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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering: a Book Review

by Chautona Havig · 10 Comments

Did he do it?  He’s a philandering cad, but is he guilty of fraud?  Of swindling?  Of murder? 

For months these questions have battered my brain as I’ve sent Madeline on the trail of a new pseudo-mystery in her quest to learn just how to use these skills she’s still only discovering. Franky, my brain needed a rest from murder and mayhem in Rockland.

So, what did I do?

I signed up to be a part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour for Murder on the Moor! There was just one problem. I’d never read any of the Drew Farthering Mysteries, and this certainly wasn’t the first in the series.

Murder on the Moor: review

What’s a gal to do?

Rules of Murder: DeeringI went to buy that first one, of course!  And, shocker of shockers, I’ve already purchased it.  Two and a half YEARS ago.  Ahem.

Look, I didn’t want to have any HUGE spoilers in book… five?  Six?  Whatever this one is.  I can’t recall and I’m too lazy to look it up. But, I pulled up the first book on my kindle and started reading.  It’s a rough sacrifice, reading two books for one review, but a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.  Stay tuned for my review of THAT book next week.  For now, let me just state that I strongly recommend reading the series in order. While the mysteries are not interconnected, and the author does a fabulous job of weaving the backstory into the current one without overkill, let’s face it. There are spoilers when you’re this far down the road.

For me, this just means that I’ll enjoy finding out what happened during all those delightful and unexpected little spoilers.  Onto the more interesting bits, shall we?

My review of Murder on the Moor:

Julianna Deering has created a truly delightful series set in the era of mystery’s “Golden Age.” In fact, this series is so well done that I consider it on par with the skills of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and Margery Allingham.  While the language and style of prose fits that of a modern novel, not once did I feel as if I was jerked out of the time period into the present–with either of the novels I read. This so rarely happens that I had to note it right off!

The mystery itself:

Excellent. Ms. Deering led us a merry chase around the Yorkshire moors, throwing just enough red herrings in there to provide a nice feast without so many that it stank up the plot–so to speak. I did guess who did it in the first moment I could have–and why!  However, she made me doubt my thoughts at every. Single. Turn. No joke. Just about the time I was sure that the person who had to be behind it WAS… someone else, even the least likely, most obvious suspect, made me question how I could be so stupid.

This is, in my not-so-humble-opinion, the mark of a great novel. It’s even better than not guessing at all.  If you can hand me the suspect like that (I am usually rather good at picking them out) and make me doubt? That’s a million times better than just throwing up someone at the end who should have been obvious and never was.  Those are fun, too.  But this is my favorite. And she did it in grand style.

Murder on the Moor: DeeringThe cover:

I don’t always review cover art.  After all, it’s not quite fair to the author. He or she doesn’t always have much of a say in it. But KUDOS to Bethany House for this fabulous artwork. Every time I see one–EVERY. TIME. I want to stop and read it.  Right now. And you know what?  Now that I have, I see binge reading in my very, very, like starting MONDAY very near future. The fonts, the almost WPA style artwork. Yeah. It draws you into the era perfectly.

The characters:

Drew Farthering is a delightful mixture of strong, mature man and impish boy who never quite grew up. Think what would happen if you matched Bertie Wooster’s charm and cheekiness with Jeeves’ brains. He’s a delightfully imperfect character, and I thought this book rather showed it extra well. It’s extra fun if the main detective character keeps coming to similar doubtful conclusions just as you do.

Madeline, on the other hand, while cheeky and rather funny herself, is much more understated in it. Her personality helps balance Drew’s more overt personality, but she is no shrinking violet. I rather liked her, and I think she’d enjoy my own Madeline. They’d be great pals, although my Madeline would be much closer to 50 or 60 by the time this book takes place.

Nick, well he’s the token sidekick and like Bunter of Lord Peter Wimsey fame, he’s quite handy in a pinch. I think he gets to have the most fun sometimes, if you want the truth.  Can’t wait to read all the delightful things I’ve missed by not reading books 2-… however many I’ve missed before this one. I’ll be doing that soon.

So… the verdict?

Murder on the Moor is a fabulous tale involving multiple murders (every time you think you’ve seen the last…), down-right scarlet herrings, and more with a subtle message woven through it. That message?  Don’t jump to what you think are the “obvious” conclusions.  People are more complex than a series of clues to be assembled into a puzzle. And I’m not talking about murder at all.  🙂  Five happy, healthy, sparkling stars! Magnified with a glass, of course!

