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Thea Osborne #1
A Cotswold Killing
Nestled in the fertile hills of the Cotswolds, the village of Duntisbourne Abbots is a well-kept secret: beautiful, timeless and quintessentially English. When recently widowed Thea Osborne arrives to house-sit for a local couple, her only fear is that three weeks there might prove a little dull. Her first night's sleep at Brook View is broken by a piercing scream outside but she decides such things don't require investigation in a sleepy place like this. At least not until a body turns up... In calling on her neighbors to get some answers, Thea uncovers more tragedy and intrigue than she thought possible behind the peaceful Gloucestershire village. The first in a new series of thrillers to be set in the Cotswold area, A Cotswold Killing takes the reader on a tense journey along winding roads and muddy paths towards a dramatic and unexpected denouement.
414 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
549 people are currently reading
1128 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Tope
81 books218 followersRebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.
She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.
She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.
She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.
She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
January 30, 2010
I was not able to read this book the whole way through to the end, unfortunately.
The main character, Thea, was not very sympathetic. She was lacking in vigour and determination. Various threads of her life featured in the book (particularly her relationships with her husband, her father, her daughter, and her brother-in-law) but I couldn't see which threads were relevant to the plot or how they served the theme. I'm not even sure what the theme was.
The main plot wandered aimlessly because Thea had no idea how to conduct a murder investigation and the most she could do was keep visiting the neighbours and see if she could learn anything new each time. Her motivation was to seek justice for a man whose life was extinguished and could never be brought back - a parallel with her husband. However, reading about someone who isn't sure what to do next isn't interesting, and even this motivation came across as thin and lacking in impetus.
Because she's so depressed after her husband's death, there's no energy about anything she does; e.g. she goes back to sleep after hearing a scream in the night; she won't do the tasks she's supposed to do as a house-sitter; she barely exercises the owners' dogs; and she eats a lot of cheese on toast because she doesn't want to cook.
Her policeman brother-in-law's motivation was also unclear. On the one hand he wanted her help with the investigation while on the other he worried that she was in danger and did not hesitate to mention this to her often.
One particular scene between her and her brother-in-law puzzles me. He had come to visit (it was his idea in the first place), but he paid little attention to anything she was saying to him. He kept looking at his watch to make sure he didn't stay longer than he could afford, warned her about the danger, and left. I'm not sure what the point of that scene was.
In the end, I had to close the book without finishing it because I didn't care enough about the characters or the plot to continue reading to find out who dunnit.
The main character, Thea, was not very sympathetic. She was lacking in vigour and determination. Various threads of her life featured in the book (particularly her relationships with her husband, her father, her daughter, and her brother-in-law) but I couldn't see which threads were relevant to the plot or how they served the theme. I'm not even sure what the theme was.
The main plot wandered aimlessly because Thea had no idea how to conduct a murder investigation and the most she could do was keep visiting the neighbours and see if she could learn anything new each time. Her motivation was to seek justice for a man whose life was extinguished and could never be brought back - a parallel with her husband. However, reading about someone who isn't sure what to do next isn't interesting, and even this motivation came across as thin and lacking in impetus.
Because she's so depressed after her husband's death, there's no energy about anything she does; e.g. she goes back to sleep after hearing a scream in the night; she won't do the tasks she's supposed to do as a house-sitter; she barely exercises the owners' dogs; and she eats a lot of cheese on toast because she doesn't want to cook.
Her policeman brother-in-law's motivation was also unclear. On the one hand he wanted her help with the investigation while on the other he worried that she was in danger and did not hesitate to mention this to her often.
One particular scene between her and her brother-in-law puzzles me. He had come to visit (it was his idea in the first place), but he paid little attention to anything she was saying to him. He kept looking at his watch to make sure he didn't stay longer than he could afford, warned her about the danger, and left. I'm not sure what the point of that scene was.
In the end, I had to close the book without finishing it because I didn't care enough about the characters or the plot to continue reading to find out who dunnit.
June 2, 2020
OK, I have to start this review with a little story. As my blog followers know, I belong to an international postcard club. I receive cards from all over the world from interesting people. It's been great fun.
