The story is centred around three generations of Kirby women: Matriarch Val, the fashionable clothing store owner looking for love, her daughter Maude who has come home after her marriage imploded, and Maude's teenage daughter Rhette who isn't happy about being dragged to a small town. When Maude gets a job as a court clerk and believes a young man is wrongly accused of murder, the trio decide to prove his innocence, each having her own ideas on how to solve the murder.
With a hearty dose of messy family life, small-town drama and a trio of women who can't keep their noses out of trouble, this was an entertaining and quirky small-town mystery. For me, the family dynamics overshadowed the mystery a bit in the middle, but Nay gives wonderful depth to her characters, some poignant moments and an ending that surprised this seasoned mystery lover.
Heartwarming, with bouts of humour, this first book in a new whodunnit series doesn't take itself too seriously and brings readers along for a fun ride of family dynamics and small-town mystery.
Disclaimer: Thanks to Viking Books for the complimentary digital advanced copy that was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Author: Roz Nay
Genre: Mystery, Cozy, Canadian
Series: Madam Clerk Mystery 1
Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley
Publisher: Viking (PRHC)
First Published: May 12, 2026
Read: May 2-13, 2026
Book Description from GoodReads: A truly Canadian cozy mystery, All Rise for Murder finds three generations of Kirby women suddenly under one roof in charming West Elk—just as the peaceful town seems to become the centre of a devious plot to frame an innocent young man for murder.
Maude Kirby has recently been dumped by her diplomat husband and has moved back to her quirky hometown of West Elk, BC, to live with her ever-optimistic, fashion-forward mother, Val. On the ropes financially, and with her confrontational fifteen-year-old daughter, Rhette, to look after, Maude applies for a clerking job at the local courthouse, and to her surprise, gets it. How hard can it be?
Told to remain professional during court cases, Maude nevertheless finds it impossible not to get emotionally invested when eighteen-year-old Levi is charged with poisoning a local gym owner. No one else seems concerned that the prosecution’s case rests on dubious "facts," but Maude can’t help speaking up for the quiet teen. Things get more complicated when Maude runs into her first love, who appears to have aged very well—and also appears to be dating Maude's prime suspect!
Reminiscent of beloved mysteries such as The Maid, The Thursday Murder Club, and Finlay Donovan is Killing It, All Rise for Murder features quirky characters, old grudges, hidden crushes, surprising twists, and a satisfying ending that will leave the reader eager for the next installment of the Madam Clerk series.
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