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Malvern Farm Mystery #3
A Body by the Henhouse: The instalment in the gripping Malvern Mystery series from Kate Wells
The time for celebrations is over…
Jude Gray’s farm is going from strength to strength, and even though her grumpy neighbour has concerns about the new campsite in the lower field, she is undeterred.
When a hen party arrives for a weekend away, she does her best to cater for their celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgent care – an accidental mishap or something more nefarious? – she finds herself consulting the group, which coincidentally contains four vets.
When one of the hens goes missing, it becomes clear there are more sinister forces at play, and someone is targeting her farm. With the help of close friend Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri, Jude once again dons her amateur sleuthing hat.
They uncover a web of deceit, affairs and rivalries, but will they find the perpetrator before events turn murderous?
A brand-new instalment in the thrilling Malvern Farm Mystery series, perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Merryn Allingham and Faith Martin
Praise for Kate 'A complex and intriguing murder mystery set in beautiful British countryside where the farm animals are as demanding as the local residents. Kept me guessing all the way to the end.' T A Williams
'An original setting and clever plot. Had me hooked from page one.' E.V. Hunter
'A tantalising corkscrew of a plot ... featuring a plucky quartet of very different women working together to uncover the truth about a series of dreadful crimes...' Debbie Young
'I loved this rollercoaster of a book! It was stylish, pacy and gripping, with engaging characters. I rooted for Jude the sleuth from the first page. It's a hugely supenseful story, compelling, well-crafted and cleverly calculated.' Judy Leigh
'A cryptically clever cosy mystery that will transport you to the beautiful Malvern Hills. I couldn’t put it down!' Jessica Bull
'A fabulous cosy murder mystery with plenty of likeable (or are they?) characters, baby lambs, drinks at the local & beautiful countryside. Plus plenty of twists & turns to keep you guessing. Highly recommended!' Cate Green
'A hugely enjoyable and clever murder mystery.' C L Miller
'...like a lovely visit to the countryside, a tense murder mystery, and a visit with people I’d want to be friends with all rolled into one.’ Kristen Perrin
Jude Gray’s farm is going from strength to strength, and even though her grumpy neighbour has concerns about the new campsite in the lower field, she is undeterred.
When a hen party arrives for a weekend away, she does her best to cater for their celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgent care – an accidental mishap or something more nefarious? – she finds herself consulting the group, which coincidentally contains four vets.
When one of the hens goes missing, it becomes clear there are more sinister forces at play, and someone is targeting her farm. With the help of close friend Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri, Jude once again dons her amateur sleuthing hat.
They uncover a web of deceit, affairs and rivalries, but will they find the perpetrator before events turn murderous?
A brand-new instalment in the thrilling Malvern Farm Mystery series, perfect for fans of Frances Evesham, Merryn Allingham and Faith Martin
Praise for Kate 'A complex and intriguing murder mystery set in beautiful British countryside where the farm animals are as demanding as the local residents. Kept me guessing all the way to the end.' T A Williams
'An original setting and clever plot. Had me hooked from page one.' E.V. Hunter
'A tantalising corkscrew of a plot ... featuring a plucky quartet of very different women working together to uncover the truth about a series of dreadful crimes...' Debbie Young
'I loved this rollercoaster of a book! It was stylish, pacy and gripping, with engaging characters. I rooted for Jude the sleuth from the first page. It's a hugely supenseful story, compelling, well-crafted and cleverly calculated.' Judy Leigh
'A cryptically clever cosy mystery that will transport you to the beautiful Malvern Hills. I couldn’t put it down!' Jessica Bull
'A fabulous cosy murder mystery with plenty of likeable (or are they?) characters, baby lambs, drinks at the local & beautiful countryside. Plus plenty of twists & turns to keep you guessing. Highly recommended!' Cate Green
'A hugely enjoyable and clever murder mystery.' C L Miller
'...like a lovely visit to the countryside, a tense murder mystery, and a visit with people I’d want to be friends with all rolled into one.’ Kristen Perrin
Audio CD
Published June 19, 2024
165 people are currently reading
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About the author
Kate Wells
45 books38 followersLibrary of Congress Authorities: Wells, Kate, 1959-
Senior technical instructor of dyeing and printing, Royal Coll. of Art, London
Senior technical instructor of dyeing and printing, Royal Coll. of Art, London
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 15, 2024
4 stars
One Liner: Well done!
Jude Gray’s farm is getting better with good bookings for the camping site even as her neighbor is not happy. She is finally relieved that the troubles of the past are behind her.
