Review: A Mirror Murder by Helen Hollick
Today, I'm delighted to welcome back acclaimed, bestselling historical fiction author, Helen Hollick. I'm sharing my review of her intriguing cosy mystery, A Mirror Murder. It is the first installment in Helen's successful Jan Christopher Mysteries series set in early 1970s England.
I previously reviewed another title in the series – A Mystery of Murder – and you can find my review HERE.
A Mirror Murder is currently on blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. My thanks to Helen and Rachel for a copy of this book.
A Mirror Murder
Jan Christopher Mysteries, Book #1
Helen Hollick
Review:
Having started to read this cracking series with Book 2 (jumping the gun, if you pardon the pun), I finally got around to reading the first book in the series, A Mirror Murder. Not that it matters, as I found the back story in A Mystery of Murder easy to follow.
In A Mirror Murder, we are introduced to Jan Christopher, a young librarian working in north-east London in 1971. Jan is a thoughtful girl, polite, and conscientious in her work. The daughter of a murdered Detective Inspector, and niece to DCI Toby Christopher, her father's brother, she was raised fully aware of the world outside the front door. Yet there is also a sense of endearing naïvety about her that comes with a protected upbringing.
When her uncle introduces her to his new DC, Lawrence (Laurie) Walker, she feels immediately drawn to him, and fortunately, that feeling is mutual. They arrange a movie date one evening, which goes exceedingly well – until they pass the house of a library customer, and the front door is open!
Checking in on Mrs Norris, it is Jan who discover the older woman's dead body. Furthermore, Laurie asks her to stay put whilst he runs to the local police HQ. Left with the poor dead woman, and despite a surreal fear of the murderer returning, Jan notices certain things, the importance of which only become clear later to her.
This is how Jan becomes involved in sleuthing, and her knowledge of the woman helps them paint a picture – which then turns out to be not quite real!
At the same time, a flasher threatens hikers and riders in a nearby park area, and Jan has a faint idea of who it might be – with severe consequences later on in the novel.
There is also a third mystery having occurred in nearby Cambridgeshire – a baby has gone missing!
Are all these cases connected, and if yes, how? Is it a wider web of conspiracy, or simply an opportunistic murder? You should really read the series to find out!
A Mirror Murder is a slow burner to start with, with an early focus on Jan, her family situation, and her work in the library, but once it takes off, there's no stopping the story from unrolling!
The setting of 1971 is quirky, vibrant, with an air of change. Ms Hollick brings it to life beautifully, referencing TV series, magazines, and newspapers of the era. All this adds an air of authenticity, and we feel transported back in time.
As I said before, Jan is a lovely character, with all her dreams, sense of curiosity, responsibilities, and realistic uncertainties about herself and her appearance. Laurie's doting attention does wonders for her confidence, which is a beautiful development.
I do love Laurie (incidentally my hubby's name, but that's beyond the point)! He's not the gung-ho macho of many TV cop shows, but a thoughtful young man, with a dry sense of humour, and a social conscience towards the people he feels responsible for. One would hope that there are still coppers like him around.
Her aunt and uncle are endearing in their individual roles, and Aunt Madge's later encounter with the flasher is one of the major high points in a plot full of twists and turns. I had a real giggle at the visual images that scene presented me with.
If you're after a cosy crime story, in a realistic suburban English setting (that's not leafy west-country), A Mirror Murder is for you. Don't miss it!
Highly recommended!
~~~
Blurb:
A Mirror Murder – First In The Jan Christopher Cozy Mystery Series
The first in a series of quick-read, cozy mysteries set during the 1970s in North East London and North Devon, featuring the characters of Jan Christopher, her Aunt Madge, her uncle, DCI Toby Christopher and romantic interest DC Lawrence Walker – plus several other endearing, regular characters.
The background of Jan’s career as a library assistant is based on the author’s own library years during the 1970s, using many borrowed (often hilarious!) anecdotes, her life in suburban north east London on the edge of Epping Forest, and her present life in rural North Devon...
