Cover Image: In the Crypt with a Candlestick

In the Crypt with a Candlestick

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Member Reviews

The book was kind of long and boring for some parts. I was not excited to pick it back up everytime unfortunately...

Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read the book.

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Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

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Witty Romp…
Witty romp and a twist on the traditional country house murder mystery with a cast of eccentric, map cap characters and a perfect setting. The premise is razor sharp and totally tantalising although reality bites and the plot is rather thin but it’s all done with a stiff upper lip and gloriously tongue in cheek. Mainly enjoyable and entertaining.

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This was an enjoyable, light-hearted murder mystery.
I enjoyed the writing style and the story was entertaining.

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A fun, lighthearted read. This was actually a bit of a balm in these crazy times we find ourselves in, a good distraction as we follow the Tode family and their old Manor House. Funny characters and pacy writing.

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A light and forth confection, much looked forward-to and much enjoyed. An antidote for troubled times - I enjoyed it immensely

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I really wanted to like this book that promised a Christie and Wodehouse style thriller and had a blurb that was intriguing. But everything fell flat for me. The characters, the setting and the story. I guess, this just isn't for me since a lot of people seem to have noticed stuff I missed.

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A very lighthearted country house mystery. Set in the very large country seat of the Tode family, a rather fluffy murder mystery involving past and present family members.

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In the Crypt with a Candlestick is a cosy crime novel set in an English country house, with a murder to be solved.

Lord Tode has died, and Lady Tode has decided that she wants shot of the house, and all of the problems of being the lady of the manor.  She decides that her children won't inherit - the eldest is called Mad Eckbert, the next son lives in Australia, and the daughter isn't interested.  And so a cousin and his wife gets roped into it.

We see the story from a couple of points of view, and there is a fun cast of characters, as you can tell from Mad Eckbert's name.  

It's an enjoyable romp, in the style of cosy crime, and so you know that nothing too dramatic is going to happen.  I enjoyed it, but 

In the Crypt with a Candlestick was published on 20th February 2020, and is available from  Amazon  and  Waterstones .  I've found a  link  to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Daisy Waugh on  Twitter  and through her  website .

If you're interested in cosy crime books, you might also be interested in some others that I've reviewed:

 The Ghost of Christmas Past  by Angie Fox

 The Mint Julep Murders  by Angie Fox

 The Liar in the Library  by Simon Brett

 Pecan Pies and Dead Guys  by Angie Fox

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Piatkus (the publishers) for this book.

Check out my Goodreads Profile to see more reviews!

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Both the title and the cover of this book drew me in instantly. The cover is really attractive, and the title, for most I'm sure, calls Cludeo instantly to mind, a board game we endlessly played during my childhood. The story was witty and entertaining. Lady Tode is found dead, which scuppers her retirement plans of spending her twilight years in Capri, and thus the mystery unfolds. Who did it? Who is innocent? This book is great fun and makes for some very enjoyable reading. While this isn't your normal Agatha Christie style murder mystery novel it does give you food for thought and it is told in a novel and interesting manner, from the point of view of a number of different characters. I laughed a lot during this novel and I think it will be very popular among readers.

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The setting of this book was just lovely! At the begging, I was convinced that this book will be set in a historical period yet I was surprisingly wrong. The story reminded me strongly of Dowtown Abbey tv series I recently rewatched. In general, it was a pleasant short read. I liked secondary characters - Geraldine, Mad Eckbert much more than the main ones. Unfortunately, I found Alice a bit boring probably due to the fact that the book didn't really show us her character, only backstory. The plot itself began increasingly yet I felt like the conclusion was rushed into few last pages which wasn't a good choice.

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I really enjoyed this cludo style murder mystery, I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and whilst I appreciate other reviewers may not feel it is a like for like, I enjoyed her character build outs and could imagine a Sunday ITV drama based on this story. The annoying part for me was the ghost, I think it was unnecessary and I was enjoying the story without something quite so far fetched, I liked the references to Downtown and it made me think of National Trust places we all like to visit! It felt charming and funny and a bit camp which was great in my book!