Recently, I received a nice card from the UK by a woman who enjoys writing. Well, I am supportive of aspiring writers and told her I would like to read some of her stuff. She directed me to Amazon where I bought a Kindle version of a Cotswold Killing. Shortly into the book I realized that if this was an aspiring writer she was extremely good. I've read and reviewed so much tripe from people asking me to review their book that I've stopped accepting review requests.
This was not tripe. This was a great read. I believe it falls under the category of cozy mystery and it was just a lot of fun. I should also mention that Rebecca Tope is not an aspiring writer but has three best selling crime series under her belt. Yes, my face is a little red.
But who cares? I'm glad to discover more wonderful weekend reads.
A newly widowed woman, Thea, and her spaniel Hepzibah, have decided to house sit around the Cotswalds. Her first job house sitting brings her to a murder in her very backyard.
And that is the premise. I don't want to give any of the plot away, because the whole point of a mystery is to be mystified until the end.
But I want to tell you what I liked about the story in order to allow all of you to be able to make an informed decision about whether Ms. Tope's writing is your cup of tea or not. I say that because some of the reviewers on Amazon were critical of the very thing that I liked about her story.
We read the story from Thea's perspective in the limited third person. This is my favorite method of narration. Either in first person or limited third, I like following along inside the head of one person, getting their perspective, whether reliable or not, because a good writer can present reality through an unreliable narrator.
Thea is a flawed individual. She's depressed. The pain of losing her husband is very raw. She's tired of hurting and she tries to distract herself by hurting herself and by getting out of the environment she spent with her husband. I'll admit that someone hurting herself (not self-mutilation, she keeps a thumbnail sore and bleeding with a pin) was a bit strange to me.
But I decided that this really happens. People who are severely depressed are trying to crawl out of their hole. Other than that little bit, Thea is pretty normal.
Thea's character as well as the other characters are very real and convincing. At first I felt the other characters were all going to be mere shadows. Unpleasant people who make Thea feel like an outsider and they initially come across that way: distant, suspicious, unhelpful.
However, a number of them start to thaw and show a human side to her. Nevertheless, somebody murdered a local farmer and from the evidence they could not have done it alone, so as to be expected, not everyone is going to be friendly and helpful.
But is it as simple as that? Are the unfriendly people guilty of murder or do the friendly people have something to hide as well? There are wheels within wheels.
While starting a bit dark in tone, we see glimmers of light through every character trying to live their lives as best they can while all of them must come to terms with the tragedy that has been thrust upon them.
And, of course for the reader is the question, why was the farmer murdered?
Quibbles? I found it hard to keep track of everyone, but I think a lot of this was due to reading on a Kindle and I don't know how to go back and forth on it so I had to remember the best I could who went with one name. Not very hard, but that is my only complaint.
I look forward to reading more from Ms. Tope.
Recently, I received a nice card from the UK by a woman who enjoys writing. Well, I am supportive of aspiring writers and told her I would like to read some of her stuff. She directed me to Amazon where I bought a Kindle version of a Cotswold Killing. Shortly into the book I realized that if this was an aspiring writer she was extremely good. I've read and reviewed so much tripe from people asking me to review their book that I've stopped accepting review requests.
This was not tripe. This was a great read. I believe it falls under the category of cozy mystery and it was just a lot of fun. I should also mention that Rebecca Tope is not an aspiring writer but has three best selling crime series under her belt. Yes, my face is a little red.
But who cares? I'm glad to discover more wonderful weekend reads.
A newly widowed woman, Thea, and her spaniel Hepzibah, have decided to house sit around the Cotswalds. Her first job house sitting brings her to a murder in her very backyard.
And that is the premise. I don't want to give any of the plot away, because the whole point of a mystery is to be mystified until the end.
But I want to tell you what I liked about the story in order to allow all of you to be able to make an informed decision about whether Ms. Tope's writing is your cup of tea or not. I say that because some of the reviewers on Amazon were critical of the very thing that I liked about her story.
We read the story from Thea's perspective in the limited third person. This is my favorite method of narration. Either in first person or limited third, I like following along inside the head of one person, getting their perspective, whether reliable or not, because a good writer can present reality through an unreliable narrator.
Thea is a flawed individual. She's depressed. The pain of losing her husband is very raw. She's tired of hurting and she tries to distract herself by hurting herself and by getting out of the environment she spent with her husband. I'll admit that someone hurting herself (not self-mutilation, she keeps a thumbnail sore and bleeding with a pin) was a bit strange to me.
