A Deadly Discovery

The Woolf & Bell Mysteries #1

by Ciar Byrne

One priceless artefact. Two unlikely sleuths.
A murder stranger than fiction.

In the shadow of Lewes castle lies buried an ancient tablet. Hours after discovering it, dashing local archaeologist Gideon Rivers is dead.

Writer Virginia Woolf and her artist sister, Vanessa, both know firsthand that it doesn't take much to cause a stir in town. And when Gideon returned home from a dig in Syria with a glamourous Parisian heiress on his arm, all eyes were on him.

But who would have conspired to murder such a charming young man? There are more suspects in his circle than it first an ambitious fiancée, a jealous best friend, and a string of scorned former lovers.

With the police chasing false leads and the murderer hunting down a second victim - one far closer to home - Ginny and Nessa are forced to take investigations into their own hands.

Solving this mystery calls for a little creativity . . .

BOOK 1 in THE WOOLF & BELL MYSTERIES - a gripping new bookish cosy crime series for fans of The Three Dahlias, The Mitford Murders and golden age crime.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Historical, Fiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2024

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

Virginia (Ginny) Woolf and her husband Leonard, together with her sister Vanessa (Nessa) Bell and her (former) lover Duncan live in Rodwell, close to Lewes, West Sussex (in separate houses, in case that wasn't clear). As some of the advanced wave of Londoners moving to West Sussex, Ginny feels superior to most of the others such as Mrs Daphne Rivers, whose husband's origins were very working class until he made sufficient money as a stockbroker in the City to buy one of the grandest houses in the village, or Mrs Alice Dudeney, a successful author of romantic novels.

One day, Ginny and Nessa get dragged by Mrs Rivers into meeting her son Gideon, an extraordinarily handsome young man, and feted archaeologist, together with his fiancé Jasmine Zain Al-Din, the daughter of a wealthy French-Syrian family.

However, the next day the village is shocked to learn that Gideon was murdered, battered to death by his own tools at the dig site where he had recently uncovered a small tablet thought to have been brought back from the Crusades. Worse still, Ginny's gardener's son-in-law has been arrested by the local police for the murder. Ginny's gardener and his daughter implore Ginny to reason with the police detective and/or find the real killer.

As befits the Bloomsbury Set, everyone appears to have multiple lovers, both male and female, and there are multiple possible motives for murder including jealousy (from numerous people), illegitimate children, professional rivalry, and potentially money. Everyone is lying about knowing other people. Suspicion lands on one person after another. There is also a mysterious figure in black haunting the lanes/following people.

I'll say straight off that I've never warmed to Virginia Woolf or her writing so she was going to be a difficult character for me to like. However, my issue with this book was that it wasn't sure whether it wanted to be a fictional story about the Woolfs and the Bells, with lots of detail about the décor in Nessa's house and their friends, or a cosy mystery and it sort of fell between two stools for me.

I have some reservations about the method the murderer used and why they killed some people but not others. Also I question the physical appearance of the tool the murderer used. Would a hypodermic needle look like a sewing needle, and also why would the murderer discard the needle? I thought perhaps they were using a blow dart at first.

I note that there are other cosy mysteries featuring famous people (the Mitfords spring to mind) and I have avoided them for the same reason I have issues with this book. Totally off topic, but if I were writing this sort of cosy fiction I would make our detective famous-person-adjacent eg a fictional friend or servant, that way the reader can peep into the lifestyle but focus on the mystery.

Loved the cover.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Bumped for release.

[Paradise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although cosy crime isn’t usually a genre I rush to pick up, historical fiction is. Add in the fact that the amateur sleuths are Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell then how could I resist?

This novel is excellent. It’s slow, cosy and gripping, with excellent characterisation, brilliant visualisation and discreet humour. It’s so easy to picture, because Ciar’s writing flows so well; her love of the landscape really shines through the writing, but everything is carefully constructed to ensure nothing dominates the story.

It is - of course - entirely fictional, but it feels real and the characters come across exactly as you would expect, with a few cameos from the Bloomsbury set that are a nice touch. There’s so much simmering scandal in the town, but none of it feels contrived and the motive is believable.

Characters are so real I felt like I knew every single one and I wanted to be a part of the community and soak up the literary and artistic talent that lurked around every corner and on every page.

If I had one criticism, it was the overuse of the phrase ‘warm for October’ - I appreciate the weather needed to be sunny for the story to work, but it probably didn’t need to be mentioned so many times. No doubt this has been edited out of the final version so it’s a minor point.

