The Campervan Detectives - Maeve Haran

 Fearless, feisty and at the wheel of her bright orange campervan, newly-single Sadie is about to enter a new era… as a detective?!

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Having failed to stop a balaclava-wearing suspect disappearing from the scene into the night, Sadie can’t help but take matters into her own hands. The victim, retired headmistress Charlotte Woolf, was well known around Winching for her sharp tongue – rumours suggest she was particularly disliked by her own husband! But he swears he doesn’t even like killing snails by mistake…

With the enthusiastic help of three women at the campsite who have all embraced Van Life, Sadie starts sleuthing. Who was sending Charlotte anonymous bunches of flowers that had her rattled? Do the members of the local sea swimming club hold a vital clue? Sadie and her friends are on the right track… until their prime suspect ends up dead in his garden shed!

Can Sadie get to the root of the problem and stop the killer before the next person is buried? Or will her fresh new chapter end with her driving her campervan back the way she came?

First in a brilliant new series from bestselling author Maeve Haran, this warm, witty and absolutely unputdownable cosy crime novel is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood.

My Review

I love the idea of this murder mystery. After finding her husband and best friend in bed together, Sadie sells her car, buys a camper van and disappears off to the small town she used to visit when she was a child. Who wouldn't want to just give up on everything like that and escape? It all goes a bit wrong when she stumbles across a dead body on her first night there.

I loved the way that Sadie meets up with and befriends a group of women who all live in their campervans. Not only does she have a whole group of women she can rely on, but they work together to solve the mystery. I loved that. 

This is the first book in the series and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Sadie and her friends. 

Murder at the Cornish Book Club - Fliss Chester

 Join Maddie Penrose, scone baker, book lover and amateur sleuth, in her new home by the Cornish seaside. A member of her local book club has been murdered, and she’s on the case!

Maddie Penrose is settling into Cornish life with her fun and feisty grandmother, Nor. She throws herself into getting to know the locals, helping out at the village book club and enjoying the occasional G&T in the pub with handsome police officer DI Tom Trevelyan. But one sunny morning, her newfound peace is shattered when she spots Quentin, a member of the book club… dead, with a knife in his back.

To Maddie’s surprise, it transpires that almost all the other members of the book club have a motive to murder Quentin. Quentin’s own wife, a fellow reader, seems to be hiding something. The local romance author isn’t all sweetness and light, and another writer is keeping secrets. But is one of the book lovers in the sleepy seaside village really responsible for Quentin’s untimely death?

No sooner has the ink dried on the page of the first killing, another takes place – and the second victim is also a member of the book club! As Maddie frantically scrambles to get her clues down in black and white, she unearths a discovery connected to Nor. Is her gran the next victim on the list?

Can Maddie rescue Nor before her story ends in murder too? Or will the killer have the last word?

My Review

This may only be the second in the Maddie Penrose series, but I already feel as though we know Maddie, her gran and 'her' policeman quite well. This is a great series, set in beautiful Cornwall. Maddie herself is both intuitive and chaotic, and that adds to her charm and likability.

This time, Maddie finds herself thrown into another murder investigation after the discovery of a body at a dawn swim. It seems that many people have reason to want the dead man out of the way, but it's not immediately obvious if any of them would want it enough to actually commit murder.

I love Maddie's less-than-perfect approach to trying to figure out what happened. She scribbles notes in her grandmother's recipe books in a way that I'm sure only she might be able to make sense of them.

This is a great series, and I'm looking forward to finding out what might be next for this cook and amateur sleuth.

The Book Club Murders - Maggie Allswell

What Judy’s book club doesn’t know about murder mysteries isn’t worth writing about. Nothing beats cracking a fictional case over some wine and salt and vinegar crisps. But can they put their puzzle-solving skills to the test when the local librarian dies in a real-life murder?

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

My Review

Murder with a Side of Grits - Skylar Warren

Welcome to Honeybee’s diner, where the scent of butter and garlic wraps itself around you, thick and comforting. Jessie Haynes’ homestyle cooking feeds the hearts and souls of the good people of Willow Bluff. Until someone puts murder on the menu!

