Murder at the Natural History Museum: The thrilling historical whodunnit (Museum Mysteries)

by Jim Eldridge

1895. When the newly dubbed 'Museum Detectives' are asked to investigate deliberate damage to a dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum, there is evidence that the fossil-hunting mania of the notorious Bone Wars in America may have reached their shores. But for Daniel Wilson, famed for his involvement in the Jack the Ripper case, and renowned archaeologist Abigail Fenton, events soon take a sinister turn.

A museum attendant is found dead in an anteroom by none other than the infamous theatre manager Bram Stoker, who it seems may have had a personal connection with the deceased. Facing pressure both from an overseas business and local celebrity, Wilson and Fenton must rely on their talents and instincts to solve their most puzzling case yet.

• ISBN10: 0749025972
• ISBN13: 9780749025977
• Publish Date: 20 August 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 20 January 2023
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Allison & Busby
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Murder at the Natural History Museum is the 5th Museum Mystery by Jim Eldridge. Due out 22nd Oct 2020 from Alison & Busby, it's 352 pages (print version) and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats (ebook available now). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well plotted and interesting murder mystery. The characters are well developed and have a solid background and chemistry together. The pacing was variable, at points it dragged a bit for me, but overall it moved along at a good pace. The clues were presented well and the denouement and resolution were satisfying. I admit the dialogue threw me. I wasn't aware that the book was set in the 19th century and was surprised when I found out because the vernacular is completely modern (I thought it was a modern cozy and only discovered my mistake when the author threw Bram Stoker in there). My other small quibble is that it seemed the author included almost every famous contemporary person, actor, current event, landmark, and news headline in the narrative. It interfered with my suspension of disbelief in several places. The book does work well enough as a standalone (as long as the reader remembers it's not set in the current day).

All in all it's a readable and engaging cozy mystery with lots of skullduggery and shenanigans, a soupcon of danger, and a good plot.

Three and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.