Last Updated on April 22, 2026
Occasionally, a book comes along that is soooo engaging that you literally can’t put it down. Those books are few and far between, but how lucky was I to get a copy of More Than Murder by Jayne Chard, which does exactly that.
I’m not exaggerating. From the minute I started it, I actually carried it around with me, so if I had ten or fifteen minutes to spare, I could pick up where I left off. That’s how good it is.
So with all of that praise and gushiness out of the way, what was it that had me hooked?
Let’s get into it!
Julia and Frankie
Julia lives in the quaint little English village of Little Clarsden, in the home she inherited from her aunt – Rose Cottage. There’s just one catch.
The will stipulated that both Julia and her estranged sister Frankie must live in the house together for one year before it becomes rightfully theirs.
Should either sister leave before the time is up, the house automatically transfers to the other.
Julia isn’t worried, that is, until the flamboyant Frankie breezes back into town to claim her share of Rose Cottage.
These two sisters could not be more different, so the chances of them surviving each other are slim to say the least.
But they decide to put their differences aside and genuinely make a go of things. And that begins when one of them wins a Murder Mystery Weekend at the stately Medfield estate.
As it turns out, this is the moment that will either make or break their relationship – they just don’t know it yet!
The Mystery
The Medfield estate is basically one of those stately homes that have been passed from generation to generation.
Unfortunately for the family, the latest custodian, Charles Quinten, has blasted through the money and wants to sell it.
In order to make the most money, he has to show it making some profit, so in a last-ditch attempt, he agrees to run the murder mystery weekend.
To keep costs down, actors from the local theatre group take on the various roles, and the guests arrive, including Julia and Frankie.
What starts as a playful game – a faux murder with a “poisoned dart” and a house full of amateur sleuths – quickly morphs into something far more sinister.
When Julia and Frankie stumble upon a real body in a secret passage (because, of course, there’s a secret passage!), the stakes are suddenly very real.
The twist? The body vanishes before anyone else can see it, and the sisters’ credibility is left hanging by a thread.
When a fierce storm traps the guests inside, the tension ratchets up another notch.
Fallen trees and debris ensure that escape is impossible, and suddenly everyone is a suspect, with nowhere to run and plenty of secrets to hide.
The Sharp Wit Is Chefs Kiss
Few books are written with so much razor-sharp wit that More Than Murder will have you laughing out loud.
I even did that annoying thing and read out a paragraph to my other half. Honestly, he didn’t know what I was talking about. But it was so clever, I just had to share it.
Basically, one of the other guests is an American woman, Sarah, married to a much older and wealthier man, Larry, and she has decided to write her own murder mystery novel.
She plans on it being a historical mystery romance set in England, despite having never previously been to the country or having any knowledge of its history.
The paragraph: “She questions whether a historical novel needs to be accurate; there is, after all, such a thing as poetic licence. Facts, she decides, aren’t that important. She doubts whether Jane Austen ever worries about being historically accurate. Larry could set up a meeting with her; he knows everyone in London. They would have such exciting writer-to-writer chats and Jane would be able to offer her some advice; Sarah’s sure of it”.
It still makes me laugh as I type it out. And that’s the great thing about the book. It really is funny, clever, and sharp. There isn’t one mis-step from beginning to end, and that’s before we even get on to the two sisters.
Sisters in Sleuthing
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the dynamic between Julia and Frankie. Chard doesn’t shy away from their complicated history; instead, she uses it as the emotional backbone of the story.
Julia is all cool logic and quiet determination, while Frankie is a whirlwind of charm and impulsiveness.
Their differences are the source of both conflict and comedy, and their banter feels authentic, never forced or saccharine.
There’s a real pleasure in watching them navigate the chaos of the murder mystery weekend, especially as the line between performance and reality blurs.
The sisters’ relationship evolves naturally as they’re forced to rely on each other, and their combined sleuthing skills make for a formidable (and entertaining) team.
If you’ve ever had a sibling, you’ll recognise the mix of exasperation and affection that defines their partnership.
And yet, all you do is root for them. The banter between them provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and Chard has a knack for one-liners that land just right.
The dialogue sparkles, and even the most tense scenes are laced with humor, because let’s face it, sometimes the only way to cope with murder and mayhem is to crack a joke or two.
The Biggest Thumbs Up Possible
There’s a warmth to More Than Murder that sets it apart from darker mysteries.
Author Jayne Chard doesn’t dwell on the gruesome details; instead, she focuses on the puzzle, the personalities, and the relationships at the heart of the story.
If you’re a fan of clever plotting, you won’t be disappointed. The clues keep coming at a brisk pace, and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, there’s another twist worthy of the Queen of Crime herself.
At its core, More Than Murder is about family, about the ties that bind us, the grudges we hold onto, and the ways we find our way back to each other, even in the most unlikely circumstances.
Julia and Frankie’s journey from estranged siblings to partners-in-crime-solving is both moving and believable, and by the end of the book, you’ll be hoping for many more adventures with this dynamic duo.
