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Vigilauntie Justice #1
A Bit of Murder Between Friends
Cupcakes are sweet … but vengeance is sweeter.
Every day, Baz, Peggy, Carole, and Madge get together to knit, drink tea, and dole out death to keep the streets of south-east London safe.
When the ladies get wind of a recent string of attacks on young women, it’s clear a brazen predator is stalking their local community. So far, nothing has been done to stop this scoundrel – and with police downplaying reports of the violence, London’s women are walking around unawares.
So Baz and her friends decide to take matters into their own wrinkled – but very capable – hands. These grannies will do anything it takes to protect their community.
Including murder.
A Bit of Murder Between Friends is cosy(ish), noir(ish), humorous crime fiction that will delight fans of Killers of a Certain Age and An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good. With colourful characters, queer themes, amateur female sleuths, and no shortage of twists and turns, the first book in the Vigilauntie Justice series is guaranteed to leave you itching for more.
Every day, Baz, Peggy, Carole, and Madge get together to knit, drink tea, and dole out death to keep the streets of south-east London safe.
When the ladies get wind of a recent string of attacks on young women, it’s clear a brazen predator is stalking their local community. So far, nothing has been done to stop this scoundrel – and with police downplaying reports of the violence, London’s women are walking around unawares.
So Baz and her friends decide to take matters into their own wrinkled – but very capable – hands. These grannies will do anything it takes to protect their community.
Including murder.
A Bit of Murder Between Friends is cosy(ish), noir(ish), humorous crime fiction that will delight fans of Killers of a Certain Age and An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good. With colourful characters, queer themes, amateur female sleuths, and no shortage of twists and turns, the first book in the Vigilauntie Justice series is guaranteed to leave you itching for more.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2023
28 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 16, 2023
Wow! To say this is original is an understatement. I enjoyed getting to know Baz and the other amateur sleuths as they fought to rid the London streets of crime. This cozy mystery had it all. Twists, suspense, and a healthy dose of humor describe this entertaining first installment of the Vigilauntie Justice series. This is a quick read that kept me engaged from start to finish. Thank you, BookSirens for my copy.
November 11, 2023
This was awesome!
Not only are the 4 MCs cutie old ladies who are into crafting, but they also love murder and mystery.
I feel like I could be bffs with Peggy quite easily.
Anywho.
There is rapist on the loose and this crack team of amateur sleuths are on the case.
Obviously there is more to the story, but I feel like you should discover those other bits on your own.
The friendship/found family aspect was a big win for me!
Much love to Elliott Hay & BookSirens for my ARC.
Not only are the 4 MCs cutie old ladies who are into crafting, but they also love murder and mystery.
I feel like I could be bffs with Peggy quite easily.
Anywho.
There is rapist on the loose and this crack team of amateur sleuths are on the case.
Obviously there is more to the story, but I feel like you should discover those other bits on your own.
The friendship/found family aspect was a big win for me!
Much love to Elliott Hay & BookSirens for my ARC.
August 3, 2023
I'm sorry to say that this was a bit too much like the Thursday Murder Club for my taste. I thought that perhaps the vigilante aspect might bring something new to the table but it all felt a little rushed.
I'd actually have liked the book to be a little longer to explore the ladies' personalities and background a little better. This felt like book two or three and I should have already been acquainted with the various characters.
If the next book was a bit longer with more character and plot development I would definitely read it. It's certainly easy prose to read and the plot was very easy to follow. The only bit that really irritated me was the reveal of the Groper. I'm notoriously rubbish at figuring out a perpetrator but even I was yelling at the screen who it was.
So in the end I wanted more, a bit more complex , more character and plot development.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'd actually have liked the book to be a little longer to explore the ladies' personalities and background a little better. This felt like book two or three and I should have already been acquainted with the various characters.
If the next book was a bit longer with more character and plot development I would definitely read it. It's certainly easy prose to read and the plot was very easy to follow. The only bit that really irritated me was the reveal of the Groper. I'm notoriously rubbish at figuring out a perpetrator but even I was yelling at the screen who it was.
So in the end I wanted more, a bit more complex , more character and plot development.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 23, 2023
This is pure gold.
Four elderly ladies getting together to knit, drink tea, and - when the situation requires - engage in amateur sleuthing and deal out justice to keep their community safe? This immensely fun series opener is everything I hoped for and more.
