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Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery #2
The Body in the Kitchen Garden
Antique-hunting Daphne Brewster is back for more sleuthing in Book 2 of Paula Sutton's beloved murder mystery series. Return to the picturesque village of Norfolk's Pudding Corner - a glorious haven of golden field, winding cobbled lanes and... murder.'Blooming fabulous! The perfect book to get lost in . . . The cosiest of cosy crime' Veronica Henry on The Potting Shed Murder'A village of secrets, a cast of zany this is a romp of a read that warms the heart' Orlando Murrin on The Potting Shed Murder'A really fun, fast-paced and atmospheric whodunnit. Perfect for fans of Agatha Raisin' Jessica Bull on The Potting Shed Murder'A great modern cosy' Ian Moore on The Potting Shed Murder'Delightful . . . Charming and fresh' Kuchenga Shenjé on The Potting Shed Murder
257 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 12, 2026
This was a mixed read for me. I found the story difficult to follow at times and often struggled to keep track of what was happening. However, the villain completely caught me by surprise, which made the ending more satisfying. While the plot was challenging for me to connect with, the unexpected resolution helped redeem the experience. Overall, an average read with a surprising conclusion.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
April 21, 2026
**My thanks to Kensington Publishing for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**
2.5 stars
Unfortunately this book doesn’t live up to the debut it’s following, which is a real shame as I adored The Body in the Potting Shed last year and even gave a copy to a friend as a gift. It has the classic second-novel dilemma of trying to find a voice distinct enough from the first book but with the same flavor that made the first a success.
I did enjoy the book for the first eighty percent of so of the plot, though the culprit/s seemed patently obvious from very early on. I don’t mind being able to tell the conclusion so long as the journey to the protagonist piecing the mystery together is a good one, and I really like protagonist Daphne and her friends in Pudding Corner. The way they go about village life while a murderer skulks in their midst feels quite true to life and I genuinely enjoyed spending time in their community. However, everything fell apart in the denouement.
Firstly, when Daphne finally puts the pieces together, she makes the classic mystery novel protagonist gaffe of telling someone “I’ve figured it out! No, I won’t tell you what I figured out, I’ve got to rush off and confront someone very dangerous without telling you who it is, my suspicions, where I’ve put any evidence, or where I’m going. Ta-ta, now!” Then, the final chunk of the book is taken up by a number of exposition-dumps of the culprits’ childhoods, motivations, inner feelings, et cetera, in a way that completely stops the plot and which occur in the middle of a seemingly physically dangerous moment. Am I really to believe that Daphne and the culprit/s sit together for an hour-long chat about said culprit/s childhood insecurities leading to their present actions in the middle of a time-sensitive moment of danger? One of these info-dumps is told to Daphne while she and the teller are inside of a burning house—I mean a house that is actively on fire —and both persons are struggling to breathe due to the smoke. Maybe I’m overly sensitive due to personal loss, but smoke inhalation (among other physical harms) is treated so unseriously in this book to the point that I actually found it offensive.
Finally, Daphne’s husband James needs to do something really nice for Daphne in the next title, as he was AWOL in this one (even at important times) and never gives a reason for his absence.
TL;DR: The first eighty percent or so of this novel is your average Midsomer Murders’ episode, not a particularly brilliant one but certainly satisfying to consume along with your midweek dinner. The last twenty percent is a serious fumble, one I sincerely hope Sutton recovers from should she choose to write a third installment in this series.
2.5 stars
Unfortunately this book doesn’t live up to the debut it’s following, which is a real shame as I adored The Body in the Potting Shed last year and even gave a copy to a friend as a gift. It has the classic second-novel dilemma of trying to find a voice distinct enough from the first book but with the same flavor that made the first a success.
I did enjoy the book for the first eighty percent of so of the plot, though the culprit/s seemed patently obvious from very early on. I don’t mind being able to tell the conclusion so long as the journey to the protagonist piecing the mystery together is a good one, and I really like protagonist Daphne and her friends in Pudding Corner. The way they go about village life while a murderer skulks in their midst feels quite true to life and I genuinely enjoyed spending time in their community. However, everything fell apart in the denouement.
Firstly, when Daphne finally puts the pieces together, she makes the classic mystery novel protagonist gaffe of telling someone “I’ve figured it out! No, I won’t tell you what I figured out, I’ve got to rush off and confront someone very dangerous without telling you who it is, my suspicions, where I’ve put any evidence, or where I’m going. Ta-ta, now!” Then, the final chunk of the book is taken up by a number of exposition-dumps of the culprits’ childhoods, motivations, inner feelings, et cetera, in a way that completely stops the plot and which occur in the middle of a seemingly physically dangerous moment. Am I really to believe that Daphne and the culprit/s sit together for an hour-long chat about said culprit/s childhood insecurities leading to their present actions in the middle of a time-sensitive moment of danger? One of these info-dumps is told to Daphne while she and the teller are inside of a burning house—I mean a house that is actively on fire —and both persons are struggling to breathe due to the smoke. Maybe I’m overly sensitive due to personal loss, but smoke inhalation (among other physical harms) is treated so unseriously in this book to the point that I actually found it offensive.
Finally, Daphne’s husband James needs to do something really nice for Daphne in the next title, as he was AWOL in this one (even at important times) and never gives a reason for his absence.
TL;DR: The first eighty percent or so of this novel is your average Midsomer Murders’ episode, not a particularly brilliant one but certainly satisfying to consume along with your midweek dinner. The last twenty percent is a serious fumble, one I sincerely hope Sutton recovers from should she choose to write a third installment in this series.
April 26, 2026
This is another new author for me. I had thought this book was a first in a series, but it is actually book number two. That was definitely not a problem as this author is very heavy on the description, so you definitely won't feel lost. I really enjoyed Daphne, the main character, I found it a little hard to work around the fact that she was a wife and mother of three young children, not because a wife and mother wouldn't be that clever or observant, but even though there was some work evolved she had plenty of time to be away from home checking on things and going to meetings etc. While this story has a very good mystery (s) and a clever twist I did find the author a bit over the top with countryside descriptions and some emotional angst that at times actually draw you out of the story as it is unfolding. Some of the secondary characters are also a little over the top obnoxious, but in general, an intelligent MC, a fascinating mystery, and a twist make this book worth your time! Thanks to #Netgally, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #TheBodyintheKitchenGarden #HillHouseVintageMysteries #PaulaSutton #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
October 26, 2025
2.5 stars
This, I will be honest, is quite disappointing. After reading the first book in this series, absolutely loving it and recommending it to anyone who would listen, I was excited to read the second instalment. Unfortunately, all the things that I loved so much about the first book just fell flat in this book.
The setting and the eclectic residents of Pepperbridge were great and I always enjoy Sutton's writing of the inhabitants and their idiosyncrasies. But I felt more connected to the setting in the first one and all the side characters introduced. The side characters in this book were flat and I knew their motive from basically the first 50 pages. The first book made you feel like you were truly their with the characters but the second one felt too light and less enveloping.
Daphne, as a detective, was somebody that I felt was missing in the crime genre. Leading with kindness and an open mind. I loved her conversations with the residents and her intelligence and compassion. While she still leads with kindness and compassion in this book I felt that the actual investigating was non-existent. Daphne was not in charge of the narrative in this book but just reacting to things happening around her. I can't think of anything in the book apart from the visit to the library where I truly felt she was being active in this novel. This book had a severe lack of deducting, which was incredibly disappointing.
The plot. Everything was just too obvious this time around. Normally I don't mind figuring out the motives and plots of mysteries but this was just way too obvious and easy. As I said earlier, it took me about 50 pages to suss out the new characters and the trajectory of the plot. I just really wish more time was spent in this book to pad it out and give time and detail to it.
Overall this was a big dip in quality after how amazing that first book was.
This, I will be honest, is quite disappointing. After reading the first book in this series, absolutely loving it and recommending it to anyone who would listen, I was excited to read the second instalment. Unfortunately, all the things that I loved so much about the first book just fell flat in this book.
The setting and the eclectic residents of Pepperbridge were great and I always enjoy Sutton's writing of the inhabitants and their idiosyncrasies. But I felt more connected to the setting in the first one and all the side characters introduced. The side characters in this book were flat and I knew their motive from basically the first 50 pages. The first book made you feel like you were truly their with the characters but the second one felt too light and less enveloping.
Daphne, as a detective, was somebody that I felt was missing in the crime genre. Leading with kindness and an open mind. I loved her conversations with the residents and her intelligence and compassion. While she still leads with kindness and compassion in this book I felt that the actual investigating was non-existent. Daphne was not in charge of the narrative in this book but just reacting to things happening around her. I can't think of anything in the book apart from the visit to the library where I truly felt she was being active in this novel. This book had a severe lack of deducting, which was incredibly disappointing.
The plot. Everything was just too obvious this time around. Normally I don't mind figuring out the motives and plots of mysteries but this was just way too obvious and easy. As I said earlier, it took me about 50 pages to suss out the new characters and the trajectory of the plot. I just really wish more time was spent in this book to pad it out and give time and detail to it.
Overall this was a big dip in quality after how amazing that first book was.
