick once performed in a locked room is going to be recreated on the television. Well you know what’s going to happen here, but it’s what happens next that is the real treat. Who killed the victim and why? How?

There’s not many books you get to see the how and why unravel already knowing the who. It’s like the literary equivalent of a columbo episode and kudos to the author for recreating the whole feel and essence of the country manor in a more modern time than most country manor set novels are generally set.

DCI Jim Oldroyd of the Harrogate police is a great character and I feel he and the rest of the cast need their own TV show. The investigation is taunt and exciting as the number of suspects grows, the plot thickens with twists and turns aplenty. The clues are there but I didn’t spot many at all which I was very pleased about. Even you guess some of them, the ending is more than satisfactory and very clever!

Those Carstairs are a wild and weird bunch!

Grab yourself a cup of Yorkshire tea and a fat rascal ( a very hard scone with spices sold at Betty’s tea room, not a character in the novel) and settle down for a darn good read.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for the eARC.
This locked room mystery sees the murder of Lord Redmire as he performs the magic trick of being locked in a room, disappearing, then returning. This trick was successfully performed by his late father and remained a mystery all this time. Unfortunately, on this occasion, Lord Redmire returns...dead, with a knife in his back. Since the whole family was at Redmire Hall to watch the spectable, they as well as the staff form an extensive list of suspects. Lord Redmire was a serial adulterer who gambled away much of the family money, much disliked by many. DCI Oldroyd and DCS Steph
Johnson had front row seats while TV cameras filmed the event. Now they have to solve one of the most baffling cases of their careers. Neither of them find the family members at all sympathetic; they are truly a group of overindulged, arrogant aristocrats who are entitled to only the best while doing the least. Following 2 more murders, Oldroyd and Johnson have a tough case in their hands.
The locked room trick was an ingenious one and the identity of the murderer(s) quite a surprise, but I had difficulty connecting with any of the characters and found I was struggling at times to feel invested in the story. It was a pleasant read, but it wasn't enough to make me want to read the others in the series.

This is the third entry in the Chief Inspector Oldham series. Like the previous two books, most of the violence is “off screen”, and the book is fairly clean. I found that this book moved really slowly, and that there were a lot of passages that were irrelevant to the story. However, the book started off with an unusual situation, which was enough to hook me. The mystery was convoluted enough to keep me guessing, and since the book was populated by a whole host of disagreeable people, the possibilities seemed quite broad. None of my guesses were anywhere close to the mark, so the ending, when it finally came, was a complete surprise. I still don’t really understand the technical details, but, despite that, the solution was plausible.

I kind of like the chief inspector, he’s a bit of a character, and just a little quirky. The other recurring characters haven’t really made all that much of an impression on me, and quite frankly, they are just a bit too perfect to be interesting. This could be intentional, since it does serve to highlight Oldham. Still, I hope that by the next book, Mr. Ellis somehow conceives a way to bring about some sort of resolution to the “Oldham and wife” issue.

This is a very traditional style police procedural, but it’s also a bit cozy. I have to confess to a sneaking liking for the manor house/British village mystery. I enjoyed the book, and would definitely read more by this author.

The Murder at Redmire Hall is the third book in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series.

Lord Redmire, the most recent successor to the Redmire Hall has a gambling addiction that has placed him in serious debt. Recently, he discovered the secret to the locked-room illusion that his father once used to perform to a private audience. He sees this as an opportunity to make money and is determined to raise funds to get his estate out of debt. Lord Redmire has invited family and friends to witness his performance on live TV.

He has also invited DCI Jim Oldroyd and his sidekick DCS Steph. As the cameras roll, something goes wrong and Lord Redmire reappears in the locked room dead with a knife in his back.

Following Frederick’s death, two long-term employees are found dead on the estate, and DCI Jim realizes he has a tough case on his hands.

