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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"Really enjoyed this! I listened to the audiobook, and it was delightful! I was looking for something a bit lighter and this was perfect! It was funny and sweet and I'm looking forward to the next books in the series!"
— Michelle A. (5/5)
Captivating, witty, and entertaining!
"All Rise for Murder is a charming, addictive mystery that sweeps readers away to West Elk, BC, and into the lives of three Kirby women who each take it upon themselves to investigate the murder of a local gym owner when they can’t shake the feeling that the teenage boy arrested for the crime is not guilty. The writing is light and lively. The characters are quirky, intelligent, and impulsive. And the plot is a fast-paced whodunit brimming with family drama, friendship, danger, secrets, deception, amateur sleuthing, red herrings, and plenty of unexpected twists. All Rise for Murder is the first instalment in the Madam Clerk series by Nay, and it’s a fantastic choice for readers who love quaint settings, unique characters, and mysteries packed with charm, chaos, and heart."
— Zoe W. (4/5)
A heartwarming + humourous whodunnit!
"All Rise For Murder is the latest book by Canadian author Roz Nay and is a bit outside of Nay's usual twisty thriller genre and I was happy to see her stretch her literary muscles! This is a Canadian small-town mystery that allows Nay's sense of humour to shine. 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."
— The B. (4/5)
Q&A
Published date: May 12, 2026
Language: English
No. of Pages: 320
Publisher: Penguin Canada
ISBN: 9781037801877
Dimensions:
5.56" W x
0.82" L x
8.25" H
"Pulled me in quick and pinned me down with a wicked mix of intrigue, thrills, and laugh-out-loud moments. Whatever the Kirby Crime Crackers fall into next, I’ll be there." —Brent Butt
"A perfect cozy, Canadian-style. Roz Nay’s Kirby family—three generations of strong women under one roof—make an unbeatable investigative team. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to West Elk. All Rise for Madam Clerk!" —Kate Hilton, bestselling author of City of the Muse
"Exactly the funny who-done-it you’re looking for! Quirky characters, a small town in a cold place, a stone cold mystery that kept me guessing till the last twist. The Kirby gals are my new favorite amateur detectives. More please!" —Catherine Mack, #1 Canadian bestselling author of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies
"A brilliant slice of comfort reading all wrapped up in a delightfully juicy whodunnit, with wonderful characters and a plot to die for . . . literally! One of the absolute best cosy mysteries I've read in a very long time. Nay is on sparkling form." —Jonathan Whitelaw, author of All at Sea
ROZ NAY is the author of four bestselling and acclaimed thrillers: Our Little Secret, which won the Douglas Kennedy Prize for best foreign thriller in France, and was nominated for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Mystery and the Arthur Ellis Best First Novel Award; Hurry Home and The Hunted, which were both shortlisted for the Crime Writers of Canada Best Crime Novel award; and The Offing, which has been optioned for TV. All Rise for Murder is the first book in Roz's new Madam Clerk mystery series. Roz has lived and worked in Africa, Australia, the US, and the UK. She now lives in BC, Canada, with her husband and two children.
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