prettylittlewriter

I was lucky enough to receive not one, but two of Nicola's book from Faber and Faber (thank you!), and The Dead of Winter was the first one I picked up as I was reading it over the Christmas period!

Synopsis

'December 1938, and storm clouds hover once again over Europe. Josephine Tey and Archie Penrose gather with friends for a Cornish Christmas, but two strange and brutal deaths on St Michael's Mount - and the unexpected arrival of a world famous film star, in need of sanctuary - interrupt the festivities. Cut off by the sea and a relentless blizzard, the hunt for a murderer begins.'

I was hooked on this novel from start to finish. From the historical and geographical elements, an Agatha Christie vibe with dark and twisted secrets, it's the perfect crime thriller.

The first 'chapter' is pretty gruesome and upsetting, with murder-suicide involving children, I found it quite difficult to read. Then it skips ahead 18 years later, with the Detective who dealt with that terrible day, as a guest at St Michael's Mount for Christmas. 

I've been to St Michael's Mount myself, so it was thrilling to read a murder mystery set somewhere that I knew, and could picture quite easily! 

I hadn't previously read anything by Nicola, and I've started with a novel quite far into the series, however, it can definitely be read as a stand alone as I didn't find I was missing any information to enjoy the book. 

I also did not realise that the character of Marlene Dietrich was a real person! 

Without giving anything away, Upson throws you a few different suspects and plenty of twists and turns, that keep you guessing until the very end! 

I will definitely be reading more from her! I genuinely couldn't fault a thing!

5/5 stars