What do you think?
Rate this book
Morwenna Mutton Mystery #1
Foul Play at Seal Bay
A brand-new series perfect for Richard Osman readers and all fans of a page-turning whodunnit. It was meant to be the start of quiet season in the sleepy Cornish village of Seal Bay, but not for sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast Morwenna Mutton. Because when a local businessman is found on the beach with a bread knife is his back, bungling police officer DI Rick Tremayne is soon out of his depth. Morwenna knows it’s going to be down to her to crack the case.
The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skullduggery at her granddaughter’s school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
If you love Miss Marple and The Thursday Murder Club, then you'll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.
Readers love Judy
‘Loved this from cover to cover, pity I can only give this 5 stars as it deserves far more.’
‘I loved reading this book, great characters and this author certainly knows how to put a good story together. I'm really looking forward to reading more books by her.’
‘This author never disappoints, always a joy to find one of her books which I haven’t read.’
‘This book is yet another triumph from an author who never disappoints me, and very much recommended.’
The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skullduggery at her granddaughter’s school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
If you love Miss Marple and The Thursday Murder Club, then you'll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.
Readers love Judy
‘Loved this from cover to cover, pity I can only give this 5 stars as it deserves far more.’
‘I loved reading this book, great characters and this author certainly knows how to put a good story together. I'm really looking forward to reading more books by her.’
‘This author never disappoints, always a joy to find one of her books which I haven’t read.’
‘This book is yet another triumph from an author who never disappoints me, and very much recommended.’
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2023
852 people are currently reading
456 people want to read
About the author
Judy Leigh
34 books402 followersJudy Leigh has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset. After teaching theatre, writing lyrics for a punk band and setting up Shakespeare Festivals, she completed an MA in Professional Writing.
She is a prolific writer, but when she is not at her computer you will find her on the beach, walking, doing yoga or splashing in the sea. She is also a Reiki healer, a vegan and an animal lover. She has three black cats and she enjoys live music, theatre and football.
She is a prolific writer, but when she is not at her computer you will find her on the beach, walking, doing yoga or splashing in the sea. She is also a Reiki healer, a vegan and an animal lover. She has three black cats and she enjoys live music, theatre and football.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
October 2, 2023
I have always loved Judy Leigh's books and when I saw she was beginning a cozy mystery series, with a mature sleuth, I knew I had to read it. Morwenna Mutton is a 61 year old woman living in Seal Bay. She works two jobs, mornings at the library and the afternoon in the café she co-owns with her her mum Lamorna and daughter Tasmin. Tasmin has recently become engaged, but Morwenna is not sure about the man. He is pushing Tasmin to sell the café, but her mom and grandmother do not want to. While on the beach, Morwenna sees something and realizes it is a body, the body of a local, unlikable, businessman. The murder weapon appears to be a knife from her daughter's café. With the local detective not very astute, Morwenna sets out to solve this crime herself.
Morwenna is a great protagonist. She rides her bike all around the village, is an avid swimmer in the ocean, works two jobs so knows just about everyone, and is smart enough to know what to pay attention to and what to ignore. With the victim having a lot of people that disliked him, there were many suspects and red herrings. There is a personal story as well as the mystery as we get to know Morwenna and her family. I liked Tasmin and felt bad for her. It seemed to me that she was being taken advantage of by her fiancé. There are several quirky characters, including Elowen (Tasmin's 5 year old daughter) who has an imaginary dog, called Oggy. This was the first book in the series, so we had to meet everyone and learn about the town, but that did not take away from the mystery. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Morwenna is a great protagonist. She rides her bike all around the village, is an avid swimmer in the ocean, works two jobs so knows just about everyone, and is smart enough to know what to pay attention to and what to ignore. With the victim having a lot of people that disliked him, there were many suspects and red herrings. There is a personal story as well as the mystery as we get to know Morwenna and her family. I liked Tasmin and felt bad for her. It seemed to me that she was being taken advantage of by her fiancé. There are several quirky characters, including Elowen (Tasmin's 5 year old daughter) who has an imaginary dog, called Oggy. This was the first book in the series, so we had to meet everyone and learn about the town, but that did not take away from the mystery. I look forward to the next book in this series.
August 11, 2023
I loved this murder/mystery, twisty as well as lots of red herrings. A complete surprise as to who did the crime I didn't see that one coming. Highly recommend this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
July 28, 2023
Well, Leigh's first try at a cozy mystery is very promising, and I look forward to reading more books with a woman of a certain age as the amateur sluth! https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2023/07/2...
January 15, 2024
This was a fun cosy little mystery. The town and the main character draw you in and make you want to visit Cornwall. I had guessed the murderer pretty early on though.
August 13, 2023
Foul Play at Seal Bay by Judy Leigh
I’m a big fan of Judy Leigh’s novels, and the historical fiction she writes as Elena Collins, so I was very excited to hear she had written in a new genre – cosy mystery, one of my favourites.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is her first in the series of Morwenna Mutton Mysteries. I love novels that feature older characters, as being fifty-three, I have more in common with a woman of sixty than a woman of twenty. Here, Morwenna is sixty-one and her mum Lamorna is in her eighties. They are strong and capable, able women who still achieve a lot and have busy lives. Morwenna herself works in the library, co-owns the tea rooms (with her mum and her daughter Tamsin, 28) and goes wild swimming regularly.
There are some amazing characters here. I especially liked Tamsin’s daughter Elowen (5) who has an imaginary dog – a golden Labrador called Oggy – and Louise Piper, 51, who runs the Seal Bay library and is tormented by its ghost Lizzie (Lady Elizabeth Pengellen).
But just as Seal Bay is sounding like a rather lovely place to live, Morwenna finds someone she knows on the beach with a knife in their back! The hunt for a murderer is on… and when the local policeman DI Rick Tremayne only seems to be pointing the finger of suspicion at Morwenna and her family, she decides she needs to solve the crime herself…
This was a lovely read! I got into the story right away, Seal Bay is a fascinating community full of interesting people and what’s not to love about Morwenna? She’s brilliant! I enjoyed trying to solve the crime with her and I adore her eccentric fashion sense and always read what she was wearing with a smile on my face.
My one tiny criticism – like another reviewer had written, I was also getting a bit fed up of the word ‘dreckly’ – sorry.
But it’s a wonderful book, a great read and I am looking forward to reading more of Morwenna’s adventures in the future.
I’m a big fan of Judy Leigh’s novels, and the historical fiction she writes as Elena Collins, so I was very excited to hear she had written in a new genre – cosy mystery, one of my favourites.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is her first in the series of Morwenna Mutton Mysteries. I love novels that feature older characters, as being fifty-three, I have more in common with a woman of sixty than a woman of twenty. Here, Morwenna is sixty-one and her mum Lamorna is in her eighties. They are strong and capable, able women who still achieve a lot and have busy lives. Morwenna herself works in the library, co-owns the tea rooms (with her mum and her daughter Tamsin, 28) and goes wild swimming regularly.
There are some amazing characters here. I especially liked Tamsin’s daughter Elowen (5) who has an imaginary dog – a golden Labrador called Oggy – and Louise Piper, 51, who runs the Seal Bay library and is tormented by its ghost Lizzie (Lady Elizabeth Pengellen).
But just as Seal Bay is sounding like a rather lovely place to live, Morwenna finds someone she knows on the beach with a knife in their back! The hunt for a murderer is on… and when the local policeman DI Rick Tremayne only seems to be pointing the finger of suspicion at Morwenna and her family, she decides she needs to solve the crime herself…
This was a lovely read! I got into the story right away, Seal Bay is a fascinating community full of interesting people and what’s not to love about Morwenna? She’s brilliant! I enjoyed trying to solve the crime with her and I adore her eccentric fashion sense and always read what she was wearing with a smile on my face.
