The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder

Smart Woman's Mystery, Book 1

By: Victoria Dowd

Narrated by: Esther Wane

A faded country house in the middle of nowhere. The guests are snowed in.

The murders begin.

Withering and waspish, Ursula Smart (not her real name) gate-crashes her mother's book club at an isolated country house for a long weekend retreat. Much to Mother's chagrin. Joining them are Mother's best friend, Mirabelle, Aunts Charlotte and Less, and Bridget with her dog, Mr. Bojangles. It doesn't matter that they've read Gone Girl three times this year already, this retreat is their chance to escape bustling suburbia. But someone has other ideas.

A body is found in the grounds.

Is a lone killer hunting them? Or has one of their own group embarked on a killing spree?

What they need is to stop sniping at each other long enough to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.

What they need is a guide to survive.

©2020 Victoria Dowd (P)2021 Tantor

Decadent Verbiage

Fun and relatable characters. Sarcasm and seriousness. Good murder mystery. Mansion. Good read. Pensive insights.
Will go on to read the next in the series. Also, love the narrator.

While unexpected… still a 5 star..!!

I went into this read expecting another frothy English cozy mystery… instead it was poignant and rife with unresolved sadness throughout…
Yet, when all said and done ,.. a neatly wrought murder mystery.. nicely thought out…

Painfully tedious

Regret spending $ on this one—repeated descriptions of the house and the “mood” and repeated odd mentions of the main character’s father. None of the characters have a bit of sense or acuity.

Could not take it anymore

I wanted to like this book. But too much woe is me about her loss of her father. And why does she want to hang out with her awful mother who puts her down all the time. Regrettably I will return this book.