Murder at Castle Calvera

Murder at Castle Calvera (2026) Morgan Stang (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries #4)

Isabeau Agarwal has received an invitation to a most exclusive gathering at Castle Calvera–despite the fact it might mean missing ringing in the new year at Lamplight.

So Isabeau, Evie, and Penny pack up and head out to the castle no one has visited for five years, since a plague went through the area.

Before they have even arrived, there are strange happenings, with a dead sky whale blocking the road, and a man stranded with a broken carriage wheel.

Isabeau looked up the forest path, then the other way, then sat back in her seat. She and Evie held a tiny council, voices low.

“Well?” asked Evie. “Are we picking up strange men on the side of the road now?”

“He seems harmless enough,” said Isabeau.

That man is the famous detective Samson Pierre.

The strange little man retrieved a comb from his coat pocket, and then began to brush his luxurious eyebrows. “It only takes a bit of sitting and thinking to come to my conclusion. An exercise of the little grey wrinkles.”

The author had a lot of fun with that one.

The rest of the guests are a rather motley collection, including an astrophysicist, a board game creator, and exorcist. Plus:

Though he lived a life of adventure, Michael Vincent’s proper occupation was that of a non-ordained Hunter.

As well as a disturbing hostess and her single, strange, staff-member.

As with previous books, its a fun story.

Evie was quite right. You should never make a large purchase on the thirteenth of any month, including the purchasing of homes, horses, carriages, and even a year’s supply of Peating’s Insect-Destroying Powder, on account of thirteen being a highly unlucky number.

For that reason, there is no chapter thirteen, thank you very much.

And a far amount of snide commentary on the current state of the world.

“If the government hears anything they don’t like, they’ll have no problem making them disappear.”

“The government wouldn’t do that,” said Father Flanagan. “Spy on its own people like that.”

Dr Falcon paused. “You havin’ a laugh? Joke at my expense, is it, or you really that daft?”

There were a few copy-editing errors, but as this is a self-published book, and there were only a few, I’m more than willing to let them slide.

We learn quite a bit about some of the side characters in this story, and although the creepier bits didn’t work for me (as they never do) I still very much enjoyed the story and look forward to the next book.

Cover design by Etheric Designs

Characters: Evie Turnstall, Huntress Isabeau Agarwal, Penny, Esther Homes, Clayton Homes, Lady Francisca Caldas, Lord Caldas, Ofelia Caldas, Detective Samson Pierre, Marie Mitchell, Wilbert Pennington, Father Paul Flanagan, Sister Guinevere, Michael Vincent, Dr Josephine Falcon, Gargi Samsara, Rani Samsara, Angus, Ian van Wyke, Commander Valeria Thade, Lord Waning Luminescent Moon, Lord Gibbous Luminous Moon, Lady Celestial Brilliance Constellation, Lady Nebulous Tenebrous Umbra, Lady Stellar Effulgent Penumbra, Lord Empyrean Kilonova Magnetar, Martin Kincaid, Chief Crane, Minister Coverdale, Annabel Paskin, John Haddow

Rating: 8/10

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