June 5, 2026
I loved this! I am fully invested in this small and not at all sleepy town and the characters. Daphne is one of my favorite sleuths because she is so open minded and caring and does not let other people's prejudices change her opinion of others. She is such a good friend, a smart and creative business woman and her wit and banter is the best. The characters both crack me up (especially the town meetings) and tug at my heartstrings. This book completely hoodwinked me in the best way and I was constantly shocked by the twists. Even the ending has my head spinning. The writing is fantastic and I wish I would work with Daphne on some interior design now. I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
May 19, 2026
3⭐️
Such a cozy mystery! This is the second book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series. I haven’t read the first book but Paula’s writing and descriptions made it easy to understand the characters and the past storyline, the character guide was so helpful too. The murderer in the first book does get brought up so definitely read in order if you’re planning on reading this series!
Set in an English country side village called pudding corner, Daphne finds herself investigating robberies and deaths… again. Although I could guess how the story would unfold, it was still enjoyable. I felt like the first half of this book was slow then it picked up around the 40% mark.
Might go back and read the first book as I really enjoyed Paula’s writing style, heavy on the descriptions and a wonderful cosy modern miss Marple style mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc of this book 🫶🏼
Such a cozy mystery! This is the second book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series. I haven’t read the first book but Paula’s writing and descriptions made it easy to understand the characters and the past storyline, the character guide was so helpful too. The murderer in the first book does get brought up so definitely read in order if you’re planning on reading this series!
Set in an English country side village called pudding corner, Daphne finds herself investigating robberies and deaths… again. Although I could guess how the story would unfold, it was still enjoyable. I felt like the first half of this book was slow then it picked up around the 40% mark.
Might go back and read the first book as I really enjoyed Paula’s writing style, heavy on the descriptions and a wonderful cosy modern miss Marple style mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the arc of this book 🫶🏼
October 27, 2025
all in all, this book was OK. while the setting was something to get used to and tension is really attenuated by the lengthy descriptions of each act and scene, the writing was neat and left off with a great sentence on the localities of Pudding Corner and Pepperbridge (wonderful names for villages on the countryside!):
"some stayed for a season, some came for a reason, but many stayed for a lifetime."
"some stayed for a season, some came for a reason, but many stayed for a lifetime."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can say the narrator was very enthusiastic. It was a fine audiobook, I think the older generation will really adore this book and audiobook
Thank you to publisher and net galley
Thank you to publisher and net galley
February 5, 2026
"The Body in the Kitchen Garden ” the 2nd instalment in A Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series by Paula Sutton set in Pudding Corner, a Norfolk hamlet full of quintessentially English charm. I enjoyed this story. What a great follow up to book one!
This time around Daphne is helping Lord Darlington and his fiancée revive the grand Darlington Hall. Daphne is enchanted by the estate’s stained-glass windows, regal turrets, and sprawling kitchen garden. But amidst the overgrown greenery, she stumbles upon something far less picturesque: a body. A body that no one can identify. With secrets buried deep and loyalties more tangled than ivy, Daphne must unearth the truth . . . before the killer strikes again.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book two!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This time around Daphne is helping Lord Darlington and his fiancée revive the grand Darlington Hall. Daphne is enchanted by the estate’s stained-glass windows, regal turrets, and sprawling kitchen garden. But amidst the overgrown greenery, she stumbles upon something far less picturesque: a body. A body that no one can identify. With secrets buried deep and loyalties more tangled than ivy, Daphne must unearth the truth . . . before the killer strikes again.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book two!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Nothing says “peaceful countryside reset” like uncovering a corpse in the herbaceous border. The Body in the Kitchen Garden wastes zero time reminding us that Pudding Corner might look like it sells artisanal jam and emotional stability, but beneath the wisteria is pure chaos. And honestly? I respect the commitment.
We’re back with Daphne Brewster, our vintage-loving, softly spoken menace to local law enforcement. After surviving The Potting Shed Murder, you’d think she’d get at least one season of calm. Absolutely not. Lord Hugh Darlington swans back into town after years away with his fiancée Helena, announcing plans to revive Darlington Hall like he’s the brooding lead in a BBC adaptation. Turrets. Stained glass. Kitchen garden. It’s giving Downton Abbey if someone misfiled a death certificate.
And then Daphne, who literally just came to assess antiques and maybe fluff some heritage cushions, finds a body in the glasshouse. An unidentified body. Just… there. Among the greenery. I cannot stress enough how rude it is to die in someone’s curated cottagecore fantasy.
Now we’ve got burglaries popping off around the village, Lord Darlington getting attacked, and everyone clutching their pearls while pretending they’re not absolutely thrilled something scandalous is happening. Pudding Corner runs on tea and gossip. This is their Super Bowl.
Let’s talk about Daphne, because she remains the emotional MVP. She’s not flashy. She’s not dramatically monologuing. She’s just quietly observing, asking gentle but devastatingly precise questions, and refusing to ignore that something smells off. It’s like if Miss Marple had Wi-Fi and a side hustle. I adore her. She leads with empathy, not ego. She actually cares about the why, not just the who.
But here’s where I need to lovingly scream into a throw pillow.
I clocked the direction of this mystery early. Not in a “I am Sherlock reborn” way. In a “sir, you are blinking suspiciously and I don’t trust it” way. The suspect pool isn’t a sprawling Agatha Christie chaos buffet. It’s more like a very curated dinner party where you already know who’s going to flip the table by dessert. I kept waiting for the rug to be yanked out from under me. The rug remained firmly in place. Tasteful. Predictable. Slightly smug.
And I don’t mind figuring things out. I love feeling clever. But I wanted at least one moment where I gasped so hard I scared my basset hounds. Instead, it was more of a slow nod like, yes, that tracks. The motivations are layered in, and we spend real time unpacking the backstory, which gives the crime emotional weight. It’s less about shock and more about buried grievances and tangled loyalties. That part works. It’s thoughtful. It’s human. It just doesn’t punch.
There’s also a shift here where Daphne feels more reactive than proactive. In book one, she felt like she was prying open secrets with determination and heart. Here, information often comes to her. Clues surface. Conversations conveniently reveal things. I wanted one more scene of her actively connecting dots and having that quiet, devastating realization moment.
That said, the atmosphere still slaps. Darlington Hall is dripping in history and slightly ominous vibes. The kitchen garden setting is lush and eerie in that polite English way. The village dynamics are still deliciously nosy. Everyone knows everyone’s business and pretends they don’t. It’s the kind of place where a raised eyebrow is basically a public accusation.
Emotionally, the ending leans into the why and how rather than a dramatic drawing room reveal. We sit with the consequences. We understand the hurt. It’s more reflective than explosive. Which fits the tone of the series. I just wanted one more jolt of chaos to match the aesthetic.
As a sequel, it doesn’t quite have the fresh spark that made The Potting Shed Murder such a delight. That first book felt like stumbling into a village scandal you weren’t prepared for. This one feels more settled. Comfortable. Like Pudding Corner has accepted that Daphne is just going to keep finding bodies and they might as well put the kettle on.
For me, it’s a solid three stars. I had a good time. I care about these people. I will absolutely show up for book three because I am now emotionally invested in Daphne’s inability to avoid horticultural homicide. But next time? I want the twist to emotionally body-check me while I’m rearranging my throw pillows.
Whodunity Award: Most Likely to Bury Generational Secrets Next to the Rosemary and Hope No One Starts Weeding
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing, RBmedia, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. Nothing says self-care like a quiet English village, a suspicious aristocrat, and a body in the begonias. Always happy to accept advance copies that threaten my trust in quaint garden estates.
We’re back with Daphne Brewster, our vintage-loving, softly spoken menace to local law enforcement. After surviving The Potting Shed Murder, you’d think she’d get at least one season of calm. Absolutely not. Lord Hugh Darlington swans back into town after years away with his fiancée Helena, announcing plans to revive Darlington Hall like he’s the brooding lead in a BBC adaptation. Turrets. Stained glass. Kitchen garden. It’s giving Downton Abbey if someone misfiled a death certificate.
And then Daphne, who literally just came to assess antiques and maybe fluff some heritage cushions, finds a body in the glasshouse. An unidentified body. Just… there. Among the greenery. I cannot stress enough how rude it is to die in someone’s curated cottagecore fantasy.
Now we’ve got burglaries popping off around the village, Lord Darlington getting attacked, and everyone clutching their pearls while pretending they’re not absolutely thrilled something scandalous is happening. Pudding Corner runs on tea and gossip. This is their Super Bowl.
Let’s talk about Daphne, because she remains the emotional MVP. She’s not flashy. She’s not dramatically monologuing. She’s just quietly observing, asking gentle but devastatingly precise questions, and refusing to ignore that something smells off. It’s like if Miss Marple had Wi-Fi and a side hustle. I adore her. She leads with empathy, not ego. She actually cares about the why, not just the who.
But here’s where I need to lovingly scream into a throw pillow.
I clocked the direction of this mystery early. Not in a “I am Sherlock reborn” way. In a “sir, you are blinking suspiciously and I don’t trust it” way. The suspect pool isn’t a sprawling Agatha Christie chaos buffet. It’s more like a very curated dinner party where you already know who’s going to flip the table by dessert. I kept waiting for the rug to be yanked out from under me. The rug remained firmly in place. Tasteful. Predictable. Slightly smug.
And I don’t mind figuring things out. I love feeling clever. But I wanted at least one moment where I gasped so hard I scared my basset hounds. Instead, it was more of a slow nod like, yes, that tracks. The motivations are layered in, and we spend real time unpacking the backstory, which gives the crime emotional weight. It’s less about shock and more about buried grievances and tangled loyalties. That part works. It’s thoughtful. It’s human. It just doesn’t punch.