My one tiny criticism – like another reviewer had written, I was also getting a bit fed up of the word ‘dreckly’ – sorry.
But it’s a wonderful book, a great read and I am looking forward to reading more of Morwenna’s adventures in the future.
August 12, 2023
The setting and characters of this cosy mystery came to life for me from the very start and I felt utterly immersed in the Cornish seaside community of close family ties, local pride and cold-sea-swimming.
The main murder mystery kept me guessing nicely, even though I picked up most of the relevant clues, and I was just as intrigued by some of the smaller side mysteries, such as the strange case of the ghost in the library.
I absolutely loved Morwenna as a main character – her mature age and outlook, her active lifestyle and inquisitive nature, and her close bonds with the matriarchal line of her immediate family – mother (Lamorna), daughter (Tamsin) and granddaughter (Elowen). That said, all of the characters are engaging and interesting, even down to the incompetent, blustering detective Rick Tremayne!
With a solid mystery plot, excellent writing and well-developed characters, plus the added bonus of a full immersion into Cornish language and traditions, I would definitely read more from Judy Leigh and Morwenna Mutton in the future. Fellow cosy mystery fans will find this book a salty, but sweet, Cornish treat.
The main murder mystery kept me guessing nicely, even though I picked up most of the relevant clues, and I was just as intrigued by some of the smaller side mysteries, such as the strange case of the ghost in the library.
I absolutely loved Morwenna as a main character – her mature age and outlook, her active lifestyle and inquisitive nature, and her close bonds with the matriarchal line of her immediate family – mother (Lamorna), daughter (Tamsin) and granddaughter (Elowen). That said, all of the characters are engaging and interesting, even down to the incompetent, blustering detective Rick Tremayne!
With a solid mystery plot, excellent writing and well-developed characters, plus the added bonus of a full immersion into Cornish language and traditions, I would definitely read more from Judy Leigh and Morwenna Mutton in the future. Fellow cosy mystery fans will find this book a salty, but sweet, Cornish treat.
July 8, 2023
#FoulPlayatSealBay #NetGalley is the first book I've read by this author.
Morwenna Mutton is a delightful character, her quirky personality made her very likable. Morwenna lives in the Cornish village of Seal Bay, working at the local library as well as her daughter's tea shop.
A wealthy resident is determined to buy the shop, but it's owned by Morwenna, her daughter Tam, and Morwenna's mother. No one wants to sell but the buyer becomes insistent and when Morwenna finds his body on the beach at her daughter's engagement party, the trio of women are put at the top of the suspect list.
I really liked this story, Morwenna is a great character, I could picture her riding her bike around town, in her zany outfits, having a wild time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
Morwenna Mutton is a delightful character, her quirky personality made her very likable. Morwenna lives in the Cornish village of Seal Bay, working at the local library as well as her daughter's tea shop.
A wealthy resident is determined to buy the shop, but it's owned by Morwenna, her daughter Tam, and Morwenna's mother. No one wants to sell but the buyer becomes insistent and when Morwenna finds his body on the beach at her daughter's engagement party, the trio of women are put at the top of the suspect list.
I really liked this story, Morwenna is a great character, I could picture her riding her bike around town, in her zany outfits, having a wild time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
September 16, 2025
I liked the feisty four generations of females, and local cast of characters.
Things didn’t quite work with this. I’ll give the second in the series a try though because the fictional Seal Bay community made for a cozy read.
Things didn’t quite work with this. I’ll give the second in the series a try though because the fictional Seal Bay community made for a cozy read.
July 13, 2025
Really good cozy mystery with enjoyable characters. Looking forward to the next book.
October 14, 2023
I wanted to rate this 3 stars however, I did enjoy the characters. I usually love Judy Leigh's books so I wanted to give her 4. This story didn't match up to her usual standards. Lots of unnecessary, lengthy descriptions. The story line was very predictable. I just got tired in this story and it took a while for me to finish it.
It still had a lot of heart warming sentiment through our. It also has some darkness in it. So be prepared.
It still had a lot of heart warming sentiment through our. It also has some darkness in it. So be prepared.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2024
A fun cozy mystery with a bicycle-riding free spirit at the center, supported with family, friends, an ex-spouse, and village residents to help solve the mystery.
November 9, 2025
Foul Play at Seal Bay is the first book of the Morwenna Mutton mystery series set along the coast in contemporary Cornwall. Seal Bay is a small fishing village set on a steep hillside overlooking the ocean. Morwenna Mutton is a spry 61-year-old who bicycles the steep hills of her village and thrills in 'wild swimming' in the breathtakingly-freezing ocean water.
The ice of the sea took her breath away as she moved her arms and legs in a steady rhythm. Morwenna loved the sensation, the air punched from her lungs, the cold water biting at her hands and feet. She felt as if a lobster had clamped itself to her buttocks. And she was suddenly calm and laughing out loud with the joy of it.
She leaned back and closed her eyes. Being held in the arms of the ocean made her feel calm, cleansed, and after a few seconds, her thoughts steadied. She felt peaceful, as if nothing mattered except to float in the moment, thrilled by the chill of the water. Worries seemed to dissolve on the tide as she watched the scudding clouds overhead.
After mornings working as librarian in the Seal Bay public library, Morwenna works afternoons in the cafe she co-owns with her mother Lamorna and her daughter Tasmin. Tasmin is newly engaged to Jack, who urges her to sell the cafe. Lamorna sternly refuses to sell the family owned and operated business. A local wealthy developer, widely disliked in Seal Bay, continues to make offers. Although the business is not doing well, "the Mutton maids" will not sell.
When Morwenna finds the hated businessman dead on the beach, she is only dismayed by the murder weapon: a bread knife from the cafe. The local policeman cannot see past that evidence, will not investigate to find the true culprit, does not care to check the many other fingerprints on the knife. He isn't actually capable of much, we learn. But fellow officer Jane is intelligent; she teams up with Morwenna covertly to discover the truth.
Small discrepancies hint throughout the story, mixed in with plentiful red herrings; finally alerting Morwenna - almost too late. This Hoopla Bonus Borrow is a pleasant surprise introduction to a new author and new series with quirky locals and likable main characters.
No one's perfect but being Cornish is near 'nuff.
"Who needs a man when you can read a good book?"
"I'm done with romance. It's too much like hard work."
"We're strong and independent and we keep our wits about us. Men are just chaff on the winds of change. I brought you up to rely on yourself."
A trestle table had been covered with salads, pasties, pizza, flans, Yarg cheese, crusty bread, Stargazy pies, Licky pies and piles of scones with jam and cream.
"Go on, Jack, set up a new life. See what the wind blows in."
Then tomorrow would be Monday and she'd cycle to the library and the world would slowly get back to normal, back to how it used to be. She hoped.
People preferred to gossip rather than to offer clues.
"No rush," Jack called back. "Dreckly -- isn't that what you Cornish people say, and then you get round to doing it a month later?"
Today, Morwenna was wearing a red duffle coat, a yellow sou'wester against the bad weather, hooped leggings and purple boots.
It was time for a swim in the sea. She had too many crashing thoughts and too many fears she needed to calm.
"You need to take it easy nowadays; you're not getting any younger." Morwenna thought it over: it was phrase people often said, a nonsense, an obvious cliche. It annoyed her a little; she may be in her sixties but she wasn't done by a long way.
Morwenna felt calmer staring at the rolling ocean; it had always been a constant throughout her life, the tide spreading across the shore and sliding away. She sighed; that was the natural way of things, rolling in and then out again. Normality would return, slowly, eventually. They'd be all right, her family.
