Murder at Sunny View: An absolutely gripping and charming cozy murder mystery novel for 2025 by Greg MosseMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Maisie Cooper is asked to visit her old employers at their guesthouse in the small village of Trout Leap in Devon to help them with an issue that could lead to murder. When Maisie gets to Trout Leap there are various mutters about a gold mine in the nearby hills and an imminent meeting, but no-one seems willing to explain what is happening. In the interim, Maisie amuses herself by getting acquainted with the other residents of the village which she sets out in a letter to her fiancé (who is a policeman) as a cast of characters, together with a map of the village.
Two further guests arrive at the guesthouse, but Maisie is convinced that there is something 'odd' about them, did they really meet on the train down or were they acquainted before? In particular, the male guest's vague statements about his profession rouse Maisie's suspicions.
Out walking one day, Maisie discovers the body of a young woman from the village, daughter of the local railway worker, who has the intelligence of a child. She has been murdered. The whole village knew that the girl liked to wander off, particularly at night, so the suspicion is that she may have seen something she shouldn't have. With only a half-witted local PC to investigate, Maisie feels drawn to solve the murder.
I read the first book in this series and whilst I enjoyed the mystery and the limitations imposed on an investigation when it is set in the 1970s (no mobile phones, no internet etc) I felt that the author went overboard mentioning every little thing that happened eg the oil crisis, electricity cuts, Maxwell House instant coffee, decimalisation etc). Unfortunately, I feel that he has done the same here, whether it is talking about British Rail, Britain entering the EU, the Black and White Minstrel show, or Angel Delight. Also, the way in which he interspersed Maisie's internal musings with his own explanation of what was happening felt 'off'.
Overall, this was pleasant enough but I don't think I will be reading any more in the series.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
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