I was particularly delighted to see that one of the protagonists is a trans woman, providing some wonderful representation that is much needed in these times. All the characters are well drawn and their adventures highly entertaining to follow.
Very much recommended - can't wait for the next one!
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
Four elderly ladies getting together to knit, drink tea, and - when the situation requires - engage in amateur sleuthing and deal out justice to keep their community safe? This immensely fun series opener is everything I hoped for and more.
I was particularly delighted to see that one of the protagonists is a trans woman, providing some wonderful representation that is much needed in these times. All the characters are well drawn and their adventures highly entertaining to follow.
Very much recommended - can't wait for the next one!
*** I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
June 27, 2023
What happens when four little old ladies want to insure their commUnity is safe? (Warning: if you have problems with the topics of transgender or same sex couples, this probably isn’t the book for you). Baz and her granddaughter Daisy have recently moved to London from Canada. Baz goes to the Wellbeloved Cafe and meets Madge, Carole and Peggy, who are a lively bunch. Carole, who is “often off with the fairies”, is often spouting inane facts and nonsense, then pipes up with an astonishing observation and is a fun character. They talk about 2 men causing difficulties in their community and devise their own way of handling it, when the police aren’t interested. A delightful and often funny story! I received a free copy of this book through BookSirens and write this review voluntarily.
August 12, 2023
People, this is not what expected,
Anyway, until chapter seven, I was tempted to put down this book, there was too much descriptions and almost no action. But then, things started to move, slowly at first and then the book picked up its pace.
To avoid spoiling and for people to experience this read, I'll do "What I liked/What I didn't" kind of review. So, let's go!
What I liked:
- Peggy, her sense of humor, frankness, dark pretty spirit and the fact that she goes direcly to the point!
- Carole, I was a bit doubtful about her character in the prequel but she turned out to be a mystery to explore, I think I have my idea about what she did for a living, and it's no small thing!
- The issues the author reported (read the book to know what I'm talking about) that we're still, in 2023, helplessely facing and how the concerned authorities keep turning a blind eye on ( of course, they concern women, so who cares, right?)
- The writing was fluid and engaging (once you adapt with the first chapters),
- The mystery was good, and the clues the author left might send the reader on a wild goose hunt, which of course is the point of a good mystery.
- How i laughed at Peggy's hilarious retorts and internal thoughts.
What I didn't like:
- Madge's character, she was umbearable, I couldn't stand her or her "making me cringy" teeth sucking. Everytime she spoke, and I'll quote Peggy: My eyes rolled so far back I feared my retinas would detach"
- The huge amount of daily life descriptions that bought nothing to the story/case or characters. I usually don't mind details, but on only when they have a purpose.
- Lastly and even if I understand the author's motives and super intentions, I found her pressing too much the LGBTQ matter, so instead of making it look normal and part of everyday life, it had the opposite effect on my reading experience. I'll try to explain, in the first chapter, there was a scene with Madge and Baz, in which Peggy made it super clear times are changing, so, in my opinion, there was no need to add the next scene with the young uni lady. I was unecessary.
As I understand, the author is new to the genre, so I might've been a bit (or too ?) harsh on her. But to make things clear, I spent a plesurable moment with this book and would recommend it to the readers of light/noirysh cozy mysteries!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Anyway, until chapter seven, I was tempted to put down this book, there was too much descriptions and almost no action. But then, things started to move, slowly at first and then the book picked up its pace.
To avoid spoiling and for people to experience this read, I'll do "What I liked/What I didn't" kind of review. So, let's go!
What I liked:
- Peggy, her sense of humor, frankness, dark pretty spirit and the fact that she goes direcly to the point!
- Carole, I was a bit doubtful about her character in the prequel but she turned out to be a mystery to explore, I think I have my idea about what she did for a living, and it's no small thing!
- The issues the author reported (read the book to know what I'm talking about) that we're still, in 2023, helplessely facing and how the concerned authorities keep turning a blind eye on ( of course, they concern women, so who cares, right?)
- The writing was fluid and engaging (once you adapt with the first chapters),
- The mystery was good, and the clues the author left might send the reader on a wild goose hunt, which of course is the point of a good mystery.
- How i laughed at Peggy's hilarious retorts and internal thoughts.
