This was a bit too much into the horrific for me. I d the adventure aspects of the book, the mystery of the house, but overall, it was just ok. 4 s Sue1,321 590

Phin Fox is back, along with his very close friend, Arabella, and her brother Toby, in a music-themed story that takes us north of London in search of potential leads for early music from Shakespearean times. The basic plot involves Quentin Rivers, his cousin Zillah, and their ancestral home The Tabor. Quentin has just learned that he has inherited the house, located outside the small village of Reivers, and plans an excursion to the site with Zillah who had been led to believe since childhood that the house would be hers. Phin, a music historian, becomes involved in this when Arabella and Toby meet Quentin and Zillah while on their own road trip.

Quentin’s complex plans of restoration lead to discovery of some details from the past and Sarah Rayne does a masterful job of revealing the past in providing alternate threads set in the early 17th century and various points during the first half of the 20th century. These are presented through diaries of people who provide details of life at The Tabor and details of the Murder Dance. The real inspiration for some of this tale is Will Kempe, a clown actor believed to be the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Falstaff.

I found that the historical and contemporary stories worked well together with my only caveat being that Quentin and Zillah might have benefited from a bit of fleshing out. But then, they were Rivers, weren’t they!

I do recommend this book and series. All stories are mysteries modern and historical wrapped around musical themes. Rating 4.5* rounded to 5*

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Severn House, through NetGalley in return for an honest review.



britain mystery net-galley ...more5 s Annie3,995 71

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Murder Dance is the 6th Phineas Fox mystery by Sarah Rayne. Released 4th Jan 2022 by Severn House, it's 256 pages (in print edition), and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a creepy and atmospheric history/mystery with overtones of Gothic horror and a slight Shirley Jackson vibe. Although it's the 6th book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone, with the codicil that the ongoing characters' development in this installment will spoil some earlier interactions in some ways.

Told through parallel timelines, it's a convoluted and oddly constructed story with taints of madness, creepy settings, a malevolent half ruined manor house, and elements of horror. Fans of the author's oeuvre will find much to appeal here.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.netgalley1 Joyce1,769 38

307 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Researcher Phineas “Phin” Fox, his girlfriend Arabella and her cousin Toby are back in this latest adventure from Sarah Rayne.

Quentin Rivers has inherited an isolated home called The Tabor in Norfolk. His sister, Zillah, was promised the home. She is decidedly unhappy. Quentin is a creepy man who wants Zillah all to himself.

When Quentin asks Phin and Arabella to look into the mysterious history of the house, and especially a dance called the Cwellan Daunsen they and Toby take to the road.

What follows is a twisted tale of murder, insanity, secrets and seduction.

This book is very well written in Ms. Rayne’s usual manner. It is creepy and horrible in spots. There is steady action with periods of high tension. I her books for the adventure. Phin and his friends are always into something interesting. Usually, there is an element of eerie-ness about her stories. Borderline horror? I that Phin and the slightly scatterbrained Arabella are progressing in their relationship. And poor Toby. He keeps falling in love with the wrong women. It is almost amusing.

I want to thank Canongate Books/Severn House and NetGalley for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own. 1 Helen Carolan1,224 24

Another excellent read from Ms Rayne. In this latest outing Phin is asked to look into an old house and an eerie dance associated with it. It was believed the dance was last preformed during the time of Elizabeth 1st but Phin discovers it may have been preformed later than that. Fab read.1 Alyson Rhodes118 4

