The Murder at World's End

This was a very fun read/listen, with strong "Knives Out" vibes. The two main characters, with very different personalities, team up to try to solve a seemingly impossible murder that occurs in a locked-down British manor house in pre-WWI England. Quirky characters throughout and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing!

Loved this book!

This compelling murder mystery is full of intrigue, surprises, interesting characters and great good humor. Thanks for a worthwhile read!

Well written. Wonderfully entertainingKeeps you guessing

⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.75/5)Plot / Story ⭐⭐⭐Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐Writing Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐Atmosphere/Vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐Spice 🌶️Overall ⭐⭐⭐✨The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery is a fast-paced, witty historical mystery that leans hard into classic whodunnit tropes - with a sharp tongue and a surprising amount of heart.Set in 1910 Cornwall during the very real panic surrounding Halley’s Comet, the novel unfolds on a remote tidal island where the eccentric Viscount of Tithe Hall is convinced the world is about to end. His solution? Seal the entire manor - every window, door, chimney, and keyhole - before nightfall.Unfortunately for everyone involved, by morning the Viscount is very much dead.Shot with his own ancestral crossbow.Inside his sealed study.Cue chaos.An Unlikely (and Delightful) Sleuthing DuoEnter Stephen Pike, the newest under-butler at Tithe Hall - and the immediate prime suspect. Fresh out of Borstal for a crime he didn’t commit, Stephen is painfully aware that being young, working-class, and expendable makes him an easy target for blame.His unexpected ally is Miss Decima Stockingham: an eighty-year-old, foul-mouthed, razor-sharp scientist and family matriarch who has absolutely no patience for nonsense, authority, or polite society. She relishes puzzles, thrives on disruption, and treats murder as an intellectual exercise rather than a tragedy.Their dynamic is the beating heart of this book.The banter between Stephen and Decima is genuinely funny, often sharp, and occasionally touching. Decima gives strong Downton Abbey Maggie Smith energy - if Maggie Smith swore like a sailor and delighted in social destruction. Watching these two navigate secret passages, buried grudges, and rising hysteria is where the story truly shines.What Worked for Me🕰️ A Classic Locked-Room SetupThe sealed manor, the isolated island, and the ticking clock of the incoming tide make for a wonderfully claustrophobic mystery. Montgomery clearly understands and respects classic Christie-style plotting, even when he’s subverting it.🗣️ Sharp Dialogue & HumorThis book genuinely made me laugh. The dialogue crackles - especially whenever Miss Decima is on the page - and the humor helps balance darker themes of classism, corruption, and fear-driven cruelty.🧍 Character-Driven StorytellingWhile there’s a puzzle to solve, this is ultimately a character-first mystery. Stephen’s outsider status and Decima’s refusal to be ignored drive the narrative far more than the mechanics of the murder itself.📖 A Quick, Engaging ReadAt just over 300 pages with brisk pacing, this is a cozy mystery you can easily devour in a weekend. It rattles along with energy and confidence.Where It Fell ShortThe murder itself strained believability for me, particularly the sheer number of “accidents” involving poor Mr. Stokes, which began to feel excessive rather than suspenseful. While I enjoyed the journey, the mechanics of the crime weren’t always convincing, and that pulled me out of the story at times.Themes Beneath the MayhemClass & Invisibility: Servants as scapegoats and society’s convenient blind spotsScience vs. Superstition: Rational inquiry battling apocalyptic hysteriaCorruption & Authority: The rot beneath inherited powerRedemption & Second Chances: Especially for those society is quick to discardHuman Greed vs. Cosmic Fear: The real danger isn’t the comet - it’s peopleMontgomery uses the end-of-the-world panic as a clever lens to expose how fear magnifies cruelty and self-interest.Who This Book Is ForYou’ll likely enjoy The Murder at World’s End if you love:Cozy mysteries with biteClassic locked-room whodunnitsEccentric, unforgettable charactersSharp humor and strong dialogueDownton Abbey meets Knives Out energyFeisty elderly sleuths and unlikely partnershipsFans of P.G. Wodehouse-style wit or character-driven mysteries will feel right at home.Final ThoughtsThe Murder at World’s End isn’t a perfect puzzle, but it is an immensely enjoyable one. Its greatest strength lies in its characters - particularly the gloriously unapologetic Miss Decima - and its willingness to poke fun at class, authority, and apocalyptic nonsense.If you’re looking for a fast, funny, historical cozy mystery with sharp edges and plenty of personality, this one is well worth your time.Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio and William Morrow for the advanced copy. #TheMurderatWorldsEnd #NetGalley

A great who done it with wonderful characters! It kept you on the edge of your chair. Great plot twists and engaging!

Nice light read. Poor descriptors of minor characters but main three well fleshed out. Fun twisty plot and will probably read second in series.

This was a very different type of mystery for me, and very entertaining! I have not read any “locked room mysteries” but will now! Very nice character development. I definitely I enjoy books with relatable characters that are interesting as these were! I will look forward to more stories by Mr. Montgomery!

