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Cherrywood Murders #2
Murder at the Bonfire
Preparations are underway for Cherrywood's annual celebration of Guy Fawkes Night . . .
When it's announced that the hotly anticipated 'Penny for the Guy' trail will have a celebrity judge – former DJ 'Screaming' Ade Adams – competition steps up amongst the villagers.
But as everyone gathers for the big event, Ade is found dead atop the bonfire with three mysterious tarot cards in his pocket, and barmaid and part-time sleuth Tess Feather suspects foul play. Why would anyone in Cherrywood want the retired disc jockey dead? And could there be a connection to a recently returned villager: Tess's estranged brother Mikey?
Once again, Tess is forced to team up with her ex-boyfriend – private investigator Liam Hanley – and her friends Raven and Oliver as they investigate a tale of murder and vengeance that could go all the way to the top.
When it's announced that the hotly anticipated 'Penny for the Guy' trail will have a celebrity judge – former DJ 'Screaming' Ade Adams – competition steps up amongst the villagers.
But as everyone gathers for the big event, Ade is found dead atop the bonfire with three mysterious tarot cards in his pocket, and barmaid and part-time sleuth Tess Feather suspects foul play. Why would anyone in Cherrywood want the retired disc jockey dead? And could there be a connection to a recently returned villager: Tess's estranged brother Mikey?
Once again, Tess is forced to team up with her ex-boyfriend – private investigator Liam Hanley – and her friends Raven and Oliver as they investigate a tale of murder and vengeance that could go all the way to the top.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2023
6 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Penny Blackwell
6 books8 followersPenny Blackwell grew up in rural West Yorkshire, right in the heart of Brontë country… and she's still there. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in English Literature, she dallied with living in cities including London, Nottingham and Cambridge, but homesickness soon drove her back to her beloved Yorkshire. She lives in the shadow of the moors with her partner and two mischievous border collies.
Penny also writes romantic comedies as Mary Jayne Baker and Lisa Swift, and World War II-set sagas as Betty Firth.
More information can be found about Penny on her website at www.maryjaynebaker.co.uk. You can also follow her on Twitter, @MaryJayneBaker, or like her Facebook page by going to Facebook.com/MaryJayneWrites
Penny also writes romantic comedies as Mary Jayne Baker and Lisa Swift, and World War II-set sagas as Betty Firth.
More information can be found about Penny on her website at www.maryjaynebaker.co.uk. You can also follow her on Twitter, @MaryJayneBaker, or like her Facebook page by going to Facebook.com/MaryJayneWrites
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 1, 2023
Thanks to headlinebooks for the early access via netgalley. If you love cosy crime, this is a book series for you! Cosy crime novel set in a small town in the UK. Its set around Halloween & Guy Fawkes night so its a perfect read for this season.
The story is about a small town organising a Guy Fawkes bonfire during which a local celebrity DJ who was supposed to open the night is unexpectedly found dead. A private detective who recently moved to the town takes on the case. What follows is a deep dive into the people of the village and their history.
This book is part 2 in a series. I have not read part 1 and I did think that made a difference. Although the story does stand on its own, there are a lot of references to part 1. I think reading part 1 will give the book more depth and make for a more enjoyable read.
All in all I very much enjoyed this book. The story was a little bit flat for me (potentially because I didn’t read part 1) and the twist at the end was not super shocking but still good. Overall its still a nice read. I definitely felt the cosy vibes from the village its set in and it was a fun read! Great read if you want something easy going to ‘cleanse your palate’ after a heavy or sad read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The story is about a small town organising a Guy Fawkes bonfire during which a local celebrity DJ who was supposed to open the night is unexpectedly found dead. A private detective who recently moved to the town takes on the case. What follows is a deep dive into the people of the village and their history.
This book is part 2 in a series. I have not read part 1 and I did think that made a difference. Although the story does stand on its own, there are a lot of references to part 1. I think reading part 1 will give the book more depth and make for a more enjoyable read.
