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Miss Riddell #1
In The Beginning, There Was a Murder
A secret liaison. A baffling murder. Can one woman solve the crime without joining the body count?
Northern England, 1953. Pauline Riddell has grand ambitions for her future at the armament factory. So, when her closest workmate reveals a salacious affair with a married man, Pauline refuses to risk her career by listening to the scandal. But she’s shaken to her core when the police arrive with news of her best friend’s homicide.
Desperate for justice, Pauline’s insistent poking into the investigation only makes her the prime suspect. And now to clear her name, she must unravel a web of deadly clues entangling her in a sinister plot. Can Pauline catch the killer before they strike again?
In The Beginning, There Was a Murder is a riveting mystery novel. If you like whip-smart heroines, intriguing twists and turns, and nail-biting danger, then you’ll love P.C. James’s sensational story.
Northern England, 1953. Pauline Riddell has grand ambitions for her future at the armament factory. So, when her closest workmate reveals a salacious affair with a married man, Pauline refuses to risk her career by listening to the scandal. But she’s shaken to her core when the police arrive with news of her best friend’s homicide.
Desperate for justice, Pauline’s insistent poking into the investigation only makes her the prime suspect. And now to clear her name, she must unravel a web of deadly clues entangling her in a sinister plot. Can Pauline catch the killer before they strike again?
In The Beginning, There Was a Murder is a riveting mystery novel. If you like whip-smart heroines, intriguing twists and turns, and nail-biting danger, then you’ll love P.C. James’s sensational story.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 5, 2021
The premise is good, the time (1953) feels unusual, the main character is typical, the police are adequately corrupt and unhelpful except for a predictably rebellious single male inspector with a tragic backstory and a Scottish burr. I don't have any quarrel with this book, but it just didn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE murder mysteries with all of their charming tropes. but this felt like it had the depth of a tv show and the length of a novel. The twists and turns were equipped with mirrors to see around the corners. The foreshadowing was a bit too obvious, the main character was confusingly snobby, and the story felt so slow. To be fair, some of the writing was lovely and I found myself appreciating specific turns of phrase, but all in all, I think it was a lot more telling than showing which made it hard to engage. Love the cover and the premise, it just could have spent a little more time on an editor's desk, maybe? All the makings of a good mystery but none of the content.
November 21, 2020
Good mystery but wanted to shake main character. Too many stupid and dangerous moves.
July 11, 2022
The book was so slow to get started, to be honest it never really got going until very near the end. There were moments when I thought Pauline was beginning to develop into an interesting character, but her naivety and the way she described and over analysed every thought became quite irritating.
It didn’t help that I wasn’t happy with the police side of the investigation, in fact there wasn’t really an investigation, just a rather tedious exchange of views between DI Ramsay and Pauline. There were also little things that didn’t ring true e.g. the Chief Constable wanting to bring in Scotland Yard right at the start of the investigation. No way would that have happened, he would have been admitting his force and more importantly himself, were incompetent.
This wasn’t a bad story, but it never grabbed me which is why I have given an OK rating of two stars.
It didn’t help that I wasn’t happy with the police side of the investigation, in fact there wasn’t really an investigation, just a rather tedious exchange of views between DI Ramsay and Pauline. There were also little things that didn’t ring true e.g. the Chief Constable wanting to bring in Scotland Yard right at the start of the investigation. No way would that have happened, he would have been admitting his force and more importantly himself, were incompetent.
This wasn’t a bad story, but it never grabbed me which is why I have given an OK rating of two stars.
January 26, 2021
I selected this because I like historical fiction. The story is set in the 1950's. The protagonist Pauline Riddell is an executive secretary working at an armament factory. She is determined to solve the mystery of her best friend because she feels the police are not doing an adequate job.
I liked the first chapter which set the tone well and drew the characters. Alternate chapters are from the point of view of Pauling or Detective Ramsay who is heading the official investigation.
Pauline discovers that what looks like a random murder is in fact a tale of international spies as she digs deeper against the advice of the police.
Much of the story comprises the thoughts of either Pauline or Ramsey and there isn't much conversation which makes it dull reading at times. I have to admit I skipped through quite a bit. The pace is slow. I took a dislike to Pauline who kept jumping to all sorts of incorrect assumptions in her efforts to track down the killer. The writing sparkled and there was some much-longer for humour at the end when Pauline and Ramsey work together to catch the killer. In fact, Ramsey seems competent so it is surprising that he is unable to solve the mystery by himself... I would have liked a hint of a relationship blooming between them to carry on to the next book...
I also felt that compared to some other mystery stories set in pre and post war times, this had very little description of place, clothes etc so it actually felt as if it were set in the present.
I liked the first chapter which set the tone well and drew the characters. Alternate chapters are from the point of view of Pauling or Detective Ramsay who is heading the official investigation.
Pauline discovers that what looks like a random murder is in fact a tale of international spies as she digs deeper against the advice of the police.
Much of the story comprises the thoughts of either Pauline or Ramsey and there isn't much conversation which makes it dull reading at times. I have to admit I skipped through quite a bit. The pace is slow. I took a dislike to Pauline who kept jumping to all sorts of incorrect assumptions in her efforts to track down the killer. The writing sparkled and there was some much-longer for humour at the end when Pauline and Ramsey work together to catch the killer. In fact, Ramsey seems competent so it is surprising that he is unable to solve the mystery by himself... I would have liked a hint of a relationship blooming between them to carry on to the next book...
I also felt that compared to some other mystery stories set in pre and post war times, this had very little description of place, clothes etc so it actually felt as if it were set in the present.
