I am so highly honoured to be part of the blog tour for Death at Larch Bridge by Gretta Mullrooney. She passed away this year in January, but her work lives on. Many thanks to Jill Burkinshaw and Joffe Books for the copy of the book to write my honest review.
Do you love Agatha Christie and the classic whodunnits of the Golden Age? Then you’ll adore this captivating new historical mystery from bestselling author Gretta Mulrooney.
A mysterious letter.
A brutal murder on a lonely country lane.
A town full of suspects.
Fernfield, Oxfordshire, 1946.
Last year, the Dolphin Hotel was the scene of the most scandalous crime. Now, Daisy Moore — hotel manager and resourceful solver of the crime — is working hard to get things back on track.
But she never reckoned on the arrival of boorish Ronnie Carpenter . . .
He comes blustering into reception, his long-suffering wife trailing behind. Tonight is his friend’s engagement party and he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Leaving his wife to dress for the ritzy event, Ronnie steps out for some air. Never to return.
He’s only just checked in. Now he’s vanished without a trace.
The next morning, his body is found — slumped in the passenger seat of a motorcar that’s been driven off the road — and Daisy can’t help but be drawn into the case.
Especially when an anonymous letter arrives in the post, telling Daisy exactly where to find the answers she is seeking.
Daisy knows the true key to the mystery lies written between the lines.
Can she uncover the identity of the letter writer before anyone else dies?
AN UTTERLY CHARMING WHODUNNIT FULL OF RED HERRINGS SET IN FASCINATING POST-WAR ENGLAND.
Discover a brilliant murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin, Anthony Horowitz, Jacqueline Winspear and Elly Griffiths.
This is far from my first book by Gretta Mulrooney. Death at Larch Bridge is the second in the series, but the first I have read from it. I had no trouble at all keeping you with the storyline. So it’s undoubtedly a good standalone, too. All I will say is that in order to actually know the characters, especially Daisy, read the books in order. I know I will be reading the first book when I can.
Daisy helps out at the Dolphin Hotel in Fernfield. A couple,check in, and it doesn’t take long for Ronnie,one half of the new couple, to go missing. Daisy takes part in the search for him to no avail. The next morning, he is discovered dead in a stolen car in a field. Can Daisy find out why he was killed?
Set during the post second world war years. It’s a historical murder mystery that is told from Daisy’s point of view. It took no time to be transported back in time and feel like I was at Daisy’s side as she dug for her answers.
The characters are so well fleshed out, but this is no surprise with Gretta Mulrooney. She has a quality in her writing that just holds the reader in the palm of her had as she weaves a story you can’t put down.
The reader is given information from the events of the first book, which meant I easily kept up with the story that was unfolding as I turned the pages of my Kindle. The twists, turns, and red herrings that Gretta Mulrooney throws in definitely send the reader down some wrong paths. They are all in just the right places, and the pace is perfect for this book.
Gretta Mulrooney had the skill to weave stories together, no matter which genre she wrote in. She will be missed for her talented writing by many, and that includes me. Another book that I highly recommend by this author.
READERS LOVE DEATH AT THE DOLPHIN, LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER AWARD:
“A cleverly constructed Christie style mystery . . . If, like me, you love Golden Age crime fiction, you must read this book.” Amanda P.
“I enjoyed this wonderfully satisfying murder mystery. The characters are likeable, intriguing and interesting and so believable that I felt I could engage with them.” Carol S.
“The atmosphere of the book, the characters and the two cats made for a great read, it reminded me if Agatha Christie and I loved it. Highly recommended!” Hannelore C.
“A wonderful British mystery that kept me guessing who was the murderer in this post World War II novel.” Libby R.
“Thoroughly enjoyed this book and have my fingers crossed it will be an ongoing series . . . I enjoyed how the setting and dialogue suited post WWII England.” Carol B.
“The best I’ve read in a very long time. Death at the Dolphin was fun with great characters!”
“Twisty and complex combination of mystery and character study that has enough secrets and red herrings to keep you up through the night to finish. An eclectic and offbeat cast of characters definitely round out the fun.” Bonita S.
ALSO BY GRETTA MULROONEY
DAISY MOORE MYSTERIES
Book 1: DEATH AT THE DOLPHIN
Book 2: DEATH AT LARCH BRIDGE
TYRONE SWIFT DETECTIVE SERIES
Book 1: THE LADY VANISHED
Book 2: BLOOD SECRETS
Book 3: TWO LOVERS, SIX DEATHS
Book 4: WATCHING YOU
Book 5: LOW LAKE
Book 6: YOUR LAST LIE
Book 7: HER LOST SISTER
Book 8: MURDER IN PEMBROKESHIRE
Book 9: DEATH BY THE THAMES
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR SIV DRUMMOND SERIES
Book 1: THESE LITTLE LIES
Book 2: NEVER CAME HOME
Book 3: MURDER IN MALLOW COTTAGE
Book 4: MURDER BY THE SHORE
STANDALONE NOVELS
OUT OF THE BLUE
LOST CHILD
COMING OF AGE
REMEMBERING: GRETTA MULROONEY (1952-2023)
We are very sad to announce the death of our author, Gretta Mulrooney. She will be missed by her many readers as well as by everyone lucky enough to work with her at Joffe Books. She was a brilliant writer who dazzled both in psychological insight and at the level of the sentence. She was a wonderful person who brought laughter and warmth wherever she went.
Gretta Mulrooney (1952–2023) was born in London to Irish parents, Hugh and Peg. She took a degree in English at the University of Ulster, Derry, and lived for a few years in Dublin, working various jobs. Gretta returned to England to teach before taking up social work and started writing in her thirties, publishing for children and young adults with Poolbeg Press, Dublin. She was commissioned by BBC Radio Four, who broadcast her short stories. These were followed by five novels of literary fiction, published by HarperCollins, Robert Hale and 4th Estate. The first of these, Araby, gained critical acclaim for its accurately observed characters and pathos. Margaret Forster wrote, ‘I loved it. It’s such a sweet story, without being in the least sentimental. There are moments when the reader is absolutely there, so acute is this novelist’s ear and eye.’
It was when Gretta began working with Joffe Books in 2015 that her focus moved to crime fiction and psychological thrillers, which had long been her passion. She developed Tyrone Swift, a detective who appeared in a series of books, in parallel with DI Siv Drummond in another series. Tyrone allowed her to explore a character with a complicated personal life, while Siv is grieving and lonely — a fighter, but smart. She introduced a new character with Daisy Moore. These books excited her, and, like many authors, she spoke through her protagonists. Her commitment to both character and plot was testament to her skill as a writer.
Gretta died suddenly but peacefully in January 2023. She leaves behind four siblings — Mary, Jim, Kath and Hugh — who, in her own words, were her very own diaspora. The space she leaves behind is mischief-shaped, adventurous and caring. Gretta loved a stomp along the coast (but never beaches) and spent time with family in Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. She was acutely perceptive in her understanding of people and never lost her good sense of fun. With her son, Darragh, she was a part of every corner of a large and scattered family.
Gretta — never Margaret — was a remarkable person; she shaped so many lives for the good and she will be much missed. To use her own words, spoken by Tyrone Swift, “May you live as long as you want to, and want to as long as you live . . .”
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 