All in all I very much enjoyed this book. The story was a little bit flat for me (potentially because I didn’t read part 1) and the twist at the end was not super shocking but still good. Overall its still a nice read. I definitely felt the cosy vibes from the village its set in and it was a fun read! Great read if you want something easy going to ‘cleanse your palate’ after a heavy or sad read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
October 30, 2023
This was a very enjoyable story. I would say that this would go under a cozy mystery. The plot and characters are well written. I look forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend this book.
September 23, 2023
A second outing for Tess and Liam, who are still not quite a couple, as they have another murder to solve. Plenty of suspects, each with a reason to kill, a very nasty victim who will be mourned by nobody, and a fair few red herrings along the way, as the pair deal with witchcraft, devil worship and family secrets in pursuit of the truth. I really liked village vicar Oliver in book one and he is even more lovely this time around as he battles his own conscience and insecurities and shows himself to be the nice guy he really is. Did I guess who committed the murder? No! Cosy crime with a touch of humour and a nice dollop of romance. I enjoyed it.
October 23, 2023
I was given an advanced reader proof copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This cozy mystery is perfect for an autumn night or rainy day. I absolutely loved spending time in Cherry wood and getting to know Tess and her circle of wonderful friends .
The characters are brilliantly written and very human. Making them easy to care about and identify with.
The story itself was thrilling and kept me guessing right up to the very end. I look forward to more time with Tess Feather !
This cozy mystery is perfect for an autumn night or rainy day. I absolutely loved spending time in Cherry wood and getting to know Tess and her circle of wonderful friends .
The characters are brilliantly written and very human. Making them easy to care about and identify with.
The story itself was thrilling and kept me guessing right up to the very end. I look forward to more time with Tess Feather !
October 4, 2023
The characters are well-written, even the minor characters and are likeable except for the victim who is not well liked by anyone. There are lots of twists and turns and suspects to keep you guessing who the murder is which is usually the case when the victim is not well liked. Can be read as a standalone as I did. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 17, 2023
This series is new to me and I really enjoyed it.
Dodgy DJ Ade Adams has several skeletons in his past but they all come to light in this mystery that manages to combine a cosy feel with up to date and serious messages.
Dodgy DJ Ade Adams has several skeletons in his past but they all come to light in this mystery that manages to combine a cosy feel with up to date and serious messages.
November 6, 2023
"Murder At The Bonfire" is book #2 in the "Cherrywood Mysteries" series by Penny Blackwell.
"Preparations are underway for Cherrywood's annual celebration of Guy Fawkes Night . . .
When it's announced that the hotly anticipated 'Penny for the Guy' trail will have a celebrity judge – former DJ 'Screaming' Ade Adams – competition steps up amongst the villagers.
But as everyone gathers for the big event, Ade is found dead atop the bonfire with three mysterious tarot cards in his pocket, and barmaid and part-time sleuth Tess Feather suspects foul play. Why would anyone in Cherrywood want the retired disc jockey dead? And could there be a connection to a recently returned villager: Tess's estranged brother Mikey?
Once again, Tess is forced to team up with her ex-boyfriend – private investigator Liam Hanley – and her friends Raven and Oliver as they investigate a tale of murder and vengeance that could go all the way to the top."
My thoughts:
From the Prologue to the final page, I was hooked on this story of murder, vengence and revelations that shook certain citizens of Cherrywood to the core!
Tess and Liam have a complicated history but when they can actually put that aside and work together, they make an incredible detective team. This case is no exception. Tess suspects foul play from the start but even when Liam is hired to investigate, he is very reluctant to let her help.
The murder of Ade Adams brings to light a lengthy list of misogyny and abusive behaviour. Many feel that whoever actually killed him did the world a favour. That doesn't mean that the guilty party should not be brought to justice.
It's a complicated trail to unearth the secrets of the past. Several of the reveals are shocking and heartbreaking!
