In a manor house on a tidal island, an unlikely duo must solve an impossible murder and find that some things only reveal themselves in darkness.
Real newspaper article about Halley's Comet panic.
The intricate floor plan on the book’s end papers and reproductions of real newspaper articles about Halley’s Comet hysteria set the tone for this page-turning whodunnit.
The year is 1910. The place is Cornwall, England. As Halley’s Comet approaches, public panic erupts. On May 18, the world will come to an end…at least for the Viscount at Tithe Hall. The Murder at World’s End is a classic locked-room mystery. What is different? Our protagonists. Stephen Pike is trapped by circumstances beyond his control. Convicted of a crime he did not commit, Stephen is released from prison and living in a miserable halfway house. An unexpected offer to work as second footman at Tithe Hall may be Stephen’s escape, if he can survive the interview with the head butler, Mr. Stokes. Stephen is young, working-class, and desperate for a fresh start. “It’s odd, seeing the end. You spend so long dreading it, and when it finally comes at you, it’s almost a relief. It was over: I’d done all I could. The only thing that could make it worse would be to try to fight it.” Stephen does survive the interview, only to be assigned to watch over Miss Decima Stockingham, the Viscount’s elderly aunt, who has a sharp intellect and a sharper tongue. Miss Decima is described as a foul-mouthed octogenarian. For many reasons, she is trapped, too. With Stephen, Miss Decima finds a true ally (and someone strong enough to push her wheelchair). Stephen has arrived on the night that Halley’s Comet will burn bright in the sky. An event that causes real panic in everyone at Tithe Hall, except for the scientific-minded Miss Decima who assures Stephen that no harm will come from looking at the Comet. “Yes, there are cyanogen gases in the comet’s tail. No, they will not kill us…Sadly, my nephew is one of those men who thinks that disagreeing with established thought is a prerequisite of genius.” That nephew does not survive the night. And Stephen looks like the perfect suspect for the murder. As Stephen’s only alibi and only chance to prove his innocence, Miss Decima now has the perfect opportunity to practice the science of deduction and find the real murderer. Stephen is more than just the muscle in this sharp-eyed sleuthing duo. He remembers what his grandmother used to say about him, though she is long gone. “Nan always said I was good at reading people. She said that I noticed everything around me – that I could spot a liar before a word even left their lips.” Packed with energy and suspense, this novel delivers fast-paced fun and a long list of suspects. The tough-and-tender alliance between the quick-witted Miss Decima and the kind-hearted Stephen practically begs for a screen adaptation – Helen Mirren and Jacob Elordi, call your agents. A fine start to a promising new series, I suspect we will see more from Decima Stockingham and Stephen Pike before Halley’s Comet returns in 2061.
Ross Montgomery has worked as a pig farmer, a postman and a schoolteacher, so writing books was the next logical step. Montgomery is the bestselling author of award-winning books for children. The Murder at World’s End is his first adult novel [which may be another reason for all the curse words].
See more Books to Read:
Jane Austen: A Life The Reader on the 6.27 Read This for Inspiration Once Upon a Tome A Most Agreeable Murder 
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