As he questions Lord Redmire’s family and staff, DCI Jim Oldroyd learns that Lord Redmire was a womaniser and was running his estate to the ground with his compulsive gambling habits. DCI Oldroyd now believes this to be an inside job as someone close to Lord Redmire has a grudge against him and wants to stop him from gambling away his fortune.

This is a beautifully written book that draws you in from the start. The storyline was easy to follow and full of well-drawn characters that were interesting. The pace is steady as the story builds and the identity of the killer is revealed. This is a traditional police procedural set in Yorkshire, a county steeped in rich history. The descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside easily transport you to the setting in this book.

This is the third book in the series and my first book by the author. It can also be read as a standalone. Highly recommend to mystery lovers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and J.R. Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is third in J.R. Ellis series featuring DCI Oldroyd in Yorkshire. In this one Ellis tries his hand at a traditional stately-home locked room mystery a la Agatha Christie. And he doesn't do half bad. The latest Lord Redmire invites his relatives, and DCI Oldroyd and DI Steph Johnson, to observe the locked room magic trick of his father's and somehow rediscovered and recreated in the same room. The Lord is seen in the room, curtains are closed, the door reopened. No Lord Redmire. The curtains and door are closed again, music plays, the door is opened, and while the Lord has reappeared as planned, he, unfortunately, is dead with a knife in his back. How handy that Oldroyd and Johnson are there. The investigation begins, the suspects (so many of them!) are interviewed, the blame shifting games ensue until all are once again brought together for the final reveal. Even Oldroyd admits it's a bit over the top, but he just can't resist the drama of it. The story flows much better than the previous books, the mystery is solid even if some of the key bits are held back from the reader, and a little more Yorkshire flavor is slipped in now and then to good effect.

A wonderful book that just was a joy to read, the characters were just enjoyable and the mystery keeps one turning the pages till the end. Most will work out the trick before the final reveal, but its not the whole mystery. A golden age style mystery that leaves you wanting to read more books by Mr JR Ellis.

So very British story takes place in an estate of a Lord. In front of family and friends the lord is murdered. I had binge watched documentaries on how families keep these historic estates making money. So I found this book very interesting. Strapped for cash and a gambling addiction the lord has looked for ways to make money. So he revisits a magic trick his father had performed. I found the family and their significant others rather awful. They all have their hands out for a financial handout. So many suspects! Sure did not see the end coming at all.

After enjoying the previous books by this author I found the plot line a bit convoluted and far fetched.
But the way the author unwraps the story is as good as ever and there is always some twist awaiting you in the next chapter

Thank you NetGalley for my free copy

I was immediately drawn to The Murder at Redmire Hall for two reasons.  First, the murder takes place not only in a locked room - it takes place during a magic trick where the victim first disappears from the locked room, then reappears in that same locked room.(and DCI Oldroyd is present) Second, The Murder at Redmire Hall is a modern form of the classic manor house mystery - certain to delight the eccentric DCI Oldroyd and readers alike.


Lord Redmire is a womanizer and a gambler with many debts.  By recreating his father’s famous illusion, he hopes to attract revenue.  Instead he ends up with a knife in his back. Lord Redmire was far from well liked, and his family viewed him alternately as a source for funds and a source of embarrassment.  Not only do DCI Oldroyd and DS Steph Johnson have to discover how the trick was performed, and thus who would have the opportunity. They also have to uncover which of the staff or overly entitled family members killed Lord Redmire - particularly since the consensus is the estate is better off without the late Lord Redmire.


The Murder at Redmire Hall is a wonderful British police procedural in the vein of Midsomer Murders or A Touch of Frost.  DCI Oldroyd is charmingly eccentric, and very knowledgeable about Yorkshire history and customs. As much as I enjoy the mystery, I also enjoy the rich and colorful setting.  If you enjoy light British police procedurals with plenty of local color and quirky characters, you will enjoy The Murder at Redmire Hall.


