Review: A Portrait of Death by Rhen Garland

I hope you're all wrapped up warm (at least in the northern hemisphere) as the nights grow colder. It's the best time of year for reading – and Victorian murder mysteries should be on your list!

I'm delighted to share my views on another fabulous read, A Portrait of Death by Rhen Garland, organised through Rachel's Random Resources. My thanks to Rachel for the opportunity.


A Portrait of Death is a Victorian murder mystery with a paranormal twist. The beginning takes you through a couple of gruesome murders, but the details aren't graphic, so readers of cosy crime can enjoy this tale.

The main plot takes you to the sleepy English countryside, to the manor of the Marmis family. A weekend house party quickly turns into a trap when two men are found dead early on. And slowly, the real reasons behind the façade of the event are becoming apparent, but not without further discoveries. 

When Detective Inspector Elliott Caine begins to investigate, he uncovers an unexpected twist to the tale.

A Portrait of Death is a fast-paced mystery that has you turning the (virtual) pages. It is well-plotted, with unexpected events lurking beneath its surface, with a storyline strong enough to keep you reading – and guessing. 

A cosy, intriguing read for those cold winter nights. Just make sure to keep the lights on...

~~~

A Portrait of Death; The Versipellis Mystery Series Book One
In the quiet English village of Marmis Parva, a weekend house party is organised by a society hostess and all the top names are invited. 
But this is no ordinary party.
Two men are savagely murdered during the course of the first evening and a young man, presumed dead, returns home after two years imprisonment in South Africa bringing with him proof of treason.
Detective Chief Inspector Elliott Caine’s long-awaited holiday in the Lake District is cancelled as he is brought in to investigate the peculiar nature of the murders. More bodies are discovered and Elliott has to manoeuvre between high society, Government protocols, and the heinous nature of the crimes if he and his old friend Detective Sergeant Abernathy Thorne, are to catch the sadistic killer, and the traitor lurking amongst them.
When Caine’s past comes back to haunt him, will his judgement be too clouded to focus on solving the crime?
Will the Boer spy’s identity be uncovered before they can flee?
How are these murders connected to another in New York?

Purchase Links 
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Author Bio: 
Rhen Garland lives in Somerset, England with her folk-singing, book-illustrating husband, approximately 4000 books, an equal number of ancient movies, and a large flock of stuffed sheep. 
She enjoys the countryside, peace, Prosecco and the works of Ngaio Marsh, Glady Mitchell, John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson, Agatha Christie, and Terry Pratchett.
"I watch far too many old school murder mystery films, TV series, and 1980s action movies for it to be considered healthy." 
"A Portrait of Death" is a murder mystery thriller with paranormal touches set in late Victorian England and is the first book in the Versipellis Mysteries Series.

Social Media Links: 
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18718625.Rhen_Garland



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