However, the hen party that arrived for the weekend seems to bring danger to Jude’s farm again. The group of friends has internal conflicts which spill over resulting in a disappearance and death.
Can Jude and DI Bennie solve the case before it is too late?
The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Book three of the Malvern Farm Mystery is possibly the best until now. The pacing is steady. There are enough twists to keep the reader guessing about the culprit and the reason.
The ‘murder’ doesn’t happen for a long time. However, one of the characters disappears. This adds to the drama as we see the undercurrents between the women almost from the introduction.
However, the book is not limited to a mystery. It also deals with the difficulties of farm life, be it the rising expenses or crop damage due to various factors. The work is never-ending on a farm.
Lucy and Sebbie are, of course, a part of the book. Little Sebbie is four (already!) and adds the much-needed humor to the mystery. We get a few insights into Jude’s thoughts and uncertainties about the future.
There are five women in the hen party, which can be confusing but doesn’t. Each of them has a distinct personality. They are flawed, some more than others. That means it is easy to take sides (and want certain characters to be bumped off).
DI Binnie has a lot of work to do in this book, which I really like. Though it is Jude who connects the dots, Binnie has an active role and provides some vital information. I love how assertive and steady she is.
Jude’s arc is much better in this one though she still jumps to conclusions at times. However, that makes her real instead of perfect, so no complaints. Seems she did learn her lesson after what happened in book two.
The other side characters like Granny Margot have small but important roles in the plot.
To summarize, A Body by the Henhouse is an enjoyable mystery with enough twists to keep you hooked. The ending offers two surprises, so I’m excited to see where it goes next.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ABodyAtTheHenhouse
***
P.S:
One Liner: Well done!
Jude Gray’s farm is getting better with good bookings for the camping site even as her neighbor is not happy. She is finally relieved that the troubles of the past are behind her.
However, the hen party that arrived for the weekend seems to bring danger to Jude’s farm again. The group of friends has internal conflicts which spill over resulting in a disappearance and death.
Can Jude and DI Bennie solve the case before it is too late?
The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Book three of the Malvern Farm Mystery is possibly the best until now. The pacing is steady. There are enough twists to keep the reader guessing about the culprit and the reason.
The ‘murder’ doesn’t happen for a long time. However, one of the characters disappears. This adds to the drama as we see the undercurrents between the women almost from the introduction.
However, the book is not limited to a mystery. It also deals with the difficulties of farm life, be it the rising expenses or crop damage due to various factors. The work is never-ending on a farm.
Lucy and Sebbie are, of course, a part of the book. Little Sebbie is four (already!) and adds the much-needed humor to the mystery. We get a few insights into Jude’s thoughts and uncertainties about the future.
There are five women in the hen party, which can be confusing but doesn’t. Each of them has a distinct personality. They are flawed, some more than others. That means it is easy to take sides (and want certain characters to be bumped off).
DI Binnie has a lot of work to do in this book, which I really like. Though it is Jude who connects the dots, Binnie has an active role and provides some vital information. I love how assertive and steady she is.
Jude’s arc is much better in this one though she still jumps to conclusions at times. However, that makes her real instead of perfect, so no complaints. Seems she did learn her lesson after what happened in book two.
The other side characters like Granny Margot have small but important roles in the plot.
To summarize, A Body by the Henhouse is an enjoyable mystery with enough twists to keep you hooked. The ending offers two surprises, so I’m excited to see where it goes next.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ABodyAtTheHenhouse
***
P.S:
June 18, 2024
Carrying on with the delightful Malvern Farm mystery series, this third installment was as enjoyable as the first two!
Our protagonist, Jude Gray, is a young, childless widow who now runs her large sheep farm with the help of Noah, her shepherd, and her loyal dog, Pip – with memories of her late husband never far from her mind. When she met her husband Adam, he introduced her to his life-long friends and they accepted her into their warm fold. Now, it has been four years since Adam’s death and she shares her home with her half-sister Lucy, and Lucy’s four year old son, Sebbie.
Jude cares for hundreds of sheep, her Bantam hens, her pet lamb ‘Pancake’, and Gertie, a golden Cheviot goat. In the last book two puppies were added to the menagerie, much to Sebbie’s delight. Now Jude is is the process of training the puppy Alfie to become a good sheepdog.
This time around Jude’s menagerie of animals is again expanded with more sheep and nine Indian Runner ducks. Jude is a loyal, empathetic and caring protagonist, whose personal motto is ‘be kind’. She has a strong work ethic and loves her farm, and the animals that inhabit it. She has a deep connection to the Malvern Hills area and walks the hills as a way to unwind and decompress.
