The Widows’ Guide to Foul Play by Amanda Ashby

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Widows' Guide to Foul Play" is the 5th instalment in The Widows' Detective Club Mystery series by Amanda Ashby, and it's another entertaining read. Set in the charming village of Little Shaw, England, the story follows the bond between the four widows as they navigate another intriguing mystery.  

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It’s pantomime season in Little Shaw, and librarian Ginny Cole has been roped in to help. The local theatre has persuaded national treasure and famously difficult diva, Monica Larkwell, to star in their production of Mother Goose, and while the celebrity’s return to the village after thirty years hasn’t exactly gone smoothly, at least nobody’s dead. Until, that is, Ginny discovers Monica’s body in her dressing room, crushed beneath a fallen chandelier.

Sure that this was no accident, Ginny gathers up the widows’ detective club and takes on the role of amateur sleuth. But between navigating Monica’s volatile entourage and unearthing secrets the actress spent decades trying to bury, this case is messier than anything Little Shaw has seen before. And then there’s the CCTV footage: the culprit was caught on camera, disguised in a giant, purple, feathered goose costume…

The widows have faced some strange cases, but a killer in a comedy bird suit…? But there’s nothing funny about murder, and if they don’t solve this case soon, it might be curtains for them all.

A wonderfully twisty and hilarious cozy mystery perfect for fans of Robert Thorogood, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett and The Thursday Murder Club series.

The characters are well-crafted and lovable, especially Ginny's mischievous cat, although he did not play as big of a part in this instalment.  I love the way things are progressing with all the characters especially Connor and the D.I.  

The quirky characters and sense of community in Little Shaw add to the novel's charm.

The mystery is well-plotted, with plenty of twists to keep readers engaged until the very end. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the outcome, and I managed to piece together the clues before Ginny did.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Amanda Ashby's writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Awl Shook Up by Paula Charles

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing Awl Shook Up book 4 in the A Hometown Hardware Mystery by Paula Charles .  

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Murder has hardware store owner Dawna Carpenter all shook up.

Pine Bluff, Oregon’s annual Winter Carnival is the perfect remedy for the cabin fever that has hit the town hard. Dawna pulls on her bobby socks for this year’s 50s-themed event, ready to relax and mingle after a long winter.

But with the angry high school French teacher spitting nails at half the town, the social event of the winter is anything but relaxing. What should have been a fun evening ends in disaster when Dawna’s daughter, April, finds the teacher sitting behind his desk, dead as a doornail. To make matters worse, his ghost is still in the classroom, unaware he’s just been murdered. With an ice storm in the forecast, Dawna must chisel out the clues to find the killer before there’s another nail in a coffin.

"Awl Shook Up" is a delightful cozy mystery set in the charming town of Pine Bluff, Oregon during the Winter Carnival. The story is engaging, well-written, and full of suspense, with a cast of lovable characters.

Dawna is a standout character, and her relatability and likeability make her a joy to read about. The way she feels the presence of her late husband and deceased pet adds a touching element to the story. I like the addition of Sierra and the new store The Sprouted Hearth …

The mystery is expertly woven, with plenty of suspects and twists to keep you guessing. I didn't suspect the killer until the very end, which made the reveal satisfying.

The blend of cozy mystery, rural suspense, and supernatural flair makes this book a standout in the genre. The setting is vivid, the characters are endearing, and the mystery is perfectly paced.

I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Level Best Books  and BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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Death at the Village Garden Party by Debbie Young

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Death at the Village Garden Party” the 4th instalment in The Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series by Debbie Young set in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, England. 

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Bunting. Fairground rides. Music... Murder. What more could you want from a garden party?

Alice Carroll is happily settled in the Cotswold village of Little Pride, running her beloved Curiosity Shop and cautiously planning the next chapter with her partner, Robert. So when Robert buys the neighbouring Cold Bottom estate, Alice offers to help him win over its eccentric residents by reviving the village’s once-loved summer garden party.

But between grumbling fairground workers, gloomy villagers and a downpour that would dampen anyone’s bunting, the day doesn’t quite go to plan.

Then a guest stumbles into the marquee – and he’s dead before his body hits the ground.

Can Alice untangle old rivalries and strange secrets to find the killer? Or will Cold Bottom’s fresh start end in another funeral.

In this instalment Robert buys the neighbouring Cold Bottom estate, Alice offers to help him win over its eccentric residents by reviving the village’s once-loved summer garden party. Alice’s mum shows up to help again and who knows maybe she will become a new resident in the village.

The mystery is engaging, with clever twists keeping me on the edge. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the killer's identity.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Debbie's writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,