December 16, 2020
I really loved this book. It's my first read by author P.C. James, but it won't be my last. I look forward to the continuation of the series. I'm a big fan of historical fiction and mysteries that are set in England, so this was the perfect book for me. It is set approximately eight years after World War II. The mystery is good and entertaining, and the author has created well developed characters that are interesting and I quickly became invested in. Count me as a big fan.
November 23, 2020
A highly suspenseful page-turner - Miss Riddell' strong-minded approach to her friend's murder made the story more believable. I loved comparisons to real-life and descriptions of British society in the 1950s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2023
I’m The Beginning, There Was a Murder is the first book in the Miss Riddell Cozy Mysteries Series by P.C. James.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Lillian Rachel. She does an amazing job and really brings the book to life!
It’s 1953 in England and the world is changing. Pauline Riddell is working as a typist in an armament factory. They are working on developing new tools of war for the next big conflict. The company routinely gives lectures on how people are spying not only to get the competitive edge but also for other countries. When Pauline’s friend is murdered and the police seem to be doing nothing, Pauline decides she must solve the murder! Picture yourself in 1953 England. Parts of London and other areas still show the damage a war can do. There aren’t many cars since most people walk, ride a bicycle, or take the train or a bus. Women are the weaker sex and are frowned upon if they want mens’ jobs like policemen. So when Pauline’s friend is murdered right after revealing a secret to Pauline, it doesn’t look like Pauline can do much.
But women have always been much stronger than men believe and Pauline isn’t going to sit still while the police do nothing. So what can she do? She talks to workers, news people, the police, just about anyone she can find and she . . . well, you’re going to have to read the book to find out what she does. There are plenty of shady characters locations. There are secrets galore, and dangerous situations. But in all of that, there is Pauline. A young, determined woman who will find the truth.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did and want to keep reading the rest of the series!
I listened to the audio book narrated by Lillian Rachel. She does an amazing job and really brings the book to life!
It’s 1953 in England and the world is changing. Pauline Riddell is working as a typist in an armament factory. They are working on developing new tools of war for the next big conflict. The company routinely gives lectures on how people are spying not only to get the competitive edge but also for other countries. When Pauline’s friend is murdered and the police seem to be doing nothing, Pauline decides she must solve the murder! Picture yourself in 1953 England. Parts of London and other areas still show the damage a war can do. There aren’t many cars since most people walk, ride a bicycle, or take the train or a bus. Women are the weaker sex and are frowned upon if they want mens’ jobs like policemen. So when Pauline’s friend is murdered right after revealing a secret to Pauline, it doesn’t look like Pauline can do much.
But women have always been much stronger than men believe and Pauline isn’t going to sit still while the police do nothing. So what can she do? She talks to workers, news people, the police, just about anyone she can find and she . . . well, you’re going to have to read the book to find out what she does. There are plenty of shady characters locations. There are secrets galore, and dangerous situations. But in all of that, there is Pauline. A young, determined woman who will find the truth.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did and want to keep reading the rest of the series!
January 26, 2021
I selected this because I like historical fiction. The story is set in the 1950's. The protagonist Pauline Riddell is an executive secretary working at an armament factory. She is determined to solve the mystery of her best friend because she feels the police are not doing an adequate job.
I liked the first chapter which set the tone well and drew the characters. Alternate chapters are from the point of view of Pauling or Detective Ramsay who is heading the official investigation.
Pauline discovers that what looks like a random murder is in fact a tale of international spies as she digs deeper against the advice of the police.
Much of the story comprises the thoughts of either Pauline or Ramsey and there isn't much conversation which makes it dull reading at times. I have to admit I skipped through quite a bit. The pace is slow. I took a dislike to Pauline who kept jumping to all sorts of incorrect assumptions in her efforts to track down the killer. The writing sparkled and there was some much-longer for humour at the end when Pauline and Ramsey work together to catch the killer. In fact, Ramsey seems competent so it is a surprise that he is unable to solve the mystery by himself...
I also felt that compared to some other mystery stories set in pre and post war times, this had very little description of place, clothes etc so it actually felt as if it were set in the present.
I liked the first chapter which set the tone well and drew the characters. Alternate chapters are from the point of view of Pauling or Detective Ramsay who is heading the official investigation.
Pauline discovers that what looks like a random murder is in fact a tale of international spies as she digs deeper against the advice of the police.
Much of the story comprises the thoughts of either Pauline or Ramsey and there isn't much conversation which makes it dull reading at times. I have to admit I skipped through quite a bit. The pace is slow. I took a dislike to Pauline who kept jumping to all sorts of incorrect assumptions in her efforts to track down the killer. The writing sparkled and there was some much-longer for humour at the end when Pauline and Ramsey work together to catch the killer. In fact, Ramsey seems competent so it is a surprise that he is unable to solve the mystery by himself...
I also felt that compared to some other mystery stories set in pre and post war times, this had very little description of place, clothes etc so it actually felt as if it were set in the present.
April 30, 2024
This would be described as a Cozy Mystery, as it has an amateur sleuth, but in fact there’s nothing cozy about it. I actually found it quite distressing. The protagonist, Pauline Riddell, is a young office worker in the early 1950’s, with daydreams of starting her own detective agency à la Miss Marple. If she did – and I gather she does, for I see there are multiple subsequent volumes in the series – I think she could call it Dunning-Kruger Investigations, and its corporate logo could be “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons”.