Raven, Oliver, Tess and even Liam all have some reckoning to do as they work to come to terms with what has happened and solve Ade's murder.
As with the first book - "Cherrywood Murders" - this book ran the full range of emotions for me. I laughed out loud, shed a few tears, was stunned by the revelations and felt deep compassion for the victims. I felt for the four main characters as they tried to sort out their own emotions and what was happening in their personal lives.
As I read, I tried to follow the clues. I had correctly figured out Angela's secret well before the reveal. (WOW!) As for who had killed Ade? I was partly right on that but it turned out to be so much more complex than I had imagined! Well done Ms. Blackwell!!
I'm already looking forward to the next visit with Tess, Liam, Raven and Oliver in Cherrywood!
"Preparations are underway for Cherrywood's annual celebration of Guy Fawkes Night . . .
When it's announced that the hotly anticipated 'Penny for the Guy' trail will have a celebrity judge – former DJ 'Screaming' Ade Adams – competition steps up amongst the villagers.
But as everyone gathers for the big event, Ade is found dead atop the bonfire with three mysterious tarot cards in his pocket, and barmaid and part-time sleuth Tess Feather suspects foul play. Why would anyone in Cherrywood want the retired disc jockey dead? And could there be a connection to a recently returned villager: Tess's estranged brother Mikey?
Once again, Tess is forced to team up with her ex-boyfriend – private investigator Liam Hanley – and her friends Raven and Oliver as they investigate a tale of murder and vengeance that could go all the way to the top."
My thoughts:
From the Prologue to the final page, I was hooked on this story of murder, vengence and revelations that shook certain citizens of Cherrywood to the core!
Tess and Liam have a complicated history but when they can actually put that aside and work together, they make an incredible detective team. This case is no exception. Tess suspects foul play from the start but even when Liam is hired to investigate, he is very reluctant to let her help.
The murder of Ade Adams brings to light a lengthy list of misogyny and abusive behaviour. Many feel that whoever actually killed him did the world a favour. That doesn't mean that the guilty party should not be brought to justice.
It's a complicated trail to unearth the secrets of the past. Several of the reveals are shocking and heartbreaking!
Raven, Oliver, Tess and even Liam all have some reckoning to do as they work to come to terms with what has happened and solve Ade's murder.
As with the first book - "Cherrywood Murders" - this book ran the full range of emotions for me. I laughed out loud, shed a few tears, was stunned by the revelations and felt deep compassion for the victims. I felt for the four main characters as they tried to sort out their own emotions and what was happening in their personal lives.
As I read, I tried to follow the clues. I had correctly figured out Angela's secret well before the reveal. (WOW!) As for who had killed Ade? I was partly right on that but it turned out to be so much more complex than I had imagined! Well done Ms. Blackwell!!
I'm already looking forward to the next visit with Tess, Liam, Raven and Oliver in Cherrywood!
October 9, 2023
Penny Blackwell continues to deliver with 'Murder at the Bonfire', the follow up to her wonderful mystery debut 'The Cherrywood Murders'.
Reviled former Cherrywood resident and former DJ 'Screaming' Ade Adams is found dead with three tarot cards in his pocket, after returning the village to judge the 'Penny for the Guy' trail. Tess Feather, now with a taste for solving crime can't help but get involved, much to the dismay of her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Liam. Along with best friends, Raven and Oliver, Tess finds discovers Cherrywood experiencing its own #MeToo moment.
This book is full of the same wit, banter and charm as the first book, along with the strong characterisation. Blackwell refreshingly does not keep these characters in stasis. Tess, Raven and Ollie continue to experience personal and professional growth, with a hint for potential hurdles to overcome. I can only hope Raven is given a chance to not be so stifled by her grandmother's focus on her reproducing and being anchored to Cherrywood, Ollie keeps working through his faith and being able to have a personal life, and Tess have a chance to succeed at her singing than being a Cher impersonator.
