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The Bingo Hall Detectives #2
The Village Hall Vendetta: Can you solve the clues in this fiendish cosy crime novel?
The Lake District: stunning scenery, charming towns and … murder most wicked? The people of Penrith are delighted when local businessman, Hal Mulberry, succeeds in his childhood dream of buying the world famous painting, Buttermere at Dawn. And he’s determined not to keep it to himself, but to bring it back to the Lake District where it belongs and put it on show. Hal has a plan to turn Penrith Village Hall into a cultural hotspot – with the painting at its heart. But not everyone is pleased… Journalist Jason Brazel is delighted to get the exclusive story from Hal. Even if his mother in law, Amita, thinks he’s making a lot of fuss about an ugly piece of modern art. But when Amita uncovers a theory that everyone who’s owned the painting has had their life ruined, she wonders what Hal is really bringing to their town. Curse, conspiracy or dirty-deal, she knows trouble is brewing. And while the great and the good gather for the unveiling of the painting, someone’s got murder on their mind. And it’s up to Jason and Amita to find who is trying to put people out of the picture … permanently.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2023
54 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 19, 2023
One of the best things about cosy crime books is the relationships, particularly those between the amateur sleuths. In this case Jason and his mother in law Amita who are a fantastic duo. In addition to their ‘working’ detective relationship is that of son and mother in law, which in these books works brilliantly - neither cliched nor overplayed. The second in the series the key characters feel like old friends allowing for the introduction of a new crime scene and related characters. For that reason I would read the books in order, they’re fun and relatable and make for a good read.
June 26, 2025
CAWPILE 6.29
3.5 STARS
2nd in the Bingo Hall Detectives series- we're tackling the world of art and money in this mystery.
I didn't think this one was as strong as the first book but the mystery is decent and it read quickly.
I'm going into #3 to see whether I want to continue the series
3.5 STARS
2nd in the Bingo Hall Detectives series- we're tackling the world of art and money in this mystery.
I didn't think this one was as strong as the first book but the mystery is decent and it read quickly.
I'm going into #3 to see whether I want to continue the series
February 15, 2025
An enjoyable read with a murder thrown in. A mother in law and son in law duo solving the case as amateur detectives was the best bit together with the setting in the Lake District. I would read another book by this author.
March 13, 2025
I loved the first book but this one fell flat. The continuation of Jason and Amita’s relationship was nice but this story dragged on, it definitely could have had a lot of fat cut out. Wait and see what book 3 is like!
May 10, 2024
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book but through it was a little bit too long and that certain parts kind of dragged.
August 5, 2023
I like the relationship dynamic between Jason and Amita. I didn't love this second installment as much as the first, but this is a good cozy. 3/5 stars.
August 31, 2025
If you love cozy mysteries set in charming villages with a dash of humor, The Village Hall Vendetta by Jonathan Whitelaw is worth picking up. This is the second installment in the Amita and Jason Mysteries, and it delivers plenty of small-town intrigue, secrets, and witty banter. The setup is pure gold for those who crave small-town intrigue: a cursed artwork, a murder at the center of a village event, and the blend of quirky locals and red herrings.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is the dynamic duo at its heart—Amita and Jason. Their partnership is equal parts entertaining and exasperating. I really enjoy their chemistry and contrasting personalities, which bring both warmth and energy to the story. The plot itself is satisfyingly twisty, perfectly capturing the “cosy crime” feel with just enough edge to keep those pages turning.
But let’s get into the nitty-gritty. While Amita and Jason are the stars (and honestly, I would read a grocery list if they were bantering over it), there are moments where their constant bickering feels like it’s stretching the page count more than the tension. At over 350 pages, the story meanders in places, sometimes letting those snappy dialogues wander off into the weeds. Still, Whitelaw’s vivid descriptions of the Lake District and Visual Imagery and his knack for light-hearted dialogue make this a cozy escape worth savoring. The emotional depth sneaks up on you, too, with moments that tug at the heartstrings.
