M. B. Shaw – Carol's Notebook

Author: M. B. Shaw

M.B. Shaw is the pen-name of New York Times bestselling writer Tilly Bagshawe. Tilly Bagshawe is the international bestselling author of nine previous novels. A single mother at seventeen, Tilly won a place at Cambridge University and took her baby daughter with her.

She went on to enjoy a successful career in the City before becoming a writer. As a journalist, Tilly contributed regularly to the Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Evening Standard before following in the footsteps of her sister Louise and turning her hand to novels.

Tilly’s first book, Adored, was a smash hit on both sides of the Atlantic and she hasn’t looked back since. Tilly and her family divide their time between their homes in Kensington and Los Angeles and their beach house on Nantucket Island.

Murder at the Castle is the second in the Iris Grey series, and while it can certainly be read as a stand-alone, events from the previous book are referenced. The author gives enough information that a new reader wouldn't be lost, but since that case is why Iris is in Scotland and does affect how she views things, I think it's worth reading. Iris is commissioned to paint a portrait of Kathy Miller, a beautiful American due to marry a wealthy elderly Baron, Jock MacKinnon. MacKinnon's adult children dislike Kathy intensely - she displaced their own mother in the castle and she's much younger than the Baron. The townsfolk don't like her because she has some new ideas about how things around the castle should be run - and she's American. Kathy's been receiving threatening letters, which she wants Iris's help putting a stop to. There's already plenty of tension before the two women's bodies are found buried on the castle...

You have to feel bad for Iris. Her marriage is falling apart so she's rented Mill Cottage to escape to. Just as she's settling in and getting to know the neighboring Wetherby family, Dom Wetherby ends up dead, murdered. She's drawn into the case almost as a distraction from what's going on in her own life. The Wetherbys are far from the perfect family they present to the world. There are secrets and jealousies and entanglements. The characters are well drawn, each with strengths and weaknesses. There are several people with motives to kill Dom and enough red herrings to keep me guessing. The book was maybe a little long and Shaw really loves similes, but it kept my attention throughout. Iris is intelligent and observant but I do wish she had better taste in men. I also appreciated the Christmassy touches....

Author: M. B. Shaw

Murder at the Castle by M.B.Shaw

Murder at the Mill by M.B. Shaw