This book is part of a series, and I haven't read the previous books unfortunately. It read nicely enough as a standalone, and I enjoyed the book and will read more in future! Recommended.

Here is my review for Killer By Candlelight by Lis Howell

I really enjoyed reading Killer By Candlelight which was an intriguing murder mystery. I got into the story as soon as I started to read it and I was hooked straight away. It was set at Caldfell Hall in the Cumbrian Hills amid a snow drift so the visitors were snowed in. The last person to struggle to arrive was Suzy Spencer, the podcaster but unfortunately she arrived after the bullying director, Parry Palmer, was found dead in a pool of his own blood. The police were soon on the scene and investigating his death. Suzy soon found some suspects by utilizing her contacts and talking to the guests at the Hall but who was the culprit? This was a brilliantly written story with a lot of twists and turns which kept me guessing throughout. The characters were interesting and well written, especially Suzy Spencer who is a main character. This is a well detailed story with a lot of descriptive text which describes a lot so you can picture it in your mind, I like that in a story. The synopsis drew me to read this story and I definitely enjoyed reading a new author. This is book six of the series and I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.

Blurb :

Fifty guests, trapped in a snow-bound mansion. Most came here to sing. One is hiding a burning desire for vengeance . . .

Gervase Scott-Broughton is hosting a singing masterclass at Caldfell Hall, high in the snow-dusted Cumbrian Hills. Talented vocalists flock to his door — along with podcaster Suzy Spencer, who’s hoping for an enjoyable weekend of cantatas and canapés.

But lessons come to a grinding halt when the choir’s bullying director is found dead in the recording studio. Surrounded by flickering candles and a pool of his own blood. Even by candlelight, Suzy knows she’s looking at murder.

Now her friend’s husband is mysteriously missing. Has the killer struck again? Or maybe Suzy’s friend doesn’t know her hubby as well as she thinks she does . . .

As a bitter blizzard rages outside, Suzy must unravel the deafening crescendo of secrets, egos and bitter rivalries. Before the killer returns for a chilling encore.

A twisty mystery with complex characters. Suzy Spencer was at an isolated snow-bound mansion to report on a new musical production introducing a talented young singer, a stressed composer and a bully-of-a-director. Egos, differing agendas, and old secrets clashed which left a man dead, one missing and a powder keg that could ignited at any minute.... All the while, Suzy was worried about her long-time love's erratic behavior. It would take all her talent as a amateur detective to figure out this mess before some one else died...

There were a lot of characters to keep straight in this book and I took me a while get that settled. But for all that, the characters had depths and didn't seem carbon copies of each other. Though the motive was a little far-fetched it was a solid mystery that kept me guessing. This was the last of the series, and the first I had read, so there was a wrap up of threads that I am sure would have had more emotional impact if I had read the earlier books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

📱E-Book Review📱

Killer By Candlelight
Lis Howell

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This is the 6th book in the Suzy Spencer mystery series and sadly, it's the first one that I've read.
It wasn't clear from the cover that this was part of a series - but I loved the dark image that drew me straight in to giving this a try.

I'm sure that there some extra nuances that I maybe didn't pick up kn with the returning characters here, but to be honest, I feel like this was well written as a standalone read within the series.
I had no problem connecting with this diverse cast and even with Suzy herself - her character was well presented and it was easy to get behind her during the investigation.

I absolutely love this setting.
Locked room mystery is one of my favourites and being snow bound in the Cumbrian Hills sounds like my idea of heaven!
That is until the body is found ....I think I'll take a pass on that part!

I loved that this had a musical theme too - being a musician at heart, I really connected with a lot of the characters and the conversations and personalities felt so relatable.

Our victim seems to have no end of possible 'enemies' and so it soon becomes apparent that almost any one of the people trapped at the house, could be a suspect - this leaves us trying to look for clues and unravelling a really twisty mystery.
I couldn't help trying to come up with my own theories along the way - but it kept me guessing.

A great read and I'd love to read more by this author in the future, maybe even find time to head back to the start of this series and catch up with Suzy and her other escapades soon.

I think this is the kind of series that has to be read from the beginning. This book opens with an infodump giving the background of the characters. It’s followed by a lot of telling and very little showing of the action. I didn’t find it engaging. Also, the book has Christian elements I wasn’t expecting. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This had so many twists and turns, I thoroughly enjoyed the read! I jumped into this not knowing it was part of a series, but I enjoyed it regardless. Having not read the previous books it took me a few chapters to keep track of the characters - but once I had a grasp on who everyone was, I was hooked. I can’t wait to back and read the earlier books in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the advance copy!

Honestly very well done. I appreciated the touches of Christianity but also the twist was well done and not one I really saw coming. I also love how it all tied together at the end. First time reading from this author but still enjoyed the story even without reading the previous books!

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

First, thank you Joffe Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I did not realize it was part of a series, nevertheless, it was still a good book! I think I will enjoy reading cozy mysteries now and then. They might not make my heart hammer as hard as some others, but are still fun to read.

I liked Suzy. Can't say much in terms of character development, seeing I did not read the other books, but I was rooting for her. Very recommended, especially if you like locked room mysteries!

A Heinous Intent..
The sixth outing in the Suzy Spencer series of mysteries finds flocks of eager contestants attending a singing competition at Caldfell Hall, a grand house in the Cumbrian Hills. Whilst most (including Suzy ) are there for mainly valid reasons, it soon transpires that at least one is there with a more heinous intent. Now, with a very dead choir director, Suzy knows there’s a killer in their midst and with a blizzard raging, time is of the essence. Another enjoyable instalment to this series with a well drawn cast, a firm sense of a place and a solid mystery at its heart.

Very tangled tale with lots of red herrings. Great setting and I didn’t guess the culprit. If I had any criticism it would be that the main character wasn’t quite fleshed out enough, although I liked the flash of temper and ambition.