I acquired a evaluation copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my evaluation and all opinions are my very own.

The Homicide at World’s Finish by Ross Montgomery

Mogsy’s Ranking: 5 of 5 stars

Style: Thriller, Historic Fiction

Collection: E-book 1 of Stockingham & Pike

Writer: William Morrow (January 6, 2026)

Size: 336 pages

Creator Info: Web site

And similar to that, I have already got my first contender for greatest learn of 2026 and it’s a straight-up old style whodunit. There’s simply one thing deeply satisfying a few thriller that is aware of precisely what it needs to do, and Homicide at World’s Finish completely nails it, delivering a treasure that seems like a love letter to the Golden Age of detective fiction.

The novel is about in Cornwall in 1910, the identical yr Halley’s Comet sparked widespread panic as a sensationalist media warned that each one life would perish as Earth handed by the comet’s toxic tail. Ensconced in his distant island property ominously named World’s Finish, the Viscount of Tithe Corridor has a plan for himself and his household to outlive the apocalypse. Each window, door, and chimney will likely be sealed all the way down to the tiniest keyhole, supposedly to guard the manor’s friends and servants from all types of harmful gases or noxious house mud falling from the heavens.

On the eve of Halley’s anticipated look, an earnest younger man named Steven Pike arrives at Tithe Corridor and steps right into a world of utter chaos. Not too long ago launched from jail for a criminal offense he didn’t commit, he has come desperately looking for work, realizing how slim his chances are high on account of his questionable previous. With the pre-comet preparations in full swing, nevertheless, the place is short-staffed and Steven is employed on the spot. He’s then given the curious job of chaperoning Miss Decima Stockingham, the Viscount’s curmudgeonly and foul-mouthed octogenarian aunt who has already pushed away all her woman’s maids. Warned that the previous woman won’t be fully in possession of her marbles, Steven is shocked to seek out Miss Decima is in truth far much less unhinged than her popularity suggests, with a thoughts as sharp as her curiosity in science, although her spectacular mood and lack of tact are sadly very actual.

Clearly, the world has not ended by the point morning arrives, and the houseguests all emerge from their sealed rooms in a state of collective bemusement and aid—all besides one. Someday within the evening, the Viscount was murdered, and his physique is found alone in a room that had been sealed from the within. On the floor, the crime seems not possible, although with the island minimize off by the excessive tide, the one certainty is that the killer is somebody already at World’s Finish. As the latest arrival and a former convict, suspicion instantly lands on Steven, however with the assistance of Miss Decima, the 2 got down to clear his title by fixing the case.

Eccentric suspects, a number of nefarious motives, a literal locked room—The Homicide at World’s Finish has all of it. From the very first web page, it had me fully hooked, and by its finish, I used to be already giddy with pleasure to seek out that is solely the primary of hopefully many extra Stockingham & Pike books to come back. What I cherished concerning the story is how unapologetically traditional it feels. This can be a correct thriller the place the clues matter, the motivations make sense, and the reader is invited to play alongside somewhat than be distracted by spectacle. After all, there are crimson herrings aplenty, however for my part, they’re truthful ones the place the plot by no means resorts to outrageous twists or last-minute revelations to drive a shock. As a substitute, the novel options wise detective work that unfolds with endurance and care, rewarding shut consideration and logical pondering, which made the ending all of the extra satisfying.

Additionally, I actually loved the unlikely detective duo of Miss Decima and Steven. The latter’s gradual improvement is splendidly dealt with, portraying his transformation from a skittish younger man right into a assured go-getter who learns to belief his instincts. And the way I cherished Miss Decima! Witty, good, and having completely no endurance for bullshit, she steals each scene she’s in and fully owns it, and but, whereas she will be able to actually be quite a bit, it by no means feels too compelled or over-the-top prefer it’s tipping into caricature. What actually makes it work, although, is the dynamic between the 2 characters. Their partnership types naturally, initially constructed on shared curiosity after which later mutual respect, finally evolving right into a friendship that was simply the spotlight of all the ebook.

Historic fiction followers will additional admire the setting. The looming presence of Halley’s Comet and the hysteria surrounding it function such a cool backdrop for the story, giving it an eerie and nearly mystical ambiance. Tithe Corridor itself stands as an intimidating presence, and the writer makes use of the atmosphere—the encompassing sea, the darkish woods close by, and even an honest-to-goodness hedge maze—to unimaginable impact.

Ultimately, The Homicide at World’s Finish is precisely the type of thriller I’ve been craving. I might hardly put it down, and each time I used to be compelled to, I discovered myself jonesing for the subsequent time I might choose it up once more. Intelligent with out being convoluted, charming with out being pretentious, and most significantly rooted firmly within the traditions of traditional detective fiction, this novel is an ideal reminder of why the style is so beloved and enduring. I might fortunately observe Steven Pike and Miss Decima Stockingham into as many investigations as Ross Montgomery is prepared to put in writing.