Book info

• Title Murder on the Marlow Belle
• Author Robert Thorogood
• Year 2025
• Genre Mystery

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn’t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow’s resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive party with the MADS committee but no one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver’s body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him – it’s time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action. Oliver was a rather complicated chap and he wasn’t short of enemies. Judith, Suzie, and Becks are convinced they’ll crack the case in no time. But things are not as they seem in the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society, and the gang will need to keep their wits about them, otherwise a killer may sail away scot-free …

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this murder mystery that was slightly less cozy than some of the ones that have gone before. Centered on an amateur dramatics group, there are plenty of jealous and bitter motivating factors, and lots of twists and turns along the way. The characters are really well drawn and Marlow becomes a character in itself, you feel like you’re there. Another really good entry in this series… and a cliffhanger to ensure there will be another!

Rating: 4 / 5