What I didn't like:
- Madge's character, she was umbearable, I couldn't stand her or her "making me cringy" teeth sucking. Everytime she spoke, and I'll quote Peggy: My eyes rolled so far back I feared my retinas would detach"
- The huge amount of daily life descriptions that bought nothing to the story/case or characters. I usually don't mind details, but on only when they have a purpose.
- Lastly and even if I understand the author's motives and super intentions, I found her pressing too much the LGBTQ matter, so instead of making it look normal and part of everyday life, it had the opposite effect on my reading experience. I'll try to explain, in the first chapter, there was a scene with Madge and Baz, in which Peggy made it super clear times are changing, so, in my opinion, there was no need to add the next scene with the young uni lady. I was unecessary.
As I understand, the author is new to the genre, so I might've been a bit (or too ?) harsh on her. But to make things clear, I spent a plesurable moment with this book and would recommend it to the readers of light/noirysh cozy mysteries!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 9, 2023
I'm always craving more queer books that don't center sex or romance, and I love cosy mysteries, so I was very curious about this one. And I had a good time reading this! It didn't have all of the cosy vibes I was expecting, but I did love that the main character was an older trans woman, and there were other queer characters as well. On top of books usually centering sex or romance, they usually center younger people as well, so I really appreciated how this book switched all of that up.
The mystery plot isn't focused on murder, like is often the case, but on sexual assault, which is something to keep in mind if you want to pick this up, to make sure you're in the right headspace. I appreciated the message of the book of solidarity and believing survivors, and I especially seeing the love between the main character and her granddaughter.
The mystery plot isn't focused on murder, like is often the case, but on sexual assault, which is something to keep in mind if you want to pick this up, to make sure you're in the right headspace. I appreciated the message of the book of solidarity and believing survivors, and I especially seeing the love between the main character and her granddaughter.
Read
May 25, 2023This is one of mine (under a new pen name), so I won't rate it. But I'm so excited for you to get to know Baz, Peggy, Carole, and Madge.
August 28, 2023
A group of vigilante elderly ladies, knit, drink tea, and fight crime against women in their community!
[AD: Thanks to Pride Book Tours for a free copy of this book]
SYNOPSIS:
"A cosy(ish), noir(ish), humorous crime fiction that will delight fans of Killers of a Certain Age and An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good. With colourful characters, queer themes, amateur female sleuths, and no shortage of twists and turns, the first book in the Vigilauntie Justice series is guaranteed to leave you itching for more."
MY THOUGHTS:
🧶 Give me a dark(ish) cosy(ish) mystery with queer characters and I am in my absolute element.
🧶 This did not disappoint! Baz, Peggy, Carole & Madge make an amazing foursome looking to keep their community safe after a string of attacks on young women.
🧶 Cosies have a history of not having much diversity, so to finally have queer, trans and disability rep in this genre made me so happy, as I love to enjoy a cosy mystery - it's like indulging in episodes of Murder She Wrote in book form.
🧶 Not only did this fearsome foursome fight crime against women, they also regularly met to drink tea and knit - I mean seriously, why can't I join this group of vigilantes in real life?!
🧶 With fabulous characters, dark humour and a plot that is not just cosy but also filled with twists.
I highly recommend this to not only fans of cosy mysteries but also a great intro into this genre. I am so happy this is the start of a series!
[AD: Thanks to Pride Book Tours for a free copy of this book]
SYNOPSIS:
"A cosy(ish), noir(ish), humorous crime fiction that will delight fans of Killers of a Certain Age and An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good. With colourful characters, queer themes, amateur female sleuths, and no shortage of twists and turns, the first book in the Vigilauntie Justice series is guaranteed to leave you itching for more."
MY THOUGHTS:
🧶 Give me a dark(ish) cosy(ish) mystery with queer characters and I am in my absolute element.
🧶 This did not disappoint! Baz, Peggy, Carole & Madge make an amazing foursome looking to keep their community safe after a string of attacks on young women.
🧶 Cosies have a history of not having much diversity, so to finally have queer, trans and disability rep in this genre made me so happy, as I love to enjoy a cosy mystery - it's like indulging in episodes of Murder She Wrote in book form.
🧶 Not only did this fearsome foursome fight crime against women, they also regularly met to drink tea and knit - I mean seriously, why can't I join this group of vigilantes in real life?!