You know how it is when you’re watching a dark movie and you want to shout, “Don’t go in there! Don’t go in there!”? Well, that’s how I felt much of the time while reading this. Miss Riddell has endless curiosity and absolutely no training or native skills to back it up. She could win the long jump in a Conclusions Olympics.
The audiobook was read by Lillian Rachel, who did a good job of differentiating the characters.
You know how it is when you’re watching a dark movie and you want to shout, “Don’t go in there! Don’t go in there!”? Well, that’s how I felt much of the time while reading this. Miss Riddell has endless curiosity and absolutely no training or native skills to back it up. She could win the long jump in a Conclusions Olympics.
The audiobook was read by Lillian Rachel, who did a good job of differentiating the characters.
August 16, 2021
This is the first in the Miss Riddell series, set in the 1950's with a young executive secretary who wants to be a young Miss Marple. Like in many cozy mysteries she keeps trying to help the police investigate the death of her friend. The police are less than grateful (except for one outlier). She puts herself in danger but finally by using herself as bait solves the mystery. It's an interesting setting, but I found Miss Riddell rather frustrating. I read the second in this series first, so I felt like I needed to go back and see the beginning of her "career" as a private investigator. They aren't terrible books, but not my favorites. Still I'd give them 3.5 stars.
July 10, 2025
There's always a bit of a blemish when you refer to something as 'fine'. This book was fine. It was engaging, but not without its problems. There are repeated scenes and dialogues between a number of the characters, and sometimes not intentionally, which is a bit irritating. Slightly beyond the point of irritating is the main character's insistence of telling the veteran Detective Inspector that he's wrong about everything, and that she's going to be breaking the law at every turn to prove her point (proving a number of suspects as being guilty of murdering her close friend). And the DI not only scolds her, but rolls his eyes and encourages her.
The book hit my Kindle as a 99 cent acquisition for a 10-book series. I'll probably continue reading one or two more, and hope that the writing improves. But all that to say this book was easily worth the price for the set. It was fine.
The book hit my Kindle as a 99 cent acquisition for a 10-book series. I'll probably continue reading one or two more, and hope that the writing improves. But all that to say this book was easily worth the price for the set. It was fine.
May 15, 2024
A surprisingly good mystery in the end. I did guess who did it pretty early, but I couldn't figure out how or why until about halfway through. I think Pauline's tendency to jump to conclusions was meant to distract us from the real killer, but it drew my attention to it.
I'm going to try to read the next one and see how I feel about that.
What this had going for it was brilliant characterization and several great plots converging.
I'm going to try to read the next one and see how I feel about that.
What this had going for it was brilliant characterization and several great plots converging.
May 7, 2021
Great fun and sleuthing!
Pauline is a great young Miss Marple. Much fun to read. It was nice watching her skills evolve. Looking forward to the next book.
Pauline is a great young Miss Marple. Much fun to read. It was nice watching her skills evolve. Looking forward to the next book.
November 16, 2020
Well written mystery. Good character development. Enjoyed the author's writing style.
February 11, 2021
This was my first book by the author and it didn’t work for me. I have recently started liking the thriller suspense stories and this was wasn’t as suspenseful to put me on my toes. The story revolves around a murder of a lady named Marjorie. She has been murdered and inspector Ramsay is investigating the murder. Pauline, Marjorie’s work friend, is the last person she met before being murdered. She is also helping the police to investigate the issue, but after a while, she gets impatient and starts conducting her investigation around a guy that she suspects as the killer.
The way the author describes the plot gives the reader a sense of the subject. It felt like unimportant things are described in detail. The same plot dragged for too long, whereas the characters are not introduced properly. The story starts with an unusually brief meeting between Pauline and Marjorie. It didn’t allow the reader to know about either of the characters enough to root for them. Throughout the book, Pauline is actively engaging in the investigation of her so-called friend. But there is no account of their friendship. She repeatedly mentions Marjorie being only a work friend. She didn’t even react strongly or shockingly when she was informed of the murder. All at once, she jumps into the investigation, getting uneasy about everything related to the murder. When to the reader, there’s no context for any of it. The plot was way too repetitive. There’s the same town she’ll visit to spy on Marjorie’s ex-boyfriend, she’ll get scolded by Ramsay, she’ll apologize for interfering with the investigation. Then she’ll do it the same way for the next few chapters.
It didn’t click for me as much I was expecting it. Mostly because of loose character development. There wasn’t a connection between me as a reader and the characters. After a point, I didn’t care.
Thanks to NetGalley and P.C. James for ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The way the author describes the plot gives the reader a sense of the subject. It felt like unimportant things are described in detail. The same plot dragged for too long, whereas the characters are not introduced properly. The story starts with an unusually brief meeting between Pauline and Marjorie. It didn’t allow the reader to know about either of the characters enough to root for them. Throughout the book, Pauline is actively engaging in the investigation of her so-called friend. But there is no account of their friendship. She repeatedly mentions Marjorie being only a work friend. She didn’t even react strongly or shockingly when she was informed of the murder. All at once, she jumps into the investigation, getting uneasy about everything related to the murder. When to the reader, there’s no context for any of it. The plot was way too repetitive. There’s the same town she’ll visit to spy on Marjorie’s ex-boyfriend, she’ll get scolded by Ramsay, she’ll apologize for interfering with the investigation. Then she’ll do it the same way for the next few chapters.
It didn’t click for me as much I was expecting it. Mostly because of loose character development. There wasn’t a connection between me as a reader and the characters. After a point, I didn’t care.
Thanks to NetGalley and P.C. James for ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 27, 2023
Oh dear, this book was a mess and so were its characters.
