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A Poppy Mystery Tale #3
Poppy Takes the Lead (3)
The third installment in the Poppy Mystery Tales, a British cozy crime series perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club and SJ Bennett's The Queen Investigates serie s
Emily is living happily in the quaint village of Ashton Mead, where every household is friendly - with one exception. Unlike the other villagers, Silas Strang and his mother are rude and aggressive. The other residents of Ashton Mead live in fear of upsetting the Strangs.
When Silas attacks Emily's beloved dog, she decides it is time to confront the bully. Shortly after she threatens Silas, he is murdered. To Emily's dismay, the police regard her as a suspect. The only way she can prove her innocence is by discovering the real killer and proving their guilt. Assisted by her friends, Hannah and Toby, she sets out to establish the truth, but her enquiries have frightening consequences. Emily finds her life is in danger as she fights to clear her name.
Emily is living happily in the quaint village of Ashton Mead, where every household is friendly - with one exception. Unlike the other villagers, Silas Strang and his mother are rude and aggressive. The other residents of Ashton Mead live in fear of upsetting the Strangs.
When Silas attacks Emily's beloved dog, she decides it is time to confront the bully. Shortly after she threatens Silas, he is murdered. To Emily's dismay, the police regard her as a suspect. The only way she can prove her innocence is by discovering the real killer and proving their guilt. Assisted by her friends, Hannah and Toby, she sets out to establish the truth, but her enquiries have frightening consequences. Emily finds her life is in danger as she fights to clear her name.
288 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2024
15 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Russell
70 books335 followersLeigh Russell has sold over a million books in her Geraldine Steel series of crime novels. Published in English and in translation throughout Europe and in China, the Geraldine Steel titles have appeared on many bestseller lists, including #1 on kindle. Leigh's work has been nominated for several major awards, including the CWA New Blood Dagger and CWA Dagger in the Library.
Leigh has also written a trilogy featuring Lucy Hall, set in the Seychelles, Paris and Rome, and two standalone psychological thrillers.
Leigh serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association and chairs the judges for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award.
She is represented by Bill Goodall.
Leigh has also written a trilogy featuring Lucy Hall, set in the Seychelles, Paris and Rome, and two standalone psychological thrillers.
Leigh serves on the board of the Crime Writers Association and chairs the judges for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger Award.
She is represented by Bill Goodall.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 27, 2024
This was an easy read but honestly if I was Emily I'd be leaving Ashton Mead and saying bye to all those "friends."
January 28, 2024
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Crime & Mystery Club. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I really enjoyed being back with the defiantly cute duo, Emily and Poppy, for a bit more amateur sleuthing (you can find my review of book 1, Barking Up the Right Tree, on my blog).
The plot has two main focal points: the death of exceptionally unpleasant Silas Strang, and poor Emily’s isolation from her usual support network, as friends Hannah and Toby cut her off to focus on protecting their business and a new relationship respectively. Some friends!
I actually found myself getting really cross with Hannah especially in this book, as she seemed to turn into a real ‘fairweather friend’, turning on Emily (albeit sheepishly) at the slightest hint of trouble and constantly accusing her imagining things or making things up for attention when she appeals for help with the strange events unfolding around and upon her.
Luckily, Emily has puppy Poppy to rely on and the inseparable pair can tackle anything together. It is lovely to see how their relationship has grown since the start of the series – Poppy is definitely one of the best characters, paws down!
You can read this book as part of the series, but don’t really need to have read the first two to easily catch up on this instalment and enjoy it as a standalone. It’s good, light-hearted (if a little murdery!) fun in a cosy village setting, with a super-cute, intelligent canine sidekick. What’s not to like?
Cosy mystery fans and dog fans alike will love this delightfully doggy adventure!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I really enjoyed being back with the defiantly cute duo, Emily and Poppy, for a bit more amateur sleuthing (you can find my review of book 1, Barking Up the Right Tree, on my blog).
The plot has two main focal points: the death of exceptionally unpleasant Silas Strang, and poor Emily’s isolation from her usual support network, as friends Hannah and Toby cut her off to focus on protecting their business and a new relationship respectively. Some friends!
I actually found myself getting really cross with Hannah especially in this book, as she seemed to turn into a real ‘fairweather friend’, turning on Emily (albeit sheepishly) at the slightest hint of trouble and constantly accusing her imagining things or making things up for attention when she appeals for help with the strange events unfolding around and upon her.
