Murder at Everham Hall

A Marius Quin Mystery, Book 1

By: Benedict Brown

Narrated by: George Blagden

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

A mystery novelist with writer’s block, a lavish party to ring in the new year, and a film star with three bullets through his head…

December 1927. Mystery-writer Marius Quin has one previous bestseller, endless looming mortgage payments, and no idea how to write his next book. When his childhood friend Lady Isabella Montague invites him to an intimate New Year’s Eve party hosted by a narcissistic actor, Marius seizes upon the distraction. With his perpetually glum Basset hound along for the ride, he navigates the snowy lanes to the opulent estate of Everham Hall. As the celebrations begin, fireworks light up the sky, champagne corks pop, and then the host is murdered…

Snowed-in and with the police unable to reach them, Marius is the closest thing the panicked party has to a detective and he is swiftly nominated to find the killer. But when two more guests are attacked, Marius soon realises that solving mysteries is even harder than writing them. With Bella at his side, and a clutch of conniving suspects to choose from, can Marius find the culprit before the killer targets him?

A completely charming and witty golden-age cozy mystery, perfect for the Christmas season. Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss won’t be able to put down the Marius Quin Mysteries!

©2023 Benedict Brown (P)2023 Storm Publishing

Different characters, interesting setting

Definitely entertained. Loved the information the end. Will continue to listen to this author. I recommend to ask who enjoy a light mystery

Great new series!

I love this new series! Dare I say it, I perhaps like it more than the Lord Edgington series. Marius is as endearing as the fledgling detective Chrissy in LE, and is even funnier. George Blagden does an incredible job of bringing the new characters to life. I am quite ready for Bella to figure out that Gilbert has to go and she still belongs with Marius. I suppose I’ll have to wait a few books for that to happen. I have read/listened to the first three books and eagerly await the next.

Good tale. Characterisations need some work

The tale was fun, but I think the characters and characterisations need some work. Marius sounded and thought like an older Christopher Prentice without the engaging charm. To me Bella was a touch bland. George Blagden is an excellent narrator but too often I could hear Christopher Prentice, Lord Edgington and his mother breaking through in various voices. I think for this series to be as good as the wonderful Lord Edgington series it needs the characters and characterisations to be distinctly different.

Style and Story

I like the way the story is written, giving the main character personality that includes making mistakes, needing sleep, and other real life aspects. It is a delightful story with some historic value. Thank you and please keep writing!

Humor, intelligence, humanity

I thought his books completely enjoyable. I would very much like to know each one of his characters. Write an interesting and depicted generously with an understanding of human diversity.

I didn’t skip ahead even once.

I don’t always have the greatest patience and it’s not unusual for me to skip ahead with cozy mysteries if I find they are dragging. This book kept my interests all the way through.
There are a couple moving parts to the story with our main character working through some work issues, an unexpected meeting with an old flame, clarity about his life choices and then a murder to solve. All this is done quite well and not only gives us a pretty good cozy mystery but also a solid beginning to a new series.
Good delivery of wit with the story delivery to help keep the main character interesting.
Reasonable revealing of clues and information to feel involved in the storyline.
By the end of the story not only do we know “who done it” but we also end the book feeling that we know the main character well. And with that familiarity we look forward to meeting up again in the next book.

Fun Little Murder Mystery in a Beautiful Mansion

This is a fun little murder mystery from about the 1920s. A group of people such as movie actors, lawyers, beautiful women gather at s stately mansion and not surprisingly someone is murdered. There are no gory descriptions and the book is filled with lots of chatter between the guests. This is not a page turning murder mystery. Its just a fun tale.

Benedict Brown is a very thoughtful, thorough and intelligent author!

I have listened to many ( I hope all of Benedict Brown’s) mysteries and always laugh out loud and learn a great deal! Always listen to the historical notes at the end and I always marvel at the narrator’s many voices!

Delightful new series

This is a fun book, with a likeable cast of characters. I am looking forward to more stories with Marius Quin and Bella. This is one of the rare times I did not guess the murderer and I love getting it wrong when the clues are fair. I respect the author even more. I like Lord Edgington and his grandson, and I believe I will like Marius just as much.

Can’t wait for the next installment

A great new mystery by one of my favorite authors. George Blagden did a great job as narrator. I thought it would be hard to distinguish this from the Lord Edgington series which he also narrates. But each has its own unique style. I can’t wait for the next installment to see how the characters develop.