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Kate Palmer #7
A Body in a Cornish Village
Cornish cream teas in the sun, dog walks on the beach and… a murder investigation? Can Kate Palmer – part-time nurse and cake-loving sleuth – solve her most baffling case yet?
Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…
Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?
Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence, and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?
Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…
Kate needs to solve the crime – and quick – to save her feisty sister. Can she untangle the clues and get to the truth, before it’s curtains down for Angie?
Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…
Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?
Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence, and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?
Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…
Kate needs to solve the crime – and quick – to save her feisty sister. Can she untangle the clues and get to the truth, before it’s curtains down for Angie?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2023
678 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Dee MacDonald
16 books268 followersThe Runaway Wife is Dee’s first (published) novel but in fact she wrote her very first book – at around seven years of age! This was a love story which she duly illustrated before sewing all the pages together up one side. Writing was what she ‘was good at’ in school and she won several essay competitions, but then life got in the way and she didn’t pick up a pen again until after retirement.
Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.
She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.
Her second book, The Getaway Girls, will be published in July.
Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.
She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.
Her second book, The Getaway Girls, will be published in July.
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August 20, 2023
EXCERPT: Filming was not going well. Sonia Somerfield, the director, was becoming increasingly frustrated by a series of mishaps and hitches, all causing delays to an already tight schedule.
'This bloody thing is jinxed,' Kate had heard one cameraman murmur to another when she'd arrived on set.
The Limelight Films setting was idyllic: the secluded cove, the white sand and the aforementioned cliffs on the dramatic coast of North Cornwall. Then there was the two-masted brigantine out in the bay - the quintessence of an eighteenth-century smuggling drama for television - and a dozen or so extras on the beach, ready for action, a couple of them already complaining about the sand being hot beneath their bare feet. And the weather forecast was good for the coming week. What could go wrong?
ABOUT 'A BODY IN A CORNISH VILLAGE': Cornish cream teas in the sun, dog walks on the beach and… a murder investigation? Can Kate Palmer – part-time nurse and cake-loving sleuth – solve her most baffling case yet?
Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…
Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?
Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?
Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…
MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoy this series. I like Kate, the nurse with a penchant for sleuthing, and her husband Woody, a retired detective.
There is no shortage of suspects in the murder of Crispin Wyngarde. He is a man who has ruffled many feathers and worse. Everyone seems to have had some sort of run in with the man. The mystery is absorbing, the relationships between the suspects intertwined and complex. And Kate does tend to be more than a little gullible, inclined to believe what people tell her. Thank goodness Woody takes a more measured 'detectivity' approach.
The Kate Palmer series is an easy and entertaining read. The characters are a mixed bunch that you could find in any small town, with everyone from the higher echelons to the town drunk becoming involved in the mystery.
While it's not necessary to have read the previous books in the series as each one is a complete mystery, it does help to understand the relationships and dynamics between the core characters.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#ABodyinaCornishVillage #NetGalley
I: #deemacdonald @bookouture
T: @DMacDonaldAuth @Bookouture
#fivestarread #contemporaryfiction #crime #murdermystery #romance #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Dee MacDonald wrote her very first book – at around seven years of age! This was a love story which she duly illustrated before sewing all the pages together up one side. Writing was what she ‘was good at’ in school and she won several essay competitions, but then life got in the way and she didn’t pick up a pen again until after retirement.
Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.
She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Body in a Cornish Village for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
'This bloody thing is jinxed,' Kate had heard one cameraman murmur to another when she'd arrived on set.
The Limelight Films setting was idyllic: the secluded cove, the white sand and the aforementioned cliffs on the dramatic coast of North Cornwall. Then there was the two-masted brigantine out in the bay - the quintessence of an eighteenth-century smuggling drama for television - and a dozen or so extras on the beach, ready for action, a couple of them already complaining about the sand being hot beneath their bare feet. And the weather forecast was good for the coming week. What could go wrong?
ABOUT 'A BODY IN A CORNISH VILLAGE': Cornish cream teas in the sun, dog walks on the beach and… a murder investigation? Can Kate Palmer – part-time nurse and cake-loving sleuth – solve her most baffling case yet?
Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…
Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?
Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?
Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…
MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoy this series. I like Kate, the nurse with a penchant for sleuthing, and her husband Woody, a retired detective.
There is no shortage of suspects in the murder of Crispin Wyngarde. He is a man who has ruffled many feathers and worse. Everyone seems to have had some sort of run in with the man. The mystery is absorbing, the relationships between the suspects intertwined and complex. And Kate does tend to be more than a little gullible, inclined to believe what people tell her. Thank goodness Woody takes a more measured 'detectivity' approach.
The Kate Palmer series is an easy and entertaining read. The characters are a mixed bunch that you could find in any small town, with everyone from the higher echelons to the town drunk becoming involved in the mystery.
While it's not necessary to have read the previous books in the series as each one is a complete mystery, it does help to understand the relationships and dynamics between the core characters.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#ABodyinaCornishVillage #NetGalley
I: #deemacdonald @bookouture
T: @DMacDonaldAuth @Bookouture
#fivestarread #contemporaryfiction #crime #murdermystery #romance #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Dee MacDonald wrote her very first book – at around seven years of age! This was a love story which she duly illustrated before sewing all the pages together up one side. Writing was what she ‘was good at’ in school and she won several essay competitions, but then life got in the way and she didn’t pick up a pen again until after retirement.
Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.
She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Body in a Cornish Village for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
August 11, 2023
Book seven in the series and apparently also the last. I have read five of them.
Kate Palmer, Practice Nurse and amateur sleuth, is one of many witnesses when the star of a movie is shot on the set. Kate and her husband are both working as film extras on the day as are Kate's sister, Angie, and her partner. The police investigation discovers Angie's past relationship with the murdered man and she becomes a suspect, which of course sets Kate going on an investigation of her own.
The investigation is very involved as it appears many people wanted the victim dead. I enjoyed the mystery as well as all the characters. Events were all tied up neatly by the end and it does seem to be a suitable point for the author to leave the residents of Tinworthy to a quieter and murder free life.