Like most farms, Jude’s sheep farm is struggling financially. In the last book she created a glamping site and now, in this book, she is finally taking in paying guests. The women who rent out the site are having a ‘hen’ weekend and comprises a bridal party. Many tensions are evident and things don’t run as smoothly as Jude would like. When one of the women goes missing, Jude, with her good friend Binnie, try their level best to find her. But that is not the only disruption to Jude’s routine.
Jude’s neighbour, Mike Trout, is trying his hardest to dissuade the guests from staying. He attempts some nefarious tactics in his aim to thwart Jude’s glamping enterprise.
Jude’s livelihood is disrupted and threatened by the events surrounding the ‘hens’ drama. Nasty people, keeping nasty secrets, doing nasty deeds… even murder.
West Mercia policewoman Binita Khatri (Binnie), makes another appearance in this, the third novel. She has become a personal friend of Jude, and keeps her apprised of the police investigations. She has recently been promoted to Detective Inspector.
This novel portrayed a working sheep farm, in all its messy, arduous glory. Jude was a strong and admirable character that I am eager to follow in subsequent novels.
The writing was compelling and made for an easy, enjoyable reading experience. The plot this time was a tangled web of manipulation, coercion, avarice, and misplaced loyalties. The denouement was very satisfactory. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this engaging mystery series. A series which has become a personal favourite after only three books.
Our protagonist, Jude Gray, is a young, childless widow who now runs her large sheep farm with the help of Noah, her shepherd, and her loyal dog, Pip – with memories of her late husband never far from her mind. When she met her husband Adam, he introduced her to his life-long friends and they accepted her into their warm fold. Now, it has been four years since Adam’s death and she shares her home with her half-sister Lucy, and Lucy’s four year old son, Sebbie.
Jude cares for hundreds of sheep, her Bantam hens, her pet lamb ‘Pancake’, and Gertie, a golden Cheviot goat. In the last book two puppies were added to the menagerie, much to Sebbie’s delight. Now Jude is is the process of training the puppy Alfie to become a good sheepdog.
This time around Jude’s menagerie of animals is again expanded with more sheep and nine Indian Runner ducks. Jude is a loyal, empathetic and caring protagonist, whose personal motto is ‘be kind’. She has a strong work ethic and loves her farm, and the animals that inhabit it. She has a deep connection to the Malvern Hills area and walks the hills as a way to unwind and decompress.
Like most farms, Jude’s sheep farm is struggling financially. In the last book she created a glamping site and now, in this book, she is finally taking in paying guests. The women who rent out the site are having a ‘hen’ weekend and comprises a bridal party. Many tensions are evident and things don’t run as smoothly as Jude would like. When one of the women goes missing, Jude, with her good friend Binnie, try their level best to find her. But that is not the only disruption to Jude’s routine.
Jude’s neighbour, Mike Trout, is trying his hardest to dissuade the guests from staying. He attempts some nefarious tactics in his aim to thwart Jude’s glamping enterprise.
Jude’s livelihood is disrupted and threatened by the events surrounding the ‘hens’ drama. Nasty people, keeping nasty secrets, doing nasty deeds… even murder.
West Mercia policewoman Binita Khatri (Binnie), makes another appearance in this, the third novel. She has become a personal friend of Jude, and keeps her apprised of the police investigations. She has recently been promoted to Detective Inspector.
This novel portrayed a working sheep farm, in all its messy, arduous glory. Jude was a strong and admirable character that I am eager to follow in subsequent novels.
The writing was compelling and made for an easy, enjoyable reading experience. The plot this time was a tangled web of manipulation, coercion, avarice, and misplaced loyalties. The denouement was very satisfactory. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this engaging mystery series. A series which has become a personal favourite after only three books.
June 12, 2024
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
This is a Malvern Farm mystery, the third book in the series. I was interested in reading it because I remembered enjoying the previous book in the series.
I think that Jude is a likeable and relatable protagonist, so I was pleased to read about her again. There were some other characters that struck me as instantly unlikeable, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the story itself.
I felt there was a lovely peaceful atmosphere, brought to life by charming imagery of the countryside setting, and I always enjoy murder mysteries in this type of setting.
This was an entertaining cosy mystery that kept me guessing. It was light enough to read in one sitting, and the type of book that I might choose to relax with. I would probably like to read more of this series in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This is a Malvern Farm mystery, the third book in the series. I was interested in reading it because I remembered enjoying the previous book in the series.
