Murder at the Wedding

Modern Midwife Mystery, #1

by

Christine Knapp

Clever, twisty, and complex mystery featuring a midwife amateur sleuth.

Murder at the Wedding is the fantastic debut novel in author Christine Knapp’s Modern Midwife Mystery series, and is a clever and complex tale of long-kept secrets and hidden desires. When the Chief of Obstetrics at Creighton Memorial, the hospital where midwife Maeve Kensington practices, succumbs to an apparent allergic reaction to something he’s ingested, she’s compelled to investigate. Not only is a friend suspected of causing the man’s death, but Maeve’s husband, Will, was the caterer for the reception.

Maeve is a warm and caring woman who excels in her work, but she also struggles with challenges in her personal life. She and Will want to start a family of their own, but have been unable to conceive yet. Will’s family is difficult and emotionally distant, disapproving of both his choice of career (not taking up the mantle of the family business) and Maeve, whose family comes from a different social circle, as his wife. Maeve’s family, especially her mother, are fun characters with a lot going on themselves. Still, they are a lovely and loving couple who support and make time for each other, despite their private setbacks and long, often inconvenient working hours. 

From its attention-grabbing opening scenes to its terrifying eleventh-hour reveal, I found myself on the edge of my seat and holding my breath! Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is the main character, and it is through her narrative that the story is told. She is intelligent and informed, and her internal dialogue is often laced with humor; she brings a relatable presence to the story. The murder occurs early in the action, and Maeve is compelled to intervene soon after, both to clear Will’s name and help their friend Kevin. There are numerous characters introduced, and more than one possible suspect to consider. However, keen-eyed armchair detectives may pick up on indications in the story that point to the actual killer even before the exceedingly exciting reveal. 

I recommend MURDER AT THE WEDDING for readers of mysteries and domestic thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.