It does seem a shame that this is the last book since the series has been so entertaining and so nicely written. I have enjoyed all the books I have read very much and of course I can go back and read the two I missed!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Kate Palmer, Practice Nurse and amateur sleuth, is one of many witnesses when the star of a movie is shot on the set. Kate and her husband are both working as film extras on the day as are Kate's sister, Angie, and her partner. The police investigation discovers Angie's past relationship with the murdered man and she becomes a suspect, which of course sets Kate going on an investigation of her own.
The investigation is very involved as it appears many people wanted the victim dead. I enjoyed the mystery as well as all the characters. Events were all tied up neatly by the end and it does seem to be a suitable point for the author to leave the residents of Tinworthy to a quieter and murder free life.
It does seem a shame that this is the last book since the series has been so entertaining and so nicely written. I have enjoyed all the books I have read very much and of course I can go back and read the two I missed!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 10, 2023
A Body in a Cornish Village is book 7 in the Kate Palmer series by Dee MacDonald. Part-time nurse Kate Palmer was excited when the TV show came to the small village and allowed the community of Tinworthy to be part of the show. However, on the first day of the shooting, the writer and producer Crispin was murdered. Kate and her husband started investigating when Kate's sister became a suspect. The readers of A Body in a Cornish Village will continue following Kate and Woody to discover what happens.
A Body in a Cornish Village is a lovely cozy mystery you will enjoy reading, curdling up in your favourite chair, cup of tea and biscuits beside the chair. Dee MacDonald is not an author I have read before, and I was initially worried that I would not enjoy this book. However, I was wrong; I engaged with this book from the first page. I love Dee MacDonald's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. A Body in a Cornish Village is well-written and researched by Dee MacDonald. I like Dee MacDonald's description of the settings of A Body in a Cornish Village, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of A Body in a Cornish Village will learn about living in a beautiful Cornish Village. Also, in A Body in a Cornish Village, readers will learn about the issues for small towns when TV crews come to town.
Thank you to the NetGalley and publisher for my AR copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.
A Body in a Cornish Village is a lovely cozy mystery you will enjoy reading, curdling up in your favourite chair, cup of tea and biscuits beside the chair. Dee MacDonald is not an author I have read before, and I was initially worried that I would not enjoy this book. However, I was wrong; I engaged with this book from the first page. I love Dee MacDonald's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. A Body in a Cornish Village is well-written and researched by Dee MacDonald. I like Dee MacDonald's description of the settings of A Body in a Cornish Village, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of A Body in a Cornish Village will learn about living in a beautiful Cornish Village. Also, in A Body in a Cornish Village, readers will learn about the issues for small towns when TV crews come to town.
Thank you to the NetGalley and publisher for my AR copy in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book.
July 3, 2023
Book 7 in this wonderful series and sad to say the last instalment although equally happy to say a new series on it’s way from the author
We meet Kate and the gang again in Tinworthy and this time the village and area is agog with excitement as a film is being produced and lots of the villagers are cast as extra’s,but of course this wouldn’t be Tinworthy without dastardly deeds afoot…..and we progress into a wonderfully entertaining ‘Whodunit’ with the authors always welcome mix of village characters and busybodies and the series mainstay characters who as ever do a sterling job telling the tale
Fans of this series and author will know just how good these books are,a comfort and a relaxing read with much humour and antics but at the heart of it all a serious ‘to do’ and mystery to solve
Book 7 as say and love it as much as I did Book 1
We meet Kate and the gang again in Tinworthy and this time the village and area is agog with excitement as a film is being produced and lots of the villagers are cast as extra’s,but of course this wouldn’t be Tinworthy without dastardly deeds afoot…..and we progress into a wonderfully entertaining ‘Whodunit’ with the authors always welcome mix of village characters and busybodies and the series mainstay characters who as ever do a sterling job telling the tale
Fans of this series and author will know just how good these books are,a comfort and a relaxing read with much humour and antics but at the heart of it all a serious ‘to do’ and mystery to solve
Book 7 as say and love it as much as I did Book 1
August 16, 2023
Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde is killed. They are all suspects especially Angie so Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village.
The seventh & I believe the last outing for Kate. Another well written, easy to read cosy mystery. The characters were well portrayed & the pace was good. There were plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings. I certainly didn’t guess who the murderer was. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the whole series & hope Kate may appear again sometime in the future as the series certainly still had legs
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The seventh & I believe the last outing for Kate. Another well written, easy to read cosy mystery. The characters were well portrayed & the pace was good. There were plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings. I certainly didn’t guess who the murderer was. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the whole series & hope Kate may appear again sometime in the future as the series certainly still had legs
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 29, 2023
I can usually guess who the murderer is pretty early on.This one, #7 in the series, had me stumped! I went back and forth regarding 3 characters and the murderer was someone totally different. The author got me!
This is a great series with great characters, and a cozy English location by the sea.
This is a great series with great characters, and a cozy English location by the sea.
August 6, 2023
I do enjoy these Kate Palmer books. Since the first one we've followed the adventures of her and her sister Angie, seen her fall in love with Woody and get married. We've also seen her stumble across a shockingly large amount of murder victims and stick her nose into trying to solve them. This book is no different.
In A Body in a Cornish Village, we find Kate and Woody working as extras for a TV movie. Her sister, with her background in acting, has managed to get herself a bigger role, but the drama really ramps up when someone is murdered on set.
I love these classic-style mysteries with their array of potential suspects and clues and red herrings dotted throughout the pages. The scenic, cornish setting really adds something too. I mostly managed to solve this one, with a little help from Kate, although I think I managed to put it all together a little faster than she did.
Overall another great read and I'm looking forward to returning to see more of what Kate, Woody, Angie and Fergal have been up to soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
In A Body in a Cornish Village, we find Kate and Woody working as extras for a TV movie. Her sister, with her background in acting, has managed to get herself a bigger role, but the drama really ramps up when someone is murdered on set.
I love these classic-style mysteries with their array of potential suspects and clues and red herrings dotted throughout the pages. The scenic, cornish setting really adds something too. I mostly managed to solve this one, with a little help from Kate, although I think I managed to put it all together a little faster than she did.