5 / 5


I received a copy of The Murder at Redmire Hall from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

The Murder at Redmire Hall is the third of the Yorkshire Murder Mystery novels. DCI Jim Oldroyd has been invited to Redmire Hall as a special guest to view a lock-door illusion. The present Lord Redmire is a gambling addict and has run up a large amount of debt and needs to find a way to increase revenue at his stately home in order to pay off his debtors. The stately home, the eccentric Lord, the hard done by younger brother, the spoilt daughter, the divine ex-lover and the sophisticated ex-wife. We all these wonderful characters a murder takes place and once again DCI Oldroyd has a front seat.

J R Ellis's style of writing is so smooth and gentle that the reader finds themselves hooked from the first page. The beautiful descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside and the little snippets of local history all add realistic depth to these wonderful tales. The story may seem familiar and you might think you were in the middle of an Agatha Christie novel or a game of Cluedo, but there is nothing formulaic or steriotypical of this novel and as the plot thickens and bodies mount up you realise the clever way the author has guided you to the end of the novel.
I will definitely be looking forward to the next Yorkshire Murder Mystery.

This book starts off in the past, with a seemingly closed room trick that goes off without a hitch, and then fast forwards to present day, where the same trick is be repeated by a son of the original illusionist. But unlike the first time, all does not go well. As the bodies start piling up, Oldroyd and Johnson know that they have more than simple murder, but one that was planned and those aware of it, are being shuttered, permanently. There are a few red herrings to make the reader wonder if they really know who the culprit is, and some rapid reading at the end will show the reader they might just have been wrong! It's an interesting case, and as my introduction to the series (it;s Book 3), quite a satisfying one!

I so adored this book! It has brilliant main characters, an excellent plot and it kept me engrossed all the way through. I would highly recommend this book.

DCI Oldroyd returns in The Murder at Redmire Hall which is the third in the series by J R Ellis.

The story is a twist on a locked room mystery with a nod to the golden age authors like Agatha Christie

Oldroyd and his assistant Steph are faced with finding the murderer of a Lord of the Manor who had a number of enemies within his own family.

The story is well written with a number of twists and turns and kept me hooked throughout.

This is an excellent addition to the series.

Thoroughly recommended

A good mystery, entertaining and fascinating. I loved the classic whodunnit structure and look forward to reading other instalment in this series.
Many thanks to The Murder at Redmire Hall and Netgalley for this ARC

An enjoyable read. The mystery was well done (and I'm pleased I at least suspected one of the murderers!) as were the characters. It was good as a standalone, so I am looking forward to reading the rest in the series to be able to see how the MCs developed.

This book, like so many these days, screams out for an editor. The author starts out with a fairly interesting idea but the the constant repititions bludgeon the reader's interest. I lost count, but I think there were 6 times when each character and his/her circumstance and relation to the victim is recounted and dissected as to why they should or could be considered the murderer.

Furthermore, there are so many extra "filler" pages that don't add anything to the story, advance the plot or give new insight into the characters..

The book is way too long and so much of it needed to be edited out. Consequently the reader never feels any tension or interest to know what comes next and how this dilemma will be solved. Every time I started to vaguely get involved, I ran into pages and pages of non information.

The sad part is that this is a kind of imitation of Agatha Christie's novels but without the characterizations, the tension and the mystery. I was watching a film on Agatha Christie and in it the narrator read the first sentence of the very first short story she ever wrote, when very young, and yet, that opening line was crackling with mystery and intrigue, something that was sadly missing in this novel.

Another great case for DI Oldroyd and his team. A story well told by JR Ellis all of the Oldroyd books have been a great read and possibly someone in TV should be looking at DI Oldroyd regarding a TV series.

I really enjoyed this story. In fact, I loved the characters so much, I immediately read the previous two in the series - what a great discovery of JR Ellis! The characters were well done, and the plot complex enough to hold my interest. I'm looking forward to more!