If this review tickled your detective senses 🕵️♀️🔍, come snoop around my blog for more feel-good mysteries, page-turning escapades, and the occasional plot twist that even I didn’t see coming. 📚✨ Swing by Views She Writes — where books aren’t just read, they’re interrogated (nicely) until the truth spills out.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is the dynamic duo at its heart—Amita and Jason. Their partnership is equal parts entertaining and exasperating. I really enjoy their chemistry and contrasting personalities, which bring both warmth and energy to the story. The plot itself is satisfyingly twisty, perfectly capturing the “cosy crime” feel with just enough edge to keep those pages turning.
But let’s get into the nitty-gritty. While Amita and Jason are the stars (and honestly, I would read a grocery list if they were bantering over it), there are moments where their constant bickering feels like it’s stretching the page count more than the tension. At over 350 pages, the story meanders in places, sometimes letting those snappy dialogues wander off into the weeds. Still, Whitelaw’s vivid descriptions of the Lake District and Visual Imagery and his knack for light-hearted dialogue make this a cozy escape worth savoring. The emotional depth sneaks up on you, too, with moments that tug at the heartstrings.
If this review tickled your detective senses 🕵️♀️🔍, come snoop around my blog for more feel-good mysteries, page-turning escapades, and the occasional plot twist that even I didn’t see coming. 📚✨ Swing by Views She Writes — where books aren’t just read, they’re interrogated (nicely) until the truth spills out.
October 14, 2023
This is the second book in the series featuring the hapless journalist Jason and his mother in law, Amita. Jason has a sparky relationship with Amita, she despairs of him with his disorganisation and lack of get up and go, Jason despairs of Amita with her network of old age pensioners and her well honed knowledge of all the latest gossip. In this first book ‘The Bingo Hall Detectives’ their relationship improves, and in this book they may actually like and respect each other as they hunt for the murderer of Hal, a local boy made good.
Hal buys a 2 million pound painting he has always coveted painted by the enigmatic Elvira who lived and worked in the Lake District where the books are set. Jason, his wife Rhada and Amita are on the scene of the murder and Jason is determined to discover who did the dastardly deed. Was it the wife, the mysterious man who runs away from Amita and Jason, someone else, or just the result of the mysterious curse surrounding the painting.
The two amateur detectives explore the motives of those concerned and make an unexpected discovery of the true killer, thanks to a hint from a Police Officer with whom they have had previous run ins. A new Inspector who is more amenable to their antics is on the case and Amita’s network proves invaluable to this clever whodunnit. I enjoyed this but would recommend reading the books in order.
Hal buys a 2 million pound painting he has always coveted painted by the enigmatic Elvira who lived and worked in the Lake District where the books are set. Jason, his wife Rhada and Amita are on the scene of the murder and Jason is determined to discover who did the dastardly deed. Was it the wife, the mysterious man who runs away from Amita and Jason, someone else, or just the result of the mysterious curse surrounding the painting.
The two amateur detectives explore the motives of those concerned and make an unexpected discovery of the true killer, thanks to a hint from a Police Officer with whom they have had previous run ins. A new Inspector who is more amenable to their antics is on the case and Amita’s network proves invaluable to this clever whodunnit. I enjoyed this but would recommend reading the books in order.
May 6, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Amita and Jason are back as the detective duo. Even though they aren’t detectives. Amita is a pensioner, and Jason is her son in law, and also happens to be a journalist. Jason has a new, big interview lined up with wealthy, local businessman Hal Mulberry. Hal has purchased a piece of art for a substantial amount of money, and the artist is local to them. Then Hal winds up dead, and some say the painting is cursed, but also not everyone thinks Hal is wonderful. And Amita and Jason only feel it’s their responsibility to catch the perpetrator.
This author has created wonderful characters in Amita and Jason. They are chalk and cheese, but they just work together so well. They bounce off each other with wit and comedy. They make a brilliant duo, and I can’t wait to see what they get up to next. The storyline was well written and well thought out, and I didn’t guess what or who until nearly the end. The writer uses great descriptives to describe Cumbria, and it really sets the scene. This is shaping up to be a great cosy crime series, and I really recommend this series.
Amita and Jason are back as the detective duo. Even though they aren’t detectives. Amita is a pensioner, and Jason is her son in law, and also happens to be a journalist. Jason has a new, big interview lined up with wealthy, local businessman Hal Mulberry. Hal has purchased a piece of art for a substantial amount of money, and the artist is local to them. Then Hal winds up dead, and some say the painting is cursed, but also not everyone thinks Hal is wonderful. And Amita and Jason only feel it’s their responsibility to catch the perpetrator.