I am a huge Sarah Rayne fan, which is how I seem to start every review I write about her books. So a new Rayne thriller-chiller is a must read for me and a treat, so many thanks for the e-arc to her her publishers Severn House.
I've read everything of hers over the last say 15 years and this latest is written in her familiar, inimitable style - elegant prose, historical references, epistolary with diary entries and a gruesome 3 time period mystery - 1603 ish/early 1900's and current day - which, as usual, Rayne handles with deftness.
The leads in the current day segment are Phineas Fox ( a regular Rayne character- music historian and academic) and his ladyfriend Arabella; but in the 1603 segment Shakespearean actor and dancer, Will Kempe appears (Rayne says in a postscript that Kempe provided inspiration for this story).
The Tabor is a house with a dark history and there is in the nearby Norfolk village of Reivers, rumours of a tainted bloodline, strange goings on in the Courtyard there and terrible tragedies happening when the ancient Murder Dance is performed (children are banned from attending the performance - which is a hint it itself).
This time I didn't find myself quite as gripped or engaged in the this tale of Rayne's, mainly I think because the Murder Dance idea didn't click with me or work as well as in other of her novels when she uses lost music or film or theatre shows. I think I was looking for a touch of the supernatural to attach itself to the Murder Dance and that didn't happen so for me it just came in under the very high bar I hold Rayne's work.
But having said that, this is a thumping good historical mystery thriller with engaging characters and Rayne's adept brushstrokes painting in evil and madness very well.
Trisha98 32

Quentin is the modern-day owner of The Tabor, the latest in a long ancestral line who have built and dwelled in the home. His cousin Zillah joins him as he surveys his new inheritance and makes plans to turn it into a restaurant. Zillah seethes with secret jealousy- The Tabor was meant to go to her, and she has more knowledge of its bloody past, making her feel as if she deserves to be its mistress. After a chance meeting with promotional agent Arabella, Quentin agrees to allow her to dig into The Tabor’s history with her partner, Phineas. What they find is a grisly past with repeating themes of death, madness, and a dance that ties them all together.
The story seems to have so much promise on the surface, but even with all the historic accounts and the shocking events, the language fell flat. Scenes that should have the reader on edge were conveyed in such a manner that it blended in with the mundane. Sometimes, the language was redundant – I even highlighted a paragraph that had two sentences that had the same exact meaning right after another. A keener edit would have done the book wonders.
Mysteries generally are plot driven, but since this book leaned heavily on its characters to move the story, it would have been appealing to have more character building around Phineas and Arabella. From what I gathered, Phineas seems to be the hero of this mystery series but introducing him so late in the story (chapter 4, about 15% into the book) made it so he didn’t get the reader’s investment that was already built for Quintin and Zillah. As for Quintin and Zillah, they essentially pushed aside for historical accounts. Lots of historical accounts. Maybe one or two too many.
I will say – pretty cool ending! But I won’t spoil it. Julie Carlson255 5

I had not read any of the Phineas Fox books, but thoroughly enjoyed The Murder Dance. I was hooked from the start with the gothic feel and the premise of a sinister dance associated with historic manor house. The plot centers on different time periods in the house's history -- the Elizabethan era, the early 1900s and the present.

In the present day, Quinton Rivers, a incredibly unable man, has inherited Tabor Hall and dreams of turning it into an upscale restaurant. He will share his bounty with his cousin, Zilla, who is furious that she didn't inherit and who is equally unable. (Quinton also is obsessed with Zilla. Ick!) Quinton asks Phin and his girlfriend Arabella to look into the house's history to uncover any potential publicity gems. The reader learns the history of the Tabor and its dance through "journal" entries written by earlier residents of the house.

I did struggle to categorize the book. It isn't quite a mystery in the classic sense of whodunit. But I felt the plot compelling and really Phin and Arabella. I look forward to reading other books in the series.

The Murder Dance will be released on Jan. 4. Thank you NetGalley, Canongate Books, Severn House, for the ARC. england historical-fiction mystery ...more Patricia805 4

When Quentin Rivers unexpectedly inherits a run down Elizabethan manor house he has many dreams and ideas what he can achieve...all involving his cousin Zillah. His regard for her is a little more than familial! Unknown to him Zillah knew all about the house, but had fully expected to inherit herself and sever ties with him.

As part of the plans Quentin recruits Phin Fox and his close friend Arabella to look into the history of the house and family. What they discover is the Cwellan Daunsen, a dance allegedly not performed for centuries. It seems whenever the dance is performed tragedy strikes and that when it comes to the Rivers family history has a habit of repeating.