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A whodunnit with a lot of silliness. Despite the fact that there had been a murder, there was no tension or buildup. The story continued on at its even pace, even with the introduction of a ghost. Some of the dialogues were a bit hard for me to follow as they seemed somewhat off. But overall, this book makes for a light, fun, read.

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For the right reader, this book will be a chortle-filled reading experience. However, I am not quite the right person for this book.

The humour didn't quite land, and as such I found it slightly more silly than I think the writer was aiming for.

There were well-described moments but for me they were a little thin.

Not related to the writing but I have to say I adore the cover!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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In the Crypt with a Candlestick by Daisy Waugh is a slapstick romp with a murder mystery at the heart of it. I don’t really think it was what I was expecting if I am truly honest. I think I was expecting a more Agatha Christie style murder mystery and what I got was a little bit of Carry On films meets Jilly Cooper novels.

That doesn’t mean that In the Crypt with a Candlestick wasn’t fun or that it wasn’t an enjoyable read. It had me giggling in the right parts and to be fair to Daisy Waugh it also had me guessing whodunit until the very last page.

So whilst I cannot say that I was prepared for the story that I read I can honestly say that it was a thoroughly entertaining read and is perfect if you want to read something that is light-hearted.

In the Crypt with a Candlestick by Daisy Waugh is available now.

For more information regarding Daisy Waugh (@dldwaugh) please visit www.daisywaugh.com.

For more information regarding Little, Brown Book Group (@LittleBrownUK) please visit their Twitter page.

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I loved this book - it's a jolly great romp of a murder mystery. If you'r a fan of Agatha Christie then you will not be able to put this down as it's very much of that era and style, though it is very lighthearted and hilarious as well.

Sir Tod of Tode Hall has died - finally...and Lady Tode has decided she has had enough of running the estate and wishes to retire - but who to leave it to? Her kids are not interested...well, one is but he's mad.

Cue the murder (I'm not telling you who)......but who did it...and why?

This is an absolutely hilarious, fast paced, crazy crazy murder mystery book - sex, murder, madness, and a lovely smattering of family crazy.

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This book is mislabelled as being in the traditions of Christie and Wodehouse as I suspect a marketing ploy to lure in unsuspecting readers as this book is in neither tradition. It's certainly not erudite enough to get close to Wodehouse and just because its set in a country house and there are deaths in it doesn't make it classically Christie either. For anyone judging a book by its cover this too is misleading as its not set in the 1920s or 30s either, the book is set in the present day. If the reader sets aside these points the book is quite a fun read, it is certainly not serious and there is some wit about it, though as this is inconsistent throughout its a bit lacking. It is a short read and not too taxing and for anyone who want a murder mystery a la Christie it may be a little disappointing as there is little of the detection save for a solution that appears as miraculously as does that of the ghost - yes the ghost. This book could very easily be pitched to the young adult market were it not for the swearing, curious obsession at times with homosexuality in aristocratic families and damning remarks about the National Trust.
I wouldn't rush to promote this to friends but it makes for light reading and I did finish it.

#IntheCryptwithaCandlestick #NetGalley

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A country house murder mystery that had humor, satire, nonsensical characters in it. The pacing was a bit on and off, and I'm not sure if it all tied together.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time reading it.
Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

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Not quite the country house murder mystery the title would suggest.

The whimsical tone does lead to some rather amusing moments although accompanied by some less subtle 'jokes' - Prance to the Music of Time! Nurse Ratched!!

The story loses its way halfway through and the arrival of the VIP guests is not humorous at all. The humour is lost despite the appearance of a cantankerous old ghost. The ending is rather rushed and, despite its dramatic and fatal outcome, it falls rather flat.

This is a clear attempt to mimic the work of Christie and Wodehouse but falls far short on both accounts.

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Sir Ecgbert Tode is dead - finally - at 93. His widow, Lady Emma, is thoroughly cheesed off with Tode Hall, and intends to retire to Capri. However, her 3 children are either too mad, too militant or too Australian to take on the running of the Hall.. So she co-opts her nephew and his wife as heirs.

However, Lady Emma is found dead in the mausoleum when she's supposed to be in Capri. Whodunnit? And is there more going on at Tode Hall than meets the eye?

Fabulous and funny, an utter delight

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