There’s also a shift here where Daphne feels more reactive than proactive. In book one, she felt like she was prying open secrets with determination and heart. Here, information often comes to her. Clues surface. Conversations conveniently reveal things. I wanted one more scene of her actively connecting dots and having that quiet, devastating realization moment.
That said, the atmosphere still slaps. Darlington Hall is dripping in history and slightly ominous vibes. The kitchen garden setting is lush and eerie in that polite English way. The village dynamics are still deliciously nosy. Everyone knows everyone’s business and pretends they don’t. It’s the kind of place where a raised eyebrow is basically a public accusation.
Emotionally, the ending leans into the why and how rather than a dramatic drawing room reveal. We sit with the consequences. We understand the hurt. It’s more reflective than explosive. Which fits the tone of the series. I just wanted one more jolt of chaos to match the aesthetic.
As a sequel, it doesn’t quite have the fresh spark that made The Potting Shed Murder such a delight. That first book felt like stumbling into a village scandal you weren’t prepared for. This one feels more settled. Comfortable. Like Pudding Corner has accepted that Daphne is just going to keep finding bodies and they might as well put the kettle on.
For me, it’s a solid three stars. I had a good time. I care about these people. I will absolutely show up for book three because I am now emotionally invested in Daphne’s inability to avoid horticultural homicide. But next time? I want the twist to emotionally body-check me while I’m rearranging my throw pillows.
Whodunity Award: Most Likely to Bury Generational Secrets Next to the Rosemary and Hope No One Starts Weeding
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing, RBmedia, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. Nothing says self-care like a quiet English village, a suspicious aristocrat, and a body in the begonias. Always happy to accept advance copies that threaten my trust in quaint garden estates.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The gentle English village mystery is still going strong, 96 years after Miss Marple made her first appearance in the village of St. Mary Meade. Like Miss Marple, modern practitioners of the British village mystery- writers like Connie Berry, G.M. Malliet, and most recently Katarina Bivald – find the depths of human emotion and bad behavior in this idyllic setting. Sutton has updated the formula with the unusual move of having her detective be the only black woman in town.
Like her creator, Daphne Brewster is a vintage furniture and architecture enthusiast. (Sutton is a popular lifestyle influencer under the moniker @hillhousevintage). Indulging in the books or the Instagram posts finds the lucky reader or viewer drawn into a world of British Village porn, where all the rickety chairs are beautiful, the beds are covered with lovely, faded spreads, and the wallpaper is William Morris. This is more of a sidebar in the books, though Daphne owns a shop where she repurposes and sells old things and is finding it surprisingly lucrative.
Daphne has escaped London with her husband and adorable kids and cute dog to the village of Pudding Corner, where all seems peaceful, but, as any mystery reader knows, will be invaded by the horror of murder. Sutton does violate one unspoken rule – early on, she reveals the identity of the killer in book #1 – but as I’d read it myself I was able to move on. If you haven’t yet read The Potting Shed Murder you might want to pick that one up first.
It all starts innocently enough. Daphne is approached by the future lady of the local manor and asked to help her repurpose and reclaim enough rooms in the old place to turn it into an Airbnb that will ideally pay for the upkeep of the house. It’s Daphne’s dream job, and she can’t wait to dive in with the meek Helena, who is the unlikely fiancée of Sir Hugh Darlington, the owner of the manor.
Daphne and Helena work through the rooms, finding plenty to both repurpose and sell and they even make a start on stripping the walls. Meanwhile, all is not copacetic in Pudding Corner. One of the town stalwarts, general store owner (and inveterate keeper of facts about everyone in town), is found dead one morning after a fall from her ladder in the store. Her sister is sure it’s not an accident. Daphne is a good neighbor and keeps a watch on the sister, bringing her cake and tea, and trying to coax her back out into the world.
Meanwhile not only are there village youths hanging around on the village green and perhaps stealing things around town, but there also appears to be a homeless man in the area, something unusual in a remote rural village. Mysteriously, the homeless man is ultimately found dead in the garden of the manor house, where he had apparently been sleeping rough.
Daphne can’t help but be drawn into sleuthing – how can she leave the meek Helena on her own where there was a dead man in the garden? The local constable warns her off to no avail. So far, so traditional. The end of the novel is not traditional, however. It’s here that Sutton dives into the psychological underpinnings of the characters in the book, both fleshing them out as humans and providing motive. While I found this enjoyable, I almost felt Sutton should stick to one or the other: a traditional village cozy, or a psychological village cozy (with practitioners like PD James, Ruth Rendell, and Deborah Crombie, to name a few). I always find a change in tone an unsettling read. However, this is still a charming series, with a great setting and populated with terrific characters and specific details of village life. To be clear, I definitely want to read the next book. I’m also wondering how Daphne can stay in shape after eating so much cake. You might need a slice when you close the last page.
Like her creator, Daphne Brewster is a vintage furniture and architecture enthusiast. (Sutton is a popular lifestyle influencer under the moniker @hillhousevintage). Indulging in the books or the Instagram posts finds the lucky reader or viewer drawn into a world of British Village porn, where all the rickety chairs are beautiful, the beds are covered with lovely, faded spreads, and the wallpaper is William Morris. This is more of a sidebar in the books, though Daphne owns a shop where she repurposes and sells old things and is finding it surprisingly lucrative.
Daphne has escaped London with her husband and adorable kids and cute dog to the village of Pudding Corner, where all seems peaceful, but, as any mystery reader knows, will be invaded by the horror of murder. Sutton does violate one unspoken rule – early on, she reveals the identity of the killer in book #1 – but as I’d read it myself I was able to move on. If you haven’t yet read The Potting Shed Murder you might want to pick that one up first.
It all starts innocently enough. Daphne is approached by the future lady of the local manor and asked to help her repurpose and reclaim enough rooms in the old place to turn it into an Airbnb that will ideally pay for the upkeep of the house. It’s Daphne’s dream job, and she can’t wait to dive in with the meek Helena, who is the unlikely fiancée of Sir Hugh Darlington, the owner of the manor.
Daphne and Helena work through the rooms, finding plenty to both repurpose and sell and they even make a start on stripping the walls. Meanwhile, all is not copacetic in Pudding Corner. One of the town stalwarts, general store owner (and inveterate keeper of facts about everyone in town), is found dead one morning after a fall from her ladder in the store. Her sister is sure it’s not an accident. Daphne is a good neighbor and keeps a watch on the sister, bringing her cake and tea, and trying to coax her back out into the world.
Meanwhile not only are there village youths hanging around on the village green and perhaps stealing things around town, but there also appears to be a homeless man in the area, something unusual in a remote rural village. Mysteriously, the homeless man is ultimately found dead in the garden of the manor house, where he had apparently been sleeping rough.
Daphne can’t help but be drawn into sleuthing – how can she leave the meek Helena on her own where there was a dead man in the garden? The local constable warns her off to no avail. So far, so traditional. The end of the novel is not traditional, however. It’s here that Sutton dives into the psychological underpinnings of the characters in the book, both fleshing them out as humans and providing motive. While I found this enjoyable, I almost felt Sutton should stick to one or the other: a traditional village cozy, or a psychological village cozy (with practitioners like PD James, Ruth Rendell, and Deborah Crombie, to name a few). I always find a change in tone an unsettling read. However, this is still a charming series, with a great setting and populated with terrific characters and specific details of village life. To be clear, I definitely want to read the next book. I’m also wondering how Daphne can stay in shape after eating so much cake. You might need a slice when you close the last page.
May 31, 2026
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿: readers who enjoy cosy village mysteries, cottagecore gardens, amateur sleuths, and stories where spending time in the setting is just as important as solving the crime.
This was a strange one because I think it improved on almost everything I struggled with in the first book while somehow ending up with the exact same rating.
The mystery was definitely weaker this time around. Helen was trying so hard to appear sweet and innocent that I immediately started watching her suspiciously. The more perfect she seemed, the more convinced I became that something wasn't right. So while I enjoyed seeing everything unravel, I never really got that satisfying moment of surprise that I had with the first book.
But the village? The village was exactly what I had been hoping for.
Last time it felt like standing outside a house and looking through the window. This time I actually got invited in. Suddenly I could see the gardens, the gossip, the little routines, and the people who lived there. I found myself far more interested in wandering through the gardens, poking around the manor house, and collecting bits of village gossip than I was in solving the murder. Which, now that I think about it, is probably exactly what I want from a cosy mystery.
I think that's why I finished this book wanting more. Not because I desperately needed the next mystery, but because I wanted another excuse to spend time in the village.
I also found myself warming up to the townsfolk this time. Augusta in particular surprised me. Somewhere between book one and book two she seems to have turned into a grandmother, albeit the sort of grandmother who would probably still tell you off while handing you cake.
Daphne was the one thing I liked slightly less this time around. In the first book she felt like a curious neighbour who accidentally wandered into trouble. Here she occasionally seemed determined to walk directly towards trouble while leaving behind the world's least reassuring backup plan. There were several moments where I wanted to remind her that telephones exist and are actually quite useful.
Honestly, this series is becoming a little frustrating because I can see exactly what I want it to be. Book one gave me a stronger mystery. Book two gave me a stronger village. Now I just need book three to put those two things together and I suspect I'll be very happy indeed.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• A village that finally felt like a real place rather than a distant picture
• The cottagecore gardens, manor house, and cosy small-town atmosphere
• Getting to know the quirks and personalities of the townsfolk a little better
🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• Helen felt suspicious so early that the mystery became easier to predict
• Daphne's decision-making occasionally tested my patience
• The plot never quite managed to surprise me the way the first book did
⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a strange one because I think it improved on almost everything I struggled with in the first book while somehow ending up with the exact same rating.