“I am the only person in the house clever enough to solve the mystery, and you shall push my bath chair. I’ll also need you to investigate my relatives, eavesdrop on conversations, threaten suspects, lie to the police, and maybe break a few fingers.”This book is a delight. It takes the classic idea of a locked room mystery on a country estate and turns it on its head. I love the dynamic of a hapless footman and octogenarian bluestocking teaming up to solve crimes. The mystery itself was intricate and engaging. The dialogue was fabulous. Overall, this is a fun mystery novel with great banter and intriguing characters.Note: This is the first book in a new series but can be read as a standalone.Side Note: After reading this book, seeing Halley’s Comet is now on my bucket list. I just have to wait until 2061.

A rapid paced and well plotted mystery that allows one to become quite enamored with the main characters. Set up for sequels that I look forward to reading .

This was an absolutely charming "whodunit" that was a perfect cozy weekend read.The mystery was a classic English mystery set during the Halley's Comet 1910 return. This much anticipated event created for some an atmosphere of chaos, doom, anxiety and fear, and for a few they were certain this was the end of the earth.The novel has been described by some as a "locked room" murder mystery as the story takes place in Cornwall, England on a remote island that is isolated regularly by the tides. There is only one residence on this isle, and that is the Estate of Tithe Hall. Everyone including the staff is placed in lockdown in preparation for the cataclysm or the the end of the world due to the comet.A fabulous cast of characters and really clever plot full of rich detail as the reader follows clues to solve the murder!

Easy reading / a bit too easy. Thin on the story line and character development and interaction.A good one to read aloud /…very easy to follow.

This was a great book! I just couldn’t put it down. It was so good and just the thing I really needed to read on a cold wintry kind of afternoon. Buy this book you’ll love it.

This first installment of a new historical fiction, cozy mystery series gets the series off to a great start. The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline and MC’s, Decima and Steven. What the book summary doesn’t say are all the other characters, greedy family members, who all show up to see who the Viscount left the family estate to. They also all become suspects and fall under the suspicious eyes of Decima and Steven, who start their own investigation after Steven is suspected of the murder of the Viscount. Decima and Steven recruit lady’s maid, Temperance, to assist in their caper.The story flips back and forth between Steven and a radio announcement tracking the path of the comet. Scotland Yard sends in Inspector Jarvis to head up the murder investigation. Jarvis is an absolute idiot and every one of his scenes is hilariously entertaining. There is also somewhat of a secondary storyline surrounding some family scandals. Seems the Viscount died the same way his father died 20yrs ago. It was also suspected that the Viscount killed his father because the Viscount was stupid and useless drain on the family.It’s not long before another dead body shows up and things begin to heat up for Decima and Steven and the investigation takes an abrupt turn. There are some shocking revelations, and some really scary and intense scenes, especially for Decima and Steven. I will definitely be adding this series to my fave series list.The character development for the MC’s Decima, Steven and Temperance was well done. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline entertaining. The writing was classic locked room, cozy mystery and reminded me a little of an Agatha Christy story. Even the location, a Cornwall tidal island that becomes inaccessible at certain times of the day, lent to the whole isolated setting, a sealed crime scene, hidden passages, and creepy suits of armor that shoot bolt from a bow. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.

I listened to the audiobook for The Murder at World’s End, and the narration was easily the highlight for me. The narrator leaned into the humor, distinct personalities, and pacing in a way that made the listening experience engaging from start to finish. It felt lively rather than flat, which really matters with a character driven mystery like this one.The story itself has a classic locked room style setup with a remote setting and a small group of suspects, giving it a very old school mystery vibe. The characters are quirky and memorable, and their interactions add a lot of charm to the story. While the plot unfolds at a measured pace, the combination of atmosphere and narration kept me interested.Overall, this was a fun and entertaining audiobook, especially for fans of traditional mysteries with eccentric characters and strong narration. I’m glad I chose to experience this one in audio.BOOK TITLE: The Murder at Worlds EndSERIES: Book 1 of Stockingham & PikeAUTHOR: Ross MontgomeryNARRATOR: Derek Jacobi, Joe JamesonPUBLISHER: Harper Audio AdultFORMAT: AudiobookPAGES: 9 hours, 59 min, 27 secondsI received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Reader copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Harper Audio Adult Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A thoroughly delightful read. The ending wasn’t totally unexpected by one who reads a lot of mysteries, but getting there was most enjoyable. The author writes with a lightness and humor that isn’t often seen. I recommend to any who enjoy lighthearted mysteries.

Murder mystery set in 1910 Cornwall mansion cutoff from mainland on a dark and stormy night. Well-written, fast-paced and light-hearted.