The ice of the sea took her breath away as she moved her arms and legs in a steady rhythm. Morwenna loved the sensation, the air punched from her lungs, the cold water biting at her hands and feet. She felt as if a lobster had clamped itself to her buttocks. And she was suddenly calm and laughing out loud with the joy of it.
She leaned back and closed her eyes. Being held in the arms of the ocean made her feel calm, cleansed, and after a few seconds, her thoughts steadied. She felt peaceful, as if nothing mattered except to float in the moment, thrilled by the chill of the water. Worries seemed to dissolve on the tide as she watched the scudding clouds overhead.
After mornings working as librarian in the Seal Bay public library, Morwenna works afternoons in the cafe she co-owns with her mother Lamorna and her daughter Tasmin. Tasmin is newly engaged to Jack, who urges her to sell the cafe. Lamorna sternly refuses to sell the family owned and operated business. A local wealthy developer, widely disliked in Seal Bay, continues to make offers. Although the business is not doing well, "the Mutton maids" will not sell.
When Morwenna finds the hated businessman dead on the beach, she is only dismayed by the murder weapon: a bread knife from the cafe. The local policeman cannot see past that evidence, will not investigate to find the true culprit, does not care to check the many other fingerprints on the knife. He isn't actually capable of much, we learn. But fellow officer Jane is intelligent; she teams up with Morwenna covertly to discover the truth.
Small discrepancies hint throughout the story, mixed in with plentiful red herrings; finally alerting Morwenna - almost too late. This Hoopla Bonus Borrow is a pleasant surprise introduction to a new author and new series with quirky locals and likable main characters.
No one's perfect but being Cornish is near 'nuff.
"Who needs a man when you can read a good book?"
"I'm done with romance. It's too much like hard work."
"We're strong and independent and we keep our wits about us. Men are just chaff on the winds of change. I brought you up to rely on yourself."
A trestle table had been covered with salads, pasties, pizza, flans, Yarg cheese, crusty bread, Stargazy pies, Licky pies and piles of scones with jam and cream.
"Go on, Jack, set up a new life. See what the wind blows in."
Then tomorrow would be Monday and she'd cycle to the library and the world would slowly get back to normal, back to how it used to be. She hoped.
People preferred to gossip rather than to offer clues.
"No rush," Jack called back. "Dreckly -- isn't that what you Cornish people say, and then you get round to doing it a month later?"
Today, Morwenna was wearing a red duffle coat, a yellow sou'wester against the bad weather, hooped leggings and purple boots.
It was time for a swim in the sea. She had too many crashing thoughts and too many fears she needed to calm.
"You need to take it easy nowadays; you're not getting any younger." Morwenna thought it over: it was phrase people often said, a nonsense, an obvious cliche. It annoyed her a little; she may be in her sixties but she wasn't done by a long way.
Morwenna felt calmer staring at the rolling ocean; it had always been a constant throughout her life, the tide spreading across the shore and sliding away. She sighed; that was the natural way of things, rolling in and then out again. Normality would return, slowly, eventually. They'd be all right, her family.
August 12, 2023
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A decent start to a new cozy mystery series
Set in a sleepy small town, the book introduces Morwenna Mutton, a sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast. She loves cycling to work and enjoys spending time with her 80+ mother, 28yo daughter, and 5yo granddaughter.
When a local businessman Alex, who wants to buy her family Tea Room is found dead, Morwenna knows she needs to go sleuthing and solve the case. After all, DI Rick Tremayne doesn’t seem to know how to handle it effectively. Can Morwenna find the killer, or will she end up as one of the victims?
The story comes from Morwenna’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I love cozy mysteries and enjoyed a couple of the author’s other books before, so this seemed a great choice to add to my list. While the book isn’t fab, it does have some merits and might grow into a better series.
Morwenna is a gusty 60+ woman with silvery wild hair and colorful dresses. She cycles her way through the village and hills, even if the upward journey is getting harder. After all, nothing like cycling and wild swimming to stay fit. Her family comes first, and we see it throughout the book.
I love the concept of wild swimming and wasn’t aware it was a thing. Swimming in cold sea/ ocean waters once a week is sure to revitalize the senses (apparently, it also has other health benefits). This aspect is seamlessly woven into the plot and Morwenna’s arc.
The setting is broodingly beautiful while presenting the harsh realities of not having enough business during the off-season. After all, it’s not easy to survive in the cold winters without enough money from the business.
The Mutton ladies (Lamorna, Morwenna, and Tamsin) have different personalities yet common traits. Of course, Elowen, Tamsin’s daughter (5+ yo), has the best of all three. That girl is smart, outspoken, and determined. She’s the cutest addition in the book with Oggy, her invisible dog, and Oggy Two, her purple plush toy.
Raun, Morwenna’s ex-husband, a fisherman, is a sweet guy. Can the two find a way to sort out their issues, or will they remain polite friends? I love that he does a lot of cooking in the book and takes care of his family even though they no longer live together.
The central mystery was decent, if not great. The criminal is easy to identify with all the clues provided, and I’m glad we don’t have any unexpected twists. There are a couple of things left to explain but nothing major.
The side characters are interesting, even if a bit stereotypical. The DI is pretty much useless, but PC Jane has a sound mind. I wish she gets more space in the subsequent books. I also like the other inspector who arrives in the last quarter. He should definitely be a recurring character. Not that I’d mind DI Rick being put in place by the Mutton ladies.
There’s a side track with a lady ghost in the library where Morwenna works morning shifts. Is it really a ghost or a living being? The reveal is predictable but still fun.
There are a few Cornish words (bewty, bleddy, derckly, etc.). They were easy enough to guess (with explanations for others). I like how it brought a native touch to the dialogue.
The book has a couple of action scenes too. Morwenna sure shows she can deal with some physical attacks, though I hope she doesn’t have too many injuries through the series.
To summarize, Foul Play at Seal Bay is a medium-paced cozy mystery plus family drama set in a Cornish village. While the book has much to offer, the spark is missing (the reason for not rounding it to 4 stars). However, the series has potential, and I’ll read the second book to see how it goes.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #FoulPlayatSealBay
One Liner: A decent start to a new cozy mystery series
Set in a sleepy small town, the book introduces Morwenna Mutton, a sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast. She loves cycling to work and enjoys spending time with her 80+ mother, 28yo daughter, and 5yo granddaughter.
When a local businessman Alex, who wants to buy her family Tea Room is found dead, Morwenna knows she needs to go sleuthing and solve the case. After all, DI Rick Tremayne doesn’t seem to know how to handle it effectively. Can Morwenna find the killer, or will she end up as one of the victims?
The story comes from Morwenna’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I love cozy mysteries and enjoyed a couple of the author’s other books before, so this seemed a great choice to add to my list. While the book isn’t fab, it does have some merits and might grow into a better series.
Morwenna is a gusty 60+ woman with silvery wild hair and colorful dresses. She cycles her way through the village and hills, even if the upward journey is getting harder. After all, nothing like cycling and wild swimming to stay fit. Her family comes first, and we see it throughout the book.
I love the concept of wild swimming and wasn’t aware it was a thing. Swimming in cold sea/ ocean waters once a week is sure to revitalize the senses (apparently, it also has other health benefits). This aspect is seamlessly woven into the plot and Morwenna’s arc.
The setting is broodingly beautiful while presenting the harsh realities of not having enough business during the off-season. After all, it’s not easy to survive in the cold winters without enough money from the business.
The Mutton ladies (Lamorna, Morwenna, and Tamsin) have different personalities yet common traits. Of course, Elowen, Tamsin’s daughter (5+ yo), has the best of all three. That girl is smart, outspoken, and determined. She’s the cutest addition in the book with Oggy, her invisible dog, and Oggy Two, her purple plush toy.