This author has created wonderful characters in Amita and Jason. They are chalk and cheese, but they just work together so well. They bounce off each other with wit and comedy. They make a brilliant duo, and I can’t wait to see what they get up to next. The storyline was well written and well thought out, and I didn’t guess what or who until nearly the end. The writer uses great descriptives to describe Cumbria, and it really sets the scene. This is shaping up to be a great cosy crime series, and I really recommend this series.
November 1, 2025
Jason and Amita are back. The unlikely pair of mother-in-law and son-in-law find themselves in the middle of another murder investigation. Only this time, it’s personal.
Jason befriends Hal Mulberry, a local businessman, who employs Jason’s journalistic services to create a spread on the purchase of Buttermere at Dawn. The painting, bought by Hal for £2 million, is said to be cursed.
When Hal’s wife Shelia makes the shocking discovery of Hal’s body on the opening night of the village hall, Jason and Amita feel it’s only right they track down the murderer.
Facing an extremely angry publisher, a cursed painting, a decapitated gnome and a group of OAP bingo players, the duo making a shocking discovery; this murder is close to home.
The second book in this series and whilst the story line was a good read I struggled with wanting to continue this book. After powering through, the pace and interest picked up in the last third.
Jason befriends Hal Mulberry, a local businessman, who employs Jason’s journalistic services to create a spread on the purchase of Buttermere at Dawn. The painting, bought by Hal for £2 million, is said to be cursed.
When Hal’s wife Shelia makes the shocking discovery of Hal’s body on the opening night of the village hall, Jason and Amita feel it’s only right they track down the murderer.
Facing an extremely angry publisher, a cursed painting, a decapitated gnome and a group of OAP bingo players, the duo making a shocking discovery; this murder is close to home.
The second book in this series and whilst the story line was a good read I struggled with wanting to continue this book. After powering through, the pace and interest picked up in the last third.
April 9, 2023
There’s a fine art to penning cosy crime and Jonathan Whitelaw has it sussed. Village Hall Vendetta, his follow-up to Bingo Hall Detectives, is another fun chase around the Lake District.
Hal Mulberry has bought the masterpiece, Buttermere at Dawn, and plans to bring it back to the Lakes where it belongs. He’s going to turn Penrith Village Hall into a cultural mecca with the painting as the main attraction.
Journalist Jason Brazel is delighted to get the inside scoop, until things take a turn for the worse. So, he and his mother-in-law, Amita, are back on the hunt for some answers… and only the truth will do.
A pacy ping pong ball of a book, it bounces you back and forward, from one suspect to another, with a wealth of well-drawn characters. Can you guess who put Hal out of the picture, and why?!
Thanks to @netgalley and @harpernorth for this early copy to review in my own words. It’s out on 11 May.
Hal Mulberry has bought the masterpiece, Buttermere at Dawn, and plans to bring it back to the Lakes where it belongs. He’s going to turn Penrith Village Hall into a cultural mecca with the painting as the main attraction.
Journalist Jason Brazel is delighted to get the inside scoop, until things take a turn for the worse. So, he and his mother-in-law, Amita, are back on the hunt for some answers… and only the truth will do.
A pacy ping pong ball of a book, it bounces you back and forward, from one suspect to another, with a wealth of well-drawn characters. Can you guess who put Hal out of the picture, and why?!
Thanks to @netgalley and @harpernorth for this early copy to review in my own words. It’s out on 11 May.
May 4, 2023
Hal Mulberry has been found dead shortly after buying a famous painting and rumour is that it comes with a curse. Journalist Jason and his mother-in-law Amita find themselves caught up in the murder investigation, desperate to uncover the truth.
This book is the very definition of cosy crime and I loved it!
I absolutely adore a crime-solving duo and this was like no other I've read before. How can you not love Jason and Amita?! They made me laugh out loud and I simply can't wait to see the antics that they get up to later in this series. I particularly liked the way that Jonathan Whitelaw wrote the dialogue between Jason and Amita.
The whole book had a brilliant sense of light-heartedness that made it really fun to read. I enjoyed how intriguing the plot was and found myself constantly trying to follow the clues to work out who was responsible for the murder.
