Ross Montgomery capitalizes on world fears in 1910 in his locked-room mystery, The Murder at World’s End. Montgomery, who normally writes children’s books, decided to write an adult mystery during lock-down for COVID. He successfully introduces a fun new crime-solving duo in the first Stockingham and Pike mystery. Set in 1910, when Halley’s Comet was approaching the earth, many people feared the comet indicated the end of the world. While scientists said there was nothing to worry about, one person said the poisonous gases in the comet’s tail would kill everyone on earth. Guess which scientist was believed by the gullible.

Stephen Pike arrives at World’s End in Cornwall at the wrong time. Although he’s hired as a footman, Tithe Hall at World’s End is in an uproar. Lord Stockingham-Welt is one of those who believes in the comet’s poisonous gases. Tithe Hall, the largest manor house on a tidal island of over 800 acres, is often cut off from the mainland The Viscount orders that Tithe Hall be sealed, with all the family, guests, and servants sealed in their rooms. The next day, after the comet has passed, the seals will be broken, and, because the rest of England will be killed, he’ll be in an ideal position to take control of the world. Instead, when Stephen breaks down the study door, he finds the Viscount murdered, with a crossbow arrow in his eye.

Because he’s a new servant who arrived the day before the murder, and he spent time in prison, Stephen is not surprised when Inspector Jarvis from Scotland Yard accuses him of the murder. Fortunately, Stephen has a partial alibi. He had asisted the Viscount’s sister, Miss Decima Stockingham. He was supposed to seal her in the old Nursery. Instead, he helped the redoubtable woman, a scientist in her own right, observe and record the observations about Halley’s Comet. Now, Miss Decima stands up for him, and insists that he help her investigate her brother’s murder.

The Murder at World’s End is an Upstairs/Downstairs locked-room mystery. While no one from the outside world can access the house at times, that’s when murder occurs. Miss Decima and Stephen know they’re isolated in the house with a murderer, and it’s up to them to solve the case before Inspector Jarvis arrests Stephen.

The book is amusing at times, with Miss Decima’s reputation among the family and staff for being irascible, a trait that enables her to hide her true intelligence. She and Stephen, who thinks the whole idea of death by comet sounds stupid, make an appealing team. Montgomery uses actual newspaper articles to demonstrate the 1910 fear of the comet. And, the twist at the end came as a total surprise to me. I’ll look forward to the changes in situation for Miss Decima and Stephen in the next Stockingham/Pike mystery.

Ross Montgomery’s website is http://rossmontgomery.co.uk/about-me/

The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery. William Morrow, 2026. 336p.

FTC Full Disclosure – My galley came from the publisher, via NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.