Overall another great read and I'm looking forward to returning to see more of what Kate, Woody, Angie and Fergal have been up to soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
July 6, 2023
Kate Palmer is quite content being a community nurse in the Cornish village of Tinworthy but when there's the chance to be an extra in a new film being shot nearby she and husband Woody jump at the chance along with her sister Angie and boyfriend Fergal. Unfortunately, as filming begins, a gun Angie is holding goes off, and a member of the cast lies dead.
With her sister desperate to prove her innocence, Kate knows she has to help discover who is responsible, especially as Angie had once been romantically involved with the victim. Both couples are considered suspects but when another body is found with Kate being the last to see them alive and Angie now having similar links to both victims the four of them are instructed to stay very close to home. Numerous suspects have good reason to want at least one of the victims dead, and Kate is getting nowhere fast. Then she stumbles on a desperate situation which clears everything up but places her in extreme danger.
The seventh book in Dee McDonald's series is unfortunately the last, but Kate Palmer and co are going out in style. The murder investigation twists and turns as much as usual, but alongside this story, arcs are satisfactorily concluded, and regular characters get final outings, all of which I enjoyed very much.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This series has been a lovely meander through the Cornish countryside and its fictional killers and has always been easy to recommend.
With her sister desperate to prove her innocence, Kate knows she has to help discover who is responsible, especially as Angie had once been romantically involved with the victim. Both couples are considered suspects but when another body is found with Kate being the last to see them alive and Angie now having similar links to both victims the four of them are instructed to stay very close to home. Numerous suspects have good reason to want at least one of the victims dead, and Kate is getting nowhere fast. Then she stumbles on a desperate situation which clears everything up but places her in extreme danger.
The seventh book in Dee McDonald's series is unfortunately the last, but Kate Palmer and co are going out in style. The murder investigation twists and turns as much as usual, but alongside this story, arcs are satisfactorily concluded, and regular characters get final outings, all of which I enjoyed very much.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This series has been a lovely meander through the Cornish countryside and its fictional killers and has always been easy to recommend.
August 17, 2023
Kate Palmer enjoys her life in the picturesque seaside village of Tinworthy. So naturally it is no surprise that the village would be the beautiful setting for a new television show. Kate can’t help but be excited that they chose her house to film in. And to top it all off Kate, her husband Woody and her sister Angie were asked to be extras. As the filming begins the show’s writer and producer Crispin Wyngarde drops dead. All eyes are on Angie as she quickly becomes the number one suspect. Kate knows that her sister isn’t a murderer and she must prove her innocence. There is an enormous array of possible suspects but Kate knows that whomever the murderer is, they are doing everything they can to make Angie look guilty. Time is running out and Kate must find the real killer before the final scene.
A Body in a Cornish Village written by author Dee MacDonald was a wonderful cozy mystery. This fast paced rapid read was an absolutely superb story with great characters. I especially love the banter between Kate and her sister Angie. At times I was at my wits end with the two sisters but they made the story fun. The twists and turns of this well-written story had me wondering who the culprit was right up to the very end. I enjoyed this cozy mystery very much and I highly recommend it.
A Body in a Cornish Village written by author Dee MacDonald was a wonderful cozy mystery. This fast paced rapid read was an absolutely superb story with great characters. I especially love the banter between Kate and her sister Angie. At times I was at my wits end with the two sisters but they made the story fun. The twists and turns of this well-written story had me wondering who the culprit was right up to the very end. I enjoyed this cozy mystery very much and I highly recommend it.
September 8, 2023
Acting in a film, with quite a small role, pales in comparison to Kate Palmer's successful endeavor as an amateur sleuth. Nonetheless, with a television show being filmed in Kate’s lovely town of Tinworthy, Kate, husband Woody and her sister Angie, are among those chosen to be extras. When the writer and producer of the show is killed, there is evidence that points to Angie as the chief suspect.
Kate is not only determined to prove Angie’s innocence, she is planning to discover the identity of the killer. If there is a chance that Angie has been framed then Kate certainly has her work cut out for her.
This enjoyable read is a very nice addition in the delightful cozy mystery series by Dee MacDonald. I love all the characters and the dynamic they share. Each book in this series has been a joy to read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
August 20, 2023
I have been reading this series since the first instalment and Kate, Wally, Angie, Fergus, and don’t-forget-the-dog are book friends I am always glad to meet and catch up with them.
The level of the stories is always quite high and the mysteries are solid and keep me guessing.
This is one of the most heart-breaking and entertaining at the same time. This is a cosy series and there’s always a lot of funny moments but there’s also some sad moments as in real life.
There was plenty of twists and I couldn’t guess the culprit.
It’s quite fast paced, and I wasn’t able to put it down and read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The level of the stories is always quite high and the mysteries are solid and keep me guessing.
This is one of the most heart-breaking and entertaining at the same time. This is a cosy series and there’s always a lot of funny moments but there’s also some sad moments as in real life.
There was plenty of twists and I couldn’t guess the culprit.
It’s quite fast paced, and I wasn’t able to put it down and read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 22, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'A Body In A Cornish Village' by Dee Macdonald.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Dee MacDonald, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 17th August 2023
This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the seventh (and last :( ) book in the 'Kate Palmer' Mystery series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'A Body In Seaview Grange' (book 2 in the series) , 'A Body At The Tea Rooms' (book 3 in the series), 'A Body At The Altar' (book 4 in the series), 'A Body On The Beach' (book 5 in the series) and A Body At Lavender Cottage (book 6 in this series). I highly recommend every single on of them and am delighted to realise I actually never read the first book in this series so I am looking forward to going back to see where it all began!! I have no idea how I missed that or how I didn't realise but I am over the moon to meet the characters one last time!!
This novel consists of 46 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
Well done and thank You Dee on and for another successful cosy mystery and a gorgeous series!!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.
I absolutely LOVE this series and have become so invested in it, always reading the books in one sitting!!