🧶 With fabulous characters, dark humour and a plot that is not just cosy but also filled with twists.
I highly recommend this to not only fans of cosy mysteries but also a great intro into this genre. I am so happy this is the start of a series!
August 1, 2023
4.5 stars. What a brilliant set of elderly characters, with great inclusiveness and lots of delightful twists. Just the series name Vigilauntie Justice says enough. Plenty of humour and good mystery solving as well as interesting minor characters. A good community is worth killing for...
March 9, 2025
4.5⭐
This was such a fun and fast read! I bit of mystery and murder, and lots of old lady shenanigans!
This was such a fun and fast read! I bit of mystery and murder, and lots of old lady shenanigans!
April 21, 2025
And they say there’s nothing new in crime fiction…. this was a bit of fresh air - a group of inclusive, elderly, diverse women who are up to no good in the best possible way. Highly recommend ❤️🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
June 5, 2024
So unknowingly I have read my LGBQT book for the year. It is a mystery but the point of the story wasn't to solve the problem through normal means, but by vigilantism. I had problems with that. I won't be reading any more stories in the series.
August 9, 2023
A Bit of Murder Between Friends
I went into this one not knowing much about it. But, thinking it was a cozy mystery whose amateur sleuthers were a group of knitting grandmothers.
Was I ever in for a shock....this one's not so cozy. It's darkly humorous. There is knitting involved, but let's just say there are some interesting uses for knitting paraphernalia. There was a huge twist about halfway through when I realized this wasn't your average cozy mystery. I think my jaw actually dropped.
But, all that said, it made for such a fun and interesting read. This is the first in the Vigilauntie Justice Series (should have been my first clue 🤣), and I can't wait to read more about Baz, Peggy, Carole, and Madge.
I loved that this novel had more mature representation and addressed the challenges of aging. It also has some great LGBTQ2S+ and disability representation.
Goodreads says that this book is for fans of Killers of a Certain Age. I definitely recommend it for anyone who likes a bit of a darker cozy.
🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️
Baz has given up everything and moved from Canada to England with her granddaughter to start a new life and live authentically as herself. But, trying to make friends later in life is definitely not as easy as when you are a kid.
Baz encounters a group of women who are part of the Deptford Crafters Circle, and she gets up the courage to ask to join. These ladies meet at a coffee shop every morning, except weekends.
The ladies of the Deptford Crafters Circle have taken it upon themselves to look out for those in their neighborhood, especially considering the police often won't get involved. And right now, they have issues in their neighborhood, a grifter who talks young women out of their money, and the Goldsmith Groper, who is stalking and assaulting unsuspecting young women.
Baz certainly gets more than she bargained for when she joined the Deptford Crafters Circle.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I went into this one not knowing much about it. But, thinking it was a cozy mystery whose amateur sleuthers were a group of knitting grandmothers.
Was I ever in for a shock....this one's not so cozy. It's darkly humorous. There is knitting involved, but let's just say there are some interesting uses for knitting paraphernalia. There was a huge twist about halfway through when I realized this wasn't your average cozy mystery. I think my jaw actually dropped.
But, all that said, it made for such a fun and interesting read. This is the first in the Vigilauntie Justice Series (should have been my first clue 🤣), and I can't wait to read more about Baz, Peggy, Carole, and Madge.
I loved that this novel had more mature representation and addressed the challenges of aging. It also has some great LGBTQ2S+ and disability representation.
Goodreads says that this book is for fans of Killers of a Certain Age. I definitely recommend it for anyone who likes a bit of a darker cozy.
🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️🕵♀️
Baz has given up everything and moved from Canada to England with her granddaughter to start a new life and live authentically as herself. But, trying to make friends later in life is definitely not as easy as when you are a kid.
Baz encounters a group of women who are part of the Deptford Crafters Circle, and she gets up the courage to ask to join. These ladies meet at a coffee shop every morning, except weekends.
The ladies of the Deptford Crafters Circle have taken it upon themselves to look out for those in their neighborhood, especially considering the police often won't get involved. And right now, they have issues in their neighborhood, a grifter who talks young women out of their money, and the Goldsmith Groper, who is stalking and assaulting unsuspecting young women.