A Deadly Discovery is an absolutely fantastic story and I can’t wait for the next instalment!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first mystery starring author Virginia Woolf and her artist sister Vanessa Bell. The story takes place in England in 1928. The two women are invited to visit an archaeological site being overseen by Gideon Rivers who is the son of one of Virginia's acquaintances. They are present when a clay tablet is found. It is purportedly an artifact brought to England with the remains of the Crusader ruler of the local castle. But things take a turn when Gideon's body is found at the site by a local author Alice Dudeney whose home backs up to the archaeological site.

Virginia is asked by Gideon's mother to look into the murder since she doesn't have much faith in the local constabulary. Neither Virginia nor Vanessa has much faith in Chief Inspector Gripe either. Besides both women are very curious about the case.

Ginnie and Nessa soon find themselves with a variety of suspects including Gideon's best friend, his fiancee, professional rivals, and romantic rivals too. The complex interpersonal relationships mirror the relationships of Nessa and Ginnie who are devoted members of the Bloomsbury set.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints with Virginia, Vanessa, and Alice all having their chances to shine and take center stage.

This was an engaging historical mystery that had me going to Wikipedia to find out more about Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. Fans of mysteries with real but fictionalized characters will enjoy this story.

[Lola]

I received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.

I DNF'd this one at about 3%

This was one of those books I started and knew right away it wasn't for me. The writing style just didn't work for me and after skimming through the first chapter or two and it just wasn't keeping my attention so I decided to DNF it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

October 1928. When the body of archaeologist Gideon Rivers is discovered at the Brack Mound dig, sisters Virginia Wooolf and Vanessa Bell decide to investigate. Because one, they believe the wrong person had been arrested and two to protect another suspect.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its interesting main characters. A good start to this new series.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

when an archaeological find and a familiar face comes home, with a new fiancée on his arm, it really causes a ruckus in sussex.

the quirkiness of the characters really shows through in the three perspectives shown throughout the book.

the fast pace, makes you want to carry on reading, whilst making you laugh a little at times. although, the book touches on dark topics, an air of lightheartedness is in the authors writing.

you cannot help but get sucked into the story, as the women band together to solve the murder of two of their friends. suspecting the people closest close to them, what secrets will be revealed ?

this story, proves that sometimes women’s intuition knows best. with a love triangle, gay affairs.. and a murderer on the loose, this is the perfect historical fiction late summer / autumn read.

thankyou so much net galley for the arc. all opinions are my own

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley and Headline Accent for an advance reader copy of A Deadly Discovery. All opinions and comments are my own.

After that fairly long beginning which is almost a prologue, readers learn the identity of the victim, a young man involved in an archeological dig in East Sussex. But that extended opening introduces readers to our protagonists, Virginia (or Ginny, as she is called by her near and dear in the book) Woolf and Vanessa Bell, sisters, Virginia Woolf the more famous of the two. And when A Deadly Discovery involves them in the murder, it is Mrs. Woolf who decides that the two of them can do a much better job than the local constabulary in solving the crime and finding the culprit. And she is right, of course.

The dead man left a lot of broken hearts -- male and female -- behind. Soon another ex-lover, a male musician, is also dead. He’d once been a suspect, so Ginny and Nessa can take him off the list. But there’s plenty of others to keep an eye on, including the disgruntled archeologist who’s jealous over the dig, a couple of ex-fiancés, including a Hollywood starlet and the latest, a lovely French lass, and there’s the old school friend who’s hovering around. Ginny wastes no time going to London, and even Paris (and what vivid scenes these are!), speaking to those who knew Gideon Rivers and determining who may have wanted him dead. The author includes a lot of twists and turns for readers to deal with; can the two sift through all the clues and alibis and solve this puzzle? With several marvelous reveals at the finish, they will.

And within the pages of the book are the author’s forays into revealing the personal struggles of the sisters, the mental illness that will eventually drive Virginia Woolf to suicide, and the maneuvers that Vanessa Bell carried out to keep Duncan Grant in her life. Both portraits are finely drawn.

We finish, as we (almost) began, with Alice Dudeney, who has settled her differences with Mrs. Woolf and must now make sure that peace has been restored to the top of Brack Mound. A Deadly Discovery, containing a wealth of character studies and word pictures, is a wonderful start to a new historical mystery series.

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit to googling the people mentioned as and when they appeared on the page just to see their background. Wiki has their histories which were a lot more controversial ( for their time) than how they act here. All the relationships of the sisters are not the focus here, and if someone is not curious they may never realise some of the more complicated parts.