Y’all are invited to dig into a steamin’ plate of meatloaf. The diner’s well-worn red chairs have cradled folks from every corner of Willow Bluff—Jessie’s podcasting bestie, Tee, Old Mr Higgins, two mighty mischievous kittens, Biscuits and Gravy, and every tattling townsperson in between—so when the mayor turns blue after a bite of Jessie’s famous shrimp and grits, she finds herself in seriously hot water…

Suddenly, all eyes are swivelled toward Jessie. For fifty years her family has fed Willow Bluff, and Jessie won’t let one mouthful shatter the legacy of her grandmother’s secret recipes. The mayor’s peanut allergy was the talk of the town, so when traces are found in his food, Jessie must fight to clear her name.

An empty peanut packet in the diner’s pantry has Jessie and Tee hot on the heels of the murderer when another case of food tampering occurs at a nearby bakery. Someone is dishing out delicious death sentences—but how many locals will get served before Jessie can crack the case? Her investigation must be a recipe for success or Honeybee’s will be toast…

This unputdownable and addictive cozy mystery is full of Southern charm, a gripping whodunnit and a feisty amateur sleuth. It’s perfect for fans of Ellery Adams, R. L. Killmore and Joanne Fluke.

My Review

I've rounded this one up from 3 and a half stars. The main reason for this is that the book is very much a story of two halves. The first half drags. Nothing happens, or at least things do happen, but it gets buried in all of the filler. I was seriously considering giving up, but once I hit the 50% mark, the story picked up hugely, and things moved along at a much faster pace.

I think part of the slowness is down to the continual food references and descriptions. I think the only books I have read that come close to the amount of food talk would be the Famous Five with their lashings of ginger beer and picnics galore, partly excused by them being written at a time of rationing. Of course, not being familiar with the foods doesn't help. Grits? I'm not sure anything could sound less appetising, based on the name at least.

Once the sleuthing was properly underway, I enjoyed this cosy mystery. The reveal made sense, and I enjoyed that part of it. I think if I were to read another in the series, I'd need a little less padding and a bit faster pace.

A Body at the Irish Book Club - Lucy Connelly

The Shamrock Cove Autumn Festival is filling the town with the delicious aroma of cinnamon-filled pastries, the cheerful sight of jaunty jack o’lanterns and… a body at the local book club

Mercy McCarthy is delighted to see old neighbors and new friends come to the bookstore to support her sister’s autumn book club. But as Mercy closes the chapter on the evening, she stumbles across local grandmother Eva, lifelessly slumped in a squashy armchair at the back of the store.

She recognizes Eva as one of the festival’s main organizers and though she looks to be at peace, the plot thickens when Mercy notices a suspicious mark on her neck. She knows this was no accident. With so many people in the store that night, any one of them could be the killer.

Just as Mercy reads a suspicious-sounding entry for the festival’s fiction-writing contest, another body turns up on the beach. Is someone in Shamrock Cove dying for a bestseller?

It’s up to Mercy and her crime-solving canine companion Mr. Poe to sniff out the suspects before another victim is taken. Could the murderer be the garden center owner who dabbles in chemistry? Eva’s ne’er-do-well grandson-in-law? Or the local busybody who has an opinion about everybody?

Mercy has to hit the books—and the streets of Shamrock Cove—to solve the mystery before the killer has the last word.

An utterly addictive Irish cozy mystery in a small town full of quirky neighbors, charming festivals and one unstoppable amateur detective. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will love meeting Mercy McCarthy!

My Review

Of all the places you might think that you're unlikely to be murdered, I would think that a book club, in a book shop, would have to be up there. Of course, if it's the book shop that Mercy McCarthy and her sister run, then you might think differently, as she seems to have a habit of stumbling across the recently deceased. Fortunately, she also seems to have made a habit of solving the crimes and getting to the bottom of who might be behind the murders.

I think my solving rate is pretty hit and miss in this series. I had no clue this time, although I'm sure I've had better success in the past. There were plenty of clues and hints here, but I didn't manage to pick all of them up.

I really enjoy this series; there is a nice cast of supporting characters, and as Mercy starts to get even closer to local law enforcement and her sister even shows signs of having her broken heart mended, I'm enjoying the way that these stories develop. I'm sure it won't be long before we're back for another murder, and I, for one, am looking forward to reading all about it.

The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach - Karen C.Whalen

 If you are looking for a quirky amateur sleuth with a knack for comedy, The Fatal Flotilla at Sea Oats Beach is right for you. This mystery is filled with laughs, twists, and an unforgettable lead character.