OMG!!!!! Writing this review is such an emotional time for me as when I read Dee's acknowledgements at the end of the book I discovered that it is actually the LAST book in this amazing series and that sadly Kate's stores have now come to an end!!! I am absolutely devastated to say Goodbye as I have loved this series from the first book to the very last page in this one!! Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and although I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see more books in this gorgeous series, I will also say that it was also a perfect ending to a perfect series!! This whole series has been set in the stunning location of Cornwall and I have loved exploring the area and it has given me some ideas of places to visit when I holiday in Cornwall, which I am actually doing in two weeks!! Dee's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic series and I have loved every single book. Thank you Dee for this absolutely brilliant series and although it may be the last story about Kate, Wood, Angie , Fergus and Barnie I cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve for your next book, if it is anything like this series has been it is guaranteed yo be a success. Each book in this gorgeous series can be read as a standalone but to get the most out of the characters and storylines I would always recommend you read all the books in a series, and definitely when it comes to this one!!! This book really has been a perfect ending to this amazing series and has been filled with crime, mystery, laughter, love, friendship, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a series and in a cosy mystery!!! As always, with each book in this series, there was no way I could finish just this chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one murder becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read. I would never have guessed who did what and I was completely shocked by the mega twist. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Dee, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! This book has got to be the most heart racing ones in the series with Woody and Kate under threat and suspicions along with Angie and Fergus!!! AN absolutely spine tingling, heart racing page turner!!! If you have never read any books in this fantastic series then pick up your copy today!! Well done Dee on a fantastic, addictive and gorgeous series!!!
Clear your schedules and pick up this fantastic and explosive ending in this addictive series!!!
Although this is the seventh book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I loved meeting all the characters again who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. They have become like friends to me since I've started this series and I enjoy learning more about them each time. I really enjoyed the main characters of Kate, Woody, Angie and Fergus and think they really work well together as a team, well Kate and Woody. I have loved watching their relationship slowly develop from the beginning of the book and they have made a gorgeous couple. I am absolutely devastated that I wont get to see them again as they really have become like close friends to me and I have loved going on all of their adventures with them. I have also loved watching Angie and Fergus' explosive relationship going from one extreme to the other but in regards to this series this has got to be the best one when it comes to their relationship and although I am gutted it has ended and I will miss them too it definitely ended in a perfect way for these two huge characters!!! They both have massive personalities which will definitely not be forgotten any time soon!! I had mixed feelings about Fergus throughout this series but he definitely proved himself in this book and I think him and Angie definitely make a perfect couple that will have lots of ups and plenty of downs in the future but it is guaranteed never to be a boring relationship with them two!!! Dee's evocative writing skills really have brought each of these characters to life throughout this series and it is really saddening to say Goodbye but sadly all good things come to an end and although I am a bit reluctant to say it, as I would LOVE to see more books in this series, this book has ended in a way that is perfect to end what has been an absolutely amazing and gorgeous series. One of the characters that I have got to mention and that will also be very sadly missed has to be Barney (Kate's dog). I am a huge animal lover so any books that contain animals as part of their plot are always a huge hit for me and Barney has been there throughout do I will definitely be missing him!! I was hugely shocked by a certain character in this book, I wont name them as I don't want to spoil it for others!! I was not expecting that from them at all but finding out more I will say that I probably would have done the same, its just a shame what happened to them as one deserved it and the other didn't.....
An amazing group of realistic, strong and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in this amazing series and that will stay with me for a very long time!!!!
but I also enjoyed Kate and Angie relationship develop and am looking forward to see where it leads in the next book. I have mixed feelings with Fergus but he has definitely got a HUGE personality. I am certainly looking forward to reading more Dee McDonald's books especially the first which I still haven't got around to and any further books in this series. These characters really do make a huge impact, jumping out of the page and making you want to see what they get up to next!! A great team who I cannot wait to meet again!!
Congratulations Dee on yet another absolutely successful book, an absolutely perfect wending to what has been one of the best book series' that I have come across. Here's to your next success 🥂
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Agatha Christie, Joy Ellis, Faith Martin, Clare Chase, Verity Bright and anyone who enjoys a good mystery by the fire.
287 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'A Body In A Cornish Village' by Dee Macdonald.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Dee MacDonald, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 17th August 2023
This is the sixth book I have read by this author. It is also the seventh (and last :( ) book in the 'Kate Palmer' Mystery series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'A Body In Seaview Grange' (book 2 in the series) , 'A Body At The Tea Rooms' (book 3 in the series), 'A Body At The Altar' (book 4 in the series), 'A Body On The Beach' (book 5 in the series) and A Body At Lavender Cottage (book 6 in this series). I highly recommend every single on of them and am delighted to realise I actually never read the first book in this series so I am looking forward to going back to see where it all began!! I have no idea how I missed that or how I didn't realise but I am over the moon to meet the characters one last time!!
This novel consists of 46 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
Well done and thank You Dee on and for another successful cosy mystery and a gorgeous series!!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.
I absolutely LOVE this series and have become so invested in it, always reading the books in one sitting!!
OMG!!!!! Writing this review is such an emotional time for me as when I read Dee's acknowledgements at the end of the book I discovered that it is actually the LAST book in this amazing series and that sadly Kate's stores have now come to an end!!! I am absolutely devastated to say Goodbye as I have loved this series from the first book to the very last page in this one!! Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and although I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see more books in this gorgeous series, I will also say that it was also a perfect ending to a perfect series!! This whole series has been set in the stunning location of Cornwall and I have loved exploring the area and it has given me some ideas of places to visit when I holiday in Cornwall, which I am actually doing in two weeks!! Dee's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic series and I have loved every single book. Thank you Dee for this absolutely brilliant series and although it may be the last story about Kate, Wood, Angie , Fergus and Barnie I cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeve for your next book, if it is anything like this series has been it is guaranteed yo be a success. Each book in this gorgeous series can be read as a standalone but to get the most out of the characters and storylines I would always recommend you read all the books in a series, and definitely when it comes to this one!!! This book really has been a perfect ending to this amazing series and has been filled with crime, mystery, laughter, love, friendship, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a series and in a cosy mystery!!! As always, with each book in this series, there was no way I could finish just this chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one murder becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read. I would never have guessed who did what and I was completely shocked by the mega twist. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Dee, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! This book has got to be the most heart racing ones in the series with Woody and Kate under threat and suspicions along with Angie and Fergus!!! AN absolutely spine tingling, heart racing page turner!!! If you have never read any books in this fantastic series then pick up your copy today!! Well done Dee on a fantastic, addictive and gorgeous series!!!