The perfect story to curl up with for a weekend of reading.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperNorth for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This book is the very definition of cosy crime and I loved it!
I absolutely adore a crime-solving duo and this was like no other I've read before. How can you not love Jason and Amita?! They made me laugh out loud and I simply can't wait to see the antics that they get up to later in this series. I particularly liked the way that Jonathan Whitelaw wrote the dialogue between Jason and Amita.
The whole book had a brilliant sense of light-heartedness that made it really fun to read. I enjoyed how intriguing the plot was and found myself constantly trying to follow the clues to work out who was responsible for the murder.
The perfect story to curl up with for a weekend of reading.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperNorth for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 14, 2024
Needed a cosy crime palette cleanser after a few fairly heavy books. Perhaps the contrast to those stronger books didn’t help with my enjoyment of this but for me, it missed the mark.
I hadn’t read the first in the series but I don’t suppose that mattered. Set in the Lake District, journalist Jason Brazel and his mother-in-law are drawn into investigating a murder.
Fairly run of the mill plot and whodunnit, and that’s fine - what tends to make a cosy crime work though is the characters. That’s where this fell flat for me. The characters universally lacked depth, and I found the bickering relationships - and relationships between people more generally - to be irritating and unnatural.
I almost gave up several times, but I persevered.
I hadn’t read the first in the series but I don’t suppose that mattered. Set in the Lake District, journalist Jason Brazel and his mother-in-law are drawn into investigating a murder.
Fairly run of the mill plot and whodunnit, and that’s fine - what tends to make a cosy crime work though is the characters. That’s where this fell flat for me. The characters universally lacked depth, and I found the bickering relationships - and relationships between people more generally - to be irritating and unnatural.
I almost gave up several times, but I persevered.
March 29, 2023
Good effort at the ever increasing popular cosy crime with a modern twist type of novel but this lacked something for me. I really liked the concept of the son and MIL as detective duo it was an unusual choice but it worked fairly well needed a little more development but it did work. The plot was something that hooked me in when reading the description and it was good story just didn’t live up to what I was expecting. Overall this a good cosy crime book with some interesting characters. But it lacked something that would have made it into the same leagues as the likes of Thursday Murder Club
May 14, 2023
Jason and Amita return , the amateur sleuths are looking into the murder of Hal Mulberry .
Mulberry had just bought a valuable piece of art which is to be displayed in Penrith village hall , on the night of the unveiling Hal is found with his throat cut.
The detective duo don’t disappoint and the book moves at a fair pace with twists and turns along the way.
I enjoy the relationship between the two main characters and this helps to make this unique series in the genre.
An enjoyable read and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.
Mulberry had just bought a valuable piece of art which is to be displayed in Penrith village hall , on the night of the unveiling Hal is found with his throat cut.
The detective duo don’t disappoint and the book moves at a fair pace with twists and turns along the way.
I enjoy the relationship between the two main characters and this helps to make this unique series in the genre.
An enjoyable read and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.
May 16, 2023
Once again we join Amita and her son-in-law Jason. A local philanthropist, multi-millionaire Hal Mulberry, has been brutally murdered just as he is about to unveil the two-million pound painting he's bought, to return it to its place of origin. There's a new DI in the local police station but that doesn't stop the pair trying to sort things out themselves. There's a good story here, told with a gentle humour. It's not just light and frothy, though. The depths of emotion make it really three-dimensional. Its a great story, beautifully told, and I enjoyed it very much.
June 30, 2023
I enjoyed this a lot more than its predecessor; the relationship between Jason and Amita is much more relaxed and affectionate. I could believe these are characters who care for each other; in the first novel, I couldn't. One or two little quibbles, though: the missing commas from a lot, but not all, of the dialogue. To begin with, I thought it was a typo, but then I realised it's a writer's trick. I found it a bit off-putting. Plus, I think the word 'plaintiff' is mistaken for 'plaintive' on a couple of occasions. But, all in all, an entertaining read and I shall certainly read any sequels.
August 2, 2023
I fell in love with Amita (most of all) and Jason in their first instalment—The Bingo Hall Detectives—and excitedly, leaped into this new tale with high hopes. I was not disappointed! Amita is a delightful force, and I will happily check in with her for as long as her stories are told. I do hope there are more!