Raun, Morwenna’s ex-husband, a fisherman, is a sweet guy. Can the two find a way to sort out their issues, or will they remain polite friends? I love that he does a lot of cooking in the book and takes care of his family even though they no longer live together.
The central mystery was decent, if not great. The criminal is easy to identify with all the clues provided, and I’m glad we don’t have any unexpected twists. There are a couple of things left to explain but nothing major.
The side characters are interesting, even if a bit stereotypical. The DI is pretty much useless, but PC Jane has a sound mind. I wish she gets more space in the subsequent books. I also like the other inspector who arrives in the last quarter. He should definitely be a recurring character. Not that I’d mind DI Rick being put in place by the Mutton ladies.
There’s a side track with a lady ghost in the library where Morwenna works morning shifts. Is it really a ghost or a living being? The reveal is predictable but still fun.
There are a few Cornish words (bewty, bleddy, derckly, etc.). They were easy enough to guess (with explanations for others). I like how it brought a native touch to the dialogue.
The book has a couple of action scenes too. Morwenna sure shows she can deal with some physical attacks, though I hope she doesn’t have too many injuries through the series.
To summarize, Foul Play at Seal Bay is a medium-paced cozy mystery plus family drama set in a Cornish village. While the book has much to offer, the spark is missing (the reason for not rounding it to 4 stars). However, the series has potential, and I’ll read the second book to see how it goes.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #FoulPlayatSealBay
August 12, 2023
I’ll admit I was slightly nervous about this one – a businessman found dead with a bread knife in his back is something you’ll rarely find in my usual reading, I haven’t read any Agatha Christie since I was a teenager, and (I’ll whisper…) my feelings about Mr Osman’s books are rather mixed. But I really needn’t have worried at all – this book had everything I love about the author’s “never too late” fiction with a focus on family and community, wonderfully created characters (of all ages…), plenty of humour, a touch of romance, and a story that really couldn’t fail to engage and entertain.
Morwenna herself is just wonderful – at sixty-one, and with her eccentric dress-sense, she certainly has no intention of acting her age, helping out at her daughter’s tea rooms, working part-time at the library, and no trip is too daunting to be undertaken on her bicycle. She’s plainly following the example set by her mother Lamorna – she’s irrepressible too, a real character, and the source of a lot of the book’s humour. And when the police seem to be making little progress in investigating the murder at her daughter’s pre-wedding party, her busy life proves no obstacle – Morwenna sets about her own in-depth investigation, using her links with the community, and putting herself in some danger in the process.
This perhaps isn’t a book for hardened crime fans – it’s light-hearted fun, and that only made me enjoy it more – although the plot is very nicely convoluted, with enough unexpected twists and turns to bring a few shocks along the way and keep you engaged and intrigued. I was a step ahead of both Morwenna and the police in solving the crime, which is quite unusual for me – but that honestly didn’t matter one jot.
The joy of this book is in the characterisation, and in the community created – there’s quite a substantial cast, every individual particularly well drawn, along with the relationships between them. I really enjoyed Morwenna’s relationship with her rather lovely ex-husband Ruan – there’s a particular affection there, and most definite potential for further developments as the series progresses. And, although I’m rarely a fan of young children in the books I read, I couldn’t help taking to six year old grand-daughter Elowen – and her imaginary dog Oggy. And many of the more minor characters were fantastic too – Louise at the library, rather obsessed by the ghost of Lady Elizabeth (who seems to be leaking ectoplasm all over the carpet, and helping out with clues…), and the knitting Grundy sisters with their local knowledge and sometimes less-than-helpful interventions.
One thing I will mention is that the book is very deliberately Cornish – there’s even a glossary at the book’s start – and while I was initially amused by the use of “ansum” and “maid”, I will admit that the distinct overuse of “dreckly” did perhaps begin to jar a little. But that’s a really minor point – I loved the setting and the characters, the story certainly kept the pages turning, there were some nice moments of real drama, I laughed (a lot), and the warmth behind the writing was quite wonderful. This is a series so many readers are going to enjoy, and this book is a great start – and one I’d really recommend to others.
Morwenna herself is just wonderful – at sixty-one, and with her eccentric dress-sense, she certainly has no intention of acting her age, helping out at her daughter’s tea rooms, working part-time at the library, and no trip is too daunting to be undertaken on her bicycle. She’s plainly following the example set by her mother Lamorna – she’s irrepressible too, a real character, and the source of a lot of the book’s humour. And when the police seem to be making little progress in investigating the murder at her daughter’s pre-wedding party, her busy life proves no obstacle – Morwenna sets about her own in-depth investigation, using her links with the community, and putting herself in some danger in the process.
This perhaps isn’t a book for hardened crime fans – it’s light-hearted fun, and that only made me enjoy it more – although the plot is very nicely convoluted, with enough unexpected twists and turns to bring a few shocks along the way and keep you engaged and intrigued. I was a step ahead of both Morwenna and the police in solving the crime, which is quite unusual for me – but that honestly didn’t matter one jot.
The joy of this book is in the characterisation, and in the community created – there’s quite a substantial cast, every individual particularly well drawn, along with the relationships between them. I really enjoyed Morwenna’s relationship with her rather lovely ex-husband Ruan – there’s a particular affection there, and most definite potential for further developments as the series progresses. And, although I’m rarely a fan of young children in the books I read, I couldn’t help taking to six year old grand-daughter Elowen – and her imaginary dog Oggy. And many of the more minor characters were fantastic too – Louise at the library, rather obsessed by the ghost of Lady Elizabeth (who seems to be leaking ectoplasm all over the carpet, and helping out with clues…), and the knitting Grundy sisters with their local knowledge and sometimes less-than-helpful interventions.
One thing I will mention is that the book is very deliberately Cornish – there’s even a glossary at the book’s start – and while I was initially amused by the use of “ansum” and “maid”, I will admit that the distinct overuse of “dreckly” did perhaps begin to jar a little. But that’s a really minor point – I loved the setting and the characters, the story certainly kept the pages turning, there were some nice moments of real drama, I laughed (a lot), and the warmth behind the writing was quite wonderful. This is a series so many readers are going to enjoy, and this book is a great start – and one I’d really recommend to others.
August 11, 2023
[This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review]
2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book. I love a good close-knit community-set mystery with an eccentric middle-aged heroine, and Morwenna Mutton fits the bill perfectly. In fact, all of the character quirks and village window dressing suited me just fine; it was the mystery itself that felt lackluster.
It felt as though the book really wanted to write about Morwenna’s family and the community of Seal Bay, and kept dragging its feet on getting back to the murder mystery of “who killed the local rich guy at a beach engagement party with a breadknife.” I found the culprit pretty obvious from early on, which wouldn’t have bothered me if the text didn’t keep throwing the same hints about the person at me over and over again. Between that, and the heavy-handed exposition, and having Cornish phrases spoon-fed to me instead of falling naturally into the narrative, I felt as though the author was writing under the assumption that her readers were a bit thick. There are few things that irritate me as much as being condescended to, and it left me perhaps less forgiving of the mystery plot.
Much of the plot revolves around Morwenna receiving warnings and threats to back off from the case, which only serve to give her more clues and evidence to work off of in solving it. Honestly, these threats baffled me, because the first few warnings come when Morwenna has made zero progress whatsoever and is asking no questions that everyone else in the gossipy village isn’t already asking. I wish there were more justification for the murderer, and the town as a whole, to regard Morwenna as a clever sleuth. However, I was game to be along for the ride, looking forward to Morwenna working it all out, because she and her family and friends are such fun to spend time with; unfortunately, the climax asked me to suspend my disbelief way too much. I get that bumbling/inept small-town police are a staple of cozy mysteries, but it honestly felt like the story would have worked better set in the 1940s or 50s, before certain policing science and protocol was figured out/established, in order for me to believe the level of “police not doing basic policework” that went on in the lead-up to the climax.