But I decided that this really happens. People who are severely depressed are trying to crawl out of their hole. Other than that little bit, Thea is pretty normal.
Thea's character as well as the other characters are very real and convincing. At first I felt the other characters were all going to be mere shadows. Unpleasant people who make Thea feel like an outsider and they initially come across that way: distant, suspicious, unhelpful.
However, a number of them start to thaw and show a human side to her. Nevertheless, somebody murdered a local farmer and from the evidence they could not have done it alone, so as to be expected, not everyone is going to be friendly and helpful.
But is it as simple as that? Are the unfriendly people guilty of murder or do the friendly people have something to hide as well? There are wheels within wheels.
While starting a bit dark in tone, we see glimmers of light through every character trying to live their lives as best they can while all of them must come to terms with the tragedy that has been thrust upon them.
And, of course for the reader is the question, why was the farmer murdered?
Quibbles? I found it hard to keep track of everyone, but I think a lot of this was due to reading on a Kindle and I don't know how to go back and forth on it so I had to remember the best I could who went with one name. Not very hard, but that is my only complaint.
I look forward to reading more from Ms. Tope.
April 15, 2013
This book was recommended to me on one of the forums as a good modern whodunit - in the classical style. At the end of the last page, I was filled with regret at having started on the book at all and having persevered through it. For the substance in there, the book did not deserve its length. This was at best a novelette. A novelette with big fonts and double spacing between lines.
My biggest problem with the book was lack of engagement. In my opinion, good whodunits- or for that matter, all fiction- rely primarily on three aspects of literature to engage the reader- plot, characters and prose. This book had none of these. With a thin plot and lack of any action, Ms Tope had ample scope to evolve her characters, show some creativity in moving the plot. But unfortunately she didnt. It was a mundane flow. Repetitive allusions to Thea's schedule and taking out the dogs and having tea and playing Scrabble were too irritating. Thea herself ends up as a confused ambiguous character. I did not get to know her as a character at all. The rest of the characters all fall flat. They are shapeless masses who seem to serve no purpose but just to exist as players in a murder mystery.
Another grouse- cant there be some humor somewhere? Is English country life so devoid of humor and laughs? That element is what makes the books of the golden age authors- Christie and Sayers and Tey- so likable. The picture I see at the end is a bunch of smile-less humor-less characters who just exist. And smile-less and humor-less is how I feel at the end of the book.
A dose of Christie or Sayers please to get over this "yawn"..
My biggest problem with the book was lack of engagement. In my opinion, good whodunits- or for that matter, all fiction- rely primarily on three aspects of literature to engage the reader- plot, characters and prose. This book had none of these. With a thin plot and lack of any action, Ms Tope had ample scope to evolve her characters, show some creativity in moving the plot. But unfortunately she didnt. It was a mundane flow. Repetitive allusions to Thea's schedule and taking out the dogs and having tea and playing Scrabble were too irritating. Thea herself ends up as a confused ambiguous character. I did not get to know her as a character at all. The rest of the characters all fall flat. They are shapeless masses who seem to serve no purpose but just to exist as players in a murder mystery.
Another grouse- cant there be some humor somewhere? Is English country life so devoid of humor and laughs? That element is what makes the books of the golden age authors- Christie and Sayers and Tey- so likable. The picture I see at the end is a bunch of smile-less humor-less characters who just exist. And smile-less and humor-less is how I feel at the end of the book.
A dose of Christie or Sayers please to get over this "yawn"..
September 12, 2021
2.5 stars
I enjoyed the first third of this book. Thea, attractive young widow, decides to try house sitting along with her spaniel, and her first assignment in the Cotswolds sounds as though it will be ideal. The job starts out with a murder on her first night in the house, close enough to have heard the man scream. So...it starts off in a lively manner in interesting setting. As story progresses it goes off the tracks of reality.
Kindle Unlimited
I enjoyed the first third of this book. Thea, attractive young widow, decides to try house sitting along with her spaniel, and her first assignment in the Cotswolds sounds as though it will be ideal. The job starts out with a murder on her first night in the house, close enough to have heard the man scream. So...it starts off in a lively manner in interesting setting. As story progresses it goes off the tracks of reality.