If you are a fan of the first novel, you will undoubtedly enjoy this one! The reason I have read it with four stars is because I enjoyed the first book just a little bit more, and did not want to rate them the same way.
If you are a fan of the first novel, you will undoubtedly enjoy this one! The reason I have read it with four stars is because I enjoyed the first book just a little bit more, and did not want to rate them the same way.
February 11, 2024
Our "Bingo Hall Detectives" (the 1st book in the series) are back on the sleuth when a prominent businessman is killed at the unveiling of a famous painting. Jason and Amita make unconventional detectives, a freelance journalist and his mother-in-law, but this cosy crime is a delightful read. Both characters have grown from the first book, Amita in particular, who is persistent and creative. The reluctant and at times hapless Jason continues to provide the physical and literary humour to the story. Fans of this cosy crime writer won't have to wait long for the next instalment in this series.
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August 29, 2024honestly, i didn’t think it was possible to despise a book so much. i started reading it last year and it took wayyyyy too long, nothing ever happened. i got half way thru the book and they found out NOTHING it’s not a good book and i don’t recommend, i ended up DNFing it and literally threw it i was so angry at it. it took way too long to get to one interesting moment which im not even sure was coming.
July 11, 2023
A fun cozy english who done it built on the strong characters of the previous, The Bingo Hall Detectives. Jonathan Whitehall continues with the same humor and fun that could only be found when Jason and his mother in law Amita stumble through their sources to once again solve a crime linked to a multi million pound masterpiece.
January 11, 2024
These books are terrible - please stop writing them.
Another author who thinks simply setting the books near the Lake District makes it a good read - not so. It irritated me in both books how the author frequently spells place names incorrectly i.e. Kendal.
I only read it as Penrith is an area that I really enjoy.
Put your pen down Whitelaw.
Another author who thinks simply setting the books near the Lake District makes it a good read - not so. It irritated me in both books how the author frequently spells place names incorrectly i.e. Kendal.
I only read it as Penrith is an area that I really enjoy.
Put your pen down Whitelaw.
August 12, 2024
More entertaining fluff featuring journalist Jason Brazen and his inimitable mother in law, Amita aka The Sheriff of Penrith. This time the duo find themselves immersed in the shady dealings of a local boy made good and a mysterious painting.
Similar to its predecessor, this makes for an engaging holiday read.
Similar to its predecessor, this makes for an engaging holiday read.
July 2, 2023
Another enjoyable, light read. Great characters and the plot that kept "the little grey cells" ticking over. I did work out what the killer was going to do during the "confrontation", but this did not spoil my enjoyment. Highly recommended and look forward to reading more by the author.
October 8, 2023
This story seems to make big leaps as the main characters make discoveries which for reasons beyond me the police seem incapable of making. The story moves along reasonably quickly but the storyline was quite simple and basic
October 29, 2023
Disappointed with this one considering how much I enjoyed the first. Felt like this dragged in the middle and was a struggle to read - could've been half the length. Still had dashes of good humour between Jason and Amita which made me smile.
May 10, 2024
Local entrepreneur, Hal Murray realises his dream of buying the painting Buttermere at Dawn and brings it back to the Lake District to put it on show.
Unfortunately on the night of the unveiling, Hal is found murdered.
An enjoyable cozy crime read.
Unfortunately on the night of the unveiling, Hal is found murdered.
An enjoyable cozy crime read.
May 25, 2025
The length of the book should have been cut into half.
The ultimate big bad reveal was extremely stupid.
It's closer to 2.5 than 3 stars. But I like both Jason and Amita. So there's that.
P.S the book was full of typos and grammatical errors. Wtf was the editor?
The ultimate big bad reveal was extremely stupid.
It's closer to 2.5 than 3 stars. But I like both Jason and Amita. So there's that.
P.S the book was full of typos and grammatical errors. Wtf was the editor?
August 4, 2025
I didn't know this book was part of a series until I started reading. I enjoyed the relationship between son and mother in law, it was a cosy read a funny in parts though I'm not sure I'd read another. By the way I had no idea what the chapter titles meant!
November 2, 2025
Book club choice and quite good but found it tiresome and pedantic. The relationship between Jason and his mother-in -law delightful and helps to redeem the rambling investigation and continual agony over Jason’s job.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews