Sunday, March 19, 2023

A Murder at Balmoral


A Murder at Balmoral is a quirky locked room mystery with an alternate history timeline plot element by Chris McGeorge. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Putnam imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

The blurb describes this as Clue meets The Crown, and that is not an inappropriate description. There's a fair bit of fast-and-loose with actual history (in this timeline, Edward VIII didn't abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson), and all that has followed that wrinkle has led to a locked room setting for Christmas murder at Balmoral.

The dramatis personae are muzzily defined, although the author has provided a list of the principal players. The setting itself is wonderful and the author has a readable and engaging writing style. The mystery is a trifle contrived (but par for the course of the genre), and the ending was odd, but overall, it's a worthwhile and interesting read. Probably mostly of interest to readers who are especially fascinated by the British royals; it will be lost on most who aren't already familiar with some of the Windsor back-history. 

Three stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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