Murder Under a Green Sea

‘”I have a compulsion to summon everyone to the library and explain the plot.”
“We don’t have a library,” Martha said.’

You know what? I really enjoyed this addition to the period-crime-novel genre that is exploding just now. OK, it’s not going to win the Booker or the Costa, but it is what it is, and Phillip Hunter has produced a fun, fast-paced crime thriller with enough larger-than-life characters to make a whole series of books featuring our married couple of Martha and Max Dalton. There are flaws (more of them later) but, on the whole, this ticked most of the boxes that you would expect.

Max is a sometime journalist from lowly background, married to wealthy Martha (and whose parents disapprove of their son-in-law). Max is drawn into a plot whereby members of his former platoon from the First World War are being killed, and he quickly becomes a suspect. As the plot develops it takes in secrets and betrayal from the Great War and, being set in 1937, the looming catastrophe that was the Second World War as Hitler and his policies are starting to become clear to many in Britain. Indeed, in somewhat convoluted ways, the figure of Winston Churchill appears in the book. There are plenty motifs of the classic crime genre on offer: a couple of (seemingly) plodding policemen who, it turns out, are actually good eggs; the maid Flora and her boyfriend Eric; Nazi spies and secrets; a car chase; an escape from a train…. The author is savvy enough to name-drop Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, and there is a running joke about the characters from the film The Thin Man (and also a mention of The Thirty-nine Steps). The general tone is upbeat, often comical – and I can see why this might grate with some readers, given the very serious themes with which the book deals. But that is also part of its charm – this is a light, dare I say it ‘cozy’ (urgh, hate that word but you know what I mean) book. It doesn’t claim to be literary fiction, but it will amuse and pass a few hours of your time.

There are flaws: Martha’s continued inability to call their lawyer Mr Bacon by the correct name (Ham, Sausage, Onion…) becomes tiresome quite quickly, and the long-drawn out explanation of the plot at the end (in a pub, not the library as we have seen) is a bit complicated and confusing. There are several points throughout the book where the suspension of disbelief is at a premium, but what the heck – why not? The characters aren’t necessarily well-rounded but are enjoyable enough, and there are moments of seriousness (which may or may not jar with some readers), especially with Max’s memories of the Great War and the horrors which he witnessed.

Overall, yes, I would recommend it, and I am looking forward to more in the series. Flawed, yes, but a good old romp which has no illusions of grandeur. For what it is, 4 stars from me.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.)

This is a cute mystery, made interesting more by the characters than the plot. I enjoyed the banter between Max and Martha, though the story wasn't terribly gripping for me.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

This is a marvellous murder mystery thriller. I read it in two sittings and after the first hour I hoped there would be more in the series. It is well written and has some great twists. The two main protagonists are enjoyable to read especially their banter/bickering - there were a few laugh out loud moments.

The story line is good but a bit over the top in places - such as the inclusion of Churchill who waffles a bit.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and have added it to my Amazon Wish List so I can have a have copy in my own personal library.

Murder Under A Green Sea will be released February 21, 2019.

In spite of Max's arrest the book started out slow but was very funny. I liked the references to popular culture in the 30s and picked up on The Thin Man mood even before Martha suggested it.
Murder Under A Green Sea was very funny and very complicated. Honestly I'm not sure what actually happened. The copy I read didn't have spacing for things like words or paragraphs. Looking forward to actual release so I can read it again.