Another fun whodunit romp in Yorkshire with Jim Oldroyd and his quirky team. This one deals with an objectionable upper class family following the murder of their patriarch lord during a crazy magic stunt, and gives Oldroyd plenty of opportunity to stretch his Sherlock Holmes/Hercules Poirot muscles. As always, an easy read with no small amount of social commentary. This is the third of the series that I've read and the only element of it that I have any concern is the lack of depth to the main police characters; they all appear as inveterate good-guys with no shadowy side hustle. Maybe I've read too much James Patterson/Lee Child...

*I would like to thank J.R.Ellis, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
This is a perfect novel for those readers who like a mystery set in a beautiful English stately homein Yorkshire, a wide range of characters and a clever policeman who knows where to look for the clues and who is assisted by an intelligent female colleague. The story begins with a trick performed by Lord Redmire in hope to cover his gambling debts but which unfortunately has tragic consequence for him. DCI Jim Oldroyd and DS Stephanie Johnson conduct investigation in the way typical of the genre and naturally uncover lots of family secrets on the way. The book reads very well and I personally enjoyed it thoroughly on my holiday.

A captivating and intriguing mystery that has an ideal storyline and great characters, bringing this book to life. DI Oldroyd and Stephanie found themselves smacked dab in an aristocratic murder mystery, filled with puzzling twist, hidden turns, and secrets a few would kill to hide, which of course they did. With detective Oldroyd going through an upheaval in his marriage and Steph being threatened with sexual harassment on the job, they were still able to be successful in solving the crime. Interesting and entertaining nicely done, a must read, one to add to your crime shelf.

CI Oldroyd is faced with The Locked Room mystery. How does one kill the occupant of a room that no-one can enter or exit. Lord Redmire is in heavy debt and decides to re-create the trick that his father had performed. To this end he invites a television crew and police to watch the performance. But it doesn't work out as he expected.
An enjoyable mystery but I didn't take to the possible suspects, or to the characters of the police.

A fun, old school mystery that sees DCI Oldroyd trying to solve the mystery of a Lord who is murdered when a magic illusion goes wrong. Lord Redmire has gathered his family and close friends to his estate to witness the illusion, something his father did many years ago, but when the curtains are opened the Lord is found dead, yet he's been alone in a room with no way in or out except for the door he entered.
Oldroyd then has to sift through not only who murdered the Lord, but also how it was done! All the gathered relatives have some motive or other, scorned wives and mistresses, a jealous brother, a demanding daughter, old business partners that he has left in the lurch. Then we find out that Lord Redmire was consistently gambling the estates money away, so which members of his family were trying to stop him before they were left with nothing?
I got a lot of enjoyment from this mystery, trying to work out who had the most to lose, but here, nothing is as it seems. JR Ellis makes us question and second guess ourselves, right up to the final, Agatha Christie-like denouement. I recommend this book to all crime and mystery lovers.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about a locked room mystery! Well, a live on television locked room mystery with a loathsome victim and a list of suspects who aren't much better. There are some family secrets (the Redmires are not very nice people) and there's a second murder. Luckily, there's Jim Oldroyd and Stephanie Johnson. Although this is set in Yorkshire, you don't get much sense of place, but that's ok. It's got appropriate red herrings and a satisfying conclusion. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas and Mercer, and the author J R Ellis for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Murder At Redmire Hall.
This is the third book in the DCI Jim Oldroyd series set in the Yorkshires. I read all three books back to back. The storyline was well thought out and written. I love the central characters and the descriptive setting. I found this series to be a really good read. J R Ellis does not disappoint.
Well worth a read. 3.5 stars from me.

Yorkshire Murder Mysteries #3

Lord Redmire gambling habit has placed him in serious debt. Determined to put Redmire Hall on the map, the aristocrat performs an impossible locked-room illusion on live TV. But as the cameras roll, his spectacular trick goes fatally wrong.

Lord Redmire wants to perform the locked-room trick his father used to perform to try and raise much needed funds. He has invited DCI Jim Oldroyd to witness it and it's going to be performed live on TV. But nothing goes to plan. On Lord Redmires return from the locked-room, he is dead, with the knife still in his back. With family and the staff all suspects, the list is long.

I liked the authors style in writing this book. We get snippets of local history and the descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside make you feel you are there. This is a traditional police procedural. This is the third book in the series but it is the first book that I have read. I do think it can be read as a standalone. I do enjoy these types of mysteries. A real cosy mystery.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author J. R. Ellis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book because it sounded interesting and it's clear that the author is an Agatha Christie fan as the main detective was somewhat styled on Poirot. I thought the story was long and drawn out with some insufferable characters and while I hadn't guessed how it would end, I did realise that it would be someone that was barely mentioned in the book. I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the arc to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

DCI Oldroyd is faced with the Locked Room Mystery.
This is a captivating and murder mystery at its best. This the third book I have read in this series and I am still not disappointed.
As I expect from this author there are lots of twists and turns and red herrings.
It is beautifully written and hooks you from the start. The rapport between Oldroyd and his team is fascinating and has a lot of old world charm. The description of his beloved Yorkshire is breathtaking.
I know that when one of this series lands in my inbox I am in for a really good read.
Another gem from this author MORE PLEASE
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.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way it was written, the descriptions of the characters and scenery and the fact that there was more than one suspect. The writing style makes this story a pleasure to read. I found very few of the characters to be likeable but that added to the list of suspects and kept the suspense going. I hope that there are more books to come in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Murder at Redmire Hall, the third novel to feature DCI Jim Oldroyd of the Harrogate police.

A simple whodunit story line, very similar to the style of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. A seemingly impossible trick being performed, a murder (of a not very pleasant character) and the ensuing investigations with all the ‘suspects’ being far too obvious. This did mean that I worked out who the murderer was quite early on in the story and consequently my interest in the book waned a little. But I still enjoyed the read. The writing was good, the characters of the detectives convincing enough to make me want to read others in the series. Thanks to #netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd and Detective Sergeant Stephanie Johnson. While this is a book in a series, it easily reads like a stand-alone book.

Ellis’ characters are based on the descriptions of 1930s British aristocracy and should remind the reader of Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie’s characters. Ellis’ two detectives are also based on Sayers/Christie’s characters, but not quite. They less bumbling than many of their predecessors and are entirely likable.

The mystery of who killed Lord Redmire is complicated by the fact that Lord Redmire was killed in a room that has only one way in and out of it. The detectives must figure out not only who killed the Lord but how the killer managed to stab the man in the back inside room locked from the outside. Unfortunately for the reader there are many possible suspects in the Lord’s immediate family to say nothing of several more from his personal life.

This cozy will remind the reader not only of the heyday of Sayers and Christie, but also, like those two, of their meticulously plotted mysteries where the detectives peel back layer after layer, much like an onion, until they find the murderer.

This is the third, but hopefully not the last, of the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series, featuring lonely workaholic DCI Oldroyd, who fancies himself as a modern day Poirot or Holmes. This one in particular pays homage to the Locked-Room mysteries of the Golden Age, with a large cast of aristocrats, where everyone has a motive, in a stately home.

Oldroyd and his DS Steph have been invited by Lord Redmire to witness a magical illusion, first performed forty years earlier by his father, where he will disappear from a locked room, live on TV. The performance goes ahead, in front of his assembled family and friends, but when he is due to re-appear, Redmire is found dead, with a knife in his back.
No one seems too upset about his death, and Oldroyd rapidly learns that the man was a selfish gambler and womaniser, whose spending was threatening the estate itself, but all the main suspects were in the room with him at the time, so how could they be the killer?

I have enjoyed getting to know DCI Oldroyd, and his loyal subordinates. "Some might think him a pompous mansplainer", as Steph thinks to herself, but we see his sadness at the realisation that his estranged wife is moving on, his daughter flits in and out, and his work takes most of his attention. As with the previous books, Yorkshire itself becomes a prominent character, you can tell the author has a deep love for the area, it's people and it's traditions.