The story is told from three different people’s points of view. They all have different priorities and that is one way of differentiating between them, although I felt like the sisters were a little too similar and I had to think about who it was based on the background people.

Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell live close enough to each other to meet regularly. On one such occasion they make the acquaintance of a young and charming man who takes them for a tour of an architectural dig site. This very same man is found dead the next day and the case begins. Vanessa wants to protect her partner and his lifestyle and that is her motivation to investigate, Virginia is asked by the victim’s mother to meddle and finally we have another writer who has a more passive role, but has a role nonetheless.

I guessed the culprit even without meaning to but I was wrong about the why part of it. This book was more comfortable as the story progressed. The initial start was slow but as each woman digs around in their own style, we get into more interesting content. I liked the author’s writing style and would recommend this book to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[boogleloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Mystery set in England 1928 following writer Virginia Woolf and her artist sister, Vanessa Bell, turn sleuth when an archaeologist's murdered after finding a priceless artifact.

4/5 stars: This is the first entry in Byrne's Woolf & Bell Mysteries series which is a Historical Mystery set in 1928 England featuring writer Virginia Woolf and her artist sister, Vanessa Bell, as they turn sleuth after an archaeologist's murdered following the discovery of a priceless ancient tablet. With plenty of twists and turns, Byrne has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. I really appreciate how Byrne's plot unfolds and the way the investigation's resolved. Additionally, Byrne's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Told in multiple POV: Virginia (Ginny), Vanessa (Nessa) and Alice, who's neighbor and “rival” writer, she writes romantic novels. Ginny and Nessa are the main MCs but Alice does add significantly to the plot and I enjoyed how Byrne brought the three ladies together in the end. Byrne touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and the CWs. Overall, this is an interesting start to a new series and I look forward to reading more.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and ARC provided by Headline | Headline Accent in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 star rating as the writing was good and the characters interesting but I kept getting distracted by the introduction of sudden jaw-dropping types of information/”facts?” regarding the characters. I did not know much about Virginia Woolf before reading the book so I think there were some mentions of things that a more knowledgeable person on her history would have understood but I did not. I kept stopping and going to Wikipedia to read up on characters to find out if they were real or made up and what information was true. Some tidbits of things were left to later in the book that may have been better to be upfront about in the beginning, such as Nessa’s children and their parentage. When suddenly 2 small children appeared ⅓ of the way into the book, I thought maybe I was reading a flashback because they had not been mentioned at all prior and there was a whole murder situation going on. I would have thought that someone might be worried for the children’s safety. I do enjoy books about historical figures that veer into fantasy to create interesting storylines but I struggled with this one though it may have been partially due to my lack of background regarding Virginia Woolf and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Donna Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid golden age fiction - easy to read and enjoyable (I read it in a single sitting on a flight).

The basic premise is that, just after finding a potentially-valuable artefact, the lead archaeologist is found dead. Then another, then (maybe) an attempt at another. There are plenty of potential suspects and a few potential motives. Told from the perspective of three different women, we get a good picture of the people involved.

While I did pick the killer (which I usually don't - either it was too obvious or I was paying attention properly), I didn't pick the motive.

The thing that did distract me was the Virginia Woolf reference. I don't know much about Woolf (I know, I call myself a reader!) and I found it distracting wondering which aspects of the character were referential and how they were relevant. I really think it would have been less distracting to be a unique character.

It looks like it's going to be a series - I'm likely to read the next. The golden age structure certainly lends itself to a set of independent mysteries.

(Read a ARC via net galley in exchange for an honest review)

[Lynne James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf as amateur sleuths? Well why not, they were both extremely intelligent and more able than most to solve a murder mystery I am sure.
Gideon, a young, and sexually voracious young archaeologist is found murdered at his archaeological dig site, and Ginny and Nessa are drawn into finding out whodunit!
A thoroughly enjoyable light hearted murder mystery with some excellent research into the lives two fascinating women and those who surrounded them in their homes in the country.
The book led me on to reading more about Virginia and Vanessa and that is usually a sign that an author has done a good job of involving a reader in the world of their novel and its characters.
I would definitely recommend it to mystery livers, period drama readers and those interested in the Bloomsbury set and their lives and relationships
I read this book as an earc from NetGalley and the publushers and this is my honest review in return.

[Morgan Shae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell solve a murder mystery Watson/Holmes style in this historical fiction.

It is an easy read and very fast paced. There's a very large cast of characters full of motive, so it is fun to try and guess yourself. I felt like there were almost too many characters. I struggled keeping track of them all, especially because they were often introduced by name before any other identifiers (paragraphs or pages later). It would be beneficial to keep a list of the characters and identifiers (ie Leonard is Virginia's husband).