Another great story from the criminally underrated Sarah Rayne. I've recommended her books to many people, and this one will not be breaking that trend. What I love about her books is that not only are they great stories they are also so evocative, you really can sink yourself into the past but also be invested in Phins investigation. Raynes prose is both elegant and direct-this author un other historical writers doesn't need 1200 pages to tell a story (Diana Gabaldon I'm talking to you!) As mentioned before I'd definitely recommend this. Hannelore Cheney1,251 27

Thank you Canongate, Severn House for the eARC.
This is my favorite Phineas Fox in the series, loved it!
Quentin Rivers has inherited an Elizabethan manor house, The Tabor. It's dilapidated, but he believes he can turn it into a posh restaurant, with donations from interested investors. Plus, he will share living quarters with his beloved niece Zilla. Zilla, who is furious ... she was supposed to inherit The Tabor! Outwardly sweet and dainty, her mind is working furiously as to how to become The Tabor's rightful owner.
Phineas and Arrabella travel to the manor, hoping to go back into time researching the family's background and a mysterious dance that was performed hundreds of years ago by them.
We follow the history via journals written by various people who lived in the manor or visited it. It turns out the manor and the Rivers family have a bloody and macabre past that stretches into the future.
Phineas is utterly absorbed with it all, as usual, while Arrabella works right along with him. I love Arrabella, especially when she has her klutzy moments, and I'm glad the two of them are closer than ever.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that I recommend highly! Annarella13.1k 146

A gripping, creepy and entertaining story in this excellent series.
It's a gothic novel, not a classic whodunit, and there're some moment which are borderline horror.
I was happy to catch up with Phineas, Annabelle and Toby as they are fleshed out and well written characters.
The plot is well crafted and I d the different part and the dark story of a family and of the Cwellan Daunsen
I would have preferred some paranormal element to turn the story into a true horror.
I enjoyed it and it's recommended.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are minehistorica-fiction netgalley netgalley2021 ...more1 Sue Wallace 6,541 81

The murder dance by Sarah Rayne.
Having unexpectedly inherited an Elizabethan manor house in rural Norfolk, the new owner Quentin Rivers has asked Phineas Fox to investigate the house's history. Phin soon becomes immersed in The Tabor's dark and mysterious past, and in the course of his research uncovers tales of a curious dance, the Cwellan Daunsen: a dance that has not been performed for centuries but whose strange legend still lingers. The dance has a dark side; whenever it took place, children were told to stay indoors - and on no account to look through their windows . . .
A really good read. Good characters. I did Quentin. This is the 4th book I've read of Sarah. 4*. Stefanie144 2

A gothic setting, compelling characters, and a devious plot combine for a lovely new entry into the series. (Also completely enjoyable as a standalone!) Unravelling the centuries-long history of the murder dance and Tabor hall is as enthralling as unravelling the mysteries of the psychology of this novel's characters.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an unbiased opinion.** Donna M528 6

First book in the series that I have read. It appealed to me because Phin is a music researcher and Arabella is also a scholar. I was drawn to this book because it centered on the reconstruction of a folk dance. But mostly irbid about a troubled family and I suppose I wanted more dance. Elisabeth135 4

This book is well written. Lots of adventure with tension and action. I the progression of Phin and Arabella’s relationship. I look forward to more in this series. Mimi2,162 3

3.5 Terri437

Did not finish Leeanne216 3

A Phineas Fox Mystery full of creepiness and evil. Set in Norfolk in the present time with flashbacks to earlier times.
Quentin Rivers inherits an old house called The Tabor. His cousin Zillah has grown up expecting that the old house will be hers when Osbert dies. I love the way evilness creeps into the relationship between Quentin and Zillah and how it is reflected in the history of the old house.
The Tabor is very old and in need of repairs. There is a lot of old stories about The Tabor and the people who had connections with its history and the people who used to live in the old house.
Phineas Fox and his two friends Arabella and Toby help with researching historical connections of the old house.
I loved the way the history of the old house is revealed. There are lots of secrets and evil intentions.

susan mead12

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