For Better or Murder by Simon R. Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For Better or Murder is the 4th-book in the Holy Terror Mysteries series by veteran author, Simon R. Green. I would argue this is a straight-up Cozy Mystery series, though the assigned genres for the books in the series seem to disagree.
I read a lot of Cozies, and this is a Cozy, but with slight paranormal vibes. This one is my favorite one yet, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m more attached to these characters than ever, or if it’s because maybe the author is more comfortable writing this type of story at this point.
Either way, I found this one highly-enjoyable. It’s the most Scooby-Doo feeling one yet, which def added to my enjoyment. The setting, at a secluded Cornish hotel, set amongst the Moors, definitely added to that vibe.
Alastair and Diana are set to be married, and in order to escape the prying eyes of the paparazzi, who have been plaguing them since their status as the Holy Terrors became public interest, have booked the remote hotel in order to maintain some privacy on their wedding day.
Their guest list is also extremely small. Diana’s parents, of course, as well as her oldest friend, Eliza, have been invited for her side. Alastair has invited his college friend, Giles, as well as his mentor, Crispin, who will perform the ceremony.
Besides that, it’s just Edward and Alice, the proprietors of the hotel. The rest of the staff having been sent home in order to ensure privacy.
So, when one of the guests is found murdered on their very first night at the hotel, their suspect list is small. However, a local legend throws a kink in their investigation.
Could the Pale Rider, feared by locals, and seemingly even the hotel owners themselves, possibly be responsible for the mysterious death? They did hear unexplained hoof beats shortly before, didn’t they?
Well, it was certainly hard to tell over the pounding rain of the extreme storm rattling the hotel. At this point, we know Alastair and Diana won’t be able to rest until the truth is discovered. Let the amateur sleuthing begin!
I had a lot of fun with this one. From the start I was hooked into the setting. I thought Green set the stage beautifully. I could picture it all in my head, and it made me want to be there with this small group of wedding guests.
I also liked the inclusion of the local lore and felt like the way it was weaved into our mystery left a lot of room for doubt, as far as whether or not a human was responsible for the tragedies that take place. Additionally, just being with Alastair and Diana again, seeing how far their relationship has come, that was also really comforting.
I’ll be honest, my initial impression with this series wasn’t the best. I felt like I had been marketed a Horror novel, which it certainly is not, but now that I’ve settled into it being a Cozy Mystery, I’ve really enjoyed them all. I’m glad I continued on and gave it another chance.
I’m not sure what the future for this series holds, but if there are further installments, I’ll definitely be picking them up. The series as a whole keeps getting stronger, IMO, and I would love more.
Thank you to the publisher, Severn House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this series to Cozy Mystery Readers who enjoy a darker touch; something a bit more macabre. This series has turned into a lot of fun for me!