Sepulchre Street

 Sepulchre Street (2023) by Martin Edwards

The fourth book in Martin Edwards' Golden-Age-inspired mystery series finds Rachel Savernake asked by the victim to solve her murder before it happens. Damaris Gethin is a surrealist artist whose work has confounded the general public. She's been out of circulation for a little over a year and invites Rachel and several other very special guests to her grand return exhibition at the new Hades Gallery. In the audience, are former lovers, rivals, and persons who appear to have no connection to Damaris--but appearances are deceiving. Journalist Jacob Flint is also on hand--but his interest is in the flamboyant socialite who is rumored to have ties to a Very Important Person.

The exhibition's theme revolves around famous murderers--with live actors portraying "waxwork" figures and waiters dressed as policeman. Damaris takes on the role of Marie Antoinette, complete with a guillotine. The onlookers are somewhat amused when the artist goes to the extent of placing her neck in the contraption, only to be appalled when the blade falls and Damaris is killed. Rachel is ready to look into who could have interfered with the works to murder Damaris, but it isn't long before it's clear that Damaris did it herself--on purpose. The only way to fulfill her promise to the artist is to discover who drove the woman to such a desperate act. Running underneath (to the side?) the main story is a hint of secret service--a certain top secret group are very concerned that the socialite will ruin the Very Important Person and are willing to do anything to prevent that. Does that have anything to do with Damaris and her death? Rachel will need to discover the answer to that question too.

This particular entry in the series is closer to the thriller/adventure story than the classic mystery--though there are definitely clues to pick up and a detective plot to unravel. Jacob finds himself in the role of the thriller's hero even more than usual and gets himself into ticklish situations right and left. At one point it looks like he might get himself put away for murder. But Rachel keeps him out of the police's way while tracking down the culprit. Edwards provides us with a nice twisty solution that is very satisfying. I wish I could say I saw it coming, but I missed some of the clues he points out to us in the "Clue Finder" at the end of the book. ★★★★

First line: "I want you to solve my murder," said the woman in white.

Last line: Rachel shook her head as she raised her glass. "To living dangerously."
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Deaths = 13 (one beheaded; one heart attack; four shot; one hit on head; one drowned; one smothered; two car accident; one stabbed; one beaten)