If you’re in it for the “Murder She Wrote” no-nonsense, cheerful, mature woman sniffing out a murderer vibes, this will 100% scratch that itch, and the characters provide genuinely good company while you’re curled up with the book. But if you want a well-paced and -plotted murder mystery, this isn’t going to be your cup of tea.
2.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book. I love a good close-knit community-set mystery with an eccentric middle-aged heroine, and Morwenna Mutton fits the bill perfectly. In fact, all of the character quirks and village window dressing suited me just fine; it was the mystery itself that felt lackluster.
It felt as though the book really wanted to write about Morwenna’s family and the community of Seal Bay, and kept dragging its feet on getting back to the murder mystery of “who killed the local rich guy at a beach engagement party with a breadknife.” I found the culprit pretty obvious from early on, which wouldn’t have bothered me if the text didn’t keep throwing the same hints about the person at me over and over again. Between that, and the heavy-handed exposition, and having Cornish phrases spoon-fed to me instead of falling naturally into the narrative, I felt as though the author was writing under the assumption that her readers were a bit thick. There are few things that irritate me as much as being condescended to, and it left me perhaps less forgiving of the mystery plot.
Much of the plot revolves around Morwenna receiving warnings and threats to back off from the case, which only serve to give her more clues and evidence to work off of in solving it. Honestly, these threats baffled me, because the first few warnings come when Morwenna has made zero progress whatsoever and is asking no questions that everyone else in the gossipy village isn’t already asking. I wish there were more justification for the murderer, and the town as a whole, to regard Morwenna as a clever sleuth. However, I was game to be along for the ride, looking forward to Morwenna working it all out, because she and her family and friends are such fun to spend time with; unfortunately, the climax asked me to suspend my disbelief way too much. I get that bumbling/inept small-town police are a staple of cozy mysteries, but it honestly felt like the story would have worked better set in the 1940s or 50s, before certain policing science and protocol was figured out/established, in order for me to believe the level of “police not doing basic policework” that went on in the lead-up to the climax.
If you’re in it for the “Murder She Wrote” no-nonsense, cheerful, mature woman sniffing out a murderer vibes, this will 100% scratch that itch, and the characters provide genuinely good company while you’re curled up with the book. But if you want a well-paced and -plotted murder mystery, this isn’t going to be your cup of tea.
April 24, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is the first book in a shopfront cozy series by Judy Leigh. Released 7th Aug 2023 by Boldwood Books, it's 298 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, Bloodshed on the Boards, is also currently available on KU.
This is a nice, well written cozy set in Cornwall, featuring an eccentric 61 year old amateur sleuth and her friends and family. The untimely death of a local almost entirely unlamented businessman from London has the close knit community aghast, and it soon becomes clear that the local inspector is not up to the task.
The language is entirely clean (there are a few colloquial uses of "bleddy" but nothing worse), there are no graphic descriptions on-page, and the resolution, and denouement are mostly satisfying, if heavily foreshadowed. The writing is competent and the dialogue not clunky or awkward.
There are currently 2 books in the series. It would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read. Although reviewers have compared it to Osman's Thursday Murder Club, it compares better (and more favorably) to Peter Boland's Charity Shop Mysteries.
Four stars. It would be a good choice for readers who enjoy light amateur sleuth cozies featuring eccentric mature female sleuths. Morwenna is charming and refreshingly intelligent.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is the first book in a shopfront cozy series by Judy Leigh. Released 7th Aug 2023 by Boldwood Books, it's 298 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, Bloodshed on the Boards, is also currently available on KU.
This is a nice, well written cozy set in Cornwall, featuring an eccentric 61 year old amateur sleuth and her friends and family. The untimely death of a local almost entirely unlamented businessman from London has the close knit community aghast, and it soon becomes clear that the local inspector is not up to the task.
The language is entirely clean (there are a few colloquial uses of "bleddy" but nothing worse), there are no graphic descriptions on-page, and the resolution, and denouement are mostly satisfying, if heavily foreshadowed. The writing is competent and the dialogue not clunky or awkward.
There are currently 2 books in the series. It would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read. Although reviewers have compared it to Osman's Thursday Murder Club, it compares better (and more favorably) to Peter Boland's Charity Shop Mysteries.
Four stars. It would be a good choice for readers who enjoy light amateur sleuth cozies featuring eccentric mature female sleuths. Morwenna is charming and refreshingly intelligent.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 10, 2023
Foul Play at Seal Bay is the first book in a new cosy mystery series by Judy Leigh and introduces Morwenna Mutton and her family. Morwenna is a delightfully quirky and colourful character, in more ways than one. She divides her time between working mornings in the library, afternoons in her daughter Tamsin’s café and loves an exhilarating morning swim in the ocean.
'The ice of the sea took her breath away as she moved her arms and legs in a steady rhythm. Morwenna loved the sensation, the air punched from her lungs, the cold water biting at her hands and feet. She felt as if a lobster had clamped itself to her buttocks. And she was suddenly calm and laughing out loud with the joy of it.'
Mostly everyone in Seal Bay knows each other and it was a great shock when one of the community was murdered during an engagement party on the beach. The victim was overbearing, so not particularly liked by the local folk, although he didn’t deserve his fate. He owned quite a lot of property in Seal Bay and was pressuring the Mutton ladies to buy Tamsin’s café. They refused point blank. Their refusal put them on high on the suspect list compiled by the less than competent local policeman, because an item from the tea shop was used as the murder weapon.
Morwenna feels obliged to try and find out the truth of the matter before her whole family is accused of plotting the murder. Unfortunately she doesn’t realise the danger she putting herself, and the young policewoman helping her, in. I’m glad Morwenna is portrayed realisically as befits her age and all the disadvantages that go with it.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is a departure from Judy Leigh’s contemporary romances/women’s fiction, although they also feature more mature and individual characters. If this first book is anything to go by, it promises to be a very enjoyable series. Looking forward to see what Morwenna gets up to next and whether she has second thoughts about the lovely Ruan.
'The ice of the sea took her breath away as she moved her arms and legs in a steady rhythm. Morwenna loved the sensation, the air punched from her lungs, the cold water biting at her hands and feet. She felt as if a lobster had clamped itself to her buttocks. And she was suddenly calm and laughing out loud with the joy of it.'
Mostly everyone in Seal Bay knows each other and it was a great shock when one of the community was murdered during an engagement party on the beach. The victim was overbearing, so not particularly liked by the local folk, although he didn’t deserve his fate. He owned quite a lot of property in Seal Bay and was pressuring the Mutton ladies to buy Tamsin’s café. They refused point blank. Their refusal put them on high on the suspect list compiled by the less than competent local policeman, because an item from the tea shop was used as the murder weapon.
Morwenna feels obliged to try and find out the truth of the matter before her whole family is accused of plotting the murder. Unfortunately she doesn’t realise the danger she putting herself, and the young policewoman helping her, in. I’m glad Morwenna is portrayed realisically as befits her age and all the disadvantages that go with it.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is a departure from Judy Leigh’s contemporary romances/women’s fiction, although they also feature more mature and individual characters. If this first book is anything to go by, it promises to be a very enjoyable series. Looking forward to see what Morwenna gets up to next and whether she has second thoughts about the lovely Ruan.
