Death in Castle Dark is the first book of a new cozy murder mystery series by Veronica Bond. Released 3rd Aug 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a fun and engaging series introduction set in a creepy and atmospheric Gothic style castle built in Illinois and with an ensemble cast of actors who perform intricately plotted murder mystery dinner theater with audience participants (who play the part of Inspector). One of the performers turns up stabbed (with the dagger, in the chapel). Was it the gardener? The ingenue? The hippie earth mother costumier? There are lots of twists and turns and intertwined backgrounds. Main protagonist Nora is appealing and honest and likeable, and she makes a good amateur detective.
The actual mystery and story are told interposed with the dramatic scenes and acted scenes which provide a good counterpoint for moving the plot along. Much of the theater dialogue is over the top and reminiscent of Poirot or Wimsey providing a nice contrast to the everyday interactions of the cast and characters. Many of the troupe live on-site in the castle, so there's a fair bit of touring the castle itself, library searches, secret passages, and hidden rooms.
The language is squeaky clean and there's no sexual content. There is a fairly strongly romantic element included. Most of the violence is off-scene; and the on-page violence is brief and fleeting and used in context. There are multiple kittens and a large dog (named Hamlet, because of course he is).
The denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying. This is a promising and fun to read cozy mystery series starter and I'm looking forward to the story continuing for Nora and co.
Four stars. This would be a good selection for library acquisition, book club cozy, or for fans of murder mysteries.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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