If you’ve ever found yourself reading a classic mystery novel and wished that the coziness was turned up just a smidge, and also that at least one or two characters were self-aware of the tropes of the genre, then you need to pick this book up. Add in a complex, head-over-heels romance, and you’ve got yourself a new classic in the cozy mystery genre that pays its respects to the books that came before it.
Martha Waters is no stranger to genre-bending twists on classic literature; she’s the author of the Regency Vows series, a series of romantic comedies about the Jane Austen era, with a refreshingly modern voice. Here, she brings her rhetorical talents to a new time period and a new, equally beloved genre. If you love romcoms, classic mystery novels, or old, crumbling English manors in the countryside, then this book will have everything you’re dreaming of, with an endearingly grumpy protagonist to boot.
And Then There Was The One comes out on October 14; here’s everything you need to know about this cozy historical romance before that happens.
Synopsis
Georgie Radcliffe has accidentally become her town’s amateur detective after solving a suspicious spate of murders in her tiny village of Buncombe-Upon-Woolly. She has her hands full, already managing her family estate, Radcliffe Hall, and having a hand in the many dealings of a cozy English village. When the deaths keep adding up, though, she calls in help from a famous detective in London.
She gets a lot more than she bargained for when, instead of the iconic man himself, she gets his hapless secretary, who seems more interested in flirting and eating scones than solving the murder-y mysteries. As Georgie and Sebastian explore the mystery and hunt down leads, they both might discover more about themselves than they thought.
A Love Letter to Mystery Writers
“’Agatha Christie has a lot to answer for,’ Georgie said darkly.”
Martha Waters, And Then There Was The One
What sets this book apart is the clear love the author has for the genre: the references to famous mystery authors and their protagonists — from Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie to Holmes and Mrs. Marple — were so fun to spot and clearly came from someone who knows these books inside and out.
Georgie is a fantastic classic amateur detective helping out the hapless police, and Delacey Fitzgibbons, the celebrity detective, is hilarious as the ultimate career sleuth, who only takes cases he already knows the solution to. Also, the peppered references to Sayers and Christie, two iconic women mystery writers, were delightful to read.
I also loved the way the setting itself was a lightly funny send-up of a classic country mystery setting. Radcliffe Hall, its lovable and absentminded inhabitants, and of course the entire town of Buncombe-Upon-Woolly were absolute highlights. Waters creates a perfect idyllic English village, surprisingly unfazed by the recent murder spate, and populated by a vibrant cast of characters, from the mysterious and strict librarian to spunky journalists and hapless police. And, of course, a rival village with its own idiosyncrasies is just a bus ride away!
Tropes Turned On Their Heads
“Sleuthing is one thing. But bringing home a posh man from London? That is fascinating.”
Martha Waters, And Then There Was The One
One of my favorite things about this book was its treatment of common romance tropes, and the way they were often subverted in a way that felt unexpected but very right. For example, Georgie and Sebastian show up as a grumpy/sunshine duo in the best possible way — Georgie is eminently believable as the de facto leader of her little family, someone who loves responsibility but also believes that life is meant to be difficult.
And then, of course, Sebastian shows up as a sometimes oblivious, happy-go-lucky interloper, relentlessly cheerful and as friendly as a golden retriever. Watching his endless optimism interact with, and eventually overcome, Georgie’s stoicism was an absolute treat. It was also hilarious to see Sebastian in the role of occasionally helpful but mostly emotional support love interest; a trope he was fantastic in, and one that usually (disappointingly) gets assigned to women, especially in mystery novels.
There are also a plethora of other tropes and little love stories that were so fun to catch glimpses of: Arthur and Fitzpatrick are an adorable love story, and Abigail and the doctor’s hints were a fun contrast. Many of those relationships also fly in the face of established tropes, especially the idea that historical romances need to end tragically or be thwarted by constantly upheld societal norms. I also like a rivals-to-lovers romance, so those little hints were particularly fun.
Georgie’s position as the vaunted eldest daughter, keeper of responsibilities, as well as the classic amateur sleuth, was also a fun twist on the usual trope of a genius (usually male) detective who can sweep in and uncover new clues in a case that has baffled the locals. Georgie is as local as it gets, and, moreover, she’s a woman. That doesn’t stop her from taking the lead in the case, being the one to hunt down clues and get lightbulb moments, and generally being a protagonist in her own story.
Georgie is able to solve cases with expert knowledge of gardening and plants, as well — traditionally a feminine pursuit, but nonetheless, one that absolutely makes a difference in this case. She’s able to solve the case not by becoming more masculine, but by noticing what nobody else does, simply because they think it’s beneath them.
A Look At The True Crime Phenomenon
“Why should I need to read about a fictional cozy village full of homicidal maniacs when I am already inhabiting one?”
Martha Waters, And Then There Was The One
One brilliant piece of plotting was Buncombe-Upon-Woolly’s amusing, specific pest problem; they’ve been overrun by the 20th-century English version of true crime enthusiasts, affectionately dubbed “murder tourists.” At first, they’re just a helpful, slightly intriguing piece of background. Georgie is, of course, deeply annoyed by their presence and a little bit shocked by their slightly ghoulish interests. And, to be fair, even true crime enthusiasts today can seem a little macabre.
But what makes Waters’ writing so fun (and so interesting) is that she takes what could be a one-off joke, or a cheap shot at a popular phenomenon, and actually examines it. Contrary to Georgie’s (and the reader’s) expectations, the gang of crime-solvers ends up befriending two murder tourists, who end up being important, not just for their contributions to the plot, but also because they’re the ones who have the expert knowledge of the genre.
Not to mention, the book also gets into the ways women’s interests are often devalued and seen as frivolous or nonsensical, despite their potential and the clear amount of work it takes to be as knowledgeable as many are. Ultimately, And Then There Was The One brings together the classic and modern iterations of the murder mystery, with the addition of a bevy of overturned dynamics and tropes, making for a light and fun look at how fascinated we are with the macabre.
It also points out how often true crime and other interests can be devalued when it’s primarily women who are interested in them. In this book, the script is flipped, and the primary detective is a woman; not only that, but the helpers and often the plot drivers are also women, acting intentionally and as experts, demonstrating once again that a subversion of tropes often only needs a simple shift in perspective.
Final Thoughts
Reading this book feels like slipping into your favorite pair of pajamas with a cup of tea as rain falls outside — it’s familiar and comforting, but with just enough plot and pacing to keep you turning the pages. Although all the elements of a classic murder mystery are present, they’re not in the places (or people!) you might expect. I found myself so invested in the story because I genuinely didn’t know how it would end — a fantastic accomplishment for a book that’s paying tribute to the mystery genre. This book was short and sweet, but something I will absolutely read again when I want a reminder of how fun a mystery can really be, and how admirable it is to write a book that challenges people’s expectations in fun and innovative ways.
If you loved the idea of And Then There Was The One, you’ll love these books:
- To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
- A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales
- A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
- A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
- Whose Body? By Dorothy L. Sayers
Bookstr’s And Then There Was The One Dream Cast:
- Jessie Buckley as Georgie Radcliffe
- Nicholas Galitzine as Sebastian Fletcher-Ford
- Leo Woodall as Arthur
- Justine Lupe as Abigail Radcliffe
- Ian McKellan as Papa Radcliffe
Final Score: 4.5/5 Stars
Spice Rating: 3/5
If you want to add And Then There Was The One to your TBR, you can order it on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Amazon! Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For another Bookstr starred review, click here!
To browse more books like this, check out Bookstr’s cozy mysteries shelf on Bookshop!