Luckily, Emily has puppy Poppy to rely on and the inseparable pair can tackle anything together. It is lovely to see how their relationship has grown since the start of the series – Poppy is definitely one of the best characters, paws down!
You can read this book as part of the series, but don’t really need to have read the first two to easily catch up on this instalment and enjoy it as a standalone. It’s good, light-hearted (if a little murdery!) fun in a cosy village setting, with a super-cute, intelligent canine sidekick. What’s not to like?
Cosy mystery fans and dog fans alike will love this delightfully doggy adventure!
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
October 13, 2024
A light, easy to read ‘cosy’ murder about a woman called Emily & her dog Poppy who had to try & clear her name after being accused of murder. Lots of intrigue & mystery with a cute dog as a sidekick. What’s not to like!
April 18, 2024
Overall it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it. At first I thought it would be hard to get into but that quickly changed when the main character started conducting her own investigation into the murder. I don’t have anything that I didn’t particularly like and I enjoyed exploring different potential suspects as Emily was conducting her investigation. Her supposed best friend, however, was really pissing me off at times. I found it so annoying how her and sometimes the rest of Emily’s friends would disregard her concerns especially when she was telling them about her being in danger like… they really called her delulu instead of being concerned😃
Anyways, like I said it was a good book and also a quick read so i would recommend reading it if you’re debating it :)
Anyways, like I said it was a good book and also a quick read so i would recommend reading it if you’re debating it :)
October 12, 2024
OMG. These damn books. Insert face palm emoji here … Spoiler alert - Emily gets imprisoned. Again! FFS. Boring!!!! Can this author not come up with any original content? And her writing is lazy. She repeats so much stuff, to plump out her word count, it’s embarrassing. And her characters are farcical. They just wouldn’t do or say the stuff she’s saying they do. It’s ridiculous. It made me really angry. And the Hannah character; what a cow!
I’ve read all three because that’s how my brain has to deal with stuff like this. I’m disappointed I categorically wasted my time. Don’t do the same. AVOID!!!
I’ve read all three because that’s how my brain has to deal with stuff like this. I’m disappointed I categorically wasted my time. Don’t do the same. AVOID!!!
February 15, 2024
This is the third in Russell’s cosy crime series featuring her Jack Russell cross, canine companion Poppy.
Emily has moved to Aston Mead, in the country, after inheriting a house on the demise of her great aunt. Poppy came with the house. Emily and Poppy are now inseparable.
In this story where most of the villagers have crossed swords with a villager called Silas Strang, Emily, unfortunately, was the last person seen, to stand up to him when he shouted at her for allowing Poppy on the village green. It was in the middle of the crowded village fair and every head had turned to listen. Consequently, when Silas is found murdered, with a knife in his back, Emily becomes the main suspect.
Along with the help of her close friends in the village – Richard, the ex -professor and Emily’s neighbour, Hannah, who owns the tea shop where Emily works, Hannah’s boyfriend Adam, also Toby and his new girlfriend, Michelle, who all believe in Emily’s innocence, including the local police constable Barry, who holds a torch for her, Emily sets out to solve the murder. However, every avenue leads nowhere. Then Emily is being followed, and someone is sneaking around her house in the middle of the night. Things go from bad to worse when Poppy is in mortal danger. Someone in the village, is not what they appear to be and that someone underestimated Poppy, thinking she was just a dumb animal. But how wrong can you be. A bond between a dog and its mistress in unbreakable and this story proves it true.
This is a great mystery which kept me turning the pages long into the night. It isn’t just for dog lovers either. Russell has also a million copy sales on her riveting police procedural series featuring DI Geraldine Steel. She has already proved herself a master of mystery crime.
I found this a delightfully, light read and extremely well plotted, and had me guessing all the way through to the unexpected end. You don’t have to have read the first two books featuring Poppy to enjoy this one, however I can highly recommend them. Five stars for Leigh Russell and a bone for Poppy.
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Reviewer: Linda Regan
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
Emily has moved to Aston Mead, in the country, after inheriting a house on the demise of her great aunt. Poppy came with the house. Emily and Poppy are now inseparable.
In this story where most of the villagers have crossed swords with a villager called Silas Strang, Emily, unfortunately, was the last person seen, to stand up to him when he shouted at her for allowing Poppy on the village green. It was in the middle of the crowded village fair and every head had turned to listen. Consequently, when Silas is found murdered, with a knife in his back, Emily becomes the main suspect.