July 19, 2023
I fell in love with the wonderfully named Morwenna Mutton from the opening lines of this book, as she cycled in her funky clothes to her part-time job at the library, musing that people in the village will be talking about how she does not act/ dress/behave the way a 61-year-old woman should do at her time of life. She laughs and doesn't care. She is also passionate about wild swimming in Seal Bay and co-owns a tea room with her mother and her daughter. Her daughter, Tamsin, is a single mum who is engaged to a newcomer to the village. The rich businessman in town has been putting pressure on the three woman to sell the tea room so he can turn it into a pizza joint for his son. They are resisting his pressure. They have an an engagement party on the beach, but things quickly take a dark turn when the businessman is found with one of the bread knives from the tea room sticking out of his back. Unsurprisingly, the local policeman is not up to the task--no one seems to have any respect for the guy--so Morwenna steps up to investigate, with the help of her friends and family.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was funny at times and the characters are delightful. I was interested in them and their lives. I did know who the culprit was at the halfway point or a little after, so it turned into a 'whydunnit' instead of a 'whodunnit' but it was no less enjoyable for all that. This is the first book in a new cozy series and I am looking forward to the next one. I will definitely continue reading about Morwenna Mutton and the rest of the villagers in Seal Bay.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley. I thank them, the publisher, and the author
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was funny at times and the characters are delightful. I was interested in them and their lives. I did know who the culprit was at the halfway point or a little after, so it turned into a 'whydunnit' instead of a 'whodunnit' but it was no less enjoyable for all that. This is the first book in a new cozy series and I am looking forward to the next one. I will definitely continue reading about Morwenna Mutton and the rest of the villagers in Seal Bay.
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley. I thank them, the publisher, and the author
August 10, 2023
Foul Play At Seal Bay by Judy Leigh is a contemporary light-hearted crime novel that I really enjoyed. It is the first book in A Morwenna Mutton Mystery series which promises to be fabulous. I cannot wait for the subsequent books.
Judy Leigh has once more created an eclectic mix of characters who entertain the reader. The leading lady is sixty one and her mother is eighty. Both are a breath of fresh air with their energy, enthusiasm and unconventional ways. They refuse to be put in a box marked ‘old’. Both are bundles of energy. Growing old does not equal being staid.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a delightful six year old girl, whose mannerisms have been perfectly captured by Judy Leigh. I loved her soft-toy doggy companions named Oggy 1 and Oggy 2 who had to accompany her wherever she went. Her innocence and zest for life were a pure delight.
After a crime is committed, Morwenna Mutton figuratively puts on her amateur sleuthing hat. She believes, and proves, herself to be far more competent at crime solving than the local bobby.
There is a wonderful community feel to the novel. Judy Leigh’s descriptions make it easy to picture the Cornish village and its residents.
Judy Leigh has created amateur sleuthing at its finest. I think the novel would make a fabulous television cosy crime drama. It was highly entertaining, most enjoyable, fun and light-hearted. I pictured Port Issac as the setting for the village in my head. I cannot wait for more of this fabulous series.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Judy Leigh has once more created an eclectic mix of characters who entertain the reader. The leading lady is sixty one and her mother is eighty. Both are a breath of fresh air with their energy, enthusiasm and unconventional ways. They refuse to be put in a box marked ‘old’. Both are bundles of energy. Growing old does not equal being staid.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a delightful six year old girl, whose mannerisms have been perfectly captured by Judy Leigh. I loved her soft-toy doggy companions named Oggy 1 and Oggy 2 who had to accompany her wherever she went. Her innocence and zest for life were a pure delight.
After a crime is committed, Morwenna Mutton figuratively puts on her amateur sleuthing hat. She believes, and proves, herself to be far more competent at crime solving than the local bobby.
There is a wonderful community feel to the novel. Judy Leigh’s descriptions make it easy to picture the Cornish village and its residents.
Judy Leigh has created amateur sleuthing at its finest. I think the novel would make a fabulous television cosy crime drama. It was highly entertaining, most enjoyable, fun and light-hearted. I pictured Port Issac as the setting for the village in my head. I cannot wait for more of this fabulous series.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2023
Foul Play at Seal Bay by Judy Leigh
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
It was meant to be the start of quiet season in the sleepy Cornish village of Seal Bay, but not for sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast Morwenna Mutton. Because when a local businessman is found on the beach with a bread knife is his back, bungling police officer DI Rick Tremayne is soon out of his depth. Morwenna knows it’s going to be down to her to crack the case. The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skullduggery at her granddaughter’s school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
My Opinion
I like Judy Leigh's writing and crime books, so this book was already off to a good start. This is Judy Leigh's first try and a mystery and it shows a lot of promise. The lead character Morwenna Mutton is very likeable and as a bonus for book lovers, she is a librarian. Reading this I could just imagine Morwenna flying about town on her bike.
A lovely, light-hearted cosy crime that is a great introduction to a new series. As is common in a Judy Leigh book, Morwenna is an older character but that doesn't mean that this book is missing the daring investigation. I am looking forward to spending more time with Morwenna and her family in my next visit to Seal Bay.
Rating: 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
It was meant to be the start of quiet season in the sleepy Cornish village of Seal Bay, but not for sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast Morwenna Mutton. Because when a local businessman is found on the beach with a bread knife is his back, bungling police officer DI Rick Tremayne is soon out of his depth. Morwenna knows it’s going to be down to her to crack the case. The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skullduggery at her granddaughter’s school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
My Opinion
I like Judy Leigh's writing and crime books, so this book was already off to a good start. This is Judy Leigh's first try and a mystery and it shows a lot of promise. The lead character Morwenna Mutton is very likeable and as a bonus for book lovers, she is a librarian. Reading this I could just imagine Morwenna flying about town on her bike.
A lovely, light-hearted cosy crime that is a great introduction to a new series. As is common in a Judy Leigh book, Morwenna is an older character but that doesn't mean that this book is missing the daring investigation. I am looking forward to spending more time with Morwenna and her family in my next visit to Seal Bay.
Rating: 4/5
August 28, 2023
Morwenna Mutton discovers a seriously injured man at her daughter's engagement party. He dies and she finds herself under suspicion so decides to find the real killer...
Foul Play at Seal Bay is the first book in a new cosy murder mystery series set in Cornwall.
Morwenna is at a crossroads, considering the past and future. Her marriage broke down but she is still friends with her ex. She has a couple of part time jobs and supports the family tearoom. She often cares for her granddaughter and offers support to her daughter Tam and mother Lamorna. A local businessman offers to buy the tearoom but is then found fatally injured at a party. Morwenna needs to prove her own innocence and that of her family but this puts her in danger and she is warned off by the killer.
Morwenna's character is fab. She has some insecurities and vulnerabilities but is also a force of nature. She is devoted to her family and I was keen that she reconnect with her ex Ruan as I felt that they had forgotten to focus on themselves as a couple but never fell out of love. I really enjoyed the use of Cornish words to evoke the accent and people of the region.
There is only one death which is not graphically described. However, there are other violent attacks and warning notes to try to prevent Morwenna fining the truth. I did actually manage to guess the identity of the killer although I did briefly change my mind around two thirds of the way through before being convinced again of a certain person's lies.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is a solid start to a new series and I hope to catch up with Morwenna in the future.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is the first book in a new cosy murder mystery series set in Cornwall.
Morwenna is at a crossroads, considering the past and future. Her marriage broke down but she is still friends with her ex. She has a couple of part time jobs and supports the family tearoom. She often cares for her granddaughter and offers support to her daughter Tam and mother Lamorna. A local businessman offers to buy the tearoom but is then found fatally injured at a party. Morwenna needs to prove her own innocence and that of her family but this puts her in danger and she is warned off by the killer.
Morwenna's character is fab. She has some insecurities and vulnerabilities but is also a force of nature. She is devoted to her family and I was keen that she reconnect with her ex Ruan as I felt that they had forgotten to focus on themselves as a couple but never fell out of love. I really enjoyed the use of Cornish words to evoke the accent and people of the region.