The biggest strength and heart of this book for me, as with the first book is the solid friendship between Tess, Raven and Ollie. I loved their dry and witty banter and how they know each other so well.
This book was another fun romp. Blackwell carefully balances a compelling and well-plotted mystery, social issues, and her trademark sass, banter and charm which makes this series a standout. As I said after reading the first book, more please!
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.
Reviled former Cherrywood resident and former DJ 'Screaming' Ade Adams is found dead with three tarot cards in his pocket, after returning the village to judge the 'Penny for the Guy' trail. Tess Feather, now with a taste for solving crime can't help but get involved, much to the dismay of her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Liam. Along with best friends, Raven and Oliver, Tess finds discovers Cherrywood experiencing its own #MeToo moment.
This book is full of the same wit, banter and charm as the first book, along with the strong characterisation. Blackwell refreshingly does not keep these characters in stasis. Tess, Raven and Ollie continue to experience personal and professional growth, with a hint for potential hurdles to overcome. I can only hope Raven is given a chance to not be so stifled by her grandmother's focus on her reproducing and being anchored to Cherrywood, Ollie keeps working through his faith and being able to have a personal life, and Tess have a chance to succeed at her singing than being a Cher impersonator.
The biggest strength and heart of this book for me, as with the first book is the solid friendship between Tess, Raven and Ollie. I loved their dry and witty banter and how they know each other so well.
This book was another fun romp. Blackwell carefully balances a compelling and well-plotted mystery, social issues, and her trademark sass, banter and charm which makes this series a standout. As I said after reading the first book, more please!
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 25, 2023
Synopsis
The residents of Cherrywood are thrilled to have celebrity DJ, "Screaming" Ade Adams judge their "Penny for the Guy" trail entries on Guy Fawkes Night until Adams turns up dead, in costume, atop a pyre on the trail. After that, unsavory details of the DJ's life start leaking out and the list of suspects grows.
My Overall Thoughts
As I delved into "Murder at the Bonfire," I found the two protagonists to be intriguing characters. They were interesting, if not all that deep, and their chemistry added to the story. However, the cast of supporting characters didn't hold together as well as I had hoped. Without revealing any spoilers, I found their actions and behaviors to be inconsistent with their initial portrayal. It was disconcerting and disrupted the overall cohesiveness of the plot.
What I Didn't Love
I just didn’t find any of it believable. There were a lot of twists and turns, but each one was less realistic than the last.
Potentially Offensive Content
adult themes
violence
child endangerment and abuse
abuse of a special needs child
What I Loved
I liked the setting a lot. The days leading up to Guy Fawkes Night in a small, country town in England. It was very picturesque. It really built up an expectation that the plot never realized.
The residents of Cherrywood are thrilled to have celebrity DJ, "Screaming" Ade Adams judge their "Penny for the Guy" trail entries on Guy Fawkes Night until Adams turns up dead, in costume, atop a pyre on the trail. After that, unsavory details of the DJ's life start leaking out and the list of suspects grows.
My Overall Thoughts
As I delved into "Murder at the Bonfire," I found the two protagonists to be intriguing characters. They were interesting, if not all that deep, and their chemistry added to the story. However, the cast of supporting characters didn't hold together as well as I had hoped. Without revealing any spoilers, I found their actions and behaviors to be inconsistent with their initial portrayal. It was disconcerting and disrupted the overall cohesiveness of the plot.
What I Didn't Love
I just didn’t find any of it believable. There were a lot of twists and turns, but each one was less realistic than the last.
Potentially Offensive Content
adult themes
violence
child endangerment and abuse
abuse of a special needs child
What I Loved
I liked the setting a lot. The days leading up to Guy Fawkes Night in a small, country town in England. It was very picturesque. It really built up an expectation that the plot never realized.