Kindle Unlimited
June 4, 2014
I found this book to be a long, hard slog. While the village mystery genre is not my favorite, I will read them if they have interesting characters (books by Ann Granger are an example). Unfortunately, neither the characters nor the story were interesting here. The author's writing is wordy and the story just creeps along. The final reveal when it comes just at the end was not fully supported by what little had already been disclosed.
June 29, 2010
I picked the first 3 of this series up when I found them because I though they looked like good weekend type easy reads - undemanding with a nice setting. Essentially I was right, that is what it is, and the descriptions of the countryside show the authors appreciation for the natural world which is a really nice touch. Although about 400 pages - it is a quick read, and the plot is certainly not very complex or too bloodthirsty - it is more of the cosy type of mystery. Thea is an attractive forty something, newly widowed with a twenty year old daughter tucked away at uni, and a brother in law who is a senior policeman. In this first book, Thea takes on her first house sitting job, and on the first night a terrible scream wakes her up. A local man's body is soon found by Thea, and suddenly her three week house sitting job takes a rather more interesting turn than she might have expected. Thea tries her hand at investiagting, and in this the author gets a tiny bit lazy allowing Thea to do masses of research on the internet, make some assumptions and then sort of stumble upon the culprit. Which in a way feels quite realisitic (although it doesn't have the cleverness of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers et al) isn't that what any of us might actually do in similar circumstances. Overall I did enjoy this book, and will read the next 2 i have at some point.
June 30, 2012
I looked forward to reading this book because the setting sounded interesting. The setting was interesting but the story wasn't. Our lonely depressed heroine Thea meets a man five minutes after she begins to settle down in the house she is house sitting. He is dead before morning and after rehashing this meeting repeatedly in her mind over the next one hundred fifty pages Thea begins to try and find out what it going aon in the village. All the reader gets in the next two hundred pages is that there is something sinister hovering around.
My advice is to read up until the murder then skip 300 pages and read the interesting denouement. Hopefully Thea gets better at her job because at least in this house she was either lazy, disinterested or distracted most of the time.
My advice is to read up until the murder then skip 300 pages and read the interesting denouement. Hopefully Thea gets better at her job because at least in this house she was either lazy, disinterested or distracted most of the time.
October 9, 2015
Great Cosy Mystery set in the beautiful Cotswolds.
Recently widowed Thea Osbourne & her little dog Hepzibah are house-sitting in a small village in the Cotswolds and end up in the middle of a murder investigation.
Looks like I have found another series I need to read, just what I need :)
Recently widowed Thea Osbourne & her little dog Hepzibah are house-sitting in a small village in the Cotswolds and end up in the middle of a murder investigation.
Looks like I have found another series I need to read, just what I need :)
November 11, 2013
Attracted by the writer's choice of location - The Cotswolds - I anticipated a thoroughly entertaining who-dunnit. Alas, I gave up half way and jumped to the final few pages to see how it all ended.
I could not really engage with any of the characters or the scenario being played out. I found the main character rather disjointed, and her only understanding of detective work, was by having a brother in the police force. I am asking myself, should I persevere with another in this series or skip them altogether ? After all, there are several Donna Leon novels set in Venice, awaiting my attention - a far more appealing location. Mmmm...
February 27, 2023
A small village murder mystery that was both easy to read and engaging. It will be interesting to see where the main character, Thea, goes from here since this is apparently the first book of a series. I did feel that there were a few holes in the story and the ending was somewhat rushed but a series that I will continue to read.
November 4, 2018
This book was slow until the end. The end seemed really rushed, and mystery solved to quickly. I will read more in the series, but this book was just OK
September 29, 2020
It just didn’t make sense. The death, figured it out off the bat, but everything surrounding it.
Still, liked the setting. Hope to visit some day.
Still, liked the setting. Hope to visit some day.
June 24, 2021
Waffled on for pages creating an in-depth narrative setting the scene and then wrapped up two murders and a mysterious farm in about 15 pages. Wasn’t too bad a book until the ending turned it into absolute codswallop!
October 29, 2014
The first of the Cotwsold series and the worst so far, of the four that I have read. The characters are mere puppets, the plot is ludicrous and the book is far too long. I would write more but having read the various reviews from others on here there is nothing much I can add. At least the author seems to have improved a little as the series went along. If I had read this first I wouldn't have bothered with any others.