I think that Jude is a likeable and relatable protagonist, so I was pleased to read about her again. There were some other characters that struck me as instantly unlikeable, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the story itself.
I felt there was a lovely peaceful atmosphere, brought to life by charming imagery of the countryside setting, and I always enjoy murder mysteries in this type of setting.
This was an entertaining cosy mystery that kept me guessing. It was light enough to read in one sitting, and the type of book that I might choose to relax with. I would probably like to read more of this series in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
June 9, 2024
Jude Gray’s farm is going from strength to strength, and even though her grumpy neighbour has concerns about the new campsite in the lower field, she is undeterred. When a hen party arrives for a weekend away, she does her best to cater for their celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgent care – an accidental mishap or something more nefarious? – she finds herself consulting the group, which coincidentally contains four vets. When one of the hens goes missing, it becomes clear there are more sinister forces at play, and someone is targeting her farm. With the help of close friend Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri, Jude once again dons her amateur sleuthing hat.
The third outing for Jude & like her farm the series is going from strength to strength. Strong characters & a well paced story had me finishing this cosy mystery in two sittings. I really like Jude who annoys others especially Binnie because she puts herself in danger repeatedlyThe obligatory twists, turns & red herrings plus secrets all added to make this a very enjoyable murder mystery
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The third outing for Jude & like her farm the series is going from strength to strength. Strong characters & a well paced story had me finishing this cosy mystery in two sittings. I really like Jude who annoys others especially Binnie because she puts herself in danger repeatedlyThe obligatory twists, turns & red herrings plus secrets all added to make this a very enjoyable murder mystery
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
June 16, 2024
A Body by the Henhouse is the third book in the A Malvern Farm Mystery series. I've read book 1, and I really enjoyed it.
We return to Malvern Farm with summer on the horizon, and our main character, Jude, keen to make her camping site work, even while busy with the arable and pastoral aspects of her farm. But her current guests are not quite the bunch she's expecting, and with tensions running high, it's not long until Jude is trying to find out who's been tampering with her sheep and why the group of Hens are so uneasy with one another.
This is a really well-written mystery. I love a book where I don't guess 'who did it,' and this certainly falls into that category. There are lots of twists and turns in the storyline. There are many potential suspects, and the story is well woven together between Jude's daily life and her determination to find answers to the problems she's encountering with the aid of her police friend.
An enjoyable contemporary mystery, easy to read and really engaging. I look forward to more in the series, and will be reading book 2 as well:)
We return to Malvern Farm with summer on the horizon, and our main character, Jude, keen to make her camping site work, even while busy with the arable and pastoral aspects of her farm. But her current guests are not quite the bunch she's expecting, and with tensions running high, it's not long until Jude is trying to find out who's been tampering with her sheep and why the group of Hens are so uneasy with one another.
This is a really well-written mystery. I love a book where I don't guess 'who did it,' and this certainly falls into that category. There are lots of twists and turns in the storyline. There are many potential suspects, and the story is well woven together between Jude's daily life and her determination to find answers to the problems she's encountering with the aid of her police friend.
An enjoyable contemporary mystery, easy to read and really engaging. I look forward to more in the series, and will be reading book 2 as well:)
October 7, 2025
Very much enjoyed. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
June 9, 2024
This is the first of the Malvern Farm series that I have read - there have previously been two more. As a standalone it was easy to follow the story and get to know the main characters, with enough back story to piece together the previous episodes.
Jude Gray is a widow, trying to keep her farm running efficiently after the death of her husband, with the aid of some loyal friends and workers, all of whom came across as good, likeable characters. I live within a North Devon farming community and my daughter's partner is a local farmer, so I was very much interested in the farm-side of the story, which came across as an interesting sub-plot and was accurately written.
Jude, as with many farmers, is struggling to keep going so expands into running a campsite business, complete with pre-erected tents and a shepherds hut all with mod-cons. The next group of visitors are due to arrive, a hen party, celebrating the future wedding of one of their group. The women are vets, which is presumably why the location of a farm was selected for their short holiday.
Things start to go awry when an unpleasant neighbour of Jude's starts making a nuisance of himself, the farm animals seem at risk, and trouble starts brewing among the camping guests. Then, of course, there is a murder...
I liked the main farm characters very much, but found it difficult at first to remember who was who among the campers, but maybe this was because I didn't particularly like any of them. Some of the plot, I thought, was a little contrived but this is fine for a light read, cosy mystery.
Working out 'Whodidit' was kept as a surprise, with the red herrings adequately pointing to assumed suspects.
A good, entertaining read.
