Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
336 Pages
Synopsis: Framed for murder and with no where to go, Jacob Flint turns to an eclectic group of people on a remote estate to save him…
1930. A chilling encounter on London’s Necropolis Railway, leads to murder and a man escapes the gallows as a witness gives sensational evidence. After this string of strange, fatal events, journalist Jacob Flint discovers that he has been framed for murder. To save himself he flees to Mortmain Hall, a remote estate on the northern coast. There, an eccentric female criminologist hosts a gathering of eclectic people who have all escaped miscarriages of cruel justice. This strange group puts Jacob a little on edge, but they may be his only hope to clear his name.
When a body is found beneath the cliffs near the house, it seems this gathering may be an ingenious plot to get away with murder. Are these eccentrics victims, or are they orchestrators of the great deception? Jacob must now set out to uncover the labyrinthine of secrets within Mortmain Hall, alongside Rachel Savernake, a woman whose relentless quest for the truth, might just bring down the British establishment…
When I requested Mortmain Hall, I didn’t realize it was the second book in a planned series, but thankfully that posed no problem and I was easily able to follow along. The first few chapters felt a little slow to me, but it didn’t take long for my attention to be fully captured. I have to be honest and say that while I love a strong, enigmatic female protagonist, I couldn’t quite connect with Rachel. However, I have a feeling that once I read the previous book, Gallow’s Court where I assume much more of her backstory is revealed, I’ll feel differently. I did enjoy her interaction with Jacob and her servants, who are really more like family. As far as the setting and world building go, this harkens back to the Golden Age of whodunnits, and I have no doubt that Agatha Christie fans will be entranced. All in all, Mortmain Hall is a highly enjoyable mystery filled with endearingly oddball characters.