We have an secretary whose best friend is murdered, except they don't really seem to have been friends at all really. They had nothing in common and our MC looked down on her 'friend' and, actually, most other people. She was apparently a country mouse, but who then saw herself above all the town dwellers, who came from a poor farming family, but then went to a private school, and whose mother was a headmistress in a time when women were required to give up their jobs when they got married. She had an apparently large family, who never contacted her or spoke to her, or even sent letters to her. She was apparently plain looking and not attractive, and there was a very weird period of the book where she kept harping on the fact that she was hanging on her friend's coat-tails while she got all the men whilst our MC couldn't get them, and then out of nowhere appeared an already existing, absent fiancé. She made stupid choices and did stupid things and then whined and moaned about being in danger and no-one would save her. And suddenly out comes a hidden desire to be a PI and a younger version of Miss Marple.
Since this was a sort of two person POV book, we might as well cover the police inspector too. On the one hand he's telling our MC that she needs to stay out of things because she'll put herself in danger, while on the other hand he's asking her to tell him everything she finds. And then his superior pretty much does the same thing! The MC was randomly accusing people because she didn't like them, and there was nothing she 'discovered' that the police would have been unable to.
We have an secretary whose best friend is murdered, except they don't really seem to have been friends at all really. They had nothing in common and our MC looked down on her 'friend' and, actually, most other people. She was apparently a country mouse, but who then saw herself above all the town dwellers, who came from a poor farming family, but then went to a private school, and whose mother was a headmistress in a time when women were required to give up their jobs when they got married. She had an apparently large family, who never contacted her or spoke to her, or even sent letters to her. She was apparently plain looking and not attractive, and there was a very weird period of the book where she kept harping on the fact that she was hanging on her friend's coat-tails while she got all the men whilst our MC couldn't get them, and then out of nowhere appeared an already existing, absent fiancé. She made stupid choices and did stupid things and then whined and moaned about being in danger and no-one would save her. And suddenly out comes a hidden desire to be a PI and a younger version of Miss Marple.
Since this was a sort of two person POV book, we might as well cover the police inspector too. On the one hand he's telling our MC that she needs to stay out of things because she'll put herself in danger, while on the other hand he's asking her to tell him everything she finds. And then his superior pretty much does the same thing! The MC was randomly accusing people because she didn't like them, and there was nothing she 'discovered' that the police would have been unable to.
April 2, 2025
I'm not sure why, but I really didn't care for this book. Set in the mid 1950s in England with a main character who works as a secretary at an armaments factory, it just didn't hook me. The location was bland, the MC was bland, and although the murder victim was not bland, the investigation was bland, even the mystery itself was bland.
To be fair, the first chapter or two were ok, but it quickly went downhill. Pauline, the MC, seems the perfect example of a TSTL cozy heroine. I lost count of how many times she put herself into dangerous situation - and how many times she was called on the carpet by the police for it. Early on, it was obvious that one (or both) of two characters was responsible for all that was happening, and I figured out which of them it was before it was revealed in the book.
Unless I need a book set in the 1950s for a challenge spot and there is nothing else in my library that would work, I probably will not continue this series. There are too many other books out there that are anything but bland :)
To be fair, the first chapter or two were ok, but it quickly went downhill. Pauline, the MC, seems the perfect example of a TSTL cozy heroine. I lost count of how many times she put herself into dangerous situation - and how many times she was called on the carpet by the police for it. Early on, it was obvious that one (or both) of two characters was responsible for all that was happening, and I figured out which of them it was before it was revealed in the book.
Unless I need a book set in the 1950s for a challenge spot and there is nothing else in my library that would work, I probably will not continue this series. There are too many other books out there that are anything but bland :)
April 18, 2022
Miss Ridell is no Miss Marple. She blunders from one suspect to another, trying to prove her theories.
Having been a child in the 1950's, I thought there would be more description than simply mentioning the historic events.
Having been a child in the 1950's, I thought there would be more description than simply mentioning the historic events.
January 11, 2021
Read Full & Detailed review: https://cynthology.blogspot.com/2021/...
Pauline Riddell and Marjorie Armstrong work together. Pauline doesn’t quite approve of Marjorie’s latest boyfriend, the latest of many, a married man. Pauline has only heard of his first name, Eric.
Pauline comes to know of the murder of a young man, chalked up to gang violence. Then she hears of a young woman being killed in the same vicinity on the same night in the same manner.
Inspector Ramsay clings to the theory that the two murders are not related even though evidence suggests otherwise. Pauline, impatient and missing her fiancé, Stephen, who is fighting at the front in Korea, makes it her mission to discover the truth about Marjorie. She makes her own enquiries and accuses people of the murder, only to find later that they have rock solid alibis and she has only embarrassed herself. Inspector Ramsay is in despair, pleading with her to let the police do their job and not to put herself in harm’s way.
But then one of her suspects acts like they have something to hide. Has Pauline put her life in danger?
The chapters are a quick read, and alternate between the 3rd person past tense limited viewpoints of Pauline Riddell and Inspector Ramsay.
In the Beginning there was a Murder is set in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England in July 1953, 8 years after World War II ended. It is a war that continues to cast a long shadow on the lives of people.
The book gives us a window to the times. Food is hard to get by and rations continue. Young girls are getting jobs in factories, mostly as secretaries. The war in Korea is on.
The descriptions were more suggestive, rather than literal, just the way I like them. The author roots the book in Newcastle through the link with the football club, Newcastle United. The setting came alive with accounts of the weather, the people and the routines.
