"Murder at Black Oaks", by Phillip Margolin

Robin Lockwood book # 6

In this latest Mr. Margolin tells us that he wanted to write a story in the style of Agatha Christie and to personalized the experience give it his own twists. I think he did a great job, “Murder at the Black Oaks” harkens back to some of the great mystery writers Agatha Christie would be happy with this one.

Attorney Robin Lockwood finds herself at an isolated retreat in the Oregon Mountains, one with a tragic past and a legendary curse now own by a retired and eccentric lawyer. Lockwood is needed by Frank Melville in a legal matter: righting a wrongful conviction of Jose Alvarez in the murder of his girlfriend. Melville wants her to help in getting that conviction overturned.

Spooky indeed, a Manor at the end of a remote location, a dark and stormy night, a washed up road, a faulty elevator, strange happenings, a mansion packed with guests, corridors behind walls and murders, etc....many more surprises awaits the guests.... Brrrr. Throughout the plot line, we are led to false trails and impossible outcomes. When body count mounted I tried to figure out who may be behind...when motive and the obvious clues surfaced I had no troubles guessing the whodunit ...although the reveal came at the last minute...yippee, I had guess right. I admit, Mr. Margolin created an atmosphere of the haunted, the curse with werewolves and boogie men...

I loved how I was taken on an eerie journey from start to finish and I enjoyed every minutes of it. Well-done.

I received this ARC from St-Martin Press via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.