The Island

by M J Trow

Investigative partners Matthew Grand and James Batchelor set off to the colonies for the wedding of Matthew’s sister Martha.  Getting an education in the customs and ways of Americans as well as the Grand family keeps Batchelor on his toes.  As the wedding guests arrive, Batchelor is thrilled to be introduced to a very distant Grand cousin, Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain. As the event draws near, the body of the lady’s maid who accompanied the Matron of Honor is found in her room with her head bashed in with what looks like an axe.  Surely the murderer isn’t a guest.  Could it be someone from one of the islands along the coast?  

Trow fills the story with odd, quirky and some even likeable characters.  As at any large family gathering, there are numerous names and places to remember and Trow manages to keep them all in line.  To break up some of the more gruesome scenes are scenes that might just make you snigger. Side stories of family matters entwine with the ongoing investigation neatly and you feel like a participant in the events.  Keeping Clemens part to a minimum makes his part in the story more realistic.  An overall enjoyable and satisfying read.

I wish to thank the publisher for generously providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy through NetGalley for my honest review.

PUB: Severn House

PUB DATE: January 1, 2018

ISGN:  9781780291024

Genre:  Historical Mystery