The mystery was definitely weaker this time around. Helen was trying so hard to appear sweet and innocent that I immediately started watching her suspiciously. The more perfect she seemed, the more convinced I became that something wasn't right. So while I enjoyed seeing everything unravel, I never really got that satisfying moment of surprise that I had with the first book.
But the village? The village was exactly what I had been hoping for.
Last time it felt like standing outside a house and looking through the window. This time I actually got invited in. Suddenly I could see the gardens, the gossip, the little routines, and the people who lived there. I found myself far more interested in wandering through the gardens, poking around the manor house, and collecting bits of village gossip than I was in solving the murder. Which, now that I think about it, is probably exactly what I want from a cosy mystery.
I think that's why I finished this book wanting more. Not because I desperately needed the next mystery, but because I wanted another excuse to spend time in the village.
I also found myself warming up to the townsfolk this time. Augusta in particular surprised me. Somewhere between book one and book two she seems to have turned into a grandmother, albeit the sort of grandmother who would probably still tell you off while handing you cake.
Daphne was the one thing I liked slightly less this time around. In the first book she felt like a curious neighbour who accidentally wandered into trouble. Here she occasionally seemed determined to walk directly towards trouble while leaving behind the world's least reassuring backup plan. There were several moments where I wanted to remind her that telephones exist and are actually quite useful.
Honestly, this series is becoming a little frustrating because I can see exactly what I want it to be. Book one gave me a stronger mystery. Book two gave me a stronger village. Now I just need book three to put those two things together and I suspect I'll be very happy indeed.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• A village that finally felt like a real place rather than a distant picture
• The cottagecore gardens, manor house, and cosy small-town atmosphere
• Getting to know the quirks and personalities of the townsfolk a little better
🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• Helen felt suspicious so early that the mystery became easier to predict
• Daphne's decision-making occasionally tested my patience
• The plot never quite managed to surprise me the way the first book did
⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2026
In The Body in the Kitchen Garden, 12 months have passed since Daphne Brewster solved the shocking murder in Pudding Corner, almost getting herself killed in the process, and now here she is again poking into other people's business.
Following the deaths of Lord and Lady Darlington, and then their son and heir, Darlington Hall has stood empty until their younger, estranged son, Hugh, returns from Australia to claim his inheritance. Originally planning to sell up and move away, Hugh's fiancée, Helena, has other plans. She persuades him to renovate the property and turn it into a hotel. Beginning with just a few rooms, Helena engages Daphne for her interior design skills and her contacts to help sell off the unwanted vintage furniture in the house.
What should be a creative and lucrative project for Daphne quickly becomes a nightmare. Burglaries begin to take place, a village stalwart dies in a fall that her sister cannot accept was accidental, and a stranger arrives in Pudding Corner, living rough around the village and causing a great deal of unease.
With no one in the village willing to believe that the crime spree could be the work of a local, suspicion automatically falls first on the young people who congregate on the village green and then on the homeless man. Daphne discovers him sheltering in the broken glasshouses in the kitchen garden of Darlington Hall.
Despite it becoming increasingly apparent that things are not quite as they seem at Darlington Hall, and despite warnings from both the local police and her husband not to get involved, Daphne continues her investigations. One morning she is in the unfortunate position of discovering the dead body of the homeless man, apparently killed by a dagger-like shard of broken glass that has fallen from the roof before he toppled forward into his campfire. As she delves deeper into the family's history, uncovering old photographs and long-buried secrets, Daphne gradually pieces together the truth and unmasks the real culprit.
Daphne is a likeable character despite her propensity to nose about, and perhaps it is a good job she does, having now solved two very sinister murders. Like the first book in the series, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a light-hearted read written in an engaging and humorous style. In spite of the crime spree the village has suffered of late, Pudding Corner remains a quintessential English village where many would aspire to live.
Although this is a light-hearted novel that comfortably falls into the cosy crime genre, I do think it carries a deeper message about the effects of prejudice. This is demonstrated through the villagers' tendency to jump to conclusions, initially assuming that the crimes are being committed by the young people gathering on the village green and then by the unknown homeless man who arrives in the village. Only Daphne's friend, Minerva Leek, shows him any compassion, perhaps because she herself has been made something of an outcast by the village.
I did find that the copy I read had some editing issues, with small but important words frequently omitted, disrupting the flow of the reading experience. Towards the end, there were also instances where characters' names were mixed up, with Helena being referred to as Daphne. It is also worth noting for anyone who has not read the first novel that major spoilers for that book are revealed almost immediately and are referenced repeatedly throughout this one.
Following the deaths of Lord and Lady Darlington, and then their son and heir, Darlington Hall has stood empty until their younger, estranged son, Hugh, returns from Australia to claim his inheritance. Originally planning to sell up and move away, Hugh's fiancée, Helena, has other plans. She persuades him to renovate the property and turn it into a hotel. Beginning with just a few rooms, Helena engages Daphne for her interior design skills and her contacts to help sell off the unwanted vintage furniture in the house.
What should be a creative and lucrative project for Daphne quickly becomes a nightmare. Burglaries begin to take place, a village stalwart dies in a fall that her sister cannot accept was accidental, and a stranger arrives in Pudding Corner, living rough around the village and causing a great deal of unease.
With no one in the village willing to believe that the crime spree could be the work of a local, suspicion automatically falls first on the young people who congregate on the village green and then on the homeless man. Daphne discovers him sheltering in the broken glasshouses in the kitchen garden of Darlington Hall.
Despite it becoming increasingly apparent that things are not quite as they seem at Darlington Hall, and despite warnings from both the local police and her husband not to get involved, Daphne continues her investigations. One morning she is in the unfortunate position of discovering the dead body of the homeless man, apparently killed by a dagger-like shard of broken glass that has fallen from the roof before he toppled forward into his campfire. As she delves deeper into the family's history, uncovering old photographs and long-buried secrets, Daphne gradually pieces together the truth and unmasks the real culprit.
Daphne is a likeable character despite her propensity to nose about, and perhaps it is a good job she does, having now solved two very sinister murders. Like the first book in the series, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a light-hearted read written in an engaging and humorous style. In spite of the crime spree the village has suffered of late, Pudding Corner remains a quintessential English village where many would aspire to live.
Although this is a light-hearted novel that comfortably falls into the cosy crime genre, I do think it carries a deeper message about the effects of prejudice. This is demonstrated through the villagers' tendency to jump to conclusions, initially assuming that the crimes are being committed by the young people gathering on the village green and then by the unknown homeless man who arrives in the village. Only Daphne's friend, Minerva Leek, shows him any compassion, perhaps because she herself has been made something of an outcast by the village.
I did find that the copy I read had some editing issues, with small but important words frequently omitted, disrupting the flow of the reading experience. Towards the end, there were also instances where characters' names were mixed up, with Helena being referred to as Daphne. It is also worth noting for anyone who has not read the first novel that major spoilers for that book are revealed almost immediately and are referenced repeatedly throughout this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ᯓ➤ Got this from NetGalley
❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀
This book was a mess...
For the first quarter it tried the classic and true Agatha Christie - introducing everyone all at once and giving you massive bits of information about each character. Except the information WASN'T enough because who the hell were all those people and why are they all so annoying! It's like they held a competition of who is the biggest asshole and they put them all in one village.
The constant pov changes to explain what was happening in the background is basically the sure way to NOT have your "detective" do anything at all and just have moments of realization based on NOTHING (at some point during 80% we get a random biopic of Helena and Daphne just knew everything despite Henry singing about how he loved her?)
⁀જ➣ Yeah Daphne was mad annoying. They tried to give you this vibe that she is so good person (and I do think in her core she is especially seeing how much she cares about who she thought was a homeless man and the sister of the first victim)
But she was a shit detective! They make these jokes like she is a Miss Marple esc character but they literally couldn't be further apart. Miss Marple draws collisions because she sees beyond the bonds of the small communities of villages and pulling clues from everyone and working them together to EVENTUALLY get to the conclusion. Daphne? She just comes to conclusions out of thin air, basically thinks the sister of Nancy is out of it when she says her sister was murdered.
(+ All those questions she kept making that were so stupid...)
⁀જ➣ Honestly Nancy was such a bitch I was kinda glad she is the first victim. She is a snob and judges EVERYONE, and is generally the worst person ever + that notebook that has everyone's secrets? What a bitch for real.
⁀જ➣ If I am sad for anyone in this book it is the real Lord Darlington. He was someone who struggled and wanted to turn things around away from this shitty place and even to the end he was kind and a honestly to his core good person.
⁀જ➣ Helena was... Maybe the only character that was in line with the whole plot! Her actions could have been so much more DEEP if the clues were set up better.
And finally the ending!! After Daphne hasn't worked out next to nothing but Helena tells her everything. Henry getting everything in the end after Huw leaves him everything? That was the only "good" thing / ending for this book.
❀𖤣𖥧𖡼⊱✿⊰𖡼𖥧𖤣❀
This book was a mess...
For the first quarter it tried the classic and true Agatha Christie - introducing everyone all at once and giving you massive bits of information about each character. Except the information WASN'T enough because who the hell were all those people and why are they all so annoying! It's like they held a competition of who is the biggest asshole and they put them all in one village.
The constant pov changes to explain what was happening in the background is basically the sure way to NOT have your "detective" do anything at all and just have moments of realization based on NOTHING (at some point during 80% we get a random biopic of Helena and Daphne just knew everything despite Henry singing about how he loved her?)
