Death in Castle Dark

Finished: March 2024
Book Source: Library
Book Publication Date: September 2021

Actor Nora Blake finds her dream job when she is cast in a murder-mystery troupe that performs in an imposing but captivating old castle. When she stumbles upon a real murder, things take a nightmarish turn in this first book in an exciting new series.

Maybe it was too good to be true, but when Nora Blake accepted the job from Derek Corby, proprietor of Castle Dark, she could not see any downsides. She would sink her acting chops into the troupe’s intricately staged murder-mystery shows, earn free room and board in the fairy tale-like castle, and make friends with her new roommates, which include some seriously adorable kittens.

But something sinister lurks behind the walls of Castle Dark. During Nora’s second performance, one of her castmates plays the part of the victim a little too well. So well, in fact, that no one can revive him. He has been murdered. Not ready to give up her dream gig–or to be the next victim–Nora sets out to see which one of her fellow actors has taken the role of a murderous real-life villain.

Characters

• Nora Blake – Actress/singer
• Derek Corby – Owner of the castle
• John “Dash” – cop/investigator at the castle, pretending to be the gardener
• Zaina – castle chef, has a daughter Erezah
• Connie – cast member that quickly befriends Nora
• Tim – Cast mate
• Renata – cast mate
• Bethany – cast mate, lives in town, has a husband named Tyler
• Paul – Derek’s brother and co owner
• Garrett – cast mate and murder victim
• Elsbith -hair and wardrobe at the castle
• Hamlet – the dog of the castle
• Luke, Jay and Jen – Nora’s siblings

My Review

What an enticing setting that promises mystery and intrigue within the walls of a castle! As someone who adores the ambiance of such settings and would eagerly sign up for a murder mystery dinner there.

The inclusion of side stories added a layer of complexity to the narrative, providing additional elements to engage with throughout the story. While these side plots were enjoyable enough, they didn’t quite elevate the overall experience for me.

The characters felt somewhat lacking in depth, failing to truly resonate with me. Additionally, their relationships with each other appeared superficial and unconvincing, which detracted from the overall story.

Despite these shortcomings, Bond’s novel still holds merit for its captivating setting and the potential it presents for an immersive murder mystery experience. With a bit more attention to character development and interpersonal dynamics, ‘Death in Castle Dark’ could truly shine as a thrilling read.

Spoilers/Summary

SPOILERS BELOW. Stop here if you do not want to read spoilers.

Garrett is found dead, Nora finds him. We later find out he had drawn a Jackyl and Hyde drawing and put it in a library book.

Nora is almost assaulted by a stalker but punches him in the throat and gets away. It turns out he was a stalker of Connie’s. He is the reason that Dash was in the castle investigating. Derek hid it from Connie to protect her — it turns out Connie and Derek have had a crush on each other the whole time.

Bethany ends up being the murderer. She had had an affair with Garret while she was married to Tyler. Garrett was bound to tell someone. Tyler had auditioned for a part at the castle and didn’t get it. He was not a good actor. Garrett had been his drama teacher in high school and didn’t give him a letter of recommendation and ruined his acting career. Bethany is even more upset when she finds out she had an affair with the person who ruined her husband’s career.

Garrett had had a short term relationship with Renata when they were both high school teachers, she helped him get a job at the castle.