Baz certainly gets more than she bargained for when she joined the Deptford Crafters Circle.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 9, 2023
Trigger warnings for A Bit of Murder Between Friends include: violence, death, rape, sexual assault, transphobia, accidental cannibalism.
☆
☆
This story was definitely an example of a book I didn't know I needed. Older women fighting for peace and safety in their community. It has violence and awful occurrences, with a cosy background, and adorable queer characters.
~
I was very much unaware that I ever needed a cosy mystery about grannies getting justice for their own, but here we are I guess because I thoroughly loved it.
~
I connected to the characters in a way I didn't expect I would. And there's one particular quote I came across that I really like. It's: "Her backpack was covered with a host of pins and badges, one of which was emblazoned with a pink and blue dinosaur and the words ‘trans rights or I bites’." I quoted that and posted it online saying that while I don't completely get the connection between dinosaurs and trans people, I'm all here for it.
~
The warning for accidental cannibalism threw me for a loop and led to several conversations of me trying to figure out how someone can accidentally eat another human, but when it came up it made a lot of sense and kinda tickled me a bit.
•
Thank you to author Elliott Hay and BookSirens for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
☆
☆
This story was definitely an example of a book I didn't know I needed. Older women fighting for peace and safety in their community. It has violence and awful occurrences, with a cosy background, and adorable queer characters.
~
I was very much unaware that I ever needed a cosy mystery about grannies getting justice for their own, but here we are I guess because I thoroughly loved it.
~
I connected to the characters in a way I didn't expect I would. And there's one particular quote I came across that I really like. It's: "Her backpack was covered with a host of pins and badges, one of which was emblazoned with a pink and blue dinosaur and the words ‘trans rights or I bites’." I quoted that and posted it online saying that while I don't completely get the connection between dinosaurs and trans people, I'm all here for it.
~
The warning for accidental cannibalism threw me for a loop and led to several conversations of me trying to figure out how someone can accidentally eat another human, but when it came up it made a lot of sense and kinda tickled me a bit.
•
Thank you to author Elliott Hay and BookSirens for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
July 5, 2023
A Bit of Murder Between Friends is the first book in a new series by Elliott Hay. Baz has moved into a new neighborhood and is looking for some new friends. She spies an elderly group that meets at the local café. But this isn’t your normal group of knitters and gossipers – this is an eclectic group that take protecting their neighborhood seriously. They feel that the police are inept and so they investigate mysteries and solve them in their own vigilante style.
I love the characters in this book. Each has a very distinct point of view – none of which you call grandmotherly. Fast paced, very funny, with lots of twists and turns. A great page turner. Can’t wait for the next in this series. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book.
I love the characters in this book. Each has a very distinct point of view – none of which you call grandmotherly. Fast paced, very funny, with lots of twists and turns. A great page turner. Can’t wait for the next in this series. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book.
November 18, 2023
knitting, tea, gossip … vengeance (Vigilauntie Justice Book 1)
First in a series, following a prequel titled Friends in Need. This is a continuation of the hijinks of the retired Auntie's who are silent partners in a little toa-coffee shop and cafe 6 kilometers from London Bridge. Almost every day the ladies congregate at WellBeloved to do crafts and keep up with the neighborhood gossip. I am pleased to recommend this series to friends and family. It is a hoot! Most days, these old Aunties can find a little mischief to get into.
I love that some of the Aunties were born Margaret - I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s with many Margarets - and that everyone goes by a nickname, including Barbara (Baz) who is retired from the Candian police but was never a policeman. She is new to the group and initially had empty hands at the crafting table, but intends to take up embroidery as she was taught as a girl. We don't initially learn a lot about the past life of Madge - she is black, a former Jamaican and an orthopedic nurse, and a knitter. And Cookie is an abandoned and mistreated Altisan looking for a new home. Carole is a bit batty, a crocheter, and often has everyone completely confused. And her life partner, a native Brit, Peggy, once a dedicated follower of most all rock bands, but a real adorer of the Sex Pistols, is a fiction writer who keeps a typewriter at the cafe. Together, they all rock. And have enough experience and smarts to keep their little neighborhood safe. Sometimes that takes all of them, however. It is fortunate that some have mobility scooters. It is hard to outrun a retired Auntie on a mobility scooter. Especially if she is accompanied by a well-rested Altisan who may have already found a new forever home.