There is only one death which is not graphically described. However, there are other violent attacks and warning notes to try to prevent Morwenna fining the truth. I did actually manage to guess the identity of the killer although I did briefly change my mind around two thirds of the way through before being convinced again of a certain person's lies.
Foul Play at Seal Bay is a solid start to a new series and I hope to catch up with Morwenna in the future.
July 12, 2023
Another gem of a read from Judy and one that made me smile so many times.
Morwenna Mutton and her family have run the seaside tea shop in Seal Bay for over thirty years. Most is done by her daughter Tamsin who lives with her partner Jack and her young daughter Elowen. Morwenna helps out and also works in the local library. The teashop has been struggling and local businessman Alex is trying to buy it as he has done with several local businesses but the family are not budging. At her daughter's beachside engagement party Alex is stabbed and it's Morwenna who finds him. The local police have little to go on and Morwenna is determined to find out who did it not only to clear her family but to also put the village at rest.
This is such a wonderful cozy crime with Judy’s talent for characters that leap out of the page like old friends. Each one is different and perhaps colourful (depending how you see life?) but there's a down to earth feel good atmosphere of wanting to do the right thing and help others whilst trying to live your best life. There’s a camaraderie and smiles and descriptions which put the reader at the heart of the drama as well as in a Cornish seaside village (with a few Cornish words explained for us emmets) I'd love a sea swim dreckly! A wonderful fun read I highly recommend.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
_____________________
Morwenna Mutton and her family have run the seaside tea shop in Seal Bay for over thirty years. Most is done by her daughter Tamsin who lives with her partner Jack and her young daughter Elowen. Morwenna helps out and also works in the local library. The teashop has been struggling and local businessman Alex is trying to buy it as he has done with several local businesses but the family are not budging. At her daughter's beachside engagement party Alex is stabbed and it's Morwenna who finds him. The local police have little to go on and Morwenna is determined to find out who did it not only to clear her family but to also put the village at rest.
This is such a wonderful cozy crime with Judy’s talent for characters that leap out of the page like old friends. Each one is different and perhaps colourful (depending how you see life?) but there's a down to earth feel good atmosphere of wanting to do the right thing and help others whilst trying to live your best life. There’s a camaraderie and smiles and descriptions which put the reader at the heart of the drama as well as in a Cornish seaside village (with a few Cornish words explained for us emmets) I'd love a sea swim dreckly! A wonderful fun read I highly recommend.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
_____________________
August 9, 2023
The Mutton women and their friends and family are mostly “proper” Cornish, with their vocabulary of regional words for which there is a handy glossary. Three generations, all fiercely independent, Lamorna, her daughter Morwenna and her granddaughter Tamsin run the local teashop and are fighting off a buyout offer from ruthless local businessman and emmet (outsider) Alex. Then during Tamsin’s engagement party to decorator Jack on the beach at Seal Bay, Alex is murdered. The whole family come under scrutiny from the rather incompetent DI Rick Tremayne. After all, Lamorna threatened to kill him, Morwenna found the body and it was Tamsin’s bread knife that became the murder weapon. Despite a lack of evidence, there are plenty of other good suspects, including a gambling addicted son, a greedy wife and a jealous mistress, and the police are stumped. Morwenna decides that she needs to step up to solve this crime and clear her family’s name but soon finds herself in the killer’s sights. Will she work it out? And will anyone solve the mystery of the haunted library?
This is a cosy crime story with some gentle sleuthing, although things do turn pretty hair-raising at times for Morwenna. I did guess whodunit part way through but there are plenty of red herrings for the reader to stumble over. The inhabitants of Seal Bay are charming, vibrant and humorous and they really grew on me as the story unfolded leading to a great ending.
This is a cosy crime story with some gentle sleuthing, although things do turn pretty hair-raising at times for Morwenna. I did guess whodunit part way through but there are plenty of red herrings for the reader to stumble over. The inhabitants of Seal Bay are charming, vibrant and humorous and they really grew on me as the story unfolded leading to a great ending.
December 2, 2024
Rate : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.80)
The ordinary life of Mutton’s family changes when Alex Truscott, a "successful” businessman, is murdered at Morwenna’s daughter's engagement party on Seal Bay Beach and, the worst part, Morwenna is the one who is with him on his last breath. Since then, everything has been going wrong. She got several murder threats and her granddaughter Elowen got kidnapped from school. The police are not doing much. So, the sixty-one year old Granny Morwenna, takes matters on her own.
Cozy-crime with suspense. This book is not the fierce sassy Grandma Detective (a.k.a. with sassy humor) story. Morwenna is a strong, headbutted, determined FMC and there is nothing in the world can stop what she wants. This Grandma never chills out, doesn’t it, mate? That is what I think when I read chapter by chapter.
The story is surprisingly very fast pace for a Granny hahaha or maybe the concept is “Maybe I am sixty-one, but I behave like twenty-two”. Okaay, I get it. But I really hope there will be a little bit of some humor in the story. For the FMC character, who is a Granny, the story is a little bit too fast and suspense. The story concept is great! I really did not expect what happened at the end of the story. I just hope there will be some elements like humor, sassy and fiesty baddass in the FMC, Mowenna to boil it up! I really had a lot of fun with this book. Of course, I will read the next book in the series.
The ordinary life of Mutton’s family changes when Alex Truscott, a "successful” businessman, is murdered at Morwenna’s daughter's engagement party on Seal Bay Beach and, the worst part, Morwenna is the one who is with him on his last breath. Since then, everything has been going wrong. She got several murder threats and her granddaughter Elowen got kidnapped from school. The police are not doing much. So, the sixty-one year old Granny Morwenna, takes matters on her own.
Cozy-crime with suspense. This book is not the fierce sassy Grandma Detective (a.k.a. with sassy humor) story. Morwenna is a strong, headbutted, determined FMC and there is nothing in the world can stop what she wants. This Grandma never chills out, doesn’t it, mate? That is what I think when I read chapter by chapter.
The story is surprisingly very fast pace for a Granny hahaha or maybe the concept is “Maybe I am sixty-one, but I behave like twenty-two”. Okaay, I get it. But I really hope there will be a little bit of some humor in the story. For the FMC character, who is a Granny, the story is a little bit too fast and suspense. The story concept is great! I really did not expect what happened at the end of the story. I just hope there will be some elements like humor, sassy and fiesty baddass in the FMC, Mowenna to boil it up! I really had a lot of fun with this book. Of course, I will read the next book in the series.
January 15, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up
I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author, but this is her first cozy mystery and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I needn’t have worried, as the story caught my attention right from the start.
I love Morwenna – a free-spirited 61-year-old woman who works part-time at the local library and the tea shop she co-owns with her mother and daughter. She doesn’t care what people think about her attire, or that she rides her bike all over town, or that she swims in the (cold!) ocean at least once a week. She *does care about her family, though, and will do whatever is necessary to protect them, especially her 5-year-old granddaughter, Elowen.
The murder victim in the story was not well-liked or respected, and the list of possible killers was quite lengthy. Since the police were looking only at Morwenna’s family for the murder, she took it upon herself to solve the crime. She tried to share what she learned with the police, but unfortunately, this is one of those books with an inept officer in charge of the investigation and he didn’t take any of it to heart. I actually had the killer at the top of my mental list relatively early in the book, so I wasn’t surprised by the way everything worked out, although I was a bit startled at how callous the character was.
There are two more books in this series (so far), and I look forward to reading the next one, hopefully before the end of the year.
I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author, but this is her first cozy mystery and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I needn’t have worried, as the story caught my attention right from the start.
