(A review by the blogger Annarella – a between the holidays present for me!)
The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder was exactly the kind of reading pleasure I was hoping for. From the first pages I felt that Stephen Cox had full control of his story and his tone, and I loved how confidently he blended humour, mystery and a wonderfully crooked sense of morality. It is the sort of book that knows precisely what it wants to be and delivers it with charm.
The mystery is solid and satisfying. It moves with an easy rhythm, never dragging, never rushing, and always keeping just enough tension to make me curious about the next chapter. I enjoyed how the clues unfolded and how the story managed to stay playful without losing its structure.
The characters are the real highlight for me. Mrs Ashton and Mrs Bradshaw are delightfully morally grey, the kind of women who lie for a living yet refuse to tolerate murder. Their partnership is clever, messy, funny and unexpectedly touching. I could have followed them for twice as many pages.
The historical setting is vivid and full of texture. Cox paints Victorian London with such clarity that I could almost feel the fog and hear the clatter of the streets. It creates a world that feels lived in rather than decorative.
I thoroughly enjoyed this witty, atmospheric and queer‑hearted mystery. It left me smiling and very ready for more.