Inspector Ramsay has lost his wife and two sons to an air bombing that missed its targeted shipyards, and hit a civilian home. His grief makes him intensely real. The author tells us, it looked as if sorrow had set up home in him. The bereavement explains his grievance against wars and ammunition when Sergeant Morrison thinks forced enlisting will solve all problems. In many ways, he is conservative, and the author tells us that he may have left the church but it hadn’t left him.
I liked Inspector Ramsay from the very beginning. He was patient and hardworking, in spite of the pressures from his seniors. But Pauline I didn’t take to very well, not at first. It was only in Chapter 13 when she started snooping around, following people, and fearing that if this continued, she’d become a criminal herself that I began to like her.
Of course, given the time period, it is very brave of her to even go around making enquiries and trying to do investigations on her own. The bond between Inspector Ramsay and Pauline, once they established a truce, was good.
In his bit role, Major Bertram, Stephen’s father, was also significant..
Some of the author’s observations were astute: lust and alcohol-induced glow.
Some fine-toothed editing was required though. The first murder victim is first named Thomas Bertram and then as Edward Bland. Perhaps the name was changed later, because as it turned out, Stephen, Pauline’s fiancé, was also a Bertram.
Pauline Riddell and Marjorie Armstrong work together. Pauline doesn’t quite approve of Marjorie’s latest boyfriend, the latest of many, a married man. Pauline has only heard of his first name, Eric.
Pauline comes to know of the murder of a young man, chalked up to gang violence. Then she hears of a young woman being killed in the same vicinity on the same night in the same manner.
Inspector Ramsay clings to the theory that the two murders are not related even though evidence suggests otherwise. Pauline, impatient and missing her fiancé, Stephen, who is fighting at the front in Korea, makes it her mission to discover the truth about Marjorie. She makes her own enquiries and accuses people of the murder, only to find later that they have rock solid alibis and she has only embarrassed herself. Inspector Ramsay is in despair, pleading with her to let the police do their job and not to put herself in harm’s way.
But then one of her suspects acts like they have something to hide. Has Pauline put her life in danger?
The chapters are a quick read, and alternate between the 3rd person past tense limited viewpoints of Pauline Riddell and Inspector Ramsay.
In the Beginning there was a Murder is set in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England in July 1953, 8 years after World War II ended. It is a war that continues to cast a long shadow on the lives of people.
The book gives us a window to the times. Food is hard to get by and rations continue. Young girls are getting jobs in factories, mostly as secretaries. The war in Korea is on.
The descriptions were more suggestive, rather than literal, just the way I like them. The author roots the book in Newcastle through the link with the football club, Newcastle United. The setting came alive with accounts of the weather, the people and the routines.
Inspector Ramsay has lost his wife and two sons to an air bombing that missed its targeted shipyards, and hit a civilian home. His grief makes him intensely real. The author tells us, it looked as if sorrow had set up home in him. The bereavement explains his grievance against wars and ammunition when Sergeant Morrison thinks forced enlisting will solve all problems. In many ways, he is conservative, and the author tells us that he may have left the church but it hadn’t left him.
I liked Inspector Ramsay from the very beginning. He was patient and hardworking, in spite of the pressures from his seniors. But Pauline I didn’t take to very well, not at first. It was only in Chapter 13 when she started snooping around, following people, and fearing that if this continued, she’d become a criminal herself that I began to like her.
Of course, given the time period, it is very brave of her to even go around making enquiries and trying to do investigations on her own. The bond between Inspector Ramsay and Pauline, once they established a truce, was good.
In his bit role, Major Bertram, Stephen’s father, was also significant..
Some of the author’s observations were astute: lust and alcohol-induced glow.
Some fine-toothed editing was required though. The first murder victim is first named Thomas Bertram and then as Edward Bland. Perhaps the name was changed later, because as it turned out, Stephen, Pauline’s fiancé, was also a Bertram.
December 24, 2024
This is the book about a young female, Pauline Riddle, who moves from Yorkshire to Northern England to work as a secretary at an armament factory. When we first meet our main character she’s already well settled in with a good job, a fiance fighting in the Korean war and a modest apartment. She lives, as it seems, a pretty humble life much like anyone else during 1950s England: And even though the war affects her, she adjusts and continues to get on with her everyday life while making ambitious plans for her future. She shares these ambitions in letters to her fiance: And through their correspondence they dream about a house and family together.
It's a simple, yet warm and welcoming, read from the beginning as we view Pauline's life through her own perspective: That of a sheltered young woman, raised with strong morals and a rather black-and-white view of the world. As a millennial, I would say Miss Pauline comes across as a bit gullible, and perhaps naive at first - but her kind heart and empathy shines through from the very start.
Perhaps it’s a mixture of all of this (together with her curiosity and a little bit of guilt) that has our main character so invested when she finds out about the murder of her closest work friend. Devastated by the news and determined to seek justice, she embarks on a quest for answers. But with limited experience and resources, her task is daunting—however, one would be surprised by what a headstrong young woman can achieve, especially with the help of some unexpected allies.
This first book in the “Miss Riddle Cozy Mystery”- series is a well written piece by P.C James and you’ll read it with ease. It kind of takes you back to how a good mystery book used to be and I do think our writer found inspiration in Agatha Christie.
For me, this is all quite refreshing: Because in a world where crime novels seem to grow darker, this story feels like a breath of fresh air. Instead of focusing on a troubled, chain-smoking detective or graphic depictions of brutal murders, it centers on the mystery itself. The plot is engaging, the characters are likable, and the story is intriguing— which is what I wanted when I purchased the book in the first place.