July 1971
Eighteen-year-old library assistant Jan Christopher’s life is to change on a
rainy evening, when her legal guardian and uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, gives
her a lift home after work. Driving the car, is her uncle’s new Detective
Constable, Lawrence Walker – and it is love at first sight for the young
couple. But romance is soon to take a back seat when a baby boy is taken from
his pram, a naked man is scaring young ladies in nearby Epping Forest, and an
elderly lady is found, brutally murdered... Are the events related? How will
they affect the staff and public of the local library where Jan works – will
romance survive and blossom between library assistant Jan Christopher and DC
Walker? Or will a brutal murder intervene?
"I sank into this gentle cosy mystery story with the same enthusiasm
and relish as I approach a hot bubble bath, (in fact this would be a great book
to relax in the bath with!), and really enjoyed getting to know the central
character..." Debbie Young bestselling cozy
mystery author
"Jan is a charming heroine. You feel you get to know her and her love
of books and her interest in the people in the library where she works. She's
also funny, and her Aunt Madge bursts with character - the sort of aunt I would
love to have had. I remember the 70s very well and Ms Hollick certainly gives a
good flavour of the period." Denise
Barnes (bestselling romance author Molly Green)
“A delightful read about an unexpected murder in North East London. Told
from the viewpoint of a young library assistant, the author draws on her own
experience to weave an intriguing tale” Richard
Ashen (South Chingford Community Library)
“Lots of nostalgic, well-researched, detail about life in the 1970s, which
readers of a certain age will lap up; plus some wonderful, and occasionally
hilarious, ‘behind the counter’ scenes of working in a public library, which
any previous or present-day library assistant will recognise!” Reader's Review
AMAZON UNIVERSAL BUY LINK: https://getbook.at/MirrorMurder
~~~
Discover Book #2:
Episode 2: A MYSTERY OF MURDER
set in rural Devon, Christmas 1971
Library Assistant Jan Christopher is to spend Christmas in Devon with her boyfriend, DS Laurie Walker and his family, but when a murder is discovered, followed by a not very accidental accident, the traditional Christmas spirit is somewhat marred...What happened to Laurie’s ex-girlfriend? Where is the vicar’s wife? Who took those old photographs? And will the farmer up the lane ever mend those broken fences?
"There are lots of things to enjoy in the second in the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series" Best-selling cozy mystery author Debbie Young
"A laid back sort of novel, the kind that you can relax while
reading, and simply let the story happen. This author has a particularly unique
style of writing... this book wasn’t simply a story, but an experience. You
almost have the feeling that the author is reading the book to you, and is
adding in her own little quips every now and again. I loved every second... The
whole mystery is well thought out... utterly amazing!"
~ Review: I Got Lost
In A Book Blog
"The pace is gently cosy, despite the murder... Jan is a wonderful
character; young, naïve, but also savvy when needed. And Laurie is a gem. All
the characters and their foibles and actions stay true to the era... a lovely,
warm story."
~ Review: Ruins & Reading
Other titles in the series:
Episode 3 A MISTAKE OF MURDER
Was murder deliberate - or a tragic mistake?
Episode 4 A MEADOW MURDER
Make hay while the sun shines? But what happens when a murder is discovered, and country life is disrupted?
Episode 5 A MEMORY OF MURDER
A missing girl, annoying decorators, circus performers and a wanna-be rock star to deal with. But who remembers the brutal, cold case murder of a policeman?
Episode 6 A MISCHIEF OF MURDER
The village Flower and Veg Show should be a fun annual event – but who added mischief and murder to the traditional schedule?
Buy Links:
A Mirror Murder Amazon Universal Link https://getbook.at/MirrorMurder
Amazon Author Page Universal Link: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
~~~
About the Author:
Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen Hollick’s historical fiction, nautical adventure series, cosy mysteries – and her short stories – skilfully invite readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between fact and fiction blend together.
Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was initially published in 1993 in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant. Her 2025 release is Ghost Encounters, a book about the ghosts of North Devon – even if you don’t believe in ghosts you might enjoy the snippets of interesting history and the many location photograhs.
Helen and her family moved from London to Devon after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden, fending off the geese, chasing the peacocks away from her roses, helping with the horses and wishing the friendly, resident ghosts would occasionally help with the housework...
Connect with Helen:
Website: https://helenhollickauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Twitter/X: @HelenHollick https://x.com/HelenHollick
Blog: supporting authors & their books
https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/
Bluesky:
Monthly ‘newsletter’ blog:
Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse.
https://thoughtsfromadevonshirefarmhouse.blogspot.com/
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