Along with the help of her close friends in the village – Richard, the ex -professor and Emily’s neighbour, Hannah, who owns the tea shop where Emily works, Hannah’s boyfriend Adam, also Toby and his new girlfriend, Michelle, who all believe in Emily’s innocence, including the local police constable Barry, who holds a torch for her, Emily sets out to solve the murder. However, every avenue leads nowhere. Then Emily is being followed, and someone is sneaking around her house in the middle of the night. Things go from bad to worse when Poppy is in mortal danger. Someone in the village, is not what they appear to be and that someone underestimated Poppy, thinking she was just a dumb animal. But how wrong can you be. A bond between a dog and its mistress in unbreakable and this story proves it true.
This is a great mystery which kept me turning the pages long into the night. It isn’t just for dog lovers either. Russell has also a million copy sales on her riveting police procedural series featuring DI Geraldine Steel. She has already proved herself a master of mystery crime.
I found this a delightfully, light read and extremely well plotted, and had me guessing all the way through to the unexpected end. You don’t have to have read the first two books featuring Poppy to enjoy this one, however I can highly recommend them. Five stars for Leigh Russell and a bone for Poppy.
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Reviewer: Linda Regan
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
September 20, 2024
It’s a good book and I was really enjoying it but some of it just feels frustrating and like lazy writing (I’m sorry!). The best friend Hannah - Emily needs to up her standards and have a stern word with her! Hannah was getting flustered about her boyfriends missing watch because it was sentimental, ok; but further on the main characters dog, who goes to work with her at Hannah’s café every day etc. goes missing from the pub they have only just left, she phones her, and she essentially says ‘oh well, just go home and hope she comes back’. Excuse me! Not to mention the girl has been attacked a few times and is a suspect in a murder investigation so it is looking like more that just a dog wandering off.
The ridiculous part is when she has been locked in a cellar by someone who likely has murdered before, and this person has just tried to kill her, but has just been knocked unconscious, instead of trying to get the keys off her and get upstairs to the public place and to safety, oh no, she realises she hadn’t ate much the day before and is a bit hungry so opens a bag of crisps!!
These bits of writing almost put me off completely, but overall I enjoy the book, and this one was a little less obvious than the first around who was guilty which was nice to have some extra twists and turns.
The ridiculous part is when she has been locked in a cellar by someone who likely has murdered before, and this person has just tried to kill her, but has just been knocked unconscious, instead of trying to get the keys off her and get upstairs to the public place and to safety, oh no, she realises she hadn’t ate much the day before and is a bit hungry so opens a bag of crisps!!
These bits of writing almost put me off completely, but overall I enjoy the book, and this one was a little less obvious than the first around who was guilty which was nice to have some extra twists and turns.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
This book was in the £1 deal from the works a little while back. Looking at the cover, I assumed it was a story about a dog, but upon reading the back it appears to be within the genre of crime.
Emily and Poppy are living happily in the village of Ashton Mead, where all households are friendly except one. Silas Strang and his mother have a bad reputation. He sets his sights on poppy, but after a public altercation he is murdered, Emily becomes the number one suspect. Can she clear her name?
Just from the first bit of reading we learn that Emily set eyes on Rosecroft two years ago, A few miles from Swindon in the Cotswolds. Funnily enough this is relatable to me because I have family in Cirencester which isn’t too far from Swindon. I also learnt curmudgeonly which means bad tempered or negative. The initial talk about a cake shop made me really want cake which was an unusual feeling.
Emily and Poppy are living happily in the village of Ashton Mead, where all households are friendly except one. Silas Strang and his mother have a bad reputation. He sets his sights on poppy, but after a public altercation he is murdered, Emily becomes the number one suspect. Can she clear her name?
Just from the first bit of reading we learn that Emily set eyes on Rosecroft two years ago, A few miles from Swindon in the Cotswolds. Funnily enough this is relatable to me because I have family in Cirencester which isn’t too far from Swindon. I also learnt curmudgeonly which means bad tempered or negative. The initial talk about a cake shop made me really want cake which was an unusual feeling.
February 9, 2025
Poppy Takes the Lead by Leigh Russell is a Cozy Mystery and part of a Poppy Mystery Tale (# 3) but you can read it as a standalone which made me feel better as I bought this in a sale and was so keen to read it! 😉
.
In the quaint village of Ashton Mead, Emily and her loyal canine companion, Poppy, enjoy a peaceful life. However, their tranquility is disrupted by a neighbour who seems to have issues with everyone around.