It’s a very good debut novel where the characters are introduced in a way that makes the reader excited to follow them on future adventures. I expect the next books to be full of unforeseen developments and quirks, which I am really looking forward to.
Me personally, would probably have hoped for a little bit more wit and humour, but I suspect there will be more of that to come. After all, Miss Pauline is just at the beginning of her journey: And during this first 300 pages we can really feel the change in her as she is finding her feet. She becomes more fierce and confident, which makes me believe that she will bloom even more and develop quite a sharp tongue.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. It’s an excellent choice for those just getting into reading and equally enjoyable for seasoned bookworms. For me, this is a great addition to any family bookshelf, as I can see readers of all ages enjoying it.
It's a simple, yet warm and welcoming, read from the beginning as we view Pauline's life through her own perspective: That of a sheltered young woman, raised with strong morals and a rather black-and-white view of the world. As a millennial, I would say Miss Pauline comes across as a bit gullible, and perhaps naive at first - but her kind heart and empathy shines through from the very start.
Perhaps it’s a mixture of all of this (together with her curiosity and a little bit of guilt) that has our main character so invested when she finds out about the murder of her closest work friend. Devastated by the news and determined to seek justice, she embarks on a quest for answers. But with limited experience and resources, her task is daunting—however, one would be surprised by what a headstrong young woman can achieve, especially with the help of some unexpected allies.
This first book in the “Miss Riddle Cozy Mystery”- series is a well written piece by P.C James and you’ll read it with ease. It kind of takes you back to how a good mystery book used to be and I do think our writer found inspiration in Agatha Christie.
For me, this is all quite refreshing: Because in a world where crime novels seem to grow darker, this story feels like a breath of fresh air. Instead of focusing on a troubled, chain-smoking detective or graphic depictions of brutal murders, it centers on the mystery itself. The plot is engaging, the characters are likable, and the story is intriguing— which is what I wanted when I purchased the book in the first place.
It’s a very good debut novel where the characters are introduced in a way that makes the reader excited to follow them on future adventures. I expect the next books to be full of unforeseen developments and quirks, which I am really looking forward to.
Me personally, would probably have hoped for a little bit more wit and humour, but I suspect there will be more of that to come. After all, Miss Pauline is just at the beginning of her journey: And during this first 300 pages we can really feel the change in her as she is finding her feet. She becomes more fierce and confident, which makes me believe that she will bloom even more and develop quite a sharp tongue.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. It’s an excellent choice for those just getting into reading and equally enjoyable for seasoned bookworms. For me, this is a great addition to any family bookshelf, as I can see readers of all ages enjoying it.
January 22, 2021
1953 Northern England. Despite it being after a World War and women coming out in full force into the work environment, things were still quite rigid where behaviour and what was expected from women.
Pauline was someone with ambition. She worked in an armament factory, not on the floor but on the secretarial side but was hoping for advancement. When her friend Marjorie gives her details of her love affair with a rich, married man Pauline really does not want to know very much. Sadly when Marjorie is found murdered, Pauline realizes that she should have paid closer attention to what her friend was saying because other than for a name, she does not know anything else of what went on in Marjorie's life.
Approaching the police with whatever information she had, Pauline is left frustrated because she feels that what she says is disregarded because the Inspector has problems of his own with the hierarchy who want the first possible suspect arrested and charged without going into detail.
The story goes on from there how Pauline follows up on clues, with the help of a relative working for a newspaper. (how we rely on the internet for information is really emphasised here because everything is so very slow!!!) The news of the loss of Pauline's fiancee in the Korean War adds to her distress but also helps her to focus on her findings.
A bit slow but reminiscent of the times the story was set in, this was an old fashioned detective story.
Pauline was someone with ambition. She worked in an armament factory, not on the floor but on the secretarial side but was hoping for advancement. When her friend Marjorie gives her details of her love affair with a rich, married man Pauline really does not want to know very much. Sadly when Marjorie is found murdered, Pauline realizes that she should have paid closer attention to what her friend was saying because other than for a name, she does not know anything else of what went on in Marjorie's life.
Approaching the police with whatever information she had, Pauline is left frustrated because she feels that what she says is disregarded because the Inspector has problems of his own with the hierarchy who want the first possible suspect arrested and charged without going into detail.
The story goes on from there how Pauline follows up on clues, with the help of a relative working for a newspaper. (how we rely on the internet for information is really emphasised here because everything is so very slow!!!) The news of the loss of Pauline's fiancee in the Korean War adds to her distress but also helps her to focus on her findings.
A bit slow but reminiscent of the times the story was set in, this was an old fashioned detective story.
February 28, 2021
Set after WWII, this book follows the beginning of Pauline Riddell's career as an amateur sleuth.
A secretary at a local armament factory by day, Pauline is baffled when her best friend is murdered after going to meet her newest paramour "Eric." The police are too, but have a convenient scapegoat for the young woman's murder - the guilty party in a stabbing earlier that evening. But something isn't sitting right with the head detective, either, and though he find's Pauline's evidence and insistence frustrating at times, ultimately he decides she's on to something and they team up to catch the culprit.
With a twisty-turny storyline, it takes Pauline a few tries to get going on the right path, and she makes plenty of mistakes along the way - some of which could be life threatening. While I enjoyed the realism of having a main character who makes mistakes, the plot was slow at points, and there was a secondary storyline with Pauline's fiancé off fighting in Korea that wasn't fit into the book well and felt like it was only a distraction from what was actually going on.
I will definitely be watching for a second installment of this series to see what's next.