October 7, 2023
Murder at the Bonfire just didn’t work for me. It is apparently the second book about the characters and the town of Cherrywood. Oftentimes, a reader can jump into a setting without having read the first book and easily follow the story. That wasn’t my experience with Murder at the Bonfire. It felt like I was missing background information that I needed in order to get a clear picture of the town dynamic. (I added a star because it isn’t the author’s fault that I hadn’t read a previous book.)
The other thing that didn’t work for me is that it focuses heavily of topics that I don’t enjoy reading about: witchcraft, tarot, and voyeurism (a married female character seduces men, her husband is aware of this fact, and he enjoys watching her be intimate with these other men. He also hires an investigator to “catch her” with some of the men, so that those men will know “they can never possess her.”) What a dysfunctional mess!
Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The other thing that didn’t work for me is that it focuses heavily of topics that I don’t enjoy reading about: witchcraft, tarot, and voyeurism (a married female character seduces men, her husband is aware of this fact, and he enjoys watching her be intimate with these other men. He also hires an investigator to “catch her” with some of the men, so that those men will know “they can never possess her.”) What a dysfunctional mess!
Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 28, 2023
Another murder in the sleep village of Cherrywood after celebrity guest DJ Screaming Ade is found dead, disguised as the effigy on the bonfire, moments after it's lit. Liam is hired by his wife, Leonie, to clear her name, and it's not long before Tess and friends Raven and Liam decide to jump in to the excitement and solve the murder with him - whether he wants them to or not.
I really like the cozy-crime PI story as these kinds of books tend to be about Marplesque characters who insert themselves in to the investigation, so it was a refreshing change. The characters are well-written, even the minor characters, which is nice as they're not used simply as plot devices/red herrings. Lots of twists and threads to keep you on your toes and keep you guessing - even when you think you know who did it (I was so sure I was right) think again!
I look forward to reading more of these books about the newly created Feather and Hanley detective agency.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette UK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I really like the cozy-crime PI story as these kinds of books tend to be about Marplesque characters who insert themselves in to the investigation, so it was a refreshing change. The characters are well-written, even the minor characters, which is nice as they're not used simply as plot devices/red herrings. Lots of twists and threads to keep you on your toes and keep you guessing - even when you think you know who did it (I was so sure I was right) think again!
I look forward to reading more of these books about the newly created Feather and Hanley detective agency.
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette UK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
June 18, 2024
I was really excited about the idea of a Bonfire night murder mystery however this book didn't work for me. The book seemed to loose focus fairly often and would go off on tangents into other things happening in the characters lives and forget to actually progress with the mystery element of the book. I found that in particular the author tried to force romantic relationships between a lot of the characters which destroyed the momentum of the mystery and felt extremely forced. This book is the second book in a series which I didn't realise when I picked it up so maybe the relationships would've felt more natural had I read the first book.
I found the ending very rushed and the entire mystery is summarised in the penultimate chapter. I couldn't see how any of the clues in the rest of the book would lead you to the conclusion so the rest of the book felt like it was just killing time before the big reveal.
I found the ending very rushed and the entire mystery is summarised in the penultimate chapter. I couldn't see how any of the clues in the rest of the book would lead you to the conclusion so the rest of the book felt like it was just killing time before the big reveal.
July 28, 2024
Second in the series featuring Tess, Raven and Oliver as the main characters (The Cherrywood Murders being the first), and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. The storyline around the murder victim in this book felt very contemporary, and of this era, in such a way that it was difficult to feel any sympathy for the victim. The side-plots featuring the lives of Tess, Raven and Oliver were developed further in this book, and I enjoyed getting to know them better.
This is shaping up to be a good series. If you like cosy crime, village life filled with murder and intrigue, this is for you. The added advantage for me is that the protaganists are younger - not the "little old lady" Miss-Marple-esque protagonists. I think this might help to make this a cosy crime series that appeals to younger readers (I don't mean YA - older than that!)
This is shaping up to be a good series. If you like cosy crime, village life filled with murder and intrigue, this is for you. The added advantage for me is that the protaganists are younger - not the "little old lady" Miss-Marple-esque protagonists. I think this might help to make this a cosy crime series that appeals to younger readers (I don't mean YA - older than that!)
