December 1927, and Marius Quin should be riding high on the success of his first mystery novel. Not the case, however, due to the fact that he’s spent his income – and his advance on the next book, and the slight problem that he’s suffering from writer’s block. At an absolute low, he runs into his childhood friend (and former love) Lady Isabella (Bella) Montague, who invites him to a New Year’s Eve party hosted by Cecil Sinclair, the celebrated actor.

Seizing on the opportunity for a distraction from his worries – and the chance to maybe rekindle his relationship with Bella – Marius heads to Everham Hall. And before you can say “Happy New Year”, Sinclair has been shot in the head and everyone is snowed in. As the closest thing to a sleuth in the party, Marius is pushed into the role of sleuth. But when more of the party are attacked, can Marius get to the truth before the murderer gets to him?

OK, this was supposed to be another Christma review – look, there’s snow on the cover and everything – and there are lots of Christmas elements in it, but it’s not really Christmas. Festive, yes, so let’s count it.

Now, you may suspect that this is veering on the cosy side of the genre. That specific part of the cosy genre that is aping the Golden Age, by setting things between the wars and embracing the tropes of the genre, rather than concentrating, a la Frances Brody for example, on what life was actually like then. And you would be right with that suspicion, and you may recall that this sort of thing doesn’t sit desperately well with me. Usually.

Because usually, this is the sort of thing that concentrates on the love life/career of our bright young sleuth who goes around bothering people, rather than investigating, until the murderer gets cheesed off with them and gives themselves away by trying to kill them. And if this hadn’t been a good candidate for my current deluge of Christmas festive mysteries, that’s what I would have assumed to. And I would have been wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the sort of book that could pass for being written in the Golden Age, such as Tom Mead’s Joseph Spector mysteries, as there is something of a modern style about the narration and its sense of humour. But nonetheless, Benedict Brown clearly understands the things a detective story needs – an entertaining sleuth, a good collection of suspects, and clues. Lots of clues, in fact, including a big honking one staring you in the face that you almost certainly won’t spot. There are red herrings too, including one that I fell for. In fact there is something that occurs that I am sure is put there for readers to think “ah, he’s doing that trick” only for it to prove to be something different.

Marius is a strong lead – his narration is humorous without being flippant, especially when dealing with some of the darker aspects, such as his backstory. His hope against hope that Bella’s new boyfriend is guilty of something adds a little something to the narrative, as does the relationship with Bella which feels like it’s got some legs on it for future books – it reminds me a little of John Grey and Amanita Pole from L C Tyler’s books, which is a good thing. There are a couple of oddities here – can a person really be shot three times in the head and “look at peace”? – with a couple of what felt like modern turns of phrase, but nothing that should actual bother any but the pickiest reader.

All in all, this book is nothing revolutionary, but very enjoyable. It’s the sort of thing that people who write books with a similar setting (between the wars, none too serious) should take a good look at. Because this is how to do it properly. It’s an entertaining and satisfying “proper mystery” that I couldn’t put down.

This is the first in a series and I look forward to what comes next. In the meantime, despite never crossing my path before, I see that Benedict Brown has written two other series, one set in the same world as this featuring Lord Edginton and a modern one… one of which has is called A Corpse For Christmas. Just might have to check that one out…

Murder At Eversham Hall is out on November 3^rd in ebook and paperback on November 3^rd from Storm Publishing. Many thanks for the review e-copy from NetGalley.