The mystery was well concealed, with the right number of clues and red herrings, and a classic Poirot-style reveal. I didn't guess whodunnit, but neither did I feel cheated, as it all made sense. Hopefully there will be many more to come in this series, which should appeal to fans of Peter Robinson's DCI Banks series. It would easily be read as a standalone if you have not read the earlier books.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review. The book was published on 13.09.18.

This is from the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series. Again we are with DCI Oldroyd and DS Stephanie Johnson, The two go to a estate to watch a disappearing act when someone gets murdered. Lots of the family members can be suspects because they had reasons to want the victim dead.
I enjoy these mysteries because you cannot figure out the ending of the book. This is the third in the series and I have enjoyed all three books.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found that it flowed well. I could visualise events happening as if on a film and found this aspect fascinating. Definitely recommended.

The Redmire Estate is deeply in debt, thanks to the current Lord Redmire’s gambling habits and general lack of economic discipline. However, he has a plan to boost the estate’s profile and bring in more capital. He will perform the same magic trick that had been so well received when his father performed it. He only recently discovered the secret behind it and to add a note of authenticity, he has invited local DCI Jim Oldroyd and DS Stephanie Johnson to examine the room from which he will disappear and then reappear. The performance appears to be going well until the Lord reappears with a knife in his back. Of course, everyone, both family and staff, in attendance is a suspect. Figuring out the secret of the trick and solving the case may be Oldroyd’s greatest challenge but when two staff members are murdered, he realizes that failure is not an option.

“Murder at Redmire Hall” by J.R. Ellis is the third DCI Oldroyd book. Ellis has conceived characters and a plot that is believable and flows well, especially when set in Great Britain, as this series is. The series clearly falls into the detective novel genre and although not as graphic as more established series such as Connelly’s Harry Bosch, I would definitely not consider this a so-called “cozy” mystery. I found this book quite enjoyable. I would give it 4/5 stars.

*A copy of this ebook is the only consideration received in exchange for this review.*

Magic tricks are all fun and games until someone gets murdered!

******

'I have here with me the owner of Redmire Hall, and the performer of tonight’s magic trick, the Honourable Frederick Carstairs, Lord Redmire.’

Redmire stepped up, handed a rather rusty-looking key to Oldroyd , entered the room and sat at the desk. A drum roll began.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, the chief inspector will now close the door and lock it.’ Oldroyd duly did as he was told. ‘Can you hear me, Lord Redmire? Are you still there?’
‘Yes, I’m here,’ came the slightly quiet but clear reply.
‘So now I will draw this curtain for only fifteen seconds.’
As he did this, dramatic music began once again. At the end of the fifteen seconds, the music stopped and the presenter drew back the curtain. There was silence. Every member of the audience in both rooms was enthralled . Oldroyd had forgotten his embarrassment as he unlocked the door and opened it. It was empty...

‘Well, ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Lord Redmire has completely disappeared from a locked room. But that’s not the end: he will now return. So I ask the chief inspector to close and lock the door again.’ There was a repeat of the locking, curtain-drawing and music.
‘And now, ladies and gentlemen , the chief inspector will once again open the door to this strange room and reveal . . . well, let’s see!’ When the door was opened , Redmire was again sitting at the desk. Applause and shouts of ‘Bravo!’ came from the audience, but Oldroyd had a strange feeling: something wasn’t right.
‘And there he is, ladies and gentlemen! What an amazing trick! Lord Redmire, can you—?’
The presenter’s patter stopped abruptly. Redmire had neither said anything nor moved until that moment. Then his body toppled sidewise out of the chair and the knife sticking out of his back became visible. Blood splattered on to the floor.
‘Oh, bloody hell!’ muttered Oldroyd to himself, before pandemonium broke out.</i>

*********

Murder at Redmire Hall by J. R. Ellis is the third in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series and the books just keep getting better and better with each installment!
The story starts out quickly and continues to gain speed and mystery as the case progresses. This is my favorite in this series so far as the storyline is compelling, intriguing, as all the books have been, but what sets this one apart is that a pinch of mischief was thrown in as the solution to the case was revealed! It's smart and amusing!

