The Morella Chalice, a beautiful item up for auction, is said to bring death to all those who own it. In a heated bidding war, billionaire Alex Haywood wins the prize, intending to give it to his daughter on her wedding day, only to become the next victim in its curse. Was it the Morella Chalice that took his life or was it the work of a very human murderer? That is the question posed in Murder Behind the Music: An Irish Murder Mystery by Andrew Higgins. It is the third book in The Blaine & Meredith Murder Mystery Series.

Demelza Blaine wears many hats at the local magazine, the Killnakree Herald, one of which is the society page. She somehow receives a wedding invitation to the biggest celebrity wedding of the year, between Miracle Haywood and Simon Kent, to be held at Dalton Manor. She is touring the manor and visiting with the groom when a scream echoes from somewhere upstairs. They race up to find Miracle holding the body of her father, Alex Haywood, stabbed between his shoulder blades with a letter opener. Demelza immediately calls her partner, Detective  Inspector Gideon Meredith, to report it.

In addition to Alex’s death, investigators discover that the room’s safe has been emptied of the chalice and several other valuable items. There were hundreds of guests on the premises waiting for the wedding, but only a select few had access to the manor’s private rooms. Once the list is narrowed down, the investigators delve into the logical list of suspects and their motives for murder, and more than one hidden secret is revealed in the process. Demelza and Gideon have their work cut out for them.

When I first started reading, I was concerned that the detailed descriptions of the scenery and clothing might slow the story down, but I was pleasantly surprised. Instead, they enhanced the contrast between the elegance and luxury surrounding the wedding and the ugliness of the crime itself. Mr. Higgins does an excellent job of guiding the reader through the clues without drawing obvious attention to any one suspect. The mystery remains engaging throughout, and by the end, I was still trying to figure out who committed the murder, which is a mystery buff’s bread and butter.

Overall, Murder Behind the Music is an entertaining whodunit filled with intrigue, secrets, and plenty of suspects. The Irish setting, memorable characters, and well-crafted mystery make for an enjoyable read. Fans of traditional murder mysteries who appreciate a fair-play puzzle and a satisfying investigation will likely find this book a rewarding addition to the series. Since this is my first time reading this series, I will definitely go back to pick up books one and two.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to the author, Andrew Higgins, for allowing me to read this ARC.