The dazzling lights of the Christmas Flotilla shimmer across Sea Oats Beach, transforming the December night into a twinkling wonderland. But for Breanna Hart, the brilliance dims when she discovers a gunshot fatality on an abandoned boat. The victim, known for his generosity in the animal welfare community, seems an unlikely target, making the suspicion cast upon one of Bree’s own neighbors all the more perplexing.

Driven by a connection to the victim’s love for animals and her own pursuit of truth, Bree begins a fact-finding mission. As an animal shelter volunteer, she sees a chance not only to solve the case but also to help a bloodhound named Tracker. If he can pick up overlooked clues, Bree hopes the police will train him as a K-9 detection dog and give him the forever home he deserves.

As Christmas Day approaches, Bree’s holiday plans compete with her investigation. Every question she asks edges her closer to a vicious killer who is definitely not feeling the holiday vibe.

My Review

Who doesn't love a good cosy mystery? The Fatal Flotilla certainly fits into that category. Our heroine, Bree, might not intend to be a sleuth, but when she finds a body on board a seemingly abandoned boat, she can't help but try to figure out what had happened.

One of the joys of this kind of story is trying to figure out whodunnit yourself. This time around I was completely barking up the wrong tree. I'd convinced myself that there were clues throughout the story that pointed to one particular person; to be fair, there were, but I just picked up the wrong clues and the wrong person. That didn't stop me from really enjoying this read, though.

This is the second book I've read in the Sea Oats Beach mystery series, and I'm sure that it won't be the last. I'm really enjoying them and look forward to reading more in the future.

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.

The Last One Alive - H.K. Christie

She glances in the rearview mirror as the stranger walks towards her broken-down car. The wicked look on his face sends a chill up her spine and she knows he’s not here to help. She doesn’t have time to scream before she falls to the ground, and the darkening sky goes black.

When the lifeless body of a young girl is discovered at an abandoned warehouse close to Red Rose County, FBI Agent Val Costa races to investigate. Setting eyes on the victim, Val’s heart stops as she spots the jagged letter S carved into her ice-cold chest. Slowly, she runs her fingers across her own identical scar. She’s been waiting for the Bear to leave his mark again, and now he finally has.

Determined to catch the man who’s haunted her dreams for years, Val promises to end his killing spree once and for all, but when more bodies are found bearing the same deadly carving, she fears she may already be too late. And then Val receives a call that turns her blood to ice—her best friend Sally is missing, and the killer has left a note addressed to her. Follow these rules and she lives.

Desperate to find Sally, Val faces her biggest challenge yet. Will she need to defy orders and track down the Bear alone before it’s too late?

Fans of Lisa Regan, L.T. Ryan and Mary Stone won’t be able to put down this totally heart-racing crime thriller.

My Review

Last One Alive is the third book in the Val Costa series and I think the best so far. From the first page I was on the edge of my seat. Through the other four books, we have followed Val as she has helped the local police department solve murders, but all the time the shadow of the bear, the serial killer she was chasing and who abducted her before she left the FBI.

In this fourth (and final?) book, Val is once again face-to-face with the bear. He's been following her all this time and is now completely obsessed. It's clear that this is a final showdown and that only one of them is going to come out of this alive.

I loved this final conclusion to Val's story. I couldn't put it down and devoured the whole thing in just a couple of sittings. (Had I had more time, it would have been just one sitting.) A fantastic conclusion to a really great series. 

H.K. Christie

H.K. Christie is an Amazon bestselling crime novelist best known for her Martina Monroe crime thriller series. H.K.’s writing style is a gripping blend of suspense and pace. Her ability to craft complex plots creates a dynamic ebb and flow of tension that keeps readers captivated and eager for more. Inspired by true crime and social justice, she develops realistic, multidimensional characters that bridge the gap between fiction and reality. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and feisty pup, Charlie.

Murder on the Clock by Lucy Connelly

 The town of Shamrock Cove is gearing up for a grand summer festival… but the fête turns fatal when a clockmaker is killed. Can amateur sleuth Mercy McCarthy crack the case?

When Mercy McCarthy takes her beloved mother’s watch to be fixed, she’s completely charmed by the little repair store and the father-and-son duo who run it. Little does she know that the clock is ticking… when she returns, she finds the father lying unconscious amid broken glass, and her mother’s watch is missing.

The police think Mr. Flynn was attacked in a burglary gone wrong but soon suspects closer to home start coming out of the clockwork. Mercy, her sister, and their canine sidekick, master body sniffer-outer Mr. Poe, set out to gather clues and help the local detective find the killer.