While I am all for LGBTQ relationships in a book, I felt like everyone having gay affairs distracted from the plot itself. I didn't get how everyone was pro LGBTQ (show not tell), but anti racism needed to be told and not shown. It felt very in your face and off-putting considering this is not what the book is about.

This didn't work for me, but I know someone else is going to love this quirky and light middle age Scooby Doo style mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own

[Melissa Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this unusual novel, sisters Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell are the investigators a series of murders on and around an archeological dig near their country homes. Full of quirky local (presumably fictional) characters, and members of Woolf and Bell's Bloomsbury set, the mystery seemed to take second place to the historical story.

While I enjoyed the book, I found the attention paid to Woolf and Bell's thoughts and feelings somewhat distracting as I wondered about the blurring of fact and fiction.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Liz Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A murder occurred during a dig at a historical castle in a small English village. Two sisters who met the victim the previous day became entangled in the mystery after someone close to them was accused of the heinous crime. The book is set in 1928, incorporating historical fiction elements. It’s an easy and well-written read, though it doesn’t align with my personal preferences for a quicker-paced story. I prefer more mystery and investigation, and there was a lot of small-town drama in this book that I found not necessary. However, I must commend the author for maintaining suspense throughout the story, revealing the true murderer at the end.

[Ninaminacat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant idea, superb execution!

If you want a light, fun read filled with mystery, murder and potentially cursed archaeological finds, all set in the Sussex countryside of 1928, I can't see how you could do better. The idea of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell acting as an amateur sleuthing duo is utterly inspired. I loved the characters, the inclusion of archaeology, the changing atmosphere of Lewes castle from benign to sinister and - vitally - the plotting of the mystery; I wasn't even close to skiving the mystery until near the end. I shall definitely be reading the next in the series 'A Lethal Cocktail '. May there be many more Woolf and Bell mysteries!

[Beatriz CP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.
It was quite an enjoyable read, that I would classify as a cozy mystery, and the descriptions were beautiful and immersive.
I am unable to form an opinion regarding the characterisations of the historical characters, but I took it as an opportunity to read and learn more about them.
It was not surprised to learn who the killer was, but I think it's well developed with several red herrings along the way.

[Dawn Thoma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lead archaeologist is found dead after discovering a valuable object, with multiple motives and suspects. The story, told from three different perspectives, provides a clear picture of the involved individuals. However, because the first book in the series was good, I would keep reading the next future books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Headline publisher team for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Aiesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Deadly Discovery is a delightful cosy mystery that wraps you in the warmth of its charming characters and simple yet satisfying plot. While there aren't any huge surprises, the mystery unfolds neatly, making it a comforting read from start to finish.

The story also weaves in subtle LGBT-friendly themes, adding a modern touch to this golden-age style mystery. If you're looking for a light, charming whodunnit with a lovely sense of resolution, A Deadly Discovery is the perfect cosy read!

[Sandy Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who was responsible for the death of the archaeologist – or was it part of a curse?
Was Virginia Woolf an amateur sleuth in real life?
I’ve no idea but I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery and would highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more Woolf and Bell Mysteries.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC

[Lori D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new to me author and first book in a series. I love historical mysteries and was anxious to read this one.

When an archaeologist returns from Syria having discovered a priceless artifact, he is soon found dead.

Step in Ginny Woolf, author and sister Vanessa to try to find the killer. Follow the leads until the end!

[tash · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and headline for providing me with this arc of ciar byrne’s a deadly discovery

DNF @ 12%

the premise of the book was good, but if i’m going to be completely honest i’ve just lost the motivation to read, especially as i go back to uni in three days…

[Dawn Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real page turner. The identity of the killer kept me guessing till the final few chapters..A really gripping read. and a strong first novel by Ciar Byrne..I look forward to the next one in the series .

[Barbara Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good mystery!

I really enjoyed A Deadly Discovery. I listened to the excellent audiobook. I liked the mystery and the little drops of the real-life Bloomsbury group sprinkled throughout the story. I look forward to reading more mysteries in the series.

[Jessica Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to be part the Bloomsbury Group? This delightful new Woolf & Bell Mystery from Ciar Byrne allows you to do just that! Ginny and Nessa’s relationship is depicted so tenderly and the mystery is so intriguing, it kept me guessing until the very end.

[Ngu · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a dud in every way. And if you need to bump up your word count, just tell us the colour of pretty much everything.