While I found some errors in Irina McGrath’s debut mystery, Murder at Haddonford Manor, I was still caught up in the story itself. The country house mystery has so many appealing aspects, including the young amateur sleuth.
Charlotte Reinford is only eighteen. For an orphan raised in a convent, she has a great deal of confidence. The nuns didn’t throw her out when she reached adulthood, but Charlotte wants to get a job and make her way in the world. She answers an ad to be a personal assistant, but even she’s amazed at how quickly Lady Beatrice Haddonford hires her. It seems to matter more that she’s an orphan than Charlotte’s sparse references do.
Charlotte isn’t there long before the cook, Rachel Offley, takes her under her wing, helping her to find her way around the large manor. On the first full day, Charlotte’s job seems to be assisting Lady Beatrice in welcoming visitors including Richard, Lord Wharton, Lady Beatrice’s son, along with his fiancee, as well as an old friend, Lord Carrington. Charlotte’s looking forward to books from the manor’s library and chess with Lord Carrington, as well as her new position. However, everything is pushed aside when two people are poisoned, and Mrs. Offley, the cook is found dead.
Inspector Sinclair, the responding policeman, is so abrupt that Charlotte doesn’t warm to him. When everyone is told to stay at the manor, she sneaks around there and investigates. When they’re finally allowed to leave the premises, Charlotte teams up with Lord Wharton to dig into past lives of the residents, visitors and staff, while also checking out an unknown woman who attends the funeral. There isn’t time for much sleep as they investigate after Charlotte’s duties with Lady Beatrice are over for the day. She never really thought about her own past until Lord Wharton questions her as to her parents. It’s only when off the property, though, that Charlotte feels threatened.
Murder at Haddonford Manor is a debut mystery, and I always make allowances for new authors. The story is interesting, although the grand reveal and the solution are somewhat confusing. However, I blame the editors for most of the mistakes. When Charlotte challenges Lord Carrington to a chess game, he says it’s been ages since he played. However, early in the book, he and Lord Wharton played a mini-tournament of three games. That was the most glaring error, although I caught a couple mistakes in spelling and usage. The editors should have caught all of them.
Even with a few problems, I’m curious about Charlotte Reinford’s past, and I’d be willing to check out a future book in the series.
Irina McGrath’s website is https://www.charlottemysteries.com/
Murder at Haddonford Manor by Irina McGrath. Camel Press, 2026. 284p.
FTC Full Disclosure – The publicist sent a copy of the book, with no expectation of a review.