Could it be the family next door to the Flynns who’ve been feuding for decades? His fiercest rival, who’s long dreamed of shutting him down? Or was his son less devoted than he seemed? As the hours tick away, another murder and the discovery of a long-buried secret changes everything…

The summer festival is fast approaching. Can Mercy solve the mystery in the nick of time, or will someone stop her clock?

A completely charming and page-turning Irish cozy mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will absolutely love the Mercy McCarthy series!

My Review

Murder on the Clock by Lucy Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can't believe we're up to book four already, I'm really enjoying these Mercy McCarthy books. This time, Mercy stumbles across the body of the clock repairman in her village. She seems to have a knack for finding recently murdered, or in this case, very injured bodies and once she has, she can't help but try and investigate.
This time, the local detective inspector, who usually tries to put her off helping out, actually lets her join in and assist him. Partly because he's short-staffed due to flu, but also, because he's hoping that their relationship might develop into something new and exciting.
I didn't manage to solve this one at all, but thankfully Mercy was on the scene and able to get to the bottom of things. I did also really enjoy the progression of her relationship with Detective Inspector Kieran, which I'm really enjoying. A great read and I'm looking forward to more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.


View all my reviews

Lucy Connelly

Bestselling author Candace Havens has published more than 25 books. Her novels have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion, Write Touch Reader Awards and National Reader’s Choice Awards. She is a Barbara Wilson Award winner. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. Candace runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2000 writers and teaches comprehensive writing classes. She does film reviews with Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.

Murder in the Winter Woods - Katie Gayle

 Julia Bird adores a walk on a winter’s day. The crunch of fresh show under your feet and the promise of hot cocoa by a roaring fire afterwards… But she’s not expecting to find a body in the woods!

It’s Christmas in Berrywick, the busiest time of year for dashing taxi driver Lewis. But when he’s killed in a road accident, the entire village is shaken. Julia Bird, recently appointed to the Road Safety Committee, visits the site so that no other villager suffers the same fate. But when she spies a pendant left in the bushes, she feels certain Lewis’s death was no accident…

As the festive lights twinkle in the village square, Julia vows to uncover the truth. She soon learns not everyone found Lewis’s charm appealing. Sweetshop owner Dora says he had an eye for the ladies, much to his wife’s frustration. Lewis recently gave his life savings to a mysterious businessman who proves difficult to track down. But could these be reasons enough to want him dead?

Then, local beekeeper Matthew is struck by a car near the Christmas market. Julia believes the two deaths must be linked, but contrary to Lewis, Matthew was as sweet as the honey he sold. Who could possibly want to hurt Berrywick’s kindest man?

With no obvious leads, Julia stumbles upon an old picture that finally links Lewis and Matthew. Many years ago they were in a band poised for stardom, but when the bubble burst, their chance at fame vanished quicker than a glass of festive eggnog. Could someone be targeting the band members one by one? And can Julia track them down before the killer strikes again?

An utterly gripping 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 think that I say this after every book, but these Julia Bird Mysteries just get better and better. This time, Julia manages to stumble across two bodies and it soon becomes clear that there is a link between the two deaths.

It's been beautifully warm here, which seems a little strange when you're reading a book set at Christmas, that doesn't really matter though. It might have even helped cool me down very slightly. I think if you can, though, this would be a great read on a cold day.

I was feeling quite smug, as I was fairly confident that I'd solved this mystery before Julia had managed to. I wasn't wrong, but I will admit that I wasn't completely right either and might have changed my a few times here and there before the end.

This was another great instalment in the Julia Bird series. I can't wait to see what she gets up to next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Author Bio:

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both made their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats. 

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A Very Bookish Murder - Dee Macdonald

 Welcome back to the tiny Highland village of Locharran, where Ally McKinley – guesthouse owner and accidental detective – is about to stumble upon another dead body… and her next case.

When Ally McKinley hears that well-known novelist Jodi Jones is going to host a writers’ retreat at the hotel just down the road, she’s delighted to offer rooms at her little guesthouse for some of the attendees. Ally is thrilled to join the group for one of their first sessions – but the retreat has barely begun before she finds the famous writer strangled in the ladies’ bathroom!

The cake tin and teapot come out at the little guesthouse in the Highlands as Ally begins to question her bookish guests. Accusations of plagiarism and infidelity start flying and it’s clear that more than one of the retreat attendees had a grudge against Jodi. But could any of them have resorted to murder?

