Death of an Avid Reader (Kate Shackleton #6) by Frances Brody

I absolutely love anything English. It has an inherent charm. That said, Death of an Avid Reader (Kate Shackleton #6) by Frances Brody has so much going for it that the English charm is just the icing on the cake. You don't want to miss this series.

From the back of the book:

A lady with a secret

Kate Shackleton's sterling reputation for courageous sleuthing attracts the attention of the venerable Lady Coulton. Hidden in her past is a daughter, born out of wedlock and given up to a different family. Now, Lady Coulton is determined to find her and puts Kate on the case.

A mysterious killing in the library's basement

But as Kate delves deeper into Lady Coulton's past, she soon finds herself thrust into a scandal much closer to home. When the body of the respected Horatio Potter is found in the Leeds Library basement, the quiet literary community is suddenly turned upside down with suspicions, accusations and - much to Kate's surprise - the appearance of a particularly intelligent Capuchin monkey!

The most puzzling case in Kate's sleuthing history yet

Convinced an innocent man has been blamed , Kate sets out to discover the truth. Who would want Dr Potter dead? Does Lady Coulton's missing daughter hold a vital clue? As the stories start to emerge in the seemingly quiet Leeds Library, Kate is learning fast that in this case, she can't judge a book by its cover.

My thoughts:

This was my first read of the Kate Shackleton series and as with most cozy series, you can easily jump in at any part, as the mysteries are free standing stories. I loved that this had more to it than just a murder mystery. There was actually a surprising amount of things to keep up with,which made it a challenge for me, I love a challenge. Speaking of challenges, since this book is set before modern times, there is a whole lot of need for actually sleuthing. And Kate had to be very clever. I loved that.

The setting, melded with the characters and the charming effect was beautiful. I became entrenched in the story, fell totally in love with the people, and was fully invested by the reveal. I am going to be reading the prior parts in this series because I would love to know more about Kate and the people in her life.

Take some time to browse the other great mysteries and genres available from Macmillan. You can also connect with Frances Brody on her Blog and Twitter as well. 

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.