My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Title: A Forgotten Murder (A Medlar Mystery)
Author: Jude Deveraux
Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Pages: 400
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Categories: Murder Mystery
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
After solving two murder cases in their hometown of Lachlan, Florida, Sara Medlar, her niece Kate and their friend Jack need a change of scenery. Sara arranges for them to visit an old friend of hers in England. Upon arrival at Oxley Manor, a centuries-old estate that has been converted to a luxury hotel, Kate and Jack quickly realize that Sara is up to something. They learn that Sara has also invited a number of others to join them at Oxley.
When everyone assembles, Sara lets them know why they are there. Decades earlier, two people ran off together from Oxley and haven’t been heard from since—and Sara wants to solve the case. As the people who were there the night the two went missing, the guests find themselves cast in a live mystery-theater event.
In reenacting the events of that night, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide and no one is safe, especially when the discovery of a body makes it clear that at least one of the people who disappeared was murdered.
Sara, Jack and Kate are once again at the heart of a mysterious case that only they are able to solve. But someone is willing to continue to kill to keep the truth about Oxley Manor buried, and none of the guests are safe.
Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.
The mystery genre is not something I usually read unless someone asks me and this was the case for this book except, the author’s name is so well known to me, I agreed to read and review this. Jude Deveraux used to be one of my favorite romance writers in the 1990’s! She wrote historical romance back then and now contemporary books, which I have not read at all.
I have not read any other book in this series – I believe this is the third book in the Medlar Mystery series, but I will say this did pretty good as a standalone. There is a gathering at Oxley Manor, and Sara, Kate and Jack are there to figure out what happened in a missing persons case years ago. There are suspects galore, a dead body, and an old luxury manor. It’s a great recipe for a murder mystery.
- Since I jumped into this series with the third book, I liked how there was enough background of the main characters: Sara, Kate and Jack without it feeling like an info dump. I didn’t feel lost because this really felt like a new mystery.
- Kate and Jack have great chemistry. Here is when I did wish I read the previous books because I want to know how they met and got together. Jack is a wonderful, protective character. I like how he could get Puck to talk even though Puck has a reputation for being a recluse.
- There are many suspects in this story but I like the twist at the end. I love a mystery where there is some old manor or house as the setting. It just sets the tone for the story and gives me CLUE vibes.
- I don’t read many mysteries so it’s not like I can compare it to many I’ve read before but I really enjoyed the characters in this story.
- It may have lost my attention a few times only because I wasn’t in the mood for a mystery (it’s rare that I am) so it’s not anything against the book, just a pure ME thing.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the setting of the story. If you like a good mystery, I think you will enjoy this one!
Past Midnight 