Thank you to P.C. James, The James Gang and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in advance of its release date.
A secretary at a local armament factory by day, Pauline is baffled when her best friend is murdered after going to meet her newest paramour "Eric." The police are too, but have a convenient scapegoat for the young woman's murder - the guilty party in a stabbing earlier that evening. But something isn't sitting right with the head detective, either, and though he find's Pauline's evidence and insistence frustrating at times, ultimately he decides she's on to something and they team up to catch the culprit.
With a twisty-turny storyline, it takes Pauline a few tries to get going on the right path, and she makes plenty of mistakes along the way - some of which could be life threatening. While I enjoyed the realism of having a main character who makes mistakes, the plot was slow at points, and there was a secondary storyline with Pauline's fiancé off fighting in Korea that wasn't fit into the book well and felt like it was only a distraction from what was actually going on.
I will definitely be watching for a second installment of this series to see what's next.
Thank you to P.C. James, The James Gang and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in advance of its release date.
December 28, 2020
In The Beginning, There Was a Murder
An Amateur Female Sleuth Historical Cozy Mystery
by P.C. James
BooksGoSocial
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction
Pub Date 18 Nov 2020
I am reviewing a copy of In the Beginning, There Was A Murder through BooksGoSocial and Netgalley:
This book takes us to Northern England in 1953. Pauline Riddell has grand ambitions for her future at the armament factory. Because of this when her closest workmate reveals a salacious affair with a married man, Pauline refuses to risk her career by listening to the scandal. But after the police come to her door with the horrible news her best friend had been murdered; Pauline is shaken to her very core.
Pauline’s insistent poking around the case due to her need for justice, leaves the police thinking of her as a suspect. And now she finds that she must clear her name by unraveling a web of deadly clues entangling her in a sinister plot.
Will Pauline be able to stop a killer, before they strike again?
I give In the Beginning, There Was A Murder five out of five star!
Happy Reading!
An Amateur Female Sleuth Historical Cozy Mystery
by P.C. James
BooksGoSocial
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction
Pub Date 18 Nov 2020
I am reviewing a copy of In the Beginning, There Was A Murder through BooksGoSocial and Netgalley:
This book takes us to Northern England in 1953. Pauline Riddell has grand ambitions for her future at the armament factory. Because of this when her closest workmate reveals a salacious affair with a married man, Pauline refuses to risk her career by listening to the scandal. But after the police come to her door with the horrible news her best friend had been murdered; Pauline is shaken to her very core.
Pauline’s insistent poking around the case due to her need for justice, leaves the police thinking of her as a suspect. And now she finds that she must clear her name by unraveling a web of deadly clues entangling her in a sinister plot.
Will Pauline be able to stop a killer, before they strike again?
I give In the Beginning, There Was A Murder five out of five star!
Happy Reading!
July 21, 2024
3 Stars
In the Beginning, There Was a Murder is the first book in the Miss Riddell’s Cozy Mystery Adventures series by P.C. James.
Miss Riddell’s Cozy Mystery Adventures is a ten-book boxset that follows amateur sleuth, Pauline Riddell on many adventures. The series spans about 35 years, and several countries, making for an interesting read.
With plenty of (historical) cozy mysteries, crime & investigation, intrigue, interesting characters, and dramatic developments- Miss Riddell is kept very busy, and takes us along for the ride.
The Series Contains:
-In the Beginning, There Was a Murder (Book #1)
-Then There Were… Two Murders (Book #2)
-The Past Never Dies (Book #3)
-A Murder For Christmas (Book #4)
-Miss Riddell and the Heiress (Book #5)
-Miss Riddell and the Pet Thefts (Book #5.5)
-Miss Riddell’s Paranormal Mystery (Book #6)
-The Girl in the Gazebo (Book #7)
-The Dead of Winter (Book #8)
-It’s Murder, On a Galapagos Cruise (Book #9)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, P.C. James!
In the Beginning, There Was a Murder is the first book in the Miss Riddell’s Cozy Mystery Adventures series by P.C. James.
Miss Riddell’s Cozy Mystery Adventures is a ten-book boxset that follows amateur sleuth, Pauline Riddell on many adventures. The series spans about 35 years, and several countries, making for an interesting read.
With plenty of (historical) cozy mysteries, crime & investigation, intrigue, interesting characters, and dramatic developments- Miss Riddell is kept very busy, and takes us along for the ride.
The Series Contains:
-In the Beginning, There Was a Murder (Book #1)
-Then There Were… Two Murders (Book #2)
-The Past Never Dies (Book #3)
-A Murder For Christmas (Book #4)
-Miss Riddell and the Heiress (Book #5)
-Miss Riddell and the Pet Thefts (Book #5.5)
-Miss Riddell’s Paranormal Mystery (Book #6)
-The Girl in the Gazebo (Book #7)
-The Dead of Winter (Book #8)
-It’s Murder, On a Galapagos Cruise (Book #9)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, P.C. James!
December 20, 2020
Just finished this book. It was pretty good!
Sometimes though I have to be in the mood for a good murder mystery like this one. Why? It's usually that I can guess whodunnit before the story is over like this one. It was pretty obvious but I still liked the guessing games and to see if our heroine could prove it was really them.
I found myself cheering Pauline on and like most humans she made plenty of mistakes. Or she just gets in a hurry like I sometimes do.
I didn't really like the ending of the book. Still too many lose ends and I didn't think it fair either.
I can agree with Pauline on one thing though. After something is finished like a good book I'm left out in limbo for awhile until I can settle in with another one.