Clear your schedules and pick up this fantastic and explosive ending in this addictive series!!!
Although this is the seventh book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I loved meeting all the characters again who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. They have become like friends to me since I've started this series and I enjoy learning more about them each time. I really enjoyed the main characters of Kate, Woody, Angie and Fergus and think they really work well together as a team, well Kate and Woody. I have loved watching their relationship slowly develop from the beginning of the book and they have made a gorgeous couple. I am absolutely devastated that I wont get to see them again as they really have become like close friends to me and I have loved going on all of their adventures with them. I have also loved watching Angie and Fergus' explosive relationship going from one extreme to the other but in regards to this series this has got to be the best one when it comes to their relationship and although I am gutted it has ended and I will miss them too it definitely ended in a perfect way for these two huge characters!!! They both have massive personalities which will definitely not be forgotten any time soon!! I had mixed feelings about Fergus throughout this series but he definitely proved himself in this book and I think him and Angie definitely make a perfect couple that will have lots of ups and plenty of downs in the future but it is guaranteed never to be a boring relationship with them two!!! Dee's evocative writing skills really have brought each of these characters to life throughout this series and it is really saddening to say Goodbye but sadly all good things come to an end and although I am a bit reluctant to say it, as I would LOVE to see more books in this series, this book has ended in a way that is perfect to end what has been an absolutely amazing and gorgeous series. One of the characters that I have got to mention and that will also be very sadly missed has to be Barney (Kate's dog). I am a huge animal lover so any books that contain animals as part of their plot are always a huge hit for me and Barney has been there throughout do I will definitely be missing him!! I was hugely shocked by a certain character in this book, I wont name them as I don't want to spoil it for others!! I was not expecting that from them at all but finding out more I will say that I probably would have done the same, its just a shame what happened to them as one deserved it and the other didn't.....
An amazing group of realistic, strong and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in this amazing series and that will stay with me for a very long time!!!!
but I also enjoyed Kate and Angie relationship develop and am looking forward to see where it leads in the next book. I have mixed feelings with Fergus but he has definitely got a HUGE personality. I am certainly looking forward to reading more Dee McDonald's books especially the first which I still haven't got around to and any further books in this series. These characters really do make a huge impact, jumping out of the page and making you want to see what they get up to next!! A great team who I cannot wait to meet again!!
Congratulations Dee on yet another absolutely successful book, an absolutely perfect wending to what has been one of the best book series' that I have come across. Here's to your next success 🥂
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Agatha Christie, Joy Ellis, Faith Martin, Clare Chase, Verity Bright and anyone who enjoys a good mystery by the fire.
287 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
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July 6, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read "A Body in a Cornish Village" in exchange for my honest review.
This is book 7 in the wonderful Kate Palmer series. Where Kate is, it seems that murder closely follows. This time Kate, her husband Woody and her sister Angie are cast as extras in a movie being filmed in Port Petroc - actually Angie has recruited most of the town to be extras. Kate is a part-time nurse at the medical centre in Tinworthy and Woody is a retired police detective. Kate is quite proud of her amateur sleuth status but this case has even her skills stumped.
Why would someone shoot Crispin Wyngarde the producer/writer of the film? Who loaded the blunderbuss with live ammo? We learn a lot about Angie in this story - namely about her former beaus who seem to keep appearing and making Angie DI Charlotte Martin's prime suspect.
Everyone seems to be keen on being an extra on the movie and Kate can't figure out why. Then there is a second death and a very shocking suspect. Kate just can't link all the clues together but she must in order to save someone close to them from being the third murder victim.
There are a couple of surprises in the end. A wedding and a closing of a favourite pub. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what adventures Kate and her friends get up to next.
This is book 7 in the wonderful Kate Palmer series. Where Kate is, it seems that murder closely follows. This time Kate, her husband Woody and her sister Angie are cast as extras in a movie being filmed in Port Petroc - actually Angie has recruited most of the town to be extras. Kate is a part-time nurse at the medical centre in Tinworthy and Woody is a retired police detective. Kate is quite proud of her amateur sleuth status but this case has even her skills stumped.
Why would someone shoot Crispin Wyngarde the producer/writer of the film? Who loaded the blunderbuss with live ammo? We learn a lot about Angie in this story - namely about her former beaus who seem to keep appearing and making Angie DI Charlotte Martin's prime suspect.
Everyone seems to be keen on being an extra on the movie and Kate can't figure out why. Then there is a second death and a very shocking suspect. Kate just can't link all the clues together but she must in order to save someone close to them from being the third murder victim.
There are a couple of surprises in the end. A wedding and a closing of a favourite pub. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what adventures Kate and her friends get up to next.
April 2, 2024
Really enjoyable. What a shame it's the last one. I've really enjoyed this series. If this is the only one you've read then give the others a go.
March 30, 2024
Brilliant as always. Just gutted that it's the last in the Kate Palmer series 😭
August 21, 2023
Please say this is not the end!
This was the 7th book in the author's Kate Palmer mystery series and sad to say also the last one. I have loved every one of the books in the series but this one might be my favorite! I will miss Lavender Cottage, the Old Locker, Guy's Hair Salon, the Atlantic Hotel and all the characters inhabiting Tinworthy (Lower, Middle, and Upper) a small village on the north coast of Cornwall. This mystery had me guessing till the last minute when it all finally came together. I wish I could look forward to more with Kate, Woody, Angie, and Fergal but am happy the author has promised more new cozies to be set in Scotland.
This was the 7th book in the author's Kate Palmer mystery series and sad to say also the last one. I have loved every one of the books in the series but this one might be my favorite! I will miss Lavender Cottage, the Old Locker, Guy's Hair Salon, the Atlantic Hotel and all the characters inhabiting Tinworthy (Lower, Middle, and Upper) a small village on the north coast of Cornwall. This mystery had me guessing till the last minute when it all finally came together. I wish I could look forward to more with Kate, Woody, Angie, and Fergal but am happy the author has promised more new cozies to be set in Scotland.
August 21, 2023
"A Body In A Cornish Village" is book #7 in the "Kate Palmer" series by Dee MacDonald.
"Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…
Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?
Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence, and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?
Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…
Kate needs to solve the crime – and quick – to save her feisty sister. Can she untangle the clues and get to the truth, before it’s curtains down for Angie?"
My thoughts:
This may well be Dee MacDonald's most complex plot to date. Much of the intel that Kate manages to uncover, tends to only muddy the waters of who really was responsible. Any of the main suspects had motive for wanting Wyngarde dead - several also had the means and opportunity to make it happen. Sorting out the facts from the theorizing that several of the movie people and locals are doing is a tough job.
I honestly wasn't sure who had done it but the reason behind it and the ultimate reveal were NOT what I had expected! Well played!
Kate and Woody are a well matched pair. Angie and Fergal have their rows as Angie can often be a bit of her own worst enemy and Fergal tends to go off a bit. They are all a rather likeable bunch though.
An entertaining read for English mystery lovers!
"Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…
Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?
Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence, and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?
Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…
Kate needs to solve the crime – and quick – to save her feisty sister. Can she untangle the clues and get to the truth, before it’s curtains down for Angie?"
My thoughts:
This may well be Dee MacDonald's most complex plot to date. Much of the intel that Kate manages to uncover, tends to only muddy the waters of who really was responsible. Any of the main suspects had motive for wanting Wyngarde dead - several also had the means and opportunity to make it happen. Sorting out the facts from the theorizing that several of the movie people and locals are doing is a tough job.
I honestly wasn't sure who had done it but the reason behind it and the ultimate reveal were NOT what I had expected! Well played!
Kate and Woody are a well matched pair. Angie and Fergal have their rows as Angie can often be a bit of her own worst enemy and Fergal tends to go off a bit. They are all a rather likeable bunch though.
An entertaining read for English mystery lovers!
February 18, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
A Body in a Cornish Village is the seventh Kate Palmer village cozy mystery by Dee MacDonald. Released 17th Aug 2023, it's 258 pages and is available in 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, along with the rest of books in the series.
Readers who enjoy British village cozy mysteries are in for a treat. Series protagonist Kate is a village nurse who is involved with a local expat American retired inspector. She keeps finding herself in the middle of village mysteries from poisoned pen letters to murder and the crimes show no signs of stopping. This time, a cookery show is in town and the show's unlamented writer / producer inconveniently drops dead leaving a plethora of credible suspects for being responsible for his demise..
The author is quite adept at characterization and setting. The characters live and breathe and the dialogue was never clunky. There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the seventh book in the series, it worked well as a standalone, though there are some spoilers for earlier books if read out of order.
Four stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence. The clues and plotting are "fair play" and readers are invited to figure out the puzzle alongside Kate.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
A Body in a Cornish Village is the seventh Kate Palmer village cozy mystery by Dee MacDonald. Released 17th Aug 2023, it's 258 pages and is available in 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, along with the rest of books in the series.
Readers who enjoy British village cozy mysteries are in for a treat. Series protagonist Kate is a village nurse who is involved with a local expat American retired inspector. She keeps finding herself in the middle of village mysteries from poisoned pen letters to murder and the crimes show no signs of stopping. This time, a cookery show is in town and the show's unlamented writer / producer inconveniently drops dead leaving a plethora of credible suspects for being responsible for his demise..
The author is quite adept at characterization and setting. The characters live and breathe and the dialogue was never clunky. There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the seventh book in the series, it worked well as a standalone, though there are some spoilers for earlier books if read out of order.
Four stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence. The clues and plotting are "fair play" and readers are invited to figure out the puzzle alongside Kate.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 11, 2023
A Body in A Cornish Village by Dee MacDonald reacquaints us with part-time nurse, Kate Palmer, and her husband, Woody, a retired police inspector. We also meet, again, her sister, Angie, and her partner, Fergal. They are all participating in the making of a movie as extras. Angie, as a bit more. She has one line and shoots a man. It turned out to be pretty boring until Angie does the shooting and it turns out the gun is loaded and the man is in her arms, dying. She is screaming. It turns out the dead man, Crispin, had come in contact with plenty of people over the years and none of them liked him. It proved to be a challenge to determine the killer, especially since whoever had done it had used Angie as the weapon.
Kate is a fabulous, yet ordinary character: a woman in her early sixties, divorced, semi-retired, remarried, and very curious. Her husband, having been with the police for many years, is always worried about her, usually with good cause. Some really interesting relationships came to light as this story unfolded. The plot was a good one, putting Kate in contact with a good many people, many of them new acquaintances, in her effort to prove Angie was innocent, of fact of which she was not entirely convinced. MacDonald writes a gripping novel, with the murders out of the ordinary for this quiet corner of Cornwall and is totally character driven. It was an enjoyable read.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Body in A Cornish Village by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #DeeMacDonald #ABodyInACornishVillage
Kate is a fabulous, yet ordinary character: a woman in her early sixties, divorced, semi-retired, remarried, and very curious. Her husband, having been with the police for many years, is always worried about her, usually with good cause. Some really interesting relationships came to light as this story unfolded. The plot was a good one, putting Kate in contact with a good many people, many of them new acquaintances, in her effort to prove Angie was innocent, of fact of which she was not entirely convinced. MacDonald writes a gripping novel, with the murders out of the ordinary for this quiet corner of Cornwall and is totally character driven. It was an enjoyable read.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Body in A Cornish Village by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #DeeMacDonald #ABodyInACornishVillage
August 26, 2023
I really enjoy reading this series of Cozy Mystery books, set in Tinworthy, Cornwall. Kate is one of the main characters, along with her sister, Angie (both in their early 60's).
Kate is a practice nurse 2 days a week, and if there's a local Mystery to be solved, often murder if she's involved; then a sleuth the rest of the time. She's newly married to Woody, an ex Detective. He doesn't encourage her exploits, but he's often drawn in.
Annie runs a local small bar along with her boyfriend, Fergal; their relationship can be on and off!
There's a film being made locally, and many of the locals, including Kate, Woody, Angie, and Fergal, have signed up to be extras. When the main character is shot on set, the local police are called and Woody's replacement, Charlotte is in charge of the case. Kate often causes Charlotte issues as she gets involved in her cases, often getting to the solution before Chatlotte does! This time, it's personal, as Angie is the main suspect.
There are lots of twists and turns in this book, lots of suspects, and a backstory to be told. Will there be a happy ending, though?
This book kept me guessing til the end, and I highly recommend reading it, especially if you're a fan of cozy mystery.
The books are all standalone stories, but they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and bigger storyline.
Kate is a practice nurse 2 days a week, and if there's a local Mystery to be solved, often murder if she's involved; then a sleuth the rest of the time. She's newly married to Woody, an ex Detective. He doesn't encourage her exploits, but he's often drawn in.
Annie runs a local small bar along with her boyfriend, Fergal; their relationship can be on and off!
There's a film being made locally, and many of the locals, including Kate, Woody, Angie, and Fergal, have signed up to be extras. When the main character is shot on set, the local police are called and Woody's replacement, Charlotte is in charge of the case. Kate often causes Charlotte issues as she gets involved in her cases, often getting to the solution before Chatlotte does! This time, it's personal, as Angie is the main suspect.
There are lots of twists and turns in this book, lots of suspects, and a backstory to be told. Will there be a happy ending, though?
This book kept me guessing til the end, and I highly recommend reading it, especially if you're a fan of cozy mystery.
The books are all standalone stories, but they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and bigger storyline.
August 24, 2024
Kate Palmer finds that being a movie extra is not as exciting as she thought! Except that someone swapped the blank bullets for real ones and her sister Angie shoots an actor dead. Can Kate clear her sister's name...?
A Body in a Cornish Village is the 7th book to feature nurse and amateur sleuth Kate Palmer and her former police officer husband Woody. There are no spoilers about earlier books in the series.
Angie is devastated when the prop gun really kills a man. She had history with the victim so she is the main suspect alongside her current love Fergal who could have been jealous. Kate offers her sleuthing skills willingly to protect and absolve her sister but clues keep pointing back in Angie's direction.
As usual, Kate has a wide selection of suspects and motives to investigate. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the end. I liked the mix of local characters who we have met before, alongside the new characters specific to this book.
There is little graphic forensic detail as the focus in on Kate's suspicions and interactions. Tension and drama are created as Kate has a personal interest in the case due to her sister's involvement but her investigation leads her towards danger.
A Body in a Cornish Village is an enjoyable final addition to this cosy murder mystery series.
A Body in a Cornish Village is the 7th book to feature nurse and amateur sleuth Kate Palmer and her former police officer husband Woody. There are no spoilers about earlier books in the series.
Angie is devastated when the prop gun really kills a man. She had history with the victim so she is the main suspect alongside her current love Fergal who could have been jealous. Kate offers her sleuthing skills willingly to protect and absolve her sister but clues keep pointing back in Angie's direction.
As usual, Kate has a wide selection of suspects and motives to investigate. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the end. I liked the mix of local characters who we have met before, alongside the new characters specific to this book.
There is little graphic forensic detail as the focus in on Kate's suspicions and interactions. Tension and drama are created as Kate has a personal interest in the case due to her sister's involvement but her investigation leads her towards danger.
A Body in a Cornish Village is an enjoyable final addition to this cosy murder mystery series.
July 12, 2023
It's time again for nurse Kate Palmer to put her thinking cap on, because once again a murder has been committed near her home town.
When you say murder, you say Kate Palmer, because she seems to attract it. Often she is present where the killing took place and often she is considered one of the suspect by the local police force.
Of course she is innocent and more than once she has to start sleuthing in order to clear her own name or those of some of her loved ones.
So besides still working a few days in the medical center, doing her housework and being an extra in a tv film, Kate has to try to unmask a killer. Talking a bout a busy bee. ;)
Her husband Woody does not really approve, but Kate just cannot stop herself. Will she be successful again and stay out of the clutches of the culprit?
You just have to love Kate and her family. Kate is sometimes a bit to trusting, believing in the good of people and allowing some of them to pull the wool over her eyes and putting herself in danger.
They say time heals all wounds, but some wounds can never completely heal and revenge is on those persons mind each and every day until the opportunity presents itself...
Another great book in one of the best cozy mystery series. 5 stars
Thank you
When you say murder, you say Kate Palmer, because she seems to attract it. Often she is present where the killing took place and often she is considered one of the suspect by the local police force.
Of course she is innocent and more than once she has to start sleuthing in order to clear her own name or those of some of her loved ones.
So besides still working a few days in the medical center, doing her housework and being an extra in a tv film, Kate has to try to unmask a killer. Talking a bout a busy bee. ;)
Her husband Woody does not really approve, but Kate just cannot stop herself. Will she be successful again and stay out of the clutches of the culprit?
You just have to love Kate and her family. Kate is sometimes a bit to trusting, believing in the good of people and allowing some of them to pull the wool over her eyes and putting herself in danger.
They say time heals all wounds, but some wounds can never completely heal and revenge is on those persons mind each and every day until the opportunity presents itself...
Another great book in one of the best cozy mystery series. 5 stars
Thank you
August 19, 2023
Kate Palmer (and Woody) star in this brilliant book
Such a fun cosy mystery, well worth more than a look!
A for television film is being filmed locally and so
The both agree to give being extras a go.
What no one expected was for them to see
The producer being fatally shot by Kate's sister, Angie.
Now Kate's on the case, hoping to discover who
Would replace the blanks with shot, too.
With actors and crew and the villagers, too,
There are so many suspects, can Kate find what is true?
Maybe friendly chats, hints and gossip from now and the past
Can help reveal the true perpetrator at last!
A fantastic read, I hope you'll agree,
Filled with suspects, clues and mystery
There are plenty of twists keeping you reading
As the answers to "Who did it?" you'll be needing!
I'm really enjoying this contemporary murder mystery set
And can't wait for more stories in it to get.
With Kate and Woody determined to solve the crime
They're winners for me, every time!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.
Such a fun cosy mystery, well worth more than a look!
A for television film is being filmed locally and so
The both agree to give being extras a go.
What no one expected was for them to see
The producer being fatally shot by Kate's sister, Angie.
Now Kate's on the case, hoping to discover who
Would replace the blanks with shot, too.
With actors and crew and the villagers, too,
There are so many suspects, can Kate find what is true?
Maybe friendly chats, hints and gossip from now and the past
Can help reveal the true perpetrator at last!
A fantastic read, I hope you'll agree,
Filled with suspects, clues and mystery
There are plenty of twists keeping you reading
As the answers to "Who did it?" you'll be needing!
I'm really enjoying this contemporary murder mystery set
And can't wait for more stories in it to get.
With Kate and Woody determined to solve the crime
They're winners for me, every time!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.
September 17, 2023
This time Kate and Woody fill there spare time working as "extra's" in a movie that is being recorded in a village nearby the Tinworthy villages where they live. As it seems that crime follows Kate everywhere she goes it doesn't take long before someone dies.
This time her sister Angie, who has a tiny role in the movie, shoots her (former) lover, when it turns out that the gun that was supposed to shoot blanks contains a bullet. Of-course Kate turns all her sleuthing skills towards finding the killer.
A lot of people turn out to have a motive for killing the victim who seems to have made a lot of victims himself.
Even a couple of friends and acquaintances of Kate and Woody fall under suspicion.
I love the cosy aspects and the antagonism between Kate and the detective inspector. Angie is an interesting presence as always, as is her current Irish lover.
The series keeps up its good quality.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This time her sister Angie, who has a tiny role in the movie, shoots her (former) lover, when it turns out that the gun that was supposed to shoot blanks contains a bullet. Of-course Kate turns all her sleuthing skills towards finding the killer.
A lot of people turn out to have a motive for killing the victim who seems to have made a lot of victims himself.
Even a couple of friends and acquaintances of Kate and Woody fall under suspicion.
I love the cosy aspects and the antagonism between Kate and the detective inspector. Angie is an interesting presence as always, as is her current Irish lover.
The series keeps up its good quality.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Read
July 27, 2023Kate may be in her golden years, but she’s a busy woman. She still works as a nurse and has several to her hobbies she’s interested in, including being an amateur sleuth. While her husband isn’t a fan of that last hobby, Kate can’t just help but try to figure out whodunit.
While being an extra on a film with her sister, a gun Angie is holding goes off and a cast member is killed. Knowing her sister wouldn’t commit such a crime knowingly, Kate has her work cute out for her as she sleuths and searches for who was behind the loaded gun.
This is one of several English cozy series that I absolutely adore. Kate is a real firecracker and the folks in TInworthy make for an interesting read each and ever time a murder happens in their town. LOVE IT!
While being an extra on a film with her sister, a gun Angie is holding goes off and a cast member is killed. Knowing her sister wouldn’t commit such a crime knowingly, Kate has her work cute out for her as she sleuths and searches for who was behind the loaded gun.
This is one of several English cozy series that I absolutely adore. Kate is a real firecracker and the folks in TInworthy make for an interesting read each and ever time a murder happens in their town. LOVE IT!
August 30, 2023
Once again Kate Palmer finds herself in the centre of a murder case, only this time the suspects are too close for comfort. The filming of a tv series set in Cornwall has the village in a spin as many have the opportunity to be extras. Kate's sister Angie is given a small speaking part due to her previous acting experience (& knowing the lead & producer!) However when a fake bullet turns out to be the real thing & Angie (in character!) fired the gun, Kate knows it's time to get out her notebook to try & get the heat off Angie & Fergal.
This was another delightful whodunnit with the wonderful cast of characters who live in & around Tinworthy. It was every bit as good as the ones that came before. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
This was another delightful whodunnit with the wonderful cast of characters who live in & around Tinworthy. It was every bit as good as the ones that came before. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
July 5, 2023
Another enjoyable and entertaining book in this series. Kate is a likeable character and has a colourful cast of supporting characters, and a delightful setting which has helped make this a favourite series for me I especially like that Kate is a mature lady with a hot husband who seems to be lusted after by everyone. So sad to find out this is the last in the series, I can however understand why the author feels it's reached the end after all how much more can happen in a small village (however it's never done Mid Summer any harm!) I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 12, 2023
This is the third book I have read by this author although the other books were women’s fiction . This was a different genre of cozy mystery and the last book in the series . Even though it was the last book — it could definitely be read as a stand-alone — . I enjoyed the style of writing and was kept intrigued throughout to know who done it - I am definitely interested to read more of this authors novels . If you’re looking for a nice cozy mystery series to snuggle down with this looks like a great series of the last book is any indication of the quality of the stories . The series is tied up nicely in this final novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC . This is my honest review .
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC . This is my honest review .
July 12, 2023
Kate lives in a small Cornish village where a film crew has landed and she’s part of the cast as an extra, when the producer dies. Who killed him? Kate uses her detective skills with the help of her husband who’s an ex-detective.
It’s a great who did it book which will keep you guessing. Great characters and a very well written book.
This is part of a series, but this is the first one I’ve read. Looking forward to reading the others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
It’s a great who did it book which will keep you guessing. Great characters and a very well written book.
This is part of a series, but this is the first one I’ve read. Looking forward to reading the others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
October 1, 2023
I feel disappointed that the Kate Palmer series has come to an end. It's hard to find many amateur detective series that feature middle-aged women. I wish more series didn't depend on bouncy curls and boyfriends who are conveniently detectives, which is overused in cozy mysteries. Though Kate does live in a small seaside town, it was enjoyable to follow her as she walks on trails and unravels the mystery.
However, I'm looking forward to Dee MacDonald's upcoming books. I hope they'll captivate me just as much as Kate and Angie did.
However, I'm looking forward to Dee MacDonald's upcoming books. I hope they'll captivate me just as much as Kate and Angie did.
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