REVIEWED on November 18, 2023 at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo. Was not able to correct review on B&N or Kobo. Sorry.
First in a series, following a prequel titled Friends in Need. This is a continuation of the hijinks of the retired Auntie's who are silent partners in a little toa-coffee shop and cafe 6 kilometers from London Bridge. Almost every day the ladies congregate at WellBeloved to do crafts and keep up with the neighborhood gossip. I am pleased to recommend this series to friends and family. It is a hoot! Most days, these old Aunties can find a little mischief to get into.
I love that some of the Aunties were born Margaret - I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s with many Margarets - and that everyone goes by a nickname, including Barbara (Baz) who is retired from the Candian police but was never a policeman. She is new to the group and initially had empty hands at the crafting table, but intends to take up embroidery as she was taught as a girl. We don't initially learn a lot about the past life of Madge - she is black, a former Jamaican and an orthopedic nurse, and a knitter. And Cookie is an abandoned and mistreated Altisan looking for a new home. Carole is a bit batty, a crocheter, and often has everyone completely confused. And her life partner, a native Brit, Peggy, once a dedicated follower of most all rock bands, but a real adorer of the Sex Pistols, is a fiction writer who keeps a typewriter at the cafe. Together, they all rock. And have enough experience and smarts to keep their little neighborhood safe. Sometimes that takes all of them, however. It is fortunate that some have mobility scooters. It is hard to outrun a retired Auntie on a mobility scooter. Especially if she is accompanied by a well-rested Altisan who may have already found a new forever home.
REVIEWED on November 18, 2023 at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo. Was not able to correct review on B&N or Kobo. Sorry.
August 10, 2023
I loved this book! While there were some heavy topics, it was very easy to read and honestly felt relevant to now. I loved Baz and her development through the book. I loved the personalities of all the grannies and they all felt unique. I enjoyed how descriptive the scenes and settings were in this book, as it helped me feel like I am in this book, watching everything unfold. Reminded me of Killers of a Certain Age, which is a book I enjoyed a lot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2023
I loved this book. It was extremely quirky! The characters were fascinating and it was very modern and referenced recent events.
I liked the fact that each chapter had its own quirky title.
It reached out to my feeling that justice isn't always available for everyone and these characters looked after their own.
All in all, a most enjoyable read. I look forward to the next one in the series.
I received an ARC for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked the fact that each chapter had its own quirky title.
It reached out to my feeling that justice isn't always available for everyone and these characters looked after their own.
All in all, a most enjoyable read. I look forward to the next one in the series.
I received an ARC for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is the first in the Vigilauntie Justice series. It was fun and entertaining to read. I did find the characters quite humorous, and some of their interactions with each other made me chuckle. If you like humorous cosy mysteries, give this a try.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
This book is the first in the Vigilauntie Justice series. It was fun and entertaining to read. I did find the characters quite humorous, and some of their interactions with each other made me chuckle. If you like humorous cosy mysteries, give this a try.
Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.
March 24, 2024
I am a huge fan of this author’s alter ego’s SF work, so I thought I’d give Elliot Hay’s first book a try. I wasn’t quite a quarter of the way in when the second book became available. I immediately scooped it up because I was hooked on these characters The author gives a nod to a few other works in the ending acknowledgements. I have to say that I too am a big fan of “An Elderly Is Up To No Good”.
Do not dismiss the power of little old ladies. And never assume that you can get away with getting on their wrong side.
I look forward to the next book in the Vigilauntie Justice series!
Do not dismiss the power of little old ladies. And never assume that you can get away with getting on their wrong side.
I look forward to the next book in the Vigilauntie Justice series!
August 30, 2023
Since I "met" the Vigilaunties in the prequel "Friends in Need," I had been looking forward to their first full-length adventure - and Baz, Peggy, Carole (OMG, Carole!), and Madge did not disappoint. The "cozy noir" format totally works for me, and I find the Vigilaunties' (thankfully less-than-standard) approach to looking our for their family and friends very entertaining.
Next, please? :)
Next, please? :)
March 1, 2025
As someone who loves knitting, tea, murder mysteries, Miss Marple~esque detectives, and everything British, this checked all the boxes! It was cute, funny, cozy, and a bit suspenseful. And for the life of me, I couldn’t stop picturing Baz as Mr. Brown dressed as a lady cleaner in the first Paddington movie 🤣
August 10, 2023
a very fun read
I enjoyed this book so much. Can’t wait to read the second one. I hope you’ll continue to tell us more tales about these marvelous ladies!!