When Ally discovers a diary in Jodi’s bedroom at the guesthouse with several pages ripped out of it, she thinks she’s close to cracking the case. But the plot thickens when another of the aspiring writers is found dead, only hours after she said she knew the identity of Jodi’s killer.

Not only is the murderer still in Locharran, they’re desperate to stop Ally getting to the truth. With her faithful puppy Flora by her side, can Ally unravel the clues and solve the mystery before she’s written out of the story for good?

A totally gripping and bookish cozy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands from bestselling author Dee MacDonald. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase.

My Review

A Very Bookish Murder is the third in the Ally McKinley Mystery series. This time we join Ally when she is playing host at her B and B to a group of writers who are all in the area for a course. Unfortunately, as seems to happen when Ally is around, one of their number falls victim to murder.

I have to admit that this time, I completely failed to spot the murderer. There were plenty of clues and hints that all made sense when it came to the big reveal. However, I didn't make the connection as the story unfolded. Ally, at least was on the ball and although her hidden mystery solving board on the back of a painting didn't quite get her the right result, she was able to put together all of the other clues better than I was.

Fortunately, my enjoyment of the story was in no way diminished by my inability to solve it. I'm really enjoying this series and I am looking forward to finding out what murder Ally manages to find herself in the middle of next time.

Author Bio:

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.

She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70!

Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

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Murder on a Scottish Island by Lydia Travers

 A dead body and a missing sapphire pendant? Lady Poppy Proudfoot is on the case!

Scotland, 1924: When Lady Poppy Proudfoot is invited to her friend’s hotel on the Isle of Skye, she is looking forward to a holiday. But all thoughts of relaxing vanish when she discovers the body of a strangled woman in a church.

The police believe the widow’s death was a robbery gone wrong, as a pendant was stolen from the scene. But Poppy is sure it’s murder. Ignoring the police’s warnings to keep her nose out, she enlists her friend Inspector MacKenzie, and her loyal Labrador, Major, to unpick the case.

Poppy suspects one of the hotel’s guests knows more about the murder than they are willing to admit. Could it be Miss Buccleugh, the avid button collector? Or the travelling guru, who conveniently disappeared just after the murder? Or was it Mr Henderson, so desperate for money he was driven to murder?

When Poppy sees the victim’s sapphire pendant on the neck of another guest, she is convinced the killer is targeting widows in the hotel, and luring them in with jewellery. But to prove her theory, she will have to offer herself up as bait. It’s risky, but her only way of catching the killer… Can Poppy con a con-man, and make it out alive? Or will she be the next wealthy widow on the killer’s list?

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

My Review

Murder on a Scottish Island is the second in the Lady Poppy Proudfoot series. There are all the elements here: A plucky, female amateur detective, a fun pet dog, a dashing male detective and a murder mystery to solve.

Poppy is very keen to try and solve the mystery herself and starts to track down clues straight away when she discovers a dead body. She does seem to see herself as a professional detective, even though her previous experience is only what she gained in the previous book and her ability to accidentally find murder victims.

I enjoyed this, but at the same time, there were a few little niggles for me. Poppy is a little bit too keen and full of her abilities. I also found her continual lusting after the inspector a little bit much. I prefer a slow burn romance in a murder mystery series, but Poppy seems ready to rip both of their clothes off and dive on him at any minute. Major, the dog is fantastic though.

This is a good, solid, second book and I will be keen to read the next one, despite my misgivings.

Author Bio:

Lydia Travers was born in London.  She moved progressively north until settling with her husband in a village on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. She has raised children, bred dogs and kept chickens; and for as long as she can remember has written for pleasure. A former legal academic and practitioner with a PhD in criminology, she now runs self-catering holiday accommodation, sings in a local choir and is walked daily by the family dog.

Lydia also writes as Linda Tyler and her first novel under that name, Revenge of the Spanish Princess, won a 2018 Romance Writers of America competition for the beginning of an historical romance. Her second novel The Laird's Secret was Commended in the 2021 Scottish Association of Writers' Pitlochry Quaich competition for the beginning of a romantic novel. Mischief in Midlothian won the 2022 Scottish Association of Writers' Constable Silver Stag trophy. She has had a number of short stories published in magazines, journals and anthologies in the UK, the USA and Australia.

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