I love Morwenna – a free-spirited 61-year-old woman who works part-time at the local library and the tea shop she co-owns with her mother and daughter. She doesn’t care what people think about her attire, or that she rides her bike all over town, or that she swims in the (cold!) ocean at least once a week. She *does care about her family, though, and will do whatever is necessary to protect them, especially her 5-year-old granddaughter, Elowen.
The murder victim in the story was not well-liked or respected, and the list of possible killers was quite lengthy. Since the police were looking only at Morwenna’s family for the murder, she took it upon herself to solve the crime. She tried to share what she learned with the police, but unfortunately, this is one of those books with an inept officer in charge of the investigation and he didn’t take any of it to heart. I actually had the killer at the top of my mental list relatively early in the book, so I wasn’t surprised by the way everything worked out, although I was a bit startled at how callous the character was.
There are two more books in this series (so far), and I look forward to reading the next one, hopefully before the end of the year.
August 2, 2023
I was so happy to read this book. A new "cozy" series is always great to find. The main character Morwenna Mutton is so endearing. She is 61 and rides her bicycle all around Seal Bay. She likes to do Polar Bear dips at the beach once a week, and she and her mother and daughter run the local cafe.
Alex owns half of the village and wants to buy the cafe so he can turn it into a pizza shop. Tamsan considers it because they have a hard time making ends meet in the off season, but her mother and grandmother convince her they will get through it as a family.
Her daughter Tamsan is engaged to Jack and also has a daughter Elowen from a previous relationship. They throw an engagement party on the beach, and a murder is committed. The murder used the bread knife that they brought from the cafe, so the local police chief has the whole family as the prime suspects.
It's up to Morwenna to clear their names and find the real killer. She is a wonderful main character and reminds me of characters like Jessica Fletcher and Miss Marple. I love that she is a bit older and the fact that it is set in Cornish Village is an added bonus. I am looking forward to spending more time with Morwenna and her family in Seal Bay. A wonderful start to a new series.
Alex owns half of the village and wants to buy the cafe so he can turn it into a pizza shop. Tamsan considers it because they have a hard time making ends meet in the off season, but her mother and grandmother convince her they will get through it as a family.
Her daughter Tamsan is engaged to Jack and also has a daughter Elowen from a previous relationship. They throw an engagement party on the beach, and a murder is committed. The murder used the bread knife that they brought from the cafe, so the local police chief has the whole family as the prime suspects.
It's up to Morwenna to clear their names and find the real killer. She is a wonderful main character and reminds me of characters like Jessica Fletcher and Miss Marple. I love that she is a bit older and the fact that it is set in Cornish Village is an added bonus. I am looking forward to spending more time with Morwenna and her family in Seal Bay. A wonderful start to a new series.
August 12, 2023
'Foul Play at Seal Bay' by Judy Leigh.
It was meant to be the start of quiet season in the sleepy Cornish village of Seal Bay, but not for sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast Morwenna Mutton. Because when a local businessman is found on the beach with a bread knife is his back, bungling police officer DI Rick Tremayne is soon out of his depth. Morwenna knows it's going to be down to her to crack the case.
The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skullduggery at her granddaughter's school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
At first the cover drew me in and then I read it was based in Cornwall so I had to read it straight away. The book didn't let me down. I loved it. I did guess the killer quite early on but it didn't put me off reading it and enjoying it. If you love cosy crime then give this book a read.
It was meant to be the start of quiet season in the sleepy Cornish village of Seal Bay, but not for sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast Morwenna Mutton. Because when a local businessman is found on the beach with a bread knife is his back, bungling police officer DI Rick Tremayne is soon out of his depth. Morwenna knows it's going to be down to her to crack the case.
The list of people the victim upset is long, the evidence is slight, and an arrest illusive. Morwenna has plenty to occupy her time what with ghostly goings-on at the library and skullduggery at her granddaughter's school, but she could never resist a challenge. And even the most ruthless of murderers should quake at the sight of this amateur sleuth getting on her bike to track them down.
At first the cover drew me in and then I read it was based in Cornwall so I had to read it straight away. The book didn't let me down. I loved it. I did guess the killer quite early on but it didn't put me off reading it and enjoying it. If you love cosy crime then give this book a read.
August 4, 2023
The first book in a new series, set in Seal Bay
With a sexagenarian sleuth with a lot to say!
Morwenna Mutton is independent and bright
Her colourful clothing combinations is quite a sight!
In the mornings the library is where she'll be
Then from lunch on, she's at her daughter's café.
She travels round the area on her trusty bike
Though her legs are tiring, so it is sometimes quite a hike.
When her daughter's engagement is celebrated on the shore,
An unpopular local businessman's death shakes her to her core.
With a murder mystery, poltergeists and danger
Is the perpetrator a local - or a total stranger?
DI Rick Tremayne is in charge of the case
But his bungling ways make him seem out of place.
With help from family and friends in the community, too,
Morwenna has some investigating to do.
With family drama and unexpected danger, too,
This is a great start to a mystery series that is new.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
With a sexagenarian sleuth with a lot to say!
Morwenna Mutton is independent and bright
Her colourful clothing combinations is quite a sight!
In the mornings the library is where she'll be
Then from lunch on, she's at her daughter's café.
She travels round the area on her trusty bike
Though her legs are tiring, so it is sometimes quite a hike.
When her daughter's engagement is celebrated on the shore,
An unpopular local businessman's death shakes her to her core.
With a murder mystery, poltergeists and danger
Is the perpetrator a local - or a total stranger?
DI Rick Tremayne is in charge of the case
But his bungling ways make him seem out of place.
With help from family and friends in the community, too,
Morwenna has some investigating to do.
With family drama and unexpected danger, too,
This is a great start to a mystery series that is new.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.
September 17, 2023
Foul Play at Seal Bay by Judy Leigh is a delightful cozy mystery set in the charming Cornish village of Seal Bay. The story follows Morwenna Mutton, a sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast, as she investigates the murder of a local businessman.
Morwenna is a well-written and likable protagonist. She is intelligent, resourceful, and determined to solve the case, even though she is facing opposition from the local detective. The supporting characters are also well-developed and add depth to the story.
Leigh does a masterful job of creating a sense of suspense and intrigue. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the reader is kept guessing until the very end. The mystery is also well-crafted, with all of the clues falling into place in a satisfying way.
Overall, Foul Play at Seal Bay is an enjoyable and entertaining read. It is a perfect book for fans of cozy mysteries, and I highly recommend it.
Morwenna is a well-written and likable protagonist. She is intelligent, resourceful, and determined to solve the case, even though she is facing opposition from the local detective. The supporting characters are also well-developed and add depth to the story.
Leigh does a masterful job of creating a sense of suspense and intrigue. The plot is full of twists and turns, and the reader is kept guessing until the very end. The mystery is also well-crafted, with all of the clues falling into place in a satisfying way.
Overall, Foul Play at Seal Bay is an enjoyable and entertaining read. It is a perfect book for fans of cozy mysteries, and I highly recommend it.
August 8, 2023
Morwenna Mutton is proper Cornish. Her family and Morwenna are often the subject of village gossip. A dynamic woman, she enjoys wild swimming on Sundays, works at the library in the mornings and her family's tea room in the afternoon. A proud mother and grandmother, she has mixed feelings about her daughter's engagement but still throws her a beach party, which has a dramatic conclusion. Excellent characters are paramount in a cosy mystery, and these are believable, complex and vibrantly written. The Cornish setting is a character too. The mystery has many suspects but little evidence and more than a hint of danger. I worked out the antagonist, which shows how immersive this cosy crime novel is.
I like the story's characters, setting and the sleuthing.
I received a copy of this story from the publisher.
I like the story's characters, setting and the sleuthing.
I received a copy of this story from the publisher.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews