A Tinker with Death

by Julia Hughes

Jill Silver’s midlife crisis arrives in the shape of a farm, inherited from a grandfather she can barely remember. Working at the local supermarket’s cheese counter is the closest Jill ever wants to get to a cow, so her first impulse is to sell the property, sight unseen. However, it’s where Jill spent her early childhood and she’s curious about her inheritance.
So Jill heads for the South-East coast, intending to spruce-up the place for a quick sale. However, it needs more than a lick of paint; it needs a total rebuild. More “dread shed” than “des res”, it’s almost a relief when the farmhouse burns down. A most convenient fire according to local gossips – and the local law.

Worse, a body’s discovered in the charred ruins, bumping Jill from arson suspect to murder suspect overnight.

Except Jill’s got her own suspicions; namely that someone wants her dead.
What’s more, the killer is lurking among the friendly faces who welcomed her back home, so she’s uncertain who to trust – apart from Tinker, a stray dog who adopts Jill as her person. The tiny terrier has the heart of a lion and a shrill bark that could wake the dead – and that’s handy. Because Jill needs to uncover long buried family secrets and solve a decades old mystery before the killer strikes again – and Jill’s keenly aware she’s next on their to-do list of murders.

Step into the quaint world of small-town secrets and eccentric characters with Jill and Tinker by your side. Grab your copy of A Tinker with Death today and immerse yourself in a traditional cosy murder mystery that will entertain, amuse, and keep you guessing until the very end!

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2024

About the author

Quick update! The new DI Crombie title is out: "Everybody Lies" can be downloaded exclusively from Amazon, for the special early bird price of 99p. Or download an excerpt right here, from Goodreads - just navigate to the book title.
An additional Christmas bonus!
Crombie's Christmas will be free to download from Amazon from 23 Dec - 27th December.

Author of The Celtic Cousins' Adventures: (A Raucous Time, A Ripple in Time and An Explosive Time), also The Bridle Path, and The Griffin Cryer.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎉🎎✨

This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 1 more to come.

Jill is living in London with her daughter a police officer. Her grandfather dies and leaves her his estate. Then the fUn begins with murder followed by more but there is a happy ending.

I would recommend this novel and author to readers of British mystery novels. 2024

I have listened all of Julia Hughes books and have not been disappointed. Happy reading and have fun ✨🎉😜

[Nichole Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tinker with Death by Julia Hughes is a mystery about a middle aged woman who inherited a farm from her estranged grandfather. It has well developed characters and keeps you guessing who did it. I like that it is about a middle aged lady. It has a little possible love interest, and of course, mystery. It was a little slow at first, took a while to get to the mystery part, but a enjoyable read anyway.

[Megan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT a cute and heartwarming book! Jill Silver inherits a farm from a grandfather she barely remembers but since her life is anything but idyllic she decides to go see the farm, sell it and upgrade her life from the cheese counter where she works. She heads to the Coast where she spent her early childhood only to find the house crumbling and in need of much more than a quick fix. To add to the disappointment shortly after arriving the house burns to the ground and Jill is suspected of arson. However, Jill knows SHE didn't do it and begins to suspect that someone wants her dead. With the companionship of a stray dog, Tinker, she begins researching family history and small town secrets. A really fun read!!!

[Sharianne Creber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new author for me and she didn't disappoint!
Mystery, murder, friendships, family this novel had it all and was well written.
Miss Julie Silver, a shop assistant in London, is surprised to learn that she has inherited her grandfather's farm in Dormer's Bay. Having just lost her job, she signs her house over to her daughter and packs up her belongings and moves into Lower Beechcroft Farm.
This novel is witty, easy to read with great, likeable characters who take you on a journey of discovery. I couldn't put this book down.
The only downside was that it ended very quickly.
I received a copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.