Julianna Deering: Murder on the Moor

By Kelly Bridgewater

At the urgent request of an old school friend, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a Brontë hero. There have been several worrisome incidents out on the moor--property destroyed, fires started, sheep and cattle scattered--and worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church.

Drew's friend is obviously smitten with his bride of eight months, though it's hard to imagine what she sees in the awkward man. Drew can't help wondering if her affections lie more with the man's money and estate, while her romantic interests focus on their fiery Welsh gamekeeper. As the danger grows ever closer, it's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what is really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.

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My Review:

What is better than spending a couple of hours sitting reading a mystery? What about a novel written by the famous Arthur Conan Doyle or a novel that reads like a Doyle novel? I like nothing better than to spend my time lost in a good mystery.  I love the plot where the writer has me on the edge of my seat as I flip through the pages, begging for the next chapter not worrying about the time. Having repeating characters make me happy too. In Julianna Deering's fifth installment in her Drew Farthering Mysteries, I was excited to return o England and help Drew Farthering solve the latest crime.

The writing is concise and clear. I had no problem following Drew around the Bloodworth Park Lodge. Deering does a great job at inviting me into the massive home and allowing me to see the foggy moors and the elaborate home. I really enjoy how Deering invites me into Drew's train of thoughts and keeps me there for the complete novel. Like her previous installments, Deering writes the story in first point of view character, which can be hard for an author because he or she might want to write in the other character's perspective, but Deering keeps in Drew's perspective.

As for the characters and plot, I was glad to return to Drew and Madeline as they go about solving another mystery. This time around, Drew and Madeline are working on a number of murders while keeping their marriage spark alive. I liked seeing how well they fit together and work together. As for the plot, it reminded me a lot of Doyle's "The Hound of Baskervilles." I even figured out the dog prints arrived in the north wing. While the mystery does move along nicely, there were moments that I thought the plot moved along slowly and wished it would move faster.

While the story is not original, the villain was not someone I was expecting. Deering threw me for a loop. I didn't figure out the bad guy before the ending, which I usually do. I'm glad she got one past me. There really isn't anything too spiritual in the story. It is a good, clean mystery fit for fans of mysteries of any age. I highly recommend this series to fans of Deerings' other books or especially Rachel McMillan's Herrington and Watts Mysteries, which also is one of my favorite series.

True to the classic genre, Julianna Deering's Murder on the Moor pays homage to Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes with a hero who is likeable and a mystery with enough action to keep me glued to the page. Deering invites me to London with a story that is begging for the next installment.

I received a complimentary copy of Julianna Deering's Murder on the Moor from Bethany House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I LOVE Historical Mysteries/ Suspense / Thrillers. Do you know of any more that I should try? Please list suggestions in the comments section so I can find some more.