A Killing at Smugglers Cove

by Michelle Salter

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Killing at Smugglers Cove is the 4th book in a pleasantly engaging and well written historical cozy series by Michelle Salter. Released 10th July 2023 by Boldwood Books, it's 216 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, along with the other books in the series. A fifth book, A Corpse in Christmas Close , is due out in third quarter 2024 from the same publisher.

For cozy mystery fans there are (happily) a wealth of series which fit the bill. There aren't as many which also combine modern day relevance and sensibility with a period setting and well constructed mystery plot. Iris Woodmore is intelligent, sensible, and likeable. Additionally, she has a good relationship with her friends (one is a "perennial bachelor", the other is a primary school teacher). 

With the discovery of skeletal remains on a summer holiday, they're soon drawn into investigating the circumstances around the unfortunate man's demise when it's clear the local constabulary has no intentions of doing so. There are several disparate subplot threads which entwine into a very well crafted denouement and resolution.

All in all, a satisfying and well written cozy interwar mystery very much in the classic style, with the addition of sympathetically written non-traditional male supporting character (and his private life is *not* central to the plot, which is a welcome change), and a healthy friend relationship between the two female characters. 

There are 4 books currently in the series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone, with the codicil that some of the names were easily confused for the first couple of chapters. Being able to do a quick search with the ebook version is a benefit to keep the names straight until they're fixed in the reader's head. 

Four stars. A good choice for public library acquisition, or home use. 

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