3.75 starsWho could resist a mystery whose main characters are "an under-butler and a foul-mouthed octogenarian"?This is set in 1910 in the wilds of Cornwall on a small island, and Halley's Comet is just scheduled to pass over. Steven Pike, a young man coming straight from Borstal Prison, has been told he has a job waiting there, but when he arrives, no one knows anything about it. The whole estate is in an uproar as the current lord of the manor is sealing off every door and window against a possible worldwide annihilation occurring with the comet's passage - think Y2K without the technology.The household consists of the Lord, various venal relatives and a full complement of below stairs staff. Steven gets absorbed into the mix because they need the help and everyone is too busy to question his sudden appearance.He soon finds out he is to be the main caretaker for Miss Decima -- the profane elderly woman. She is all of that plus a brilliant scientist and a brusque and no-nonsense woman who doesn't like her family and delights in getting everyone riled up.Soon we have a classic locked room mystery with a dead body sealed inside and a houseful of suspects. Not your usual mystery and several surprises along the way. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is a lot of fun. I found myself laughing out loud, and I was truly sad to see it end.

Stephen Pike is a recently released convict in 1910 England who has received a letter that he's to be employed as a footman at Tithe Hall. When he gets there, he finds that they are preparing for the end of the world due to the arrival of Halley's Comet. Stephen ends up working with the family's black sheep, a foul-mouthed science-loving 80 year old woman named Miss Decima.After the arrival of the comet, a horrible murder of the family's patriarch in a locked room leaves everyone shaken... and unable to leave the island until the murderer is found, requiring Stephen and Miss Decima to put their sleuthing skills to the test and uncover who might have committed the crimeI really enjoyed this book! Stephen and Miss Decima are such a fun, unlikely duo, and I especially loved Miss Decima being a very modern woman for the era the book was set in. There are some really fun twists and turns that I didn't see coming that also made this book even more interesting.The only reason this gets knocked down to 4 stars was because the audiobook version has some points that are radio reports, and those are quite hard to understand at times.

There is nothing I love more than a rich man panicking himself straight into an early grave, and “The Murder at World's End” opens with exactly that energy. Cornwall, 1910, Halley’s Comet is passing overhead, and the Viscount of Tithe Hall is absolutely convinced the universe is about to punch him personally in the face. So naturally he seals his entire manor like a Victorian Tupperware container and traps everyone inside. What could possibly go wrong.By morning, the comet has passed, the world stubbornly refuses to end, and the Viscount is very much dead in his sealed study, shot with his own ancestral crossbow like the pettiest ghost imaginable. Enter Stephen Pike, brand-new under-butler, fresh out of Borstal for a crime he did not commit, and already having the worst first day at work in recorded history. If bad timing were a sport, Stephen would be holding a gold medal and quietly apologizing for it.Stephen is sweet in that wounded, hyper-polite, constantly bracing-for-impact way that makes you want to shove him behind you and tell the world to back off. Which is fortunate, because Miss Decima Stockingham has zero interest in anyone backing off. She is eighty, brilliant, foul-mouthed, wheelchair-bound, and bored out of her skull. A murder is the highlight of her social calendar. Watching her clock Stephen as both useful and innocent within five minutes is deeply satisfying, like seeing a cat choose its human.The dynamic between these two is the absolute heart of the book. Stephen brings earnestness, decency, and a desperate need not to be blamed for yet another crime. Decima brings intellect, chaos, and an alarming fondness for verbal violence. Their partnership feels earned, funny, and unexpectedly tender, especially as Stephen becomes her legs and Decima becomes his spine. It is found family, but make it Edwardian and lightly feral.The mystery itself is a proper locked-room puzzle, the kind that invites you to scribble mental notes and accuse everyone with confidence. Secret passages, buried grudges, class resentment simmering just under the surface, and a house full of people who absolutely hated the victim but are trying to pretend they didn’t. I didn’t fully clock the solution early, but I had suspicions, and watching the mechanics click into place was deeply satisfying without being smug about it.Now, let us talk formats, because this is one of those rare cases where the audiobook is not just good, it is actively showing off. Joe Jameson handles the bulk of the narration with warmth and clarity, giving Stephen a voice that makes his vulnerability land without tipping into pity. The additional narration by Derek Jacobi is used sparingly and smartly, lending gravitas to the newsreel-style interludes without ever pulling focus. The audio production leans into the period atmosphere just enough to feel immersive, not gimmicky. If you like your mysteries with a side of old-timey radio drama, this delivers.If I have a tiny nitpick, it is that Decima’s profanity occasionally tiptoes from shocking to repetitive, which slightly dulls its impact over time. I still love her deeply and would absolutely help her hide a body, but a few fewer f-bombs might have made the sharp ones hit harder. That said, the humor, heart, and character work more than carry it.This lands comfortably at four stars for me. Clever, cozy, chaotic, and extremely charming, with a duo I would happily follow into multiple disasters. I laughed, I got invested, and I immediately wanted another book with these two meddling in things they absolutely should not be meddling in.Whodunity Award: For Making the End of the World Feel Like the Start of a Really Messy FriendshipAnd a dramatic little curtsy of gratitude to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC, for trusting me with this delightful chaos and letting me experience it in both eyeball-reading and ear-theater form. I regret nothing, except maybe not having Miss Decima yelling in my headphones sooner.