Audiobook Review: The Mystery Of Four by Sam Blake

“Murder is easy… when it doesn’t look like murder.”

Released on 5th January, The Mystery Of Four by Sam Blake follows Tess Morgan who has finally made her dream of restoring beautiful Kilfenora House and Gardens into a reality. But during rehearsals for the play that forms the opening weekend’s flagship event, her dream turns into a nightmare when a devastating accident looks set to ruin her carefully laid plans.

There are rumours that Kilfenora House is cursed, but this feels personal, and becomes increasingly terrifying when more than one body is discovered. Could someone be closing in on Tess herself? larissa Westmacott, ex star of stage and screen, certainly believes so, particularly when she learns that purple-flowered aconite has been picked from the Poison Garden. And Clarissa will stop at nothing to protect the friend she has come to see as a daughter…

Rating:

Thank you to NetGalley for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy character-driven, cosy mysteries, then The Mystery Of Four is most definitely a book that you will enjoy. Brilliantly written and highly engaging, it’s an intriguing crime drama with a host of likeable characters.

I personally found the story too much of a slow-burn and felt that it dragged in places, but that’s only because I like my thrillers more action-packed and fast-paced. The Mystery Of Four, instead, is very focused on characters and backstories to give you plenty of motives to try and pick apart, just like a classic mystery should.

The ending is great and I really enjoyed the plot overall. Had I been more in the mood for what I call a “cosy armchair mystery”, this would have fit the bill perfectly, though, and there is no denying Blake’s talent as a writer!

Audibook Review:

The audiobook is narrated by Aoife McMahon who is one of my favourite audiobook narrators so she held my interest throughout.

Details:

The Mystery Of Four by Sam Blake
Release Date: 5th January 2023
Print Length: 369 pages
Audiobook Length: 10 hours and 6 minutes
Genre: Crime Thriller
Publisher: Corvus / Bolinda Audio