A Country Meadow Murder - Katie Gayle

Julia loves donning her gardening gloves for the first blooms of spring. But when out working in the local wildflower meadow, she does not expect to find a dead body…!

Spring has come to Berrywick, and Julia Bird is determined to enjoy the fine weather. But not all life is in flower when she stumbles across the body of building expert Basil Crow next to a bright yellow digger. And Julia believes this is no accident.

Julia’s suspicions are confirmed when forensics report a brutal blow to the head. Julia soon learns from pie shop owner, and Basil’s first wife Delilah, that he was not widely liked and left behind three failed marriages. Could one of his ex-wives have wanted revenge? Julia’s friend Tabitha was in a neighbourly dispute with him after he blocked her car in her driveway. But is this motive enough to kill?

Then local choir singer Esmeralda is found dead in the woods. The police think the murders are unconnected. Unlike Basil, Esmeralda was a well-loved soul. Who would want her dead? Digging for clues, Julia realises that both victims had a link to the proposed redevelopment of the meadow Basil was found in. But would someone really kill to save it? Can Julia find the murderer before someone else is pushing up the daisies?

A page-turning and totally charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries!

My Review

I can't believe that we're up to book nine in this series. You would think that by this stage it might have started to drag and get a bit same-y, but it hasn't. Yes, this is a classic style murder mystery, so you are always going to get a level of, not predictability exactly, but it does conform to the style. Still, each one is new in its own way and makes for a really enjoyable read.

This time, Julia finds yet another body, this one connected to the development of a nearby meadow, which is being dug up and turned into a shopping centre. It might seem obvious that some people might object to that, even going as far as murder, but there seems to be more to it than that.

I really enjoyed this latest instalment. I didn't quite manage to solve it before Julia, but I was heading in the right direction. I love this series and can't wait to return to Berrywick again soon.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Death in a Scottish Tower - Lydia Travers

One body falling from a tower could be considered an accident, but two is definitely murder… And Lady Poppy Proudfoot is determined to find the culprit!

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot is invited to Glasgow University to celebrate a scholarship she generously established, she’s excited to return to her old stomping grounds. But the delightful champagne reception is interrupted by screams when a body plunges from the tower to the ground below…

While everyone exclaims at the tragic death of the young student, Poppy is instantly suspicious. Just moments before the body fell, tutor Mary Christie told her a student died falling from the very same tower eighteen years ago. Convinced another death is no accident, Poppy and the distractingly handsome Inspector MacKenzie begin to investigate.

As they do, they discover the murderer left behind clues – a threatening note referring to the death eighteen years ago, and a replica of the previous victim’s dress. Could it be Malcolm Kennedy, the porter with a grudge against privileged students? Or Mrs Lorimer, the jealous wife of a professor, who has a deft hand with a needle and thread? Or perhaps Mary Christie, who told Poppy about the first death, and might know more than she’s letting on?

When another young female student is found dead, Poppy knows that time is running out. And when she receives an anonymous note, asking her to climb the tower at midnight, she is terrified of what she might find. Can Poppy unveil the murderer before she, too, plunges to her certain death?

A gripping and page-turning whodunnit, this historical cozy crime novel is perfect for fans of the mysteries of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey and Catherine Coles.

My Review

Death in a Scottish Tower is the third book in the Lady Poppy Proudfoot mystery series. This time, Poppy finds herself with another dead body while visiting Glasgow University, where she has set up a scholarship for women. She quickly throws herself into investigating and assists the charming and handsome Inspector MacKenzie, whom she is quickly falling for.

I like the balance of murder, historical setting and romance in these books. It's obvious that eventually something is going to happen between Lady Poppy and her Inspector (who asks her to call him James), and I enjoy this element of the story as well as the mystery side.

I didn't think that this one was too hard to solve, and I got to the bottom of things before either Poppy or Inspector MacKenzie. That's half the fun with these kinds of reads, though. I much prefer those that I can at least try to solve. 

I'm sure that we'll be back with Poppy and her handsome inspector before long, and I'll be interested to see what she has to solve next and if she manages to progress her romance with the inspector. I'm sure that anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery would enjoy Death in a Scottish Tower. 

Murder in a Cornish Teashop - Fliss Chester

A Cornish clifftop, a sunny afternoon, a quaint little teashop… but wait a minute. Is that jam, or blood? Maddie Penrose is determined to find out!

Maddie Penrose is staying with her beloved grandmother, Nor, at her gorgeously idyllic Cornish farm. She’s looking forward to days helping out in Nor’s little teashop and evenings wandering down the cliff path to watch the sunset. But before Maddie has even finished serving up scones on her first morning, a man bursts through the door: Nor’s neighbour Clive has found a body in the field behind the teashop…

Maddie is straight to the scene, fancying herself as a bit of an Agatha Christie. But solving this mystery is far from a piece of cake. Her list of suspects is jam-packed with locals, with some a little too close to home: the newcomer renting out one of Nor’s barns is acting suspiciously, the victim’s boyfriend has disappeared without trace, and Clive isn’t really Maddie’s cup of tea either…

But the proof is in the pudding when there’s another murder – her prime suspect is dead. And when Maddie finds a backpack belonging to the first murder victim, her diligent notetaking and quick thinking leads her to discover that the killer will act again, and soon. Maddie is horrified to discover that it looks like she is their next target…

Can Maddie and Nor work as a team to piece together the puzzle? Or will murdering Maddie be the icing on the cake for the killer?

A totally addictive, witty and warm cozy mystery that will keep you reading late into the night, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright.

My Review

There is always a bit of trepidation when it comes to starting a new series by an author whose previous books you've loved. Will it be as good? Are you ready to move on from previous characters and start something new and different? Do I really just want more of the same?

I've already read all of the Cressida Fawcett and Fen Churche books by Fliss Chester and really loved them, so I was both excited and slightly nervous about giving this new series a go. Of course, I shouldn't have been concerned. I was drawn quickly into the unfolding mystery and loved this new setting. Unlike previous series, this isn't a historical murder mystery, but it was still really good. We've got a great cast of supporting characters. I particularly liked both Maddie's Gran and the two cats who seem to get the blame for anything that goes wrong around the farm. Most of all, though, I enjoyed the interactions between Maddy and 'her policeman', and I'm looking forward to seeing how that develops in future books.

I had more or less solved the mystery before Maddy, although there were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I liked the way it all fit into the small community that Maddy has come to live in with her grandmother.

I'm really looking forward to more in this series, although I still hope we might get more of Cressida and Fen in the future, as I've really enjoyed both of those series so far, too.