⁀જ➣ Yeah Daphne was mad annoying. They tried to give you this vibe that she is so good person (and I do think in her core she is especially seeing how much she cares about who she thought was a homeless man and the sister of the first victim)
But she was a shit detective! They make these jokes like she is a Miss Marple esc character but they literally couldn't be further apart. Miss Marple draws collisions because she sees beyond the bonds of the small communities of villages and pulling clues from everyone and working them together to EVENTUALLY get to the conclusion. Daphne? She just comes to conclusions out of thin air, basically thinks the sister of Nancy is out of it when she says her sister was murdered.
(+ All those questions she kept making that were so stupid...)
⁀જ➣ Honestly Nancy was such a bitch I was kinda glad she is the first victim. She is a snob and judges EVERYONE, and is generally the worst person ever + that notebook that has everyone's secrets? What a bitch for real.
⁀જ➣ If I am sad for anyone in this book it is the real Lord Darlington. He was someone who struggled and wanted to turn things around away from this shitty place and even to the end he was kind and a honestly to his core good person.
⁀જ➣ Helena was... Maybe the only character that was in line with the whole plot! Her actions could have been so much more DEEP if the clues were set up better.
And finally the ending!! After Daphne hasn't worked out next to nothing but Helena tells her everything. Henry getting everything in the end after Huw leaves him everything? That was the only "good" thing / ending for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2026
Daphne Brewster and family have settled into country life in the quiet town of Pudding Corner near Pepperbridge. Where village life is quiet and pleasant because the locals are sure to observe that rules are followed. Where everything has its place and everyone must be kept in theirs. This is the second book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mysteries series. Where the majority of the story is from the point of view of our sleuth, Daphne Brewster whole relocated with her family from the urban sprawl of south London and after helping to solve a murder, she has been more or less accepted as one of the villagers.
Daphne is a strong character, with a kind heart and a desire to defend the excluded, overlooked, and even cranky. Like the concern and care she shows to Patsy Warburton after the unexpected loss of her older sister, Nancy. Patsy swears that Nancy, regardless of her age and saggy stockings, did not fall off of the ladder and die. Patsy believes that it was not an accident that there are foul dealings afoot. Well of course there are, just ask Augusta Papplewick and Marianne Forbes who both want something done about the youths who are congregating on the green, as they must be up to no good, what with the rash of petty thefts and random assaults. Not to mention that there is a disheveled stranger who may or may not be a Fagin-style vagrant and has been seen lurking around town. Daphne doesn’t necessarily go looking for answers but there are things that happen to cause her to ponder and try to make sense of the big and little picture. Inspector Hargreaves would like it if Daphne would stick to her antique furniture shop business and leave the detecting and career-defining moments of glory to himself. I am not sure how she has time to do all that she does, what with helping Helena Carter, fiancé of Lord Hugh Darlington, the prodigal son who has returned from abroad, by remodeling and repurposing antiques in order to try and save the family estate. Did I mention that Daphne is also happily married with three children and an adorable miniature dachshund named Byron.
This is a well throughout stand-alone mystery, but readers be warned, there are spoilers in the second book that retell the solution to the mystery of the first book. As with the last book, I thought that I had it figured out, but I was wrong. It is so much more complicated than I realized and there are some sly red herrings that make one go down a rabbit hole.
Daphne is a strong character, with a kind heart and a desire to defend the excluded, overlooked, and even cranky. Like the concern and care she shows to Patsy Warburton after the unexpected loss of her older sister, Nancy. Patsy swears that Nancy, regardless of her age and saggy stockings, did not fall off of the ladder and die. Patsy believes that it was not an accident that there are foul dealings afoot. Well of course there are, just ask Augusta Papplewick and Marianne Forbes who both want something done about the youths who are congregating on the green, as they must be up to no good, what with the rash of petty thefts and random assaults. Not to mention that there is a disheveled stranger who may or may not be a Fagin-style vagrant and has been seen lurking around town. Daphne doesn’t necessarily go looking for answers but there are things that happen to cause her to ponder and try to make sense of the big and little picture. Inspector Hargreaves would like it if Daphne would stick to her antique furniture shop business and leave the detecting and career-defining moments of glory to himself. I am not sure how she has time to do all that she does, what with helping Helena Carter, fiancé of Lord Hugh Darlington, the prodigal son who has returned from abroad, by remodeling and repurposing antiques in order to try and save the family estate. Did I mention that Daphne is also happily married with three children and an adorable miniature dachshund named Byron.
This is a well throughout stand-alone mystery, but readers be warned, there are spoilers in the second book that retell the solution to the mystery of the first book. As with the last book, I thought that I had it figured out, but I was wrong. It is so much more complicated than I realized and there are some sly red herrings that make one go down a rabbit hole.
February 24, 2026
The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a charming, witty, and wonderfully atmospheric cozy mystery that brings all the delights of village life—gossip, eccentricity, and vintage flair—together with a satisfyingly twisty crime. Paula Sutton captures the essence of Pudding Corner so vividly that it feels like stepping into a warm, slightly chaotic hug… albeit one with a murder tucked among the dahlias.
Daphne Brewster is an irresistible lead: stylish, curious, and endlessly endearing in her determination to get to the bottom of things, even when the local police would much prefer she didn’t. Her love of antiques and all things vintage adds a lovely texture to the story, giving the mystery a unique aesthetic charm. She’s very much a modern Miss Marple—with better outfits and a sharper sense of humour.
The return of Lord Hugh Darlington to his crumbling ancestral home sets the perfect stage for trouble. The estate is beautifully described—stained glass, turrets, and a kitchen garden that should be idyllic but instead hides a body no one can identify. From that moment, the novel becomes a delightful tangle of secrets, burglaries, suspicious characters, and unexpected alliances. The pacing is brisk without ever losing the cozy feel, and the humour sparkles throughout.
What elevates the story is the warmth of the community. Pudding Corner is full of personality, from the nosy neighbours to the quietly observant shopkeepers, and their reactions to the unfolding drama add both charm and tension. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with twists that feel earned and clues that reward attentive reading. By the time the final reveal arrives, everything clicks into place with satisfying precision.
Witty, stylish, and full of heart, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a delightful addition to the cozy crime genre—perfect for readers who love their mysteries with vintage charm, sharp humour, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.
With thanks to Paula Sutton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Daphne Brewster is an irresistible lead: stylish, curious, and endlessly endearing in her determination to get to the bottom of things, even when the local police would much prefer she didn’t. Her love of antiques and all things vintage adds a lovely texture to the story, giving the mystery a unique aesthetic charm. She’s very much a modern Miss Marple—with better outfits and a sharper sense of humour.
The return of Lord Hugh Darlington to his crumbling ancestral home sets the perfect stage for trouble. The estate is beautifully described—stained glass, turrets, and a kitchen garden that should be idyllic but instead hides a body no one can identify. From that moment, the novel becomes a delightful tangle of secrets, burglaries, suspicious characters, and unexpected alliances. The pacing is brisk without ever losing the cozy feel, and the humour sparkles throughout.
What elevates the story is the warmth of the community. Pudding Corner is full of personality, from the nosy neighbours to the quietly observant shopkeepers, and their reactions to the unfolding drama add both charm and tension. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with twists that feel earned and clues that reward attentive reading. By the time the final reveal arrives, everything clicks into place with satisfying precision.
Witty, stylish, and full of heart, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a delightful addition to the cozy crime genre—perfect for readers who love their mysteries with vintage charm, sharp humour, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.
With thanks to Paula Sutton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
May 21, 2026
I enjoyed this quintessential English cozy mystery.
There was a lot going on and just when I thought I had it figured out, the author switches it up on me in a way that I didn't see coming.
The story starts with a death but then slows down as the author sets the scene and seems to forget about the accident. Don't worry the story does pick up and every thing gets wrapped nicely, if surprisingly. The story is told by multiple characters as there part in the situation is discovered but it is mostly told by Daphne as she befriends her client. She doesn't really do any investigating but it's more about being in the right place to learn clues that help piece together the thefts and the murder.
I liked the characters and thought Daphne was a great main character. She was not only capable but was also kind with it, an asset to village life and cozys in general, although she was missing the usual sidekick. Even through this is book two in the series, it does works as a standalone and I had no problems following along despite not having read the first book. A fact that I hope to rectify very soon and will be looking out for more books in the series..
Daphne is shocked to learn her friend has died, leaving behind a distraught sister. She hopes working at Darlington Hall will provide the distraction they both need, especially as the prodigal son Lord Hugh has returned and proves to be just as elusive as ever. At the same time the village teenagers are causing trouble, with the village up in arms over thievery. Some even going so far as to blame the homeless man seen in the area as being there ring leader. Daphne isn't so sure and when she finds him dead in the rundown greenhouse after attacking Hugh, she can't help but ask questions and look for clues. Was his death really an accident?
I liked the narrator. She helped well the story by having fun with accents and character voices. I would listen to her again.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
There was a lot going on and just when I thought I had it figured out, the author switches it up on me in a way that I didn't see coming.
The story starts with a death but then slows down as the author sets the scene and seems to forget about the accident. Don't worry the story does pick up and every thing gets wrapped nicely, if surprisingly. The story is told by multiple characters as there part in the situation is discovered but it is mostly told by Daphne as she befriends her client. She doesn't really do any investigating but it's more about being in the right place to learn clues that help piece together the thefts and the murder.
I liked the characters and thought Daphne was a great main character. She was not only capable but was also kind with it, an asset to village life and cozys in general, although she was missing the usual sidekick. Even through this is book two in the series, it does works as a standalone and I had no problems following along despite not having read the first book. A fact that I hope to rectify very soon and will be looking out for more books in the series..
Daphne is shocked to learn her friend has died, leaving behind a distraught sister. She hopes working at Darlington Hall will provide the distraction they both need, especially as the prodigal son Lord Hugh has returned and proves to be just as elusive as ever. At the same time the village teenagers are causing trouble, with the village up in arms over thievery. Some even going so far as to blame the homeless man seen in the area as being there ring leader. Daphne isn't so sure and when she finds him dead in the rundown greenhouse after attacking Hugh, she can't help but ask questions and look for clues. Was his death really an accident?
I liked the narrator. She helped well the story by having fun with accents and character voices. I would listen to her again.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 27, 2026
The Body in the Kitchen Garden
by Paula Sutton
Thank you to Kensington for the gifted copy 💛
⭐ 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
This was such a cozy little English countryside mystery, full of winding village lanes, eccentric townspeople, antiques, secrets, and of course murder. Even though I have not read the first book in the series, I still found it easy to settle into the world of Pudding Corner and its cast of characters.
Daphne Brewster makes for a really likable amateur sleuth. I enjoyed following her through village gossip, suspicious deaths, robberies, and increasingly tangled secrets. The atmosphere was honestly my favorite part. Paula Sutton clearly loves this setting, and the descriptions of the Norfolk countryside, old homes, gardens, and village life gave the whole story a warm, comforting feel even while terrible things were happening.
The mystery itself was entertaining, though I did guess parts of it fairly early on. Normally that would bother me more, but I still enjoyed the journey and spending time with the characters. The pacing does start a little slow before picking up later in the book.
My biggest issue was the ending section, which became a bit overly dramatic and exposition-heavy for me. Some of the emotional reveals and long explanations during dangerous moments stretched believability a little too far.
What I Loved
• The cozy countryside atmosphere 🌿
• Daphne as a smart and engaging main character
• The village dynamics and quirky side characters
• A very classic cozy mystery feel
What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
• The culprit felt fairly obvious early on
• The final reveals became overly exposition-heavy
• Some dramatic scenes lost realism for me
Overall, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a charming, cozy mystery with strong atmosphere and an engaging village setting. It feels like curling up with a modern countryside whodunnit on a rainy afternoon, even if the ending did not fully stick the landing for me. ☕📚🔍
by Paula Sutton
Thank you to Kensington for the gifted copy 💛
⭐ 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
This was such a cozy little English countryside mystery, full of winding village lanes, eccentric townspeople, antiques, secrets, and of course murder. Even though I have not read the first book in the series, I still found it easy to settle into the world of Pudding Corner and its cast of characters.
Daphne Brewster makes for a really likable amateur sleuth. I enjoyed following her through village gossip, suspicious deaths, robberies, and increasingly tangled secrets. The atmosphere was honestly my favorite part. Paula Sutton clearly loves this setting, and the descriptions of the Norfolk countryside, old homes, gardens, and village life gave the whole story a warm, comforting feel even while terrible things were happening.
The mystery itself was entertaining, though I did guess parts of it fairly early on. Normally that would bother me more, but I still enjoyed the journey and spending time with the characters. The pacing does start a little slow before picking up later in the book.
My biggest issue was the ending section, which became a bit overly dramatic and exposition-heavy for me. Some of the emotional reveals and long explanations during dangerous moments stretched believability a little too far.
What I Loved
• The cozy countryside atmosphere 🌿
• Daphne as a smart and engaging main character
• The village dynamics and quirky side characters
• A very classic cozy mystery feel
What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
• The culprit felt fairly obvious early on
• The final reveals became overly exposition-heavy
• Some dramatic scenes lost realism for me
Overall, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a charming, cozy mystery with strong atmosphere and an engaging village setting. It feels like curling up with a modern countryside whodunnit on a rainy afternoon, even if the ending did not fully stick the landing for me. ☕📚🔍
June 26, 2026
This was an enjoyable cozy mystery set in a charming small-town community, following Daphne as she investigates the mysteries surrounding the village and its residents. Although part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, as Sutton provides enough background on both the town's history and its inhabitants to help new readers settle into the story without feeling lost.
I particularly enjoyed the rich details woven throughout the book, which brought Pudding Corner and Darlington Hall vividly to life. The descriptions of the estate, the village, and the everyday routines of its residents created an immersive atmosphere that is essential to a successful cozy mystery.
As much as I enjoyed the sleuthing surrounding the bodies, the burglaries, and the secrets hidden among the townspeople, one of the most interesting aspects was the inclusion of two additional points of view. Without revealing spoilers, these perspectives added another layer to the mystery and helped build tension and twists as the story progressed.
Some readers may piece together parts of the mystery before the final reveal, as Sutton includes subtle foreshadowing throughout the story. Through carefully placed hints, moments of unease, and attention drawn to seemingly insignificant details, the story gradually guides readers toward potential suspects and connections. While these are familiar mystery-writing techniques, they fit the genre well and made it fun to speculate about the twists and uncover how the various mysteries and character stories intertwined.
There were also a few moments where Daphne's amateur sleuthing and investigative decisions felt somewhat convenient for the story, serving primarily to move the plot forward. This is a common trope within cozy mysteries, and while it occasionally felt overused, it rarely detracted significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story. Overall, this is a charming and engaging cozy mystery filled with village intrigue, memorable characters, and enough twists to keep readers invested until the final reveal.
I particularly enjoyed the rich details woven throughout the book, which brought Pudding Corner and Darlington Hall vividly to life. The descriptions of the estate, the village, and the everyday routines of its residents created an immersive atmosphere that is essential to a successful cozy mystery.
As much as I enjoyed the sleuthing surrounding the bodies, the burglaries, and the secrets hidden among the townspeople, one of the most interesting aspects was the inclusion of two additional points of view. Without revealing spoilers, these perspectives added another layer to the mystery and helped build tension and twists as the story progressed.
Some readers may piece together parts of the mystery before the final reveal, as Sutton includes subtle foreshadowing throughout the story. Through carefully placed hints, moments of unease, and attention drawn to seemingly insignificant details, the story gradually guides readers toward potential suspects and connections. While these are familiar mystery-writing techniques, they fit the genre well and made it fun to speculate about the twists and uncover how the various mysteries and character stories intertwined.
There were also a few moments where Daphne's amateur sleuthing and investigative decisions felt somewhat convenient for the story, serving primarily to move the plot forward. This is a common trope within cozy mysteries, and while it occasionally felt overused, it rarely detracted significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story. Overall, this is a charming and engaging cozy mystery filled with village intrigue, memorable characters, and enough twists to keep readers invested until the final reveal.
June 2, 2026
***There is a very big spoiler in the prologue of this book that gives away the mystery in the first book. If you did not read the first book, go back and read it first or skip the prologue.
The first book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series hit the ground running with a big move away from the city to the countryside, followed by a murder, but this book was not as entertaining as the first. In this installment, we see Daphne settled into an idyllic life living in the country with frequent run-ins with her quirky neighbors (memories from her past with her previous neighbor/case), and of course a dash of murder.
Daphne Brewster owns a shop repurposing furniture. As a vintage furniture and architecture aficionado, she is drawn to places of great history, fine architecture, and antique furniture. She is a lifestyle influencer. In this installment, Daphne is assisting with sprucing up Darlington Hall when she stumbles upon a body, but no one can determine who the person is. Daphne uses her amateur sleuthing skills to track down the killer and solve the mystery.
I love cozy mysteries, but if you compare this book to the first book, there is a great tonal shift where it seems like the author is grappling with settling into the cozy mystery genre or developing the character further into a less than amateur sleuth like Miss Marple. Some may find the imagery of the countryside excessive, but for someone looking for an escape from suburbia or urban life, these scenes are enchanting. The lifestyle blogging and furniture repurposing as a day job is what makes Daphne Brewster seem like an amateur, especially when she juggles parenting her three kids with her sleuthing. As a whole, this was a nice cozy mystery.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.
The first book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series hit the ground running with a big move away from the city to the countryside, followed by a murder, but this book was not as entertaining as the first. In this installment, we see Daphne settled into an idyllic life living in the country with frequent run-ins with her quirky neighbors (memories from her past with her previous neighbor/case), and of course a dash of murder.
Daphne Brewster owns a shop repurposing furniture. As a vintage furniture and architecture aficionado, she is drawn to places of great history, fine architecture, and antique furniture. She is a lifestyle influencer. In this installment, Daphne is assisting with sprucing up Darlington Hall when she stumbles upon a body, but no one can determine who the person is. Daphne uses her amateur sleuthing skills to track down the killer and solve the mystery.
I love cozy mysteries, but if you compare this book to the first book, there is a great tonal shift where it seems like the author is grappling with settling into the cozy mystery genre or developing the character further into a less than amateur sleuth like Miss Marple. Some may find the imagery of the countryside excessive, but for someone looking for an escape from suburbia or urban life, these scenes are enchanting. The lifestyle blogging and furniture repurposing as a day job is what makes Daphne Brewster seem like an amateur, especially when she juggles parenting her three kids with her sleuthing. As a whole, this was a nice cozy mystery.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.
May 26, 2026
There’s something undeniably comforting about a classic English village mystery, especially amid baseball practices, laundry piles, and the eternal mystery of who left an empty milk carton in the fridge - again. The Body in the Kitchen Garden by Paula Sutton delivered exactly the kind of cozy, lightly dramatic listening experience that pairs perfectly with my everyday life filled with kids, chores and errands.
