Murder in Myrtle Bay is the first book in Isobel Blackthorn’s new Ruth Finlay Mysteries. Set in small town Australia, the book features feature writer Ruth Finlay and her elderly neighbour Doris Cleaver.
Title: Murder in Myrtle Bay
Author: Isobel Blackthorn
Series: Ruth Finlay Mysteries #1
First Published: July 4, 2022
Publisher: Next Chapter
Genres: Mystery
Acquired: from Rachel’s Random Resources for blog tour
*** Thank you to book tour organiser, Rachel’s Random Resources, and the author, Isobel Blackthorn, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. ***
When feature writer Ruth Finlay and her elderly neighbor Doris Cleaver visit an antique and collectibles market in the small town of Myrtle Bay, they get a lot more than they bargained for.
After Ruth’s old tennis coach is found dead, they discover that there’s no lack of people who harbor a grudge against the victim, and a tangled web of family ties and lies begins to unravel. But can Ruth and Doris find the killer in time to avert a second murder?
Purchase Links: AMAZON UK | AMAZON US
A lovely start to a new cozy mystery series
Set in a charming small town in Australia that is known for its antiques and collectible market, Ruth and Doris are a sleuthing duo that I couldn’t help rooting root for. After stumbling across a body in the market, the two decide to join forces, combine their different outlooks, and try to solve the case.
There was a lot of info to keep me turning the pages, including juicy gossip, interesting townspeople and more than a few red herrings. I was kept guessing until the end, as there were plenty of viable suspects and enough clues and action to keep the story moving along.
Considering how many cozy mysteries I read, I can’t remember the last time I read one that was set in Australia, so I really enjoyed discovering a new setting – it was fresh and interesting.
Ruth and Doris, while from different generations, work well together and I found their friendship and crime-solving partnership a lot of fun. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book.
About the author, Isobel Blackthorn
Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.
The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Her short story ‘Nothing to Declare’ was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.
Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.
Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Five of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.
Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in rural Victoria, Australia.
You can connect with Isobel online here: WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Thank you so much for this gorgeous review! I am so glad you enjoyed my book.
It was my pleasure Isobel! I’m looking forward to reading more of your books!