The Concert Hall Killer

The Bingo Hall Detectives #3

by Jonathan Whitelaw

In the Lake District, someone’s laying on a deadly welcome… The cast and crew of a popular TV crime drama are shooting in the Lake District – but behind the scenes, relationships are as tense as on-screen. The director’s reputation proceeds him, the two lead stars are feuding and rumours swirl. Meanwhile the locals are enjoying the filming – Amita Kahtri and her friends from Penrith Bingo Club are becoming social media stars with their behind the scenes pictures from filming – although her son-in-law, Jason is taking it all with a pinch of salt. But when on-screen slaughter gets swapped for real-life murder at the concert hall where the TV drama is based, and the genuine police are as baffled as the TV detectives, it falls to the locals to search for the truth. It seems like a taste of fame can be deadly – but what happens when a killer’s plots are wilder than anything the writers can dream up?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Crime

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2024

Reviews

[Anna Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw the ending coming but I just love these characters, one of my favourite series

[Saoirse · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book in the series.

[ghostly_bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

CAWPILE 5.86
3.5 STARS

Continued with this series, although this one is the weakest so far.
I'm undecided whether I'll continue the series but I do love the cast of characters and the locations.

[Paul Sutter]

This is the first book I have read by author Jonathan Whitelaw. I was unaware of the previous two book in the Bingo Hall Detectives series, but may look into them as a result of this one. Jonathan Whitelaw has a slow and steady pace. Those books are well-written, as opposed to those who prefer their detective tales filled with danger and malice on almost every single page.
In THE CONCERT HALL KILLER, there is a crime drama being shot in the Lake District of Penrith. This has got the people of the town most excited, that noted actors are in their midst. It is pretty well all they are talking about, which is very good for the small community. The townspeople are like puppy dogs, following them around with stars in their eyes.
Two of the people, Amita Kahtri and her good friends from the Penrith Bingo Club, just can’t get enough of them, and keep their eyes and cameras focused on the stars. Amita’s son-in-law Jason Brazel, is not quite as caught up in the hero worship, accepting it, but not letting it become the be-all end-all of the Lake District community.
But filming is suddenly disrupted, when one of the stars of the show is found dead. Although the crime drama is about death and mayhem, no one thought fact would replace fiction. This immediately calls for suspects to be rounded up, but no one can guess the rhyme nor reason for the murder. This causes Amita and Jason to look into solving the crime. They may like television crime shows, but when it comes to real life murder, it is not quite as simple.
Then another member of the crew is killed, making everyone realize the first death was not just a one and done. Someone is targeting members of the crew, but the questions now plaguing everyone is who and why? There are some amusing moments between Amita and Jason, as they try to break the case wide open. They know little about crime outside of television shows, but it does not stop them from boldly looking for answers.
But the question of the day is, if they are getting too close to solving the crime, will the real killer decide they will become the next targets? It makes for an interesting tale, and readers will enjoy the ending, with the promise of more great books to come in the series.

[Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan Whitelaw returns with another clever and witty cozy mystery in The Concert Hall Killer, part of his popular Amita and Jason cozy crime series. Set against the glamorous yet cutthroat world of classical music, this installment blends humor, sharp dialogue, and a puzzling whodunit that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Jason and Amita, the son-in-law and mother-in-law duo, are a riot, bickering like, well a mother-in-law and a son-in-law, while chasing clues. Their dynamic is the pulse of this book, blending humor with a knack for sniffing out trouble. The setting, a TV drama shoot gone wrong, adds a fresh spin, with Penrith’s starry-eyed locals stealing the show as social media sleuths. I really enjoyed how Whitelaw brings Amita and Jason’s dynamic to life once again. Their banter, though occasionally veering into filler, adds a unique rhythm to the story. The murder mystery itself is strong, packed with twists, red herrings, and a backstage look into rivalries that feel both theatrical and sinister. However, at over 350 pages, the narrative could have been a little tighter for an even punchier read.

Fans of British cozy mysteries, amateur sleuth tales, and series like Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club will find plenty to love here. Whitelaw’s writing has a distinctly modern and entertaining flair, making The Concert Hall Killer a great pick for anyone who enjoys light-hearted but cleverly plotted crime fiction.

If this review tickled your detective senses 🕵️♀️🔍, come snoop around my blog for more feel-good mysteries, page-turning escapades, and the occasional plot twist that even I didn’t see coming. 📚✨ Swing by Views She Writes — where books aren’t just read, they’re interrogated (nicely) until the truth spills out.

[Bookish Millennial · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the latest installment of the Bingo Hall Detectives series - quite the revelation if you're expecting a standalone tale (as the book description makes it seem). Its British charm is woven into every word and dialogue, with a sprinkle of slang and acronyms that may have you reaching for a dictionary if you're a foreigner.

The conversation dances off the page, fluttering with wit and humor, yet the characters felt distant, their drama a tad theatrical. The childhood tangle between Radha and Sarah seemed slightly overplayed.

The unmasking of the culprit is a slow-burning fuse, its logic a bit hazy (a mention of their age would've been helpful - I presumed they were in their early twenties, but their maturity suggests otherwise?)

If you're a seasoned follower of the Bingo Hall Detective series, this one is sure to tickle your fancy. But alas, it was not my cup of tea.

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I absolutely loved this book – it deserves all five stars. Jason and Amida are such a fantastic duo! This is the first book in the series I’ve read, but I’ll definitely be picking up the others, and I can’t wait for the new one coming in February 2025.