This second installment in the Hill House Vintage Murder series included all the familiar cozy mystery staples: a picturesque village, tangled secrets, eccentric characters, suspicious deaths, and of course social maneuvering. The atmosphere is charming, and although the pacing occasionally drifts, the story finds a satisfying rhythm with enough late twists to remain engaging.
The opening felt somewhat crowded with characters and perspectives, and parts of the mystery seemed a bit easier to solve than perhaps intended. Daphne is likable and compassionate, though she often relied more on instinct than investigation. Still, Sutton’s writing remained engaging even when the plot felt a bit uneven.
What truly elevated the experience to me was the narration. The narrator brought warmth, personality, and distinct voices that enhanced both the atmosphere and characters, making the audiobook format especially enjoyable for me.
Overall, I’d rate this around 3.5 stars. While it may not become a favorite cozy mystery series for me, it was still an entertaining, easy listen with enough charm to keep me interested in future installments. Fans of traditional English village mysteries and gentle amateur sleuthing will likely enjoy this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for providing me with an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
This second installment in the Hill House Vintage Murder series included all the familiar cozy mystery staples: a picturesque village, tangled secrets, eccentric characters, suspicious deaths, and of course social maneuvering. The atmosphere is charming, and although the pacing occasionally drifts, the story finds a satisfying rhythm with enough late twists to remain engaging.
The opening felt somewhat crowded with characters and perspectives, and parts of the mystery seemed a bit easier to solve than perhaps intended. Daphne is likable and compassionate, though she often relied more on instinct than investigation. Still, Sutton’s writing remained engaging even when the plot felt a bit uneven.
What truly elevated the experience to me was the narration. The narrator brought warmth, personality, and distinct voices that enhanced both the atmosphere and characters, making the audiobook format especially enjoyable for me.
Overall, I’d rate this around 3.5 stars. While it may not become a favorite cozy mystery series for me, it was still an entertaining, easy listen with enough charm to keep me interested in future installments. Fans of traditional English village mysteries and gentle amateur sleuthing will likely enjoy this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for providing me with an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 27, 2026
Looking for a summer beach/rainy day read? The Body in the Kitchen Garden has it all—fading aristocracy, resentful village folk, bourgie London transplants, mistaken identity, and murder. Daphne Brewster, a London transplant, owns a vintage shop in the delightfully named Pudding Corner. She soon finds herself tasked with helping the lady of the local manor convert part of her crumbling manse into an Airbnb (money’s tight, and needs must). But before Daphne can work her interior design magic, the cantankerous owner of the village grocery store is murdered and all hands point to a mysterious vagabond who’s been spotted on the lord’s property.
In the first half of the book, author Paula Sutton focuses on the quirks of the villagers—new and old. There are the usual cozy characters, although Daphne most definitely breaks the mold. She’s a black Londoner, from Croydon no less, married to a successful businessman with whom she shares three children. Because she has no true “place” within the ecosystem of Little Pudding, she’s the one villagers, old and new, spill their secrets to. And there are secrets and mixed up identities galore. We only become privy to these secrets and lies toward the end of the mystery, which makes the book feel a bit unbalanced. Having said that, Sutton’s ability to unmask her characters is uncanny—I’m still thinking about this part of the book days after reading it.
The Body in the Kitchen Garden is the second book in Paula Sutton’s Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series. I’m definitely going to read Daphne’s first foray into sleuthing and look forward to her next adventure. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC—and for the opportunity to review this cracker of a mystery.
In the first half of the book, author Paula Sutton focuses on the quirks of the villagers—new and old. There are the usual cozy characters, although Daphne most definitely breaks the mold. She’s a black Londoner, from Croydon no less, married to a successful businessman with whom she shares three children. Because she has no true “place” within the ecosystem of Little Pudding, she’s the one villagers, old and new, spill their secrets to. And there are secrets and mixed up identities galore. We only become privy to these secrets and lies toward the end of the mystery, which makes the book feel a bit unbalanced. Having said that, Sutton’s ability to unmask her characters is uncanny—I’m still thinking about this part of the book days after reading it.
The Body in the Kitchen Garden is the second book in Paula Sutton’s Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series. I’m definitely going to read Daphne’s first foray into sleuthing and look forward to her next adventure. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC—and for the opportunity to review this cracker of a mystery.
June 13, 2026
Daphne Brewster has settled comfortably into her new home in Pudding Corner, a picturesque village that should be the very definition of peace and tranquility. A year earlier, Daphne found herself investigating a murder, and before long she will have another mystery on her hands. When she’s not tending her garden, Daphne enjoys hunting for antiques, making her a perfect fit for village life.
In this second installment of the series, Lord Hugh Darlington returns to Pudding Corner with his fiancée, determined to restore his family’s long-neglected ancestral home. Having been away for many years, Hugh discovers that the once-grand estate has fallen into significant disrepair. When Daphne learns of the restoration project, she eagerly offers her help. However, her enthusiasm quickly gives way to concern when she discovers a dead body on the property. Once again, Daphne must put on her amateur sleuth hat and uncover the truth behind a shocking murder.
Paula Sutton delivers another charming cozy mystery filled with village intrigue, colorful characters, and plenty of secrets lurking beneath the surface. Daphne continues to be a delightful protagonist—intelligent, resourceful, and impossible not to root for. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with enough twists and suspects to keep readers guessing until the end. Fans of traditional British cozy mysteries will find much to enjoy in this delightful return to Pudding Corner.
Many thanks to Kensington/RB Media and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
In this second installment of the series, Lord Hugh Darlington returns to Pudding Corner with his fiancée, determined to restore his family’s long-neglected ancestral home. Having been away for many years, Hugh discovers that the once-grand estate has fallen into significant disrepair. When Daphne learns of the restoration project, she eagerly offers her help. However, her enthusiasm quickly gives way to concern when she discovers a dead body on the property. Once again, Daphne must put on her amateur sleuth hat and uncover the truth behind a shocking murder.
Paula Sutton delivers another charming cozy mystery filled with village intrigue, colorful characters, and plenty of secrets lurking beneath the surface. Daphne continues to be a delightful protagonist—intelligent, resourceful, and impossible not to root for. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with enough twists and suspects to keep readers guessing until the end. Fans of traditional British cozy mysteries will find much to enjoy in this delightful return to Pudding Corner.
Many thanks to Kensington/RB Media and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 26, 2026
Received an audiobook arc from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed book 1 a lot so I was excited for book 2. The format was the same. It was in third person omniscient point of view with a female narrator. However, I feel like the third person pov kinda ruin the book for me especially when we go into the back story of the characters.
While I enjoyed the mystery, it fell flat since Daphne was barely being an amateur sleuth and solving the case. It felt like we the audience was told the information instead of her figuring it out. There were long expositions of the other characters so we found out how they were connected and what they did. That's why I felt the third person pov fail the book bc I feel like Daphne didn't do much. Like anyone else can be an amateur sleuth and figure it out.
I also like book 1 more bc she was more involved compared to this case and we barely saw Minerva in this book yet they are supposed to be best friends. Also where is her husband?! It was more detached even though she is in the same town.
Overall, the narrator did a good job telling the story but I felt I needed more insight on Daphne's thoughts and what she is thinking. She didn't change her voice much compared to book 1. Even though it was in third person pov, we focus on different characters but they all sound the same. I honestly wish there was gardening aspect in the murder.
I enjoyed book 1 a lot so I was excited for book 2. The format was the same. It was in third person omniscient point of view with a female narrator. However, I feel like the third person pov kinda ruin the book for me especially when we go into the back story of the characters.
While I enjoyed the mystery, it fell flat since Daphne was barely being an amateur sleuth and solving the case. It felt like we the audience was told the information instead of her figuring it out. There were long expositions of the other characters so we found out how they were connected and what they did. That's why I felt the third person pov fail the book bc I feel like Daphne didn't do much. Like anyone else can be an amateur sleuth and figure it out.
I also like book 1 more bc she was more involved compared to this case and we barely saw Minerva in this book yet they are supposed to be best friends. Also where is her husband?! It was more detached even though she is in the same town.
Overall, the narrator did a good job telling the story but I felt I needed more insight on Daphne's thoughts and what she is thinking. She didn't change her voice much compared to book 1. Even though it was in third person pov, we focus on different characters but they all sound the same. I honestly wish there was gardening aspect in the murder.
May 30, 2026
The Body in the Kitchen Garden was such a fun and addictive mystery! One thing I would strongly recommend is reading the first book in the series before picking this one up. While this story can stand on its own, having that backstory made all the difference for me and is what pushed this into 5-star territory. Being familiar with the characters and their relationships made me much more invested from the very beginning.
My favorite aspect of this book was the way Paula Sutton gives multiple characters their own viewpoints and backstories. So many mysteries focus on only one or two perspectives, but here every character felt fully developed and important to the story. It added so much depth and made it easier to become immersed in the world of Hill House Vintage.
I had a pretty good sense of what was happening throughout the mystery, which I actually loved. For me, it's more enjoyable when I can piece together clues and form theories along the way rather than being completely in the dark until the final reveal. Even though I suspected parts of the truth, I was still wrong about the actual killer, which made the ending both satisfying and surprising.
This book completely hooked me from start to finish. It's charming, clever, and incredibly easy to get lost in. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, don't let this one pass you by. I can't wait to see what Paula Sutton has in store for this series next! 📚🌿🔎
I recieved this as an audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job!