 

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Comments

  1. Andrea says

    March 13, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors! Dorothy Sayers is a shocking lack in my library, and one which I intend to rectify soon. I love old murder mysteries. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 15, 2017 at 3:02 am

      If you ever have time, hop on over to YouTube or Amazon or Netflix (I never know who has what anymore) and watch the Lord Peter Wimsey videos with Edward Petherbridge (who I always think of as “Peter Etheridge”) and Harriet Walker. They are SO GOOD. He is the BEST Lord Peter out there. I also have a favorite YouTube video of all of Lord Peter’s proposals to Harriet Vane. It’s a terrible habit of his.

      Reply
  2. Melissa Wardwell says

    March 11, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    Wow, what a great review! (I think I have blogger envy right now… ?)

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 12, 2017 at 1:06 am

      Thank you! I really loved this book!

      Reply
  3. Susan (DE) says

    March 11, 2017 at 11:17 am

    Well, it’s interesting. I am reading aloud Clouds of Witness (to the youngest three) right now! So I like Sayers. I always found Christie too TENSE for my taste, though I’ve read a few. And I have enjoyed other classic mysteries. So…not sure. But they do sound interesting.

    Reply
  4. Julianna Deering/DeAnna Julie Dodson says

    March 11, 2017 at 11:15 am

    Thanks for the delightful review. I’ll have to check some of your other posts, too. They look fascinating. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 12, 2017 at 1:35 am

      Thank you! And thank you for writing one of if not THE best book I’ve read this year. So awesome!

      Reply
      • Julianna Deering/DeAnna Julie Dodson says

        March 12, 2017 at 12:52 pm

        Oh, bless you! You’re so sweet! And, really, your blog looks fabulous. So many interesting posts and reviews. Not that I ever have time or anything, but I am going to make sure I read more of yours. It’s so well done. 😀

        Reply
  5. Andrea Stoeckel says

    March 11, 2017 at 9:29 am

    Strangest price for a kindle book I have seen….probably done just for that

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 12, 2017 at 1:37 am

      I wonder if they didn’t do it to make it look like a book from British pounds converted to US dollars. I mean, it works the other way around. It’s kind of cute if they did. Otherwise, someone may have typed something in wrong. Who knows! Usually, it’s .99 at the end, so that saved a few pennies!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 429: A Chat with J. A. Webb
byChautona Havig

Christian dystopian thrillers are too few and far between, but author J. A. Webb has a great one for us. Listen in while we chat about his Seekers Series and the second book, Inheritance.

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Mix a corrupt secret society along with a priest on the run, and you’ve got a great mix. This series promises to be full of amazing twists and turns. 

  Inheritance by J. A. Webb

 A Dystopian Thriller of Deception, Faith, and the Fight for Truth

The Order has been betrayed. The hunters have been loosed.

Father Curtis has forsaken his vows. He has left the Order and joined the Seekers, a hidden rebellion dedicated to uncovering the truth long buried by the global church. But walking away from the Order does not mean escaping its reach.

When word spreads that a copy of the True Text — the original thirty-nine books of the Creator — has surfaced on the far side of the world, Curtis, Professor Reuel, and Phillip embark on a desperate mission. If they can retrieve the artifact, it could change everything. If they fail, the truth will be lost forever.

But the Eye of the Eternal, the secret police of the Order, has already mobilized. Their assassins are relentless. Their power is absolute. And they will stop at nothing to silence the truth.

Outnumbered and hunted, Curtis and his allies must risk everything to defy an empire built on deception. But against such overwhelming darkness, is faith enough? Or will their inheritance — humanity’s true past — be erased from history once and for all?

The war for truth has begun. And the Order will not suffer heretics to live.

A Gripping Tale of Power, Deception, and the Courage to Seek Truth

🔥 Perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like 1984, Brave New World, and The Da Vinci Code—but with a Christian twist!

⚡ A suspense-filled journey into a world where illusion is law and questioning it means death.

📖 If you love stories of faith, defiance, and the battle against unseen tyranny, this is the book for you.

The Order has ruled from the shadows long enough. Are you ready to see the truth?

Learn more about J. A. Webb on his WEBSITE and follow him on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Episode 429:  A Chat with J. A. Webb
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