Beyond Belief: An Emily Castles Mystery by Helen Smith

Thomas & Mercer, 2014

ISBN: 1477849726

Part-time sleuth Emily Castles is coaxed into attending England’s Belief and Beyond Conference, after Perspicacious Peg, a renowned psychic, has predicted that a murder will occur there. Bodies accumulate, and tension rises as the philosophies of science and spiritualism clash, leaving Emily to navigate a colorful cast of characters and solve the mysterious crimes.

This cozy mystery certainly has its charms. It’s cute and witty, with just the right amount of intrigue to keep the pages turning. The rich and varied cast is entertaining and a lot of effort is taken to make them breathe on the page. Unfortunately, that same level of attention to character was not given to writing the protagonist. Emily herself is hardly more than a cipher, and the reader has little insight into what makes her tick.

Still, with its diverse cast and light tone, fans of the quick-read mystery will certainly find this to be their cup of tea.

Recommended for 11 years and up.

Reviewed by Bob Freeman