When he is murdered one time, all fingers pointed towards Emily! Who can she trust? Can she find the murderer herself ? Can she trust her friends ?
Poppy has my heart as I already own a dog and I can relate to their beautiful relationship!
Rating: 4 💫 💫💫💫
Have you read anything from this author ? It’s a very Thursday murder club vibe 😉
.
In the quaint village of Ashton Mead, Emily and her loyal canine companion, Poppy, enjoy a peaceful life. However, their tranquility is disrupted by a neighbour who seems to have issues with everyone around.
When he is murdered one time, all fingers pointed towards Emily! Who can she trust? Can she find the murderer herself ? Can she trust her friends ?
Poppy has my heart as I already own a dog and I can relate to their beautiful relationship!
Rating: 4 💫 💫💫💫
Have you read anything from this author ? It’s a very Thursday murder club vibe 😉
January 28, 2024
I was lucky enough to read the first book in the A Poppy Mystery Tale series, and I couldn't wait to dive into the second book. Poppy takes the Lead did not disappoint me. I devoured this book in a day.
Absolutely loved Emily and Poppy. Both characters were solid and entertaining. It was very entertaining reading how Emily and her friends tried to solve the murder mystery. Russell's writing is descriptive and has created an heartwarming thriller. I highly recommend Poppy takes the Lead.
Absolutely loved Emily and Poppy. Both characters were solid and entertaining. It was very entertaining reading how Emily and her friends tried to solve the murder mystery. Russell's writing is descriptive and has created an heartwarming thriller. I highly recommend Poppy takes the Lead.
June 12, 2024
This was a very reluctant 3 stars.
I’m a fan of all things from Robert Thorogood, so when I found this cosy mystery series AND there’s a dog at the centre of it all, I thought this was going to be a new favourite.
***Spoiler alert ***
But after 3 books in, I’m wondering how many times this protagonist can get locked in a space.
Was this written by ChatGPT? What am I missing with the almost copy and paste storyline?
Still enjoy the dog, the cosy charm, the sweet characters.
I’m a fan of all things from Robert Thorogood, so when I found this cosy mystery series AND there’s a dog at the centre of it all, I thought this was going to be a new favourite.
***Spoiler alert ***
But after 3 books in, I’m wondering how many times this protagonist can get locked in a space.
Was this written by ChatGPT? What am I missing with the almost copy and paste storyline?
Still enjoy the dog, the cosy charm, the sweet characters.
January 5, 2025
I love, love, loved this cosy crime novel. It reminded me of something like Midsummer Murders. It was fun and heartwarming and I read it in 24 hours! And my dog is called Poppy which is why I was bought this book for Christmas which made it even cuter!
June 29, 2025
This book was alright, typical cozy murder mystery that is Richard Osman esque. The ending of this book really ruined it for me and the main characters friends weren't truly her friends and made the whole story frustrating.
October 2, 2025
Poor. This was my third in this series and the last. Boring to read, with poor grammar. No way would a naive girl be able to solve crimes and the books have a predictable pattern now. Poppy gets stuck/ locked somewhere by the real killer, gets out and everyone is fine.
May 1, 2024
Cosy crime. Knew what was coming but also really easy and comfortable read
June 7, 2024
Very good
November 11, 2024
3.5 stars
November 12, 2024
Cozy, quick mystery that is perfect for this time of stress.
September 3, 2025
not sure if its a 2.5 or 3. think emily need better friends though!
September 21, 2025
good,simple,fluffy book
January 30, 2024
⭐️ 3/5
📍 🇬🇧
🗂️ Cosy crime (reads as YA)
📄 285 pages
📖 It’s been 2 years since we first met Emily and Poppy. She’s now 26, but is she still getting herself into sticky situations?
3️⃣ 3rd book in The Poppy Mystery Tales
❤️ The dog owner VS non dog owner debates
✅ Could definitely be read as a standalone as all recapped in the first few chapters
🔀 Gave me A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder vibes without the mixed media
📆 6th January 2024
📍 🇬🇧
🗂️ Cosy crime (reads as YA)
📄 285 pages
📖 It’s been 2 years since we first met Emily and Poppy. She’s now 26, but is she still getting herself into sticky situations?
3️⃣ 3rd book in The Poppy Mystery Tales
❤️ The dog owner VS non dog owner debates
✅ Could definitely be read as a standalone as all recapped in the first few chapters
🔀 Gave me A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder vibes without the mixed media
📆 6th January 2024
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews