AtaraxiaWhile, as previously explained, Volume 3 didn’t quite win me over, When there were 9 ranks among my favorite closed-circle mysteries. Though C.A. Larmer had disappointed me before, I can assure you this one completely erases the letdown of the previous installment. When there were 9 likely stands as C.A. Larmer’s masterpiece, transporting us deep into the mountains, where betrayal, revenge, and remorse will consume you.
When there were 9 : Vengeance to the Extreme
After all the twists and turns of the previous volume, the amateur detective book club makes a big decision: they’re going to recruit new members. To get to know the newcomers, Alicia and her gang decide to spend a weekend at a hotel. The charming, albeit somewhat dated, hotel is perched atop a mountain. There’s no way to go down on foot, no phone reception, and they’re the only guests there (and the last ones before renovations begin). But when one of the hotel’s only two staff members is found dead in his bed, the weekend takes a dramatic turn. The killer could very well be one of them. So which of the old or new members is the murderer? They’ll have to figure it out before they’re all dead—or before the fire blocking the road burns them all…
A Captivating Closed-Circle Mystery
In this new masterpiece by C.A. Larmer, our seasoned sleuths are in for more trouble than ever. They must uncover who is killing—and more importantly, why—knowing full well the murderer is likely among them. Between secrets, betrayals, and lies, Alicia and her friends are far from safe.
When there were 9 also seems to be the final novel in the club series, at least as it currently stands. In the last book, we learned that Anders decided not to continue the adventure with the group—he had been rather withdrawn and often out of sync with the rest. By the end of this one, we might lose more than just Anders: with a killer in their midst and possibly one or two new beginnings, the detective club is starting to lose its original members… We’ll see what comes in Madame Winter Is Dead.
C.A. Larmer’s Best Book Yet?
For me, this is by far the best book C.A. Larmer has written since the beginning of the amateur sleuth club’s adventures.
The plot keeps us on the edge of our seats from start to finish. We delve deeper into some characters and see raw human pain through them. The book offers a view of grief that doesn’t fade, and shows how far some are willing to go for revenge.
Far from being dull or disjointed, the story pulls us into the Australian mountains, where—cut off from the world—the characters must rely on their resourcefulness and sharp minds to solve the crimes thrown at them.
C.A. Larmer delivers an incredible cosy mystery that reads far too easily to be put down Now available on amazon.