My favorite aspect of this book was the way Paula Sutton gives multiple characters their own viewpoints and backstories. So many mysteries focus on only one or two perspectives, but here every character felt fully developed and important to the story. It added so much depth and made it easier to become immersed in the world of Hill House Vintage.
I had a pretty good sense of what was happening throughout the mystery, which I actually loved. For me, it's more enjoyable when I can piece together clues and form theories along the way rather than being completely in the dark until the final reveal. Even though I suspected parts of the truth, I was still wrong about the actual killer, which made the ending both satisfying and surprising.
This book completely hooked me from start to finish. It's charming, clever, and incredibly easy to get lost in. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, don't let this one pass you by. I can't wait to see what Paula Sutton has in store for this series next! 📚🌿🔎
I recieved this as an audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job!
June 16, 2026
Book 2 of Hill House Vintage Murder Mysteries
Daphne is hired to help the fiancé of the mysterious Lord Darlington redecorate and convert a group of rooms in Darlington Hall to bed and breakfast suites. Lord Darlington has just returned from twenty years abroad and his fiancé, a long time resident of Pudding Corner, is finding her bearings in her new life as the lady of the house. Mixed in with this are two unsettling deaths in the village, as well as a string of thefts and a group of youths in town who may or may not be up to mischief.
Paula Sutton gives us a small village cozy mystery that’s enjoyable and entertaining. This was Book 2 in the series, which I didn’t realize when I chose to read it, but I didn’t feel that I was missing a lot and it does well as a stand-alone story. The characters are relatable and the mystery keeps you guessing as to how everything fits together, right up until the big reveal at the end.
I listened to this one on audiobook. The narrator was okay, but some unusual pronunciations made the story a bit hard to follow at times. I am rating this a 3 out of five for the audiobook. Perhaps the written version may have resonated more strongly with me. I plan to go back and read Book 1, probably in written book instead of audio.
3/5 Lucrezia Finegan 06.2026
Daphne is hired to help the fiancé of the mysterious Lord Darlington redecorate and convert a group of rooms in Darlington Hall to bed and breakfast suites. Lord Darlington has just returned from twenty years abroad and his fiancé, a long time resident of Pudding Corner, is finding her bearings in her new life as the lady of the house. Mixed in with this are two unsettling deaths in the village, as well as a string of thefts and a group of youths in town who may or may not be up to mischief.
Paula Sutton gives us a small village cozy mystery that’s enjoyable and entertaining. This was Book 2 in the series, which I didn’t realize when I chose to read it, but I didn’t feel that I was missing a lot and it does well as a stand-alone story. The characters are relatable and the mystery keeps you guessing as to how everything fits together, right up until the big reveal at the end.
I listened to this one on audiobook. The narrator was okay, but some unusual pronunciations made the story a bit hard to follow at times. I am rating this a 3 out of five for the audiobook. Perhaps the written version may have resonated more strongly with me. I plan to go back and read Book 1, probably in written book instead of audio.
3/5 Lucrezia Finegan 06.2026
June 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this one. A cosy English village mystery, a stately home, a sprawling kitchen garden and on paper it's everything I should have enjoyed, But honestly, this one just didn't land for me.
My biggest issue was the characters. I never connected with any of them, not even Daphne. I kept waiting to feel something for someone and it just never happened. When you don't care about the people in a mystery, it's hard to care about who killed who or why. I found myself pushing through to the end more out of stubbornness than genuine investment.
The other thing that let me down was the mystery itself. By the 50% mark I was pretty confident I knew who the murderer was, and I was right. For a cosy crime that leans into its twists and turns, that was deflating.
The setting is lovely and you can tell Paula Sutton knows her world well, the Norfolk village atmosphere comes through clearly. If you're a big cosy mystery reader who loves the genre for its charm and pace over its puzzle, you might enjoy this more than I did.
This i was the second book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series. I haven't read the first, so it's possible some of my detachment from the characters comes from missing that story.
Not for me, but I can see why others would enjoy it.
I really wanted to love this one. A cosy English village mystery, a stately home, a sprawling kitchen garden and on paper it's everything I should have enjoyed, But honestly, this one just didn't land for me.
My biggest issue was the characters. I never connected with any of them, not even Daphne. I kept waiting to feel something for someone and it just never happened. When you don't care about the people in a mystery, it's hard to care about who killed who or why. I found myself pushing through to the end more out of stubbornness than genuine investment.
The other thing that let me down was the mystery itself. By the 50% mark I was pretty confident I knew who the murderer was, and I was right. For a cosy crime that leans into its twists and turns, that was deflating.
The setting is lovely and you can tell Paula Sutton knows her world well, the Norfolk village atmosphere comes through clearly. If you're a big cosy mystery reader who loves the genre for its charm and pace over its puzzle, you might enjoy this more than I did.
This i was the second book in the Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery series. I haven't read the first, so it's possible some of my detachment from the characters comes from missing that story.
Not for me, but I can see why others would enjoy it.
July 2, 2026
This had great potential for a cozy mystery - just the name, Pudding Corner, denotes a sleepy village where “time moves a little slower”. There is a whole lot going on in what purports to be a bucolic community. What turns out to be a murder mystery is told with some humor and a nod to class and status, because as I said, it is Pudding Corner, where “everything has its place - and everyone must be kept in theirs….”
The story, like a gaggle of ducks, sort of dodders along as we meet all of the inhabitants and participants in the story. There is a history of a Lord of the Manor, in the background somewhere, because doesn’t there always have to be one of those in a very British cozy?! Add in a likable protagonist who has to have her difference highlighted, an upstart who is reaching high, a few who think they are better, more well connected, more invested, and there has to be a copper who wanting all the credit, never gets it right, but never accepts help. Welcome to Pudding Corner.
While others may appreciate a listing and description of the characters and places visited, it felt like unnecessary research to me. I came, I saw, I would revisit maybe. Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
The story, like a gaggle of ducks, sort of dodders along as we meet all of the inhabitants and participants in the story. There is a history of a Lord of the Manor, in the background somewhere, because doesn’t there always have to be one of those in a very British cozy?! Add in a likable protagonist who has to have her difference highlighted, an upstart who is reaching high, a few who think they are better, more well connected, more invested, and there has to be a copper who wanting all the credit, never gets it right, but never accepts help. Welcome to Pudding Corner.
While others may appreciate a listing and description of the characters and places visited, it felt like unnecessary research to me. I came, I saw, I would revisit maybe. Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 22, 2025
A cosy murder mystery set in the English countryside.
The characters are for the most part entertaining, although personally the main characters husband annoyed me. He didn't seem engaged with his wife or their life. The sisters in the shop were fun, and while I would hate to know the sort of busy body know-it-alls that are dotted around the village, to read about them was a lot more fun.
It's not the most complicated of plots - the threads are all there and for the most part obvious to the reader, who is of course looking for these. I was able to work it out long before the characters did, and pick up on plot points. It isn't taxing, but it was an enjoyable, light read, that you probably won't remember in a few months.
A good chunk of this book is dedicated to exploring the motivation behind the crimes. We revisit the past, long before the murders, as well as the murders themselves. Usually, these books have the killer unmasked in the last few pages, but I enjoyed this longer, more leisurely look at the why and the how, really getting into their heads.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
The characters are for the most part entertaining, although personally the main characters husband annoyed me. He didn't seem engaged with his wife or their life. The sisters in the shop were fun, and while I would hate to know the sort of busy body know-it-alls that are dotted around the village, to read about them was a lot more fun.
It's not the most complicated of plots - the threads are all there and for the most part obvious to the reader, who is of course looking for these. I was able to work it out long before the characters did, and pick up on plot points. It isn't taxing, but it was an enjoyable, light read, that you probably won't remember in a few months.
A good chunk of this book is dedicated to exploring the motivation behind the crimes. We revisit the past, long before the murders, as well as the murders themselves. Usually, these books have the killer unmasked in the last few pages, but I enjoyed this longer, more leisurely look at the why and the how, really getting into their heads.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
June 25, 2025
This was a cozy murder mystery in a small town, where small thefts and burglaries are happening, finding dead body in the garden and accidental death that might not be that accidental. I didn’t know it’s a second book in a series but right from the start we have the prologue where we get enough information for the first book so it’s not confusing.
The writing is what you’d expect from a cozy mystery, it was slow paced and very descriptive. I liked Daphne, our MC, the book is mainly from her pov and her voice if I can call it so, is basically this patient soft voice retelling you a story and you just want to curl up on the coach with hot chocolate and listen to it.
It was too predictable for me, and the last 20% kind of lost me even more. I don’t mind the backstories of the characters but for some reason this one didn’t impress me. But it might impress you. I’d say it’s perfect if you want to read something and without spending too much time figure out what’s going on and just enjoy the vibes and the coziness.
Thank you NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the ARC! I appreciate it!
The writing is what you’d expect from a cozy mystery, it was slow paced and very descriptive. I liked Daphne, our MC, the book is mainly from her pov and her voice if I can call it so, is basically this patient soft voice retelling you a story and you just want to curl up on the coach with hot chocolate and listen to it.
It was too predictable for me, and the last 20% kind of lost me even more. I don’t mind the backstories of the characters but for some reason this one didn’t impress me. But it might impress you. I’d say it’s perfect if you want to read something and without spending too much time figure out what’s going on and just enjoy the vibes and the coziness.
Thank you NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the ARC! I appreciate it!
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