I found the story gripping right to the end, with a twisty double ending that completely took me by surprise. It made me smile, laugh, and just left me feeling charmed overall. It’s incredibly witty, with a touch of mystery woven in so perfectly.

The dynamic between Jason and Amida is brilliant – their banter had me laughing out loud. They’re both hilarious and work together so well, understanding each other in a way that feels effortless, even though they seem to be bickering half the time. Their collaboration is one of the highlights of the story.

Truly a delightful read, and I can’t wait to dive deeper into this series!

[Laura Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable mystery in the company of "The Bingo Hall Detectives", Jason and his mother-in-law Amita.
This is the third in the series and it was like rejoining old friends as the characters are so well drawn I could really imagine them in my mind as I read.
A more intense storyline with two murders amongst the crew of "The Locus" who were filming on location in Penrith. Jason reluctantly joins Amita in investigating, much to the horror of the local police DI Arendonk.
I had not guessed the murderer until a few chapters before they were revealed from the method of death of the first victim, it was enjoyable to keep reading to see that I was right and further on that there was more to it than originally suspected.
This would make a great tv series, would love to see them brought to life on the screen. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Carol El Hawary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another belter from JD Whitelaw - I really love this series of books. The two main characters, Jason and Amita, just get better and better. As usual, they bicker their way through the book, sparking off each other to solve the mystery. Their new adventures see them chasing down the killer of a famous TV director, and needless to say, they get into lots of scrapes and adventures along the way. The other regular characters are all still there to give their opinions on matters, and, of course, they are the thorn in the side of DI Arendonk. It's a cracking plot with lots of red herrings and diversions, and a twisty ending. A real gem in the genre of cosy crime.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you get the chance to listen to the audiobook, the narrator of this series is great. This is the only series I read half of and listen to the other half so I can experience both worlds. I tend to save these until I can read them late at night after everyone has gone to sleep.

This continues and strengthens the relationship and bond between Amita and Jason. I feel like they’ve come a long way, and it’s really nice to see how close they are becoming. I like that some of the usual characters took a bit of a backseat in this one and we got to see more of Jason’s wife (even if I was worried at times this meant things weren’t going to go well). This is very much a comfort read for me.

[Erica Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickly one of my favourites in the "cozy crime" genre I'll admit I somewhat tired of in the past year. The character relationship of son and mother-in-law provided for a refreshing dynamic and I enjoyed their banter. As mentioned by others, I found no issue reading this as a standalone and not having read others in the series. My book club was lucky enough to have Jonathan Whitelaw attend our meeting and he is a wealth of interesting stories and thoughts on the writing process and genre.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third outing for journalist Jason Brazel and his sparky mother in law, Amita, known as the Sheriff of Penrith. This time the intrepid due are on the trail of the killer of a volatile director who is in town filming an episode of their favourite detective series. Soon, the director is joined on the corpse list by the leading man and danger is all around for Jason and Amita.

Great fun.

[Tony Berryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A fun cozy mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously. The plot has a few twists I didn't see coming, and the characters keep things interesting with their village politics and relatable emotional entanglements. I especially loved the deep dive into British vernacular! Well worth the read.

[Vanessa-Ann Dowsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to listening to next book in this series. It's a fascinating series and I love the relationship between Amita and her son in law Jason who assist the police in solving the murders. As I always seen to say, it's very advisable to read this series in order as many comments will not make sense in the latter books. I highly recommend this book

[Sarah Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this one marginally better than the other, although the ending was preposterous! Why she didn't just ignore them and get on the train is beyond me!! Again, the murders are only a very small part of the book, with majority this time taken up with relationships between characters - I just feel sorry for the tiny role Jason's wife and children take up in these books!!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bingo Hall cozy series is an excellent one and it's always a pleasure to catch up with the characters and be involved their investigations.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5*

This son-in-law and mother-in-law detective duet are back. I really enjoy the relationship between these two and they are not that bad at solving murders either! A cozy crime to pass a Saturday afternoon with.

[♡☆ viki ☆♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book!!!
all the twists and turns were fabulous and well executed
the description of the scenes made me feel like i was right in the heart of the action with jason and amita following their journey every step of the way
wonderful ending and i definitely recommend reading this book

[Stephen Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read in this series. I read the first one, so that I had some knowledge prior to the author visiting Kendal Library. Sadly the event was cancelled but this loss has been my personal gain in reading these great novels.

I hope that the Kendal Library event is rescheduled.

[Lars Stuyts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful character driven cozy mystery. The back and forth questioning throughout this who done it will keep you turning pages till the end

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have consistently found great joy in the company of Jason and Amita. I’m happy to check in on them as often as I can.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a series but can be read without having read previous books. A good read, excellent two main characters

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this book the most in the series so far.

[Donna Callaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the relationship between the two main characters.

[Theresa Dudley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of the 3 but not sure if I want to read any more

[Anna Sawlani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to get into this book, I’m not even entirely sure why! I think maybe the style of writing just wasn’t quite for me, and I found the reveal of the murderer a little disappointing.

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

every single character was insufferable. 2 stars instead of one because the plot wasn’t bad.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed book 3! Plenty of twists and turns, and more murder!

[Reannah Ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a book in one sitting for ages. This, this was epic!!

[Lauren Crompton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant get enough of these books. Highly recommend them. Great cozy crime