November 2, 2023
DJ Ade Adam’s returns to Cherrywood he is the celebrity judge for the Penny for the guy trail.
Adam’s returns with his much younger wife and more than a few secrets in his closet .
Unfortunately before the trail is about to be judged the DJ is found dead at the top of the bonfire .
Who would want him dead?
On scratching the surface it seems that he has a lot of people who dislike him but do they dislike him enough to murder him?
Tess part time sleuth and Liam a private investigator start there own investigation to try and find the murderer.
An excellently written cosy mystery with great characters it kept me guessing until the end .
A great read and look forward to the next visit to Cherrywood.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline.
Adam’s returns with his much younger wife and more than a few secrets in his closet .
Unfortunately before the trail is about to be judged the DJ is found dead at the top of the bonfire .
Who would want him dead?
On scratching the surface it seems that he has a lot of people who dislike him but do they dislike him enough to murder him?
Tess part time sleuth and Liam a private investigator start there own investigation to try and find the murderer.
An excellently written cosy mystery with great characters it kept me guessing until the end .
A great read and look forward to the next visit to Cherrywood.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline.
October 4, 2023
Tess is back and she, Liam, Raven and Oliver are working on a second murder in Cherrywood. WHO would want to kill a celebrity DJ and in Cherrywood no less?
There may be some things that hit close to home in this one, but the foursome will do their best to figure out who unit and why, even if it kills them.
There may be some things that hit close to home in this one, but the foursome will do their best to figure out who unit and why, even if it kills them.
October 9, 2023
This was a fun and entertaining cosy mystery. From the start, I took a liking to the characters, and I liked how relatable they seemed. It was a very light and easy read, and a good one to choose for the time of year, due to the Guy Fawkes night theme.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
February 10, 2024
A very entertaining and compelling cosy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. There's plenty of twists and surprises, a solution that I liked and couldn't guess.
It requires a bit of suspension of belief but it's a very good story
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It requires a bit of suspension of belief but it's a very good story
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 27, 2024
This didn’t really work for me I’m afraid. I didn’t like the characters and the mystery was quite disjointed.
It probably comes down to personal preference as the writing was fine, but I just didn’t enjoy the story.
*** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher ***
It probably comes down to personal preference as the writing was fine, but I just didn’t enjoy the story.
*** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher ***
March 28, 2025
When the Guy on top of the bonfire at Cherrywood's annual event is found to be a dead celebrity, Tess, Liam and Raven find themselves investigating the villagers in an attempt to discover the murderer.
This was an enjoyable cosy murder mystery that kept me guessing right until the very end
This was an enjoyable cosy murder mystery that kept me guessing right until the very end
December 14, 2023
This is the second book in the series and I liked it very much. It moves along and takes twists and turns and I didn’t see the ending coming. I hope there are many more books to come
May 25, 2024
Realy enjoyed this book i enjoy a break from thrillers and a cozy mystery is right up my street
March 5, 2025
Another good murder mystery in cherrywood
May 10, 2025
My fav murdering coven <3 Honestly, only type of murder I'll ever condone
June 21, 2025
brilliant
August 23, 2025
3.75 ⭐
September 21, 2025
I want more! I really enjoyed the two Cherrywood mysteries and would love to read more adventures involving Tess, Liam, and their friends.
November 7, 2023
Murder at the Bonfire is the second book based in Cherrywood and although it was a good read as a standalone book, I felt that I was missing background information about the town and its characters that would have made it even more enjoyable.
It is nevertheless an intriguing cozy-mystery with enough humour to balance out the darker elements such as witchcraft and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. I liked the characters and the book kept me interested throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
It is nevertheless an intriguing cozy-mystery with enough humour to balance out the darker elements such as witchcraft and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. I liked the characters and the book kept me interested throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews