A Pint of Murder
In a quiet small town in New Brunswick, old Agatha Treadway makes one last cranky complaint to her niece before dying on her kitchen floor. The cause seems to be a jar of contaminated string beans, which sat on Agatha's basement shelf for years before becoming her final meal. The town doctor calls it a tragic accident—and a warning to all who can their own vegetables—but Agatha's neighbor, the intrepid Janet Wadman, knows better. Agatha was an expert canner, which means the beans must have been placed there by someone else. This was murder.
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My Review
Four Stars — Good Read
A Pint of Murder by Charlotte MacLeod is a fun little mystery that immerses readers into the quirky world of its characters, its New Brunswick setting, and its small-town plot right from the start. The novel opens with one of the most effectively funny death scenes I've ever read, literally hooking me with the first paragraph.
While not my favorite of MacLeod's works, this book introduces RCMP officer Rhys Madoc—a self-deprecating and highly likeable protagonist who stands out among a cast of otherwise difficult characters. Although his love interest, Janice, is also pleasant, her characterization suffers from a lack of depth, appearing almost too perfect to be believable.
Macleod masterfully manages clue distribution throughout the narrative without prematurely revealing the culprit. However, given the nature of the characters, the sense of satisfaction upon identifying the murderer is somewhat tempered by a lingering wish that Madoc could have brought a few more of the story’s unpleasant individuals to justice.
The pacing of A Pint of Murder is a notable strength, maintaining engagement throughout the story without feeling rushed or sluggish. While the budding romance between Madoc and Janet adds an interesting dynamic, the failure to escalate the romance into anything other than Madoc eating what Janet feeds him feels dated and somewhat contrived. However, this minor issue does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the plot.
While this older, simple mystery might be a turnoff for some readers looking for more nuanced character development or a less formulaic approach to mysteries, in my opinon, A Pint of Murder is a well-paced and intriguing mystery that balances clever plotting with genuinely fun moments, keeping the reader engaged until the murderer is led away in cuffs.
June 23, 2026
Added to catalog: April 3, 2026
Last updated: April 3, 2026