March 5, 2015
As cozy mysteries go, this one is okay. There is nothing too stunning about it. The plot moves along a bit slowly. I'm not sure how I feel about the main character, Thea. Sometimes she's okay, the next chapter her personality wore on me. As with any new series that I start reading, I'll give it another book or two before I make a final judgement and decide whether or not I'll continue with the rest of the books.
November 23, 2014
Beautiful countryside, quaint villages and ugly murder. Sound familiar? Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and the Midsomer Murders TV series cover the same territory and much more convincingly. I chose the novel as a light holiday read but found the main characters uninteresting and the plot contrived.
August 22, 2011
didn't really like this - setting good but didn't feel I cared about any of the characters or really of what happened to them,gave up on this about 100 pages from the end.
August 27, 2024
All in all this book was what I expected it to be so it was what I needed. I was hooked from the beginning because it moved very quickly but this didn’t last long. This book was so slow even towards the end and included several chapters I do not think were at all relevant to the plot whatsoever. Please tell me why I read almost two pages of a 40 yo woman who can’t use a microwave stressing about what she can and can’t put in the microwave? This is not relevant in any way. (I understand this book is set early 2000s and I’m reading this in 2024 so maybe that explains it but either way it wasn’t necessary)
There were so many characters to keep track of but none had such discernible characteristics that you knew who was who when they were mentioned. I also felt the main character was continuously visiting and talking to the same people rather than getting new information from people she hadn’t met yet. But what annoyed me the most is that there are so many names out there so tell me why there were TWO characters called James??? I genuinely don’t understand this at all.
I’m also a bit tired of these books always including an MC who has some sort of trauma or a recently deceased husband and then when they inevitably play detective everyone around them is like ‘oh look at you you’re in such a state it must’ve been such a shock when your husband died and you’re just not over it yet’ like… sorry this is just the third book I’ve read in the last two months where this has happened 😂
BUT despite all of this the writing was good and the descriptions of the Cotswolds were genuine and made me feel very cosy which is the overall effect I was looking for and that’s why I’m giving it a three stars. So I will be reading at least the next two in this series because I mainly want to read the 3rd since it’s set at Halloween and I’m so ready for those vibes!
#bookstagram #newbookstagram #ookreview #mystery #booklover #bookworm
There were so many characters to keep track of but none had such discernible characteristics that you knew who was who when they were mentioned. I also felt the main character was continuously visiting and talking to the same people rather than getting new information from people she hadn’t met yet. But what annoyed me the most is that there are so many names out there so tell me why there were TWO characters called James??? I genuinely don’t understand this at all.
I’m also a bit tired of these books always including an MC who has some sort of trauma or a recently deceased husband and then when they inevitably play detective everyone around them is like ‘oh look at you you’re in such a state it must’ve been such a shock when your husband died and you’re just not over it yet’ like… sorry this is just the third book I’ve read in the last two months where this has happened 😂
BUT despite all of this the writing was good and the descriptions of the Cotswolds were genuine and made me feel very cosy which is the overall effect I was looking for and that’s why I’m giving it a three stars. So I will be reading at least the next two in this series because I mainly want to read the 3rd since it’s set at Halloween and I’m so ready for those vibes!
#bookstagram #newbookstagram #ookreview #mystery #booklover #bookworm
October 23, 2017
I was lucky enough to attend an author event with Rebecca Tope recently and she was eloquent, funny and seems like a genuinely nice person, so I was devastated not to enjoy this one more.
It's strongly character driven, which I often struggle with, it's a personal thing, sorry.
I wasn't able to work out whodunit, I don't always in murder mysteries, but for some reason, I didn't even try to work it out with this one.
It's strongly character driven, which I often struggle with, it's a personal thing, sorry.
I wasn't able to work out whodunit, I don't always in murder mysteries, but for some reason, I didn't even try to work it out with this one.
September 28, 2025
Give me anything that has 'Cotswolds' written on it and I‘ll read it but this book sure wasn’t it.
The main character is insufferable and a useless housesitter on top of it (that’s literally her only job). She‘s a 42-year old pick-me-WOMAN who is so annoying I cannot take another book of this.
This woman needs therapy, and should NOT be solving crimes.
I think this could be a great TV-series if it‘s polished up by good writers who dial down the insufferableness. The plot itself was quite good.
I need to watch an episode of Midsomer Murders to unwind now.
The main character is insufferable and a useless housesitter on top of it (that’s literally her only job). She‘s a 42-year old pick-me-WOMAN who is so annoying I cannot take another book of this.
This woman needs therapy, and should NOT be solving crimes.
I think this could be a great TV-series if it‘s polished up by good writers who dial down the insufferableness. The plot itself was quite good.
I need to watch an episode of Midsomer Murders to unwind now.
Read
May 10, 2018I liked this book. It is nice to read a British crime book for a change. Not brutal or very explicit. In Thea it has an unusual main character, that is just right for the atmosphere and the plot of the book.
I may even read another one from the series if I can lay hands on it.
I may even read another one from the series if I can lay hands on it.
September 15, 2024
*3.75
This was a very entertaining read!
The ending felt a bit rushed and could have been worked out better, but the mystery was captiving and I am definitely interested in reading more books in this series!
This was a very entertaining read!
The ending felt a bit rushed and could have been worked out better, but the mystery was captiving and I am definitely interested in reading more books in this series!
September 20, 2025
Boring and unsatisfactory.
October 24, 2025
I was expecting to enjoy this and read the series but it was oddly paced and I didn’t take to the main character so I don’t think I’ll read the others.
It wasn’t a bad plot exactly but the resolution wasn’t very credible. A good mystery usually gives some hints along the way but if this one did I missed them! The ending seemed to come almost from nowhere and therefore was abrupt and unsatisfying.
It wasn’t a bad plot exactly but the resolution wasn’t very credible. A good mystery usually gives some hints along the way but if this one did I missed them! The ending seemed to come almost from nowhere and therefore was abrupt and unsatisfying.
June 23, 2019
As others have said it's a cosy mystery. Easy to read, good character development, nice description of the Cotwolds.
July 23, 2021
Enjoyed this. A good read for the start of the summer
April 23, 2021
my second one star book, but it is better than that. if only by half a star.
this book is pretty boring all across the way and is mostly an uninteresting, uninspiring murder mystery. other reviewers have said as much, especially on the lines of failing to get invested in the characters. i feel this is the main problem with A Cotswold Killing, in that the characters have pretty confusing (and not in a good way) motivations. all the dialogue just feels muddled because of it. peoples moods jump and shift around seemingly at random, and people ask strange questions as they bounce from random topic to random topic. Thea as a lead was also a hot mess. she makes strange, asinine judgements in odd places. she decides the DI Hollis or whatever he's called has a secret bloodlust in him? for like, what reason? he's said about 4 lines of dialogue and she's made this bizzare conclusion from it. despite a line later in the book saying "Thea liked dogs" she also just dislikes Bonzo and Georgie from the moment she meets them for no reason.
i also felt like this book was a really great example of what happens when you tell but dont show. the description itself was honestly pretty good when describing the village itself, but the conclusions and statements about people and feelings are just blatantly and roughly thrown in your face. SHOW me that a character is sad or hiding something through what they said, dont just write "Thea thought Lindy was hiding something" or something similar. the dialogue all around was just confusing and awkward. this might be a pet-peeve, but there was so many americanisms in this. i dont believe for a second that an old person in an isolated english country village would say "I guess". i know this is such a stupid thing to complain about, but im CERTAIN they would say "I suppose". this book was filled with that; people saying "Gramps" and "Momma", i dont get it! whatever lmao
the plot of this book is pretty meandering and boring too. the mystery itself isnt particularly engaging, and the "clues" that emerge literally only crop up the once right at the end. thea basically accidentally solves the crime by walking in on the killer after another character has already ascertained who it is! theres this idea of "playing games" with someone in a conversation, when trying to work out their intentions and allies, but it doesnt work here at all. especially because the writing is hamfisted. there are SO many rhetorical questions that just arent interesting at all.
ugh. my mind is kind of muddled writing about this because, here's my secret, i am distantly tangentially related to Rebecca Tope. we have never met, nor do i think she knows of my existence. i am sure she is a lovely woman and i HOPE her later books are better than this one; but mostly, i hope if i ever meet her she has not read this review!
