The Bookshop Murders

London, 1928. Egyptomania is at its peak. A mummy, the real mummy of a Pharaoh, is brought to the capital, and the public goes wild. Two bookshops compete to hold the ‘mummy night’, but it is Lucy, the owner of the ‘losing side’, who finds herself amid a whirlwind as strange notes appear and bodies pile. As if this wasn’t enough, Lucy has to deal with an utterly obnoxious mother and irritating suitors and the obvious attraction towards a fascinating Inspector.

Best mystery I’ve read in a long time and that’s an understatement!

Treading more than carefully since we are talking about a murder mystery, the setting is absolutely perfect! Foggy London, with its mysterious alleys and the Londoners’ fascination with all things occult and paranormal, with its rich ‘benefactors’ who waste money on stealing treasures from other countries instead of aiding the ones in need, becomes a character in itself. The writing and the interactions between the characters are seamless, engaging, and the elegance of the era permeates the novel. The story itself had me guessing until the last page. Each time I thought I had figured things out, I found myself hopelessly wrong. And we are not talking about gimmicks, twists and turns and herrings, but about a truly perfect plot that needs no cheap tricks.

Lucy is the factor that turns an excellent book into a triumph. She is perfection personified. Smart, kind, the perfect boss and the perfect example of putting others in their place without offending them. She is the epitome of the British female sleuth and one of the finest heroines in this quintessentially British genre. All the characters are rounded and tangible enough to be believable, but I admit I have a soft spot for the Inspector. He is dreamy, and no, I refuse to remain professional at this point, thank you very much!

As a Greek, I couldn’t help but wince every time the British Museum was mentioned, and I applaud the writer’s stance on filling your shelves with stolen goods. It just doesn’t work, people! Don’t do it!

Long story short, you need this book in your life, and I need another 776729 novels with Lucy Darkwether as the heroine. And the Inspector, obviously…

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/