Ellis's characters are colorful and well thought, and the murders in each book are unique, fresh, interesting, and exciting. He uses an ingenuity to the storyline by seamlessly fitting in an actual puzzle of how the murderers got their victims — where they were found and/or how the murderer escaped without being seen. I've never come across this ingenious idea before and I've read hundreds of murder mysteries!

The way Ellis takes full advantage of the mysterious and diverse landscapes and the history surrounding the settings in his books which are located in and around Haarrogate in the Yorkshire Dales. It adds a bit of distinction to the stories making them more enticing, interesting, and educational. The information is added to the plot seamlessly preventing the story from being needlessly long winded or boring. I always love to travel the world through books so I always appreciate the addition of factual elements provided by author, especially when the novel is a work of fiction.

The main characters continued to grow on me with each book! In book one, The Body in the Dales, we are introduced to the three main characters in this series, DCI Jim Oldroyd, DS Andrew 'Andy' Carter, and DS Stephanie 'Steph' Johnson. Andy Carter has come from London but fits right in with his two colleges and by the end of the case they've become a very efficient team of three.
In book two, The Quartet Murders, DS Johnson is working on a separate case leaving DCI Oldroyd and DS Carter working together to solve their case.
In this book, the third in the series, DS Carter is on a brief holiday so it's up to DCI Oldroyd and DS Johnson to solve the murders at Redmire Hall.

Separating the characters in this way is a very cleaver way to allow the reader to become more acquainted with the characters without taking a lot of time away from solving the cases. It's unlike most other novels and very effective and efficient.

I'm really enjoying the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series an
It's my hope that Mr. Ellis will continue writing more books in this series!


Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Mr. J. R. Ellis for giving me this advanced reading copy in return for my honest review.

This book was just released on September 13, 2018.

This is the third book in the series.

Lord Redmire attempts to clear his debts by reviving his Father's old magic illusion on television. DCI Oldroyd and DS Johnson are witnesses to the locked door trick. Once the room is unlocked Freddy is dead.

Freddy is unpopular and plenty of people have a motive to kill him. it's a classic locked room mystery with the focus placed on who did it rather than the gory details.

A lovely read though the plot was a little dark, it was a classic who done it. It had many twists and turns, some which were predictable and the rest were a complete surprise.
It made references to murder on the orient express and it did remind me of that.
I enjoyed the storyline and I was intrigued to know the end but not to rush it as each page was interesting and kept my interest.
Thank you for NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for a honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a perfectbook for those readers who like a mystery set in a beautiful English stately home in Yorkshire, I shall be looking out for other books from this author in the future.

The Murder at Redmire Hall is the 3rd book in the Yorkshire murder mystery series by J. R. Ellis featuring DCI Jim Oldroyd. Released 13th September by Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer, it's 300 pages and available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.

There is impressive writing continuity between this and the previous books in the series. They're all solidly readable and engaging books. This book explores some golden age tropes such as locked door murder mysteries, stately home murder with a seething dysfunctional family and class resentments aplenty. Though it's the third book with several recurring characters, it would be perfectly fine as a standalone.

I do feel that the author took too many liberties with the golden age amateur sleuth techniques (Poirot), up to and including a denouement with everyone gathered together in a room for the murder reveal. It was intentional (including Poirot references written into the book itself), but it seemed a trifle over the top, given that DCI Oldroyd is not an amateur and the setting isn't the interwar period. It just came across as unnecessarily clunky. The mash-up of ALL the Christie plot devices was cheeky, but I think it worked in this particular case.

That being said, it's a very enjoyable read and although Oldroyd's personal life is something of a downer, he's an appealing character and the book is very well written, and I am looking forward to the next book(s).

Three and a half stars, rounded up for the writing. Definitely a worthy read for classic procedural mysteries with a touch of the golden age.

This is the third in the series by J R Ellis however it reads well alone, and I had never read any before. I will definitely be picking up the others though!