this book is pretty boring all across the way and is mostly an uninteresting, uninspiring murder mystery. other reviewers have said as much, especially on the lines of failing to get invested in the characters. i feel this is the main problem with A Cotswold Killing, in that the characters have pretty confusing (and not in a good way) motivations. all the dialogue just feels muddled because of it. peoples moods jump and shift around seemingly at random, and people ask strange questions as they bounce from random topic to random topic. Thea as a lead was also a hot mess. she makes strange, asinine judgements in odd places. she decides the DI Hollis or whatever he's called has a secret bloodlust in him? for like, what reason? he's said about 4 lines of dialogue and she's made this bizzare conclusion from it. despite a line later in the book saying "Thea liked dogs" she also just dislikes Bonzo and Georgie from the moment she meets them for no reason.
i also felt like this book was a really great example of what happens when you tell but dont show. the description itself was honestly pretty good when describing the village itself, but the conclusions and statements about people and feelings are just blatantly and roughly thrown in your face. SHOW me that a character is sad or hiding something through what they said, dont just write "Thea thought Lindy was hiding something" or something similar. the dialogue all around was just confusing and awkward. this might be a pet-peeve, but there was so many americanisms in this. i dont believe for a second that an old person in an isolated english country village would say "I guess". i know this is such a stupid thing to complain about, but im CERTAIN they would say "I suppose". this book was filled with that; people saying "Gramps" and "Momma", i dont get it! whatever lmao
the plot of this book is pretty meandering and boring too. the mystery itself isnt particularly engaging, and the "clues" that emerge literally only crop up the once right at the end. thea basically accidentally solves the crime by walking in on the killer after another character has already ascertained who it is! theres this idea of "playing games" with someone in a conversation, when trying to work out their intentions and allies, but it doesnt work here at all. especially because the writing is hamfisted. there are SO many rhetorical questions that just arent interesting at all.
ugh. my mind is kind of muddled writing about this because, here's my secret, i am distantly tangentially related to Rebecca Tope. we have never met, nor do i think she knows of my existence. i am sure she is a lovely woman and i HOPE her later books are better than this one; but mostly, i hope if i ever meet her she has not read this review!
October 9, 2014
A widowed woman in her forties, lonely and self-pitying, takes up house sitting provided she doesn't have to go very far. Thea's brought her own spaniel and there are two Labradors and rare breed sheep in the Cotswold cottage and fields. However she's barely settled in when a scream is heard at night, and next morning she finds a dead man in the stream. All the locals turn up, the police look into the matter but manage not to find three sizeable items of evidence which Thea finds on separate occasions by herself.
I decided on reflection that I didn't take to this book because the protagonist is just not very bright. Where Sue Grafton's heroine Kinsey Milhone would assess a situation and sum it up with a pithy remark, such as "Light dawned in the far-off world of the 98 IQ," Thea maunders for three pages and puts it aside unresolved, thinking it's all for the best really, or people don't do that, do they. She's alone a lot so we get all her thought processes instead of dialogue. Thea for no reason I can see also cuts herself to make sure she remembers that she's grieving after a year of bereavement. She intends to do as little as possible in the job and can't even manage to use a microwave.
The local setting is picturesque and some descriptions are very attractive. However this is plain writing, not lyrical, and I got tired of having postcards described to me. The other characters also didn't come to life for me. The point is well made that the Cotswolds are being bought up because they are in commuting distance of London and surrounds, so few real farmers live there any more. I have read another in this series but I can't even remember which one it was. Some people will no doubt enjoy these books for a relaxing mystery read but they could do with better editing to tighten up all those self-reflective passages and slow musings on the situations.
I decided on reflection that I didn't take to this book because the protagonist is just not very bright. Where Sue Grafton's heroine Kinsey Milhone would assess a situation and sum it up with a pithy remark, such as "Light dawned in the far-off world of the 98 IQ," Thea maunders for three pages and puts it aside unresolved, thinking it's all for the best really, or people don't do that, do they. She's alone a lot so we get all her thought processes instead of dialogue. Thea for no reason I can see also cuts herself to make sure she remembers that she's grieving after a year of bereavement. She intends to do as little as possible in the job and can't even manage to use a microwave.
The local setting is picturesque and some descriptions are very attractive. However this is plain writing, not lyrical, and I got tired of having postcards described to me. The other characters also didn't come to life for me. The point is well made that the Cotswolds are being bought up because they are in commuting distance of London and surrounds, so few real farmers live there any more. I have read another in this series but I can't even remember which one it was. Some people will no doubt enjoy these books for a relaxing mystery read but they could do with better editing to tighten up all those self-reflective passages and slow musings on the situations.
