BOOK SYNOPSIS
The notoriously hard-drinking, backstabbing Stonebridge Radio crew are having their Hallowe'en party on Winkle Island, rumoured to be the most haunted place in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, Adam and Colin are there too, having accepted an easy payday from Colin's event organising mother.
At dinner, a shocking announcement is followed by an even more shocking murder, and the theft of a priceless Firefly necklace. To top it all, thanks to a raging storm, everyone is trapped on the island.
Faced with devious radio presenters, a strange tour guide, and a rampaging murderer, Adam and Colin are back in business.
The Case of the Missing Firefly is the fourth in the Stonebridge Mysteries series of cosy crime novellas.
What young man with any common sense would turn down the opportunity to earn a easy hundred quid simply by spending the weekend on a isolated island and helping his best friend set up a film projector? Well, Adam would definitely have said no if he had known that he would be spending three days with the notorious Stonebridge Radio presenters. On the plus side, the boss of the station Albert Fernsby was amongst the party who were going to be on the island so Adam was hoping that the presenter's would all be on their best behaviour.
But wherever Adam and his best friend Colin go, trouble is never far behind. A unexpected announcement, a brutal murder and a missing valuable heirloom are the catalyst for the amateur sleuths latest mystery. They soon find themselves channelling their inner Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson and hunting for a vicious killer whilst being trapped on a isolated island with all their suspects and no way of summoning help if they find themselves in danger.
This gripping cosy mystery that I thought had a plot that was very reminiscent of the classic Hardy Boy's mysteries that I used to read when I was younger but set in modern society. It is narrated from the perspectives of Adam and Colin as the reader accompanied them as they bungled their way through their investigation and questioned the various suspects. The two boys were a very likeable duo who each had their own unique personalities and character traits, they were like chalk and cheese and had the odd disagreement but they worked really well together and some of their interactions were quite humorous.
As with iconic murder mysteries like Sherlock Holmes, Piorot and Miss Marple amongst others, the suspects were a mix bag of realistic individuals from the elderly radio station owner, the various radio presenters to the strange tour guide. But who was the killer? Was there more than one and what was the motive behind their actions?
I loved the setting for this book, the isolated island, the group's accommodation that resembled a small castle and was surrounded by trees. The eerie atmosphere and sounds caused by the wind and rain during the storm.
This might only be a short novella but the author had certainly packed a lot of story into the hundred odd pages. There's mystery, suspense, intrigue and the extremely well written story keeps you guessing and glued to your kindle. Although this is the forth book in a series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. A thrilling, addictive read and very very highly recommended.
AUTHOR BIO
Originally hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland and now residing in South Manchester, Chris McDonald has always been a reader. At primary school, The Hardy Boys inspired his love of adventure, before his reading world was opened up by Chuck Palahniuk and the gritty world of crime.
He's a fan of 5-a-side football, has an eclectic taste in music ranging from Damien Rice to Slayer and loves dogs.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Case of the Missing Firefly - Chris McDonald
Stonebridge Mysteries #4
Genre:
Cosy Mystery; Mystery & Detective; Amateur Sleuths
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-914480-06-5
Hardback ISBN: 978-1-914480-49-2
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-914480-07-2
Buy Links:
Available in paperback, hardback or eBook direct from Red Dog Press: https://bit.ly/missingfirefly
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-case-of-the-missing-firefly
Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chris_McDonald_The_Case_of_the_Missing_Firefly?id=jARDEAAAQBAJ&gl=GB
Amazon: TBC
ABOUT THE SERIES:
Stonebridge is a small town on the north coast of Northern Ireland. Most of its inhabitants are friendly, happy people. Most of them...Because bad things happen even in the happiest of places. It’s a good thing, then, that Adam Whyte and Colin McLaughlin call Stonebridge home. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of detective shows, a misplaced sense of confidence and a keen desire to see justice done, these two are the closest thing the town has to saviours. Which isn’t that reassuring...
THE STONEBRIDGE MYSTERIES SERIES
1: The Curious Dispatch of Daniel Costello
2: Dead In The Water
3: Meat Is Murder
4: The Case of The Missing Firefly
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