“Bunburry – Murder at the Mousetrap” by Helena Marchmont

“A pessimist is never disappointed.”

I like that line in Helena Marchmont’s Bunburry – Murder at the Mousetrap. It’s very relatable to my philosophy in life, whether accidentally or on purpose. It is, however, not the only line in Marchmont’s book that I like because…

I like them all!

I’ve only read a pair of cozy mysteries, that I remember, and they and I did not get along well. Things are definitely looking up now that I’ve read this. I adore this, absolutely adore it! I could not love it more!

(I should say here, before you think “hmm, that seems a little extra… they must be paying her to say that”… no, I am not being paid to say this. I honestly mean every word. Though I did receive an advance copy through NetGalley and Bastei Entertainment in exchange for an honest review, and this is my honest review.)

Bunburry is a tiny, fictional town in the Cotswolds of England (where I want to go) which is famous for it’s fudge. The fudge, to be fair, plays a minor role in the story. Far bigger is the AA. Not Alcoholic’s Anonymous, as main character Alfie McAlister thinks first, but Agatha’s Amateurs. Every year, for charity, a small, unique band of Bunburrians (idk, maybe that’s what they’d be called?) puts on a production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” This year, as Alfie arrives, having inherited his Aunt Augusta’s cottage, there has been a death… a death which adorable busybodies Liz and Marge quickly decide is murder.

Murder!

But, as they say, whodunit?!

You’ll have to read the book to find out. And you really should read the book to find out. Really. Just go read the book, it’s on sale tomorrow (September 1, 2018) so you really don’t have any excuses, do you? No.

Now that I’ve given you a plot summary, here are the reasons I love this book and think you should read it too…

This is the first book in a series (yay!) so a portion of it is world-building of sorts. But what a good world it is! The village of Bunburry is idyllic, one with lots of secrets and unique characters. I want to live there, murdered amateur directors aside. There is a mix of young and old, the characters ranging from hard-working young married couples with some marital problems to the very elderly with some medical problems. The plot is typical but not so much that it’s tired. It keeps the story moving and helps introduce the cast of characters I want to spend time with. It’s a quick read, as cozy mysteries seem to be, so saying to much risks giving something away and, as I said, I really need everyone to read this book with me!

One last thing I’d like to say is this… are male leads a thing in cozy mysteries? Because it struck me as unique that Alfie McAlister, a man, is the lead in this story. Unique in a good way, for sure. Alfie is the perfect character to get me interested and there are so many questions about his story that are unanswered that I will, without a doubt, read more of the Bunburry series!

Thanks to the author, Bastei Entertainment, and NetGalley for introducing me to this world!