The Biscuit Barrel Murder

The Biscuit Barrel Murder is a jolly cosy mystery and ripping amateur sleuth adventure set in the early interwar golden age by debut author Geoffrey Start. Released 24th Jan 2023 by The Book Guild, it's 293 pages and is available in paperback 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. 

Although a modern production, there's an impressive verisimilitude and it truly reads as though it could've been written in 1920. The main protagonist is a minor noble, one Sir William "Wispy" Fescue who, along with his lady wife and a pair of friends manage to track down stolen prize cattle, works of art, and in the latest adventure, hopefully save a local well heeled young woman from the hangman's noose who's been convicted of murdering her fiancé, Viscount Thurmaston.

The whole is delightfully well written and all the moving parts function precisely as intended. Although it's not derivative, it *is* very much an homage to the beloved departed classicists of the Golden Age, specifically Marsh and Allingham. It even happens that head sleuth Wispy's wife is a recognised artist who has already been accepted at the Royal Academy exhibition and is in line for a potential second honour. 

There's a great deal of humour throughout, and much lighthearted banter. It's strongly foreshadowed that there's a potential series in the offing, and that's a wonderful prospect. 

Four and a half stars. Delightful fun.

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