I thought that this was a well-written, fast paced, easy to read book and would recommend. I liked how the chapters were split - it meant you never got bored of a character. The plot and murder is fairly obvious but I enjoyed the unveiling and working it out as we went along!

I would recommend this book to fans of a classic who dunnit.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

A classic “locked room” whodunit-Lord Redmire invites his family to his estate to watch an illusion. As he’s performing the trick, he’s murdered. But who could have killed him? His son who is angry at how his father is squandering the estate? His brother who resents the aristocrat? His ex-wife? As DCI Oldroyd investigates he quickly discovers Redmire has a host of issues that would make someone want to kill him.

I liked the storyline and plot but never felt as though I connected with the characters involved in Lord Redmire’s storyline. I did like the character of DCI Oldroyd and will read the other books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy. The review has not been influenced by this.

This is the illusion that every budding Agatha Christie will want to solve. How was the murder of Lord Redmire committed in the locked room with the impossible trick of disappearing and reappearing with a knife in his back. There are too many suspects as all the family had reasons. DCI Oldroyd has been a witness to the murder and sets on his journey to discover the murderer with good old fashioned police work. This mystery keeps going a pace and is certainly recommended as a very entertaining read.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It kept me guessing until the very end. The characters were well thought out and the story was engrossing. I will definitely go back and read the first two in the series. I highly recommend this book. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I have been having lots of fun watching several different British cop shows, one of my favorites is DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) aka Boss Banks. This book reminded me of that show. The top detective is quite personable, even though he is a DI and not DCI, and his trusty DS, detective sergeant explore the murder of Lord Redmire.

I found the characters are all distinctive and believable. In fact, the blending of characters and their subsequent reactions to situations, and add to that the mystery of the room, and it almost made me not really care whodunit. Just an enjoyable read. Not a lot of English slang so it is very understandable. There is some dry wit (my favorite kind of humor).

Four of Five stars for making me not really care whodunit, which is the purpose of a murder mystery!

Received this book from Netgalley. This is my honest opinion of this book.

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There's a lot going on in 'The Murder at Redmire Hall', the third book in the Yorkshire Murder Mysteries. A stately home, a long standing family, plenty of lies, secrets and deception and, of course, murder. Well written with plenty of engaging characters and a good plot. Very enjoyable.

The murder at Redmire Hall is just marvellous. A magic trick that’s replicated and it appears to be perfect but it’s not. It’s a real whodunnit and if you love a good murder mystery you’ll enjoy this. Kept me guessing till the end and if you want more this is part of a series. It can be stand alone though. Just nice to know I can buy more.

A really enjoyable mystery with all the elements of a classic Golden Age detection
It features a locked room murder, magic tricks, a country house and a full inventory of deplorable suspects all brought up to date in modern England.
A lot of fun!

satisyfying read. A cosy murder mystery with some unexpected turns. I have enjoyed other books by J.R.Ellis (no relation) this year. His writing is an easy to follow and read.

Enjoyed the dual mystery of whodunnit and how. Most of the characters had at least some degree of motive but the reveal took me by surprise. It was a little slow at times but it was a good read on the whole.

Ooooo! Murder during a magic show, the greatest trick of all! Loved this well paced and fun murder mystery!

This gave me such Clue vibes and I loved every minute of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the characters over time continue to grow on me. Since this is the first book I have ready by J.R. Ellis, I am going to have to go back and read books 1-2 to get a better understanding of his style of writing and then come back and re-read The Murder at Redmire Hall.

A DNF for me at the moment as it was a third in a series and i need to read the first two. I looked up the first one and really want to read it, the plot sounds real good!

An enjoyable third entry in the series. The mystery was intriguing, but I found the characters lacking.

This was a very interesting locked room mystery. I was trying to work out how it was done throughout the book.
I liked the characters so I have bought more books by this author.

This has been my favourite of the jr ellis Yorkshire mystery series. Really enjoyed the locked room aspect.