One House. One family. One mystery. This page turning, Downton Abby inspired, and subtly rich dramatic tale of a family’s downfall as they become embodied in the mystery as the head of the family dies under mysterious circumstances. A truly unique mystery novel that gives readers both edge of their seat reveals and compelling storylines.
The mystery begins after the annual ball, the various branches of the family return to their Scottish ancestral home for the night. When they are all under one roof, the head of the family, Lord Inverkillen, is found dead at the lake. The isolated nature of the mansion means only one thing – he was killed by one of his own.
Although there is a large number of characters in this book, that is what keeps the reader on their toes throughout the whole plot lines. The overarching plot is the death but the sun plots offer so much detail and plot twists.
It makes for a intriguing read as the writer gives us glimpses into the thoughts, motivations and secrets of each family member, as their head housekeeper tries to solve the mystery of her employers death. The staff have secrets of their own, which makes it even harder for the housekeeper and the reader to figure out who is responsible for the death, which makes it all the more fun to read.
One plot twist that stands out for its shock factor and the dramatic aftermath that follows is the reveal that the family ward Iris is actually the related to the Inverkillens. She’s also one of the few characters that gets a satisfying well deserved ending.
It’s a cosy mystery without all the fear and gore but it has humour and drama, which makes it perfect for a good evening read under the covers. The slower pace of the unrevealing of the mystery compared to other Murder mysteries is used with great effect.
This lets the readers dwell on the clues and insights given to them throughout the book and makes the delight and surprise of the plot twists and the mystery’s final conclusions all the more satisfying.
If you’re looking for your winter mystery read, Lockdown Abbey is the perfect choice for a chilled evening’s read.
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