I loved the many turns and twists that this case had. It was interesting for sure.
I recommend this book if you like murder mysteries. It will keep your entertained.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own
Sometimes though I have to be in the mood for a good murder mystery like this one. Why? It's usually that I can guess whodunnit before the story is over like this one. It was pretty obvious but I still liked the guessing games and to see if our heroine could prove it was really them.
I found myself cheering Pauline on and like most humans she made plenty of mistakes. Or she just gets in a hurry like I sometimes do.
I didn't really like the ending of the book. Still too many lose ends and I didn't think it fair either.
I can agree with Pauline on one thing though. After something is finished like a good book I'm left out in limbo for awhile until I can settle in with another one.
I loved the many turns and twists that this case had. It was interesting for sure.
I recommend this book if you like murder mysteries. It will keep your entertained.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own
December 31, 2020
If you are looking for a mystery that entertains without scaring the you-know-what out of you, that is populated with quirky, likable characters, this is the book for you.
There is a historical aspect to the story which is set in England. The lead character, Pauline, is young and naïve but determined to find her friend's killer. Along the way she encounters a cast of characters, each well drawn with their own personality and even a bit of back story. The author tosses out a few red herrings that will keep you guessing until the very end. He also doesn't miss out on giving Pauline a rich, moving, personal life.
By the end, I knew there would be more Pauline stories to come. Could she be the next Miss Marple? Who knows. But Mr James has written a winner. The book was interesting, easy to read, and engaging. Just the kind of thing for a wet, rainy weekend, or maybe a day at the pool.
There is a historical aspect to the story which is set in England. The lead character, Pauline, is young and naïve but determined to find her friend's killer. Along the way she encounters a cast of characters, each well drawn with their own personality and even a bit of back story. The author tosses out a few red herrings that will keep you guessing until the very end. He also doesn't miss out on giving Pauline a rich, moving, personal life.
By the end, I knew there would be more Pauline stories to come. Could she be the next Miss Marple? Who knows. But Mr James has written a winner. The book was interesting, easy to read, and engaging. Just the kind of thing for a wet, rainy weekend, or maybe a day at the pool.
April 26, 2024
In the Beginning is the first book in the Pauline Riddell mystery series. Set in the 1950s in England, The book begins with Pauline working as a secretary at the armament plant aspiring to be more. When her friend and co-worker reveals a secret to her we have the beginning of a problem. She finds that soon after she finds out this secret, her friend is murdered. Not confident in the detectives working the case since they don't seem to make it a priority, Pauline takes it upon herself to investigate her friend death. As she digs into the case, she finds it is more than just a murder, we are taken into much more including spy rings and very dangerous characters. Will Pauline be able to solve the murder or will she be just another victim. Although the book started out slowly, once you get into it you can't stop reading. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
February 23, 2022
"A Miss Ridddel Cozy Mystery" -- Pauline Riddel doesn't listen very carefully to her friend, Marjorie, as she reveals information about her "secret" relationship with an older man. As a matter of fact, Pauline seems critical of Marjorie's relationship and tries to caution her, but to no avail. Marjorie heads off to meet Eric an hour earlier than their agreed upon time. Unfortunately, Marjorie is found dead later that night. Pauline feels guilty for not being more of a friend and decides that she must help find Marjorie's killer. Inspector Ramsey isn't quite sure what to make of Pauline's "help". Although she is repeatedly "warned", Pauline can't stop herself from playing detective. Is she a young Miss Marple in the making or just a friend who feels she must find justice for Marjorie?
This book is first of a series - an "origin" story for these "cozy mysteries".
This book is first of a series - an "origin" story for these "cozy mysteries".
January 19, 2021
This fun mystery was based in the year 1053 in Northern England. Pauline Riddell works in an armament factory and has a pretty ordinary life in the grand scheme of things. That is until her best friend reveals she is having an affair with a ....married man! She doesn't want to hear more and the next thing she knows the police are coming to inform her that her friend has been murdered.
Pauline becomes the quintessential amateur sleuth and as she finds clue after clue that the police apparently have missed she gets more and more involved in the case to the point that she sometimes risks her own well being.
I loved the author's writing style and really did enjoy this mystery. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free copy for my honest review.
Pauline becomes the quintessential amateur sleuth and as she finds clue after clue that the police apparently have missed she gets more and more involved in the case to the point that she sometimes risks her own well being.
I loved the author's writing style and really did enjoy this mystery. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free copy for my honest review.
August 13, 2022
I loved the beginning of this book. The first few chapters totally drew me in and were very memorable.
Then things dipped around the middle and the story dragged as Miss Riddell floundered about in her own naïveté and unprofessionalism. It was believable, but could have been presented better
The denouement was satisfying, but could have been done just a little better to keep the suspense going. Even if it wasn’t mind-blowingly brilliant, this first book in the Miss Riddell Cozy Mysteries series is good enough that I’ll give another book by this author a try.
I did enjoy the references to Miss Marple. As I love Agatha Christie's character, the parallels James draws on for his own character are well done and enjoyable.
Then things dipped around the middle and the story dragged as Miss Riddell floundered about in her own naïveté and unprofessionalism. It was believable, but could have been presented better
The denouement was satisfying, but could have been done just a little better to keep the suspense going. Even if it wasn’t mind-blowingly brilliant, this first book in the Miss Riddell Cozy Mysteries series is good enough that I’ll give another book by this author a try.
I did enjoy the references to Miss Marple. As I love Agatha Christie's character, the parallels James draws on for his own character are well done and enjoyable.
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