annieb123's Review of The Picture House Murders

by Fiona Veitch Smith

Murder is no occupation for a lady... or is it?

1929: Miss Clara Vale is a woman ahead of her time. Rather than attending Oxford to bag an eligible Duke (as her mother, Lady Vale, so desperately hoped), she threw herself into a degree in chemistry, with aspirations to become a scientist in her own right.

But the world isn't ready for Clara. Unable to land a job in science because she's a woman, she is stuck behind the desk at a dingy London library.

Until her estranged Uncle dies suddenly, leaving her his private detective agency, and laboratory, in his will.

Clara couldn't become a detective, could she?

The decision is made for her when one of her uncle's old clients comes to her for help with a case surrounding the local picture house and invites Clara to see the latest show, before they discuss the details.

But during the film, a fire suddenly engulfs the picture house, with tragic consequences.

It seems at first an accident, but Clara soon begins to question if it was in fact a carefully orchestrated murder.

She's suddenly in the middle of a deadly mystery and will discover her scientific skills make her a sleuth to be reckoned with... Can she catch the killer before they strike again?

The first in a brand-new, glittering Golden Age cozy mystery series. Fans of Verity Bright, Helena Dixon and TE Kinsey will be hooked from the very first page to the final breathtaking finale.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Picture House Murders is the first book in an engaging historical cozy series by Fiona Veitch Smith. Released 29th Aug 2023 by Bonnier on their Embla Books imprint, it's 289 pages and is available in paperback, audio, 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. The second book in the series is also currently on KU, and there's a third book due out in June 2024.

This is a light cozy set interwar London and featuring Clara Vale, a clever young woman well situated in life and with a formidable scientific mind. Temporarily thwarted by being a woman unable to obtain work because of her gender, she's working a desk job when circumstance lands her in a murder investigation.

The language is clean and the plot is woven around actual historical events whimsically and mostly successfully. It's a cozy, and without graphic, on page violence. It's not at all derivative, but it will definitely appeal to fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Catriona McPherson's Dandy Gilver books.

Four stars. Light entertainment. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, or a short binge/buddy read.

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

Reading updates

3 May, 2024: Started reading

3 May, 2024: Finished reading

3 May, 2024: Reviewed