I enjoyed this book so much. Can’t wait to read the second one. I hope you’ll continue to tell us more tales about these marvelous ladies!!
March 11, 2024
So much fun and great characters. i hope they would like me.
May 8, 2024
Ladies doing it for themselves—vigilante justice and diy craft
July 8, 2025
a fun and slightly twisted mystery story.
January 26, 2025
I didn’t go in with super high expectations here - but this was such a cute book with great little old (smart ass) ladies running the show!
Carole may sound out of sorts, but make no mistake she knows exactly what’s going on. Madge & Peggy do a great job making Baz (& eventually Daisy) feel right at home.
The 4 ladies of a certain age are unapologetically themselves throughout with a fierce need to protect their community & a keen way of doing it.
After all, what’s a little murder between friends?
Carole may sound out of sorts, but make no mistake she knows exactly what’s going on. Madge & Peggy do a great job making Baz (& eventually Daisy) feel right at home.
The 4 ladies of a certain age are unapologetically themselves throughout with a fierce need to protect their community & a keen way of doing it.
After all, what’s a little murder between friends?
July 4, 2023
I'm going to say some things that sound conflicting. I enjoyed the plot, it was a fun and very quick read and I liked the characters. And I'm looking forward to the next installment! But - I can't give this book more than 3 stars. I tend to be a generous reviewer, I know people pour their heart and soul into their work, but the writing was less than stellar. Granted this is a cozy, but the plot seemed shallow and it took quite a while for me to get oriented to the place and circumstances. We're simply thrown into the story involving a trans woman who moved from Canada - but why to this small town, Lewisham? Why move from Canada at all? Canada is a huge place, couldn't Baz have just moved to another province? And please, get your knitting and crocheting straight. We keep hearing about Carole's knitting needles, but she crochets human anatomical parts. We never hear that she actually knits AND crochets (although many people do). Crochet involves hooks, knitting involves needles. So many picky little details that tell me that this book was not proofed nor edited. You can do better! This is a fun storyline, although slightly similar to the Thursday Murder Club, and I think the writing could be improved.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily; the opinions expressed are my own.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily; the opinions expressed are my own.
September 6, 2023
I had already read a short ‘teaser’ story by Elliott Hay which I really enjoyed, so was looking forward to reading a longer, more involved story involving the same unusual characters when it came out.
So when the opportunity to read A Little Bit of Murder Between Friends via BookSirens came up, I jumped at the chance. The following is my honest review.
I'm going to get it out of the way first; there are going to many comparisons made between this book and the popular ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series by Richard Osman - which actually gets a cheeky reference, in passing, from one of the book’s characters. The theme of older people forming a club which actually also solves cold (and some rather warm) crime cases on the sly, does indeed sound familiar, however these characters are a little different to TTMC and co. The main focus of their little group is crafting, and there's definitely a different vibe to their interpretation of 'Murder club'.
Diversity and LBGTQIA+ friendship is definitely a theme that runs through this book and while this put an interesting slant on the characters, I didn't feel that we had enough backstory to fully understand them. There was some clarity that came throughout the book, but happening alongside the 'action', somehow muddled it a bit for me. There were various current issues highlighted, such as the disregard for women's safety, and transphobia, however, although I think the author needs to be careful of coming across as too preachy if they want to appeal to a wide audience. Perhaps picking one or two main themes and really focusing on them might work well.
Onto our crafters. At the start, we learn that one of the main characters is transitioning, however they have a female-sounding name, and a male-sounding nickname, both of which they use. When mention of a husband is mentioned, it takes a little while to become clear that our protagonist was previously living life as a gay man and is now transitioning MtF rather than the other way around. Not that it matters, but I like to form a picture in my head of the person I'm reading about and despite going back a few times and reading the section again, I still couldn't picture her. A little further on we hear that a character 'came out' to her father, yet she is described as only having heteronormative relationships through the book, so I'm still not clear what she came out as. I also felt that some of the characters were a bit cliched – the quirky old lady punk with the Sex Pistols tee-shirt and purple spiky hair as an example – there seems to be a variation on this one in most character led shows or books now and it's a little predictable for me.