March 1, 2016
"It was okay" is what goodreads says two stars means. I really wanted to like this book since I read a blog the author contributes to, and I didn't really guess whodunit until the end.
Thea Osborne was widowed less than a year ago; her husband killed in an instant in a car accident. She is left with enough money to live on but she wants a change so she sets herself up as a house sitter. Her first gig is to watch a house in a Cotswold village for three weeks. The couple have two dogs, a number of sheep, and an exacting list of chores for Thea to do. After they leave, a neighbor comes by to remind them/her about the sheep needing shearing. The next day, she discovers him dead in the sheep watering hole. What follows is a confusing web of connections, talk amongst the farmers and villagers, and eventually the mystery is solved.
Thea is a lovely woman, fair of face, who has always found the way smoothed for her because of her looks. She is an annoying anachronism of the past, a helpless female longing for a big man's arms around her. I found her slackness towards her work duties, not amusing or madcap but rather irritating. The villagers and neighbors were confusing to me. The lack of a center to the village was also confusing. Was it a village or just a collection of farms and houses. Thea's thought processes in solving the crime were also confused and dithery.
One of the problems with audio books is that you can't skim the annoying bits and get to the end. Like I said, I wanted to like the book but really didn't like any of the characters. Your experience may vary.
Thea Osborne was widowed less than a year ago; her husband killed in an instant in a car accident. She is left with enough money to live on but she wants a change so she sets herself up as a house sitter. Her first gig is to watch a house in a Cotswold village for three weeks. The couple have two dogs, a number of sheep, and an exacting list of chores for Thea to do. After they leave, a neighbor comes by to remind them/her about the sheep needing shearing. The next day, she discovers him dead in the sheep watering hole. What follows is a confusing web of connections, talk amongst the farmers and villagers, and eventually the mystery is solved.
Thea is a lovely woman, fair of face, who has always found the way smoothed for her because of her looks. She is an annoying anachronism of the past, a helpless female longing for a big man's arms around her. I found her slackness towards her work duties, not amusing or madcap but rather irritating. The villagers and neighbors were confusing to me. The lack of a center to the village was also confusing. Was it a village or just a collection of farms and houses. Thea's thought processes in solving the crime were also confused and dithery.
One of the problems with audio books is that you can't skim the annoying bits and get to the end. Like I said, I wanted to like the book but really didn't like any of the characters. Your experience may vary.
March 12, 2015
I am completely of sound mind and totally, genuinely honest when I say this.. This book is the best Mystery/cozy/Brit book IVE EVER read! I LOVED this book with a passion. I hated for the end to come. I wanted the story to go on and on. So I am glad there are more books after this one.
Our main character Thea who is recently widowed, is in her 40s, very intelligent, stands up for herself when its time(mentally), not quick to judge, has a very level head on her shoulders, loves dogs(has a Cocker Spaniel) and was instantly loved by me.
Thea is on her first job as House sitter. She is asked to stay in the home for 3 weeks, while the owners are out on holiday. Her first night there in the home while sleeping, she hears a scream and that scream will haunt her as well as the police throughout the story. Who, What, Why, How, Where ect..
This is book one in the Cotswold series and I look so forward to the rest.
The author, Rebecca Tope, ghost wrote 3 episodes in the Rosemary and Thime mini series over in Britain. That show was SUPERB. Lasted for three seasons. Just FYI, in case you end up loving the author as much as I do now.
Our main character Thea who is recently widowed, is in her 40s, very intelligent, stands up for herself when its time(mentally), not quick to judge, has a very level head on her shoulders, loves dogs(has a Cocker Spaniel) and was instantly loved by me.
Thea is on her first job as House sitter. She is asked to stay in the home for 3 weeks, while the owners are out on holiday. Her first night there in the home while sleeping, she hears a scream and that scream will haunt her as well as the police throughout the story. Who, What, Why, How, Where ect..
This is book one in the Cotswold series and I look so forward to the rest.
The author, Rebecca Tope, ghost wrote 3 episodes in the Rosemary and Thime mini series over in Britain. That show was SUPERB. Lasted for three seasons. Just FYI, in case you end up loving the author as much as I do now.
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