I noticed that there was an awful lot of focus on mundane daily details. So much so, I almost gave up early on, but persevered. I also noted unnecessary signposting of the age of the characters in the book. We read a lot about people's aches and pains and problems, and towards the latter part of the book I was getting a little 'yes, we know they're elderly, we get it!'. It felt like filler and didn't really add anything to the story.
Conversely, I felt the book was a little short; I noticed that each page turned on the kindle equated 1% which meant it sped by and left me feeling like the actual story was a little rushed. Especially around the part when there's a pivotal moment - something shocking happens and we realise that life-changing moral decisions have to be made going forward. I didn't feel that was given enough import.
To summarise, I think this is a great idea. I liked the characters, I liked the concept and above all I enjoyed the writing – the dialogue in particular is flowing, and funny, there were a few choice quips and one liners that made me laugh out loud. It just needs a little finesse, a little something that will hopefully come as the characters settle into their roles. It's a snappy, cozy, beach or wet afternoon on the sofa read. I imagine that this is likely to be the first in a series involving our crafty team of problem solvers, and despite the issues I had with this novel, Rome wasn't built in a day, and so I would definitely be up for reading a second and finding out more about the characters as time goes by.
So when the opportunity to read A Little Bit of Murder Between Friends via BookSirens came up, I jumped at the chance. The following is my honest review.
I'm going to get it out of the way first; there are going to many comparisons made between this book and the popular ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series by Richard Osman - which actually gets a cheeky reference, in passing, from one of the book’s characters. The theme of older people forming a club which actually also solves cold (and some rather warm) crime cases on the sly, does indeed sound familiar, however these characters are a little different to TTMC and co. The main focus of their little group is crafting, and there's definitely a different vibe to their interpretation of 'Murder club'.
Diversity and LBGTQIA+ friendship is definitely a theme that runs through this book and while this put an interesting slant on the characters, I didn't feel that we had enough backstory to fully understand them. There was some clarity that came throughout the book, but happening alongside the 'action', somehow muddled it a bit for me. There were various current issues highlighted, such as the disregard for women's safety, and transphobia, however, although I think the author needs to be careful of coming across as too preachy if they want to appeal to a wide audience. Perhaps picking one or two main themes and really focusing on them might work well.
Onto our crafters. At the start, we learn that one of the main characters is transitioning, however they have a female-sounding name, and a male-sounding nickname, both of which they use. When mention of a husband is mentioned, it takes a little while to become clear that our protagonist was previously living life as a gay man and is now transitioning MtF rather than the other way around. Not that it matters, but I like to form a picture in my head of the person I'm reading about and despite going back a few times and reading the section again, I still couldn't picture her. A little further on we hear that a character 'came out' to her father, yet she is described as only having heteronormative relationships through the book, so I'm still not clear what she came out as. I also felt that some of the characters were a bit cliched – the quirky old lady punk with the Sex Pistols tee-shirt and purple spiky hair as an example – there seems to be a variation on this one in most character led shows or books now and it's a little predictable for me.
I noticed that there was an awful lot of focus on mundane daily details. So much so, I almost gave up early on, but persevered. I also noted unnecessary signposting of the age of the characters in the book. We read a lot about people's aches and pains and problems, and towards the latter part of the book I was getting a little 'yes, we know they're elderly, we get it!'. It felt like filler and didn't really add anything to the story.
Conversely, I felt the book was a little short; I noticed that each page turned on the kindle equated 1% which meant it sped by and left me feeling like the actual story was a little rushed. Especially around the part when there's a pivotal moment - something shocking happens and we realise that life-changing moral decisions have to be made going forward. I didn't feel that was given enough import.
To summarise, I think this is a great idea. I liked the characters, I liked the concept and above all I enjoyed the writing – the dialogue in particular is flowing, and funny, there were a few choice quips and one liners that made me laugh out loud. It just needs a little finesse, a little something that will hopefully come as the characters settle into their roles. It's a snappy, cozy, beach or wet afternoon on the sofa read. I imagine that this is likely to be the first in a series involving our crafty team of problem solvers, and despite the issues I had with this novel, Rome wasn't built in a day, and so I would definitely be up for reading a second and finding out more about the characters as time goes by.
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