Jude Gray is a widow, trying to keep her farm running efficiently after the death of her husband, with the aid of some loyal friends and workers, all of whom came across as good, likeable characters. I live within a North Devon farming community and my daughter's partner is a local farmer, so I was very much interested in the farm-side of the story, which came across as an interesting sub-plot and was accurately written.
Jude, as with many farmers, is struggling to keep going so expands into running a campsite business, complete with pre-erected tents and a shepherds hut all with mod-cons. The next group of visitors are due to arrive, a hen party, celebrating the future wedding of one of their group. The women are vets, which is presumably why the location of a farm was selected for their short holiday.
Things start to go awry when an unpleasant neighbour of Jude's starts making a nuisance of himself, the farm animals seem at risk, and trouble starts brewing among the camping guests. Then, of course, there is a murder...
I liked the main farm characters very much, but found it difficult at first to remember who was who among the campers, but maybe this was because I didn't particularly like any of them. Some of the plot, I thought, was a little contrived but this is fine for a light read, cosy mystery.
Working out 'Whodidit' was kept as a surprise, with the red herrings adequately pointing to assumed suspects.
A good, entertaining read.
June 12, 2024
A Body by the Hen House is the third in the Malvern Farm series and one that I have really enjoyed reading. We are reunited with Jude and her sister Lucy and loveable little nephew Sebbie who are now living with Jude at the farm. Shepherd, Noah from the previous books also returns and his romance with Lucy is still as strong as ever. The farm is also going from strength to strength now that Jude as branched out into other ways of keeping afloat and if you have read the second into the series, the campsite is now fully operational complete with its first paying guests! Despite protests from a neighbour, she is determined this will be a success.
A group of friends, (handily they are vets!) book into the campsite for a hen do and straight away you pick up on tensions within the group. When one of the group disappears, the rest of the guests aren’t too worried to begin with but soon change their mind. When the groom turns up unexpectedly and there is a murder, it isn’t long until things turn sour and Jude’s friend DI Binita Khatri is called to investigate.
A Body by the Hen House is another welcome addition to the series that I have raced through. It is lovely to follow Jude’s progress from a young widow, unsure if she can cope with the farm life on her own to slowly becoming an assured farmer, confident in her work and future plans. Her close group of friends have helped her confidence and also make her realise that her life isn’t just about the farm, although it does take up a lot of her life!
I really enjoyed the plot in the book and the unexpected twists with the first murder – not at all what I thought was going to happen. This isn’t all about murder though and I really liked the potential romance at the end – we have only ever known Jude as a widow so I’m looking forward to how this potentially develops in the next book….!
A wonderful series that I highly recommend for cosy crime fans!
A group of friends, (handily they are vets!) book into the campsite for a hen do and straight away you pick up on tensions within the group. When one of the group disappears, the rest of the guests aren’t too worried to begin with but soon change their mind. When the groom turns up unexpectedly and there is a murder, it isn’t long until things turn sour and Jude’s friend DI Binita Khatri is called to investigate.
A Body by the Hen House is another welcome addition to the series that I have raced through. It is lovely to follow Jude’s progress from a young widow, unsure if she can cope with the farm life on her own to slowly becoming an assured farmer, confident in her work and future plans. Her close group of friends have helped her confidence and also make her realise that her life isn’t just about the farm, although it does take up a lot of her life!
I really enjoyed the plot in the book and the unexpected twists with the first murder – not at all what I thought was going to happen. This isn’t all about murder though and I really liked the potential romance at the end – we have only ever known Jude as a widow so I’m looking forward to how this potentially develops in the next book….!
A wonderful series that I highly recommend for cosy crime fans!
July 11, 2024
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
A Body by the Henhouse is the third Malvern Farm thriller(ish) mystery by Kate Wells. Released 12th June 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also also currently available on KU.
Jude is again drawn into investigating a spate of unsettling occurences and the disappearance of one of her camping guests on Malvern farm. She and DI Binnie again collaborate to get to the bottom of things. There are 5 guests in the group (a hen party), one of whom goes missing early on. It's a testament to the author's command of character that despite being a group of 5, they're delineated very very well and don't blend into one another. Each is quite distinct from the others and readers won't have any trouble keeping them straight.
The author is also quite adept at setting, and the whole is effective and engaging. The mystery itself is well engineered and culminates in a satisfying and twisty way.
It's the third book in the series and although it works well enough as a standalone, the continuing characters' interrelationships develop through the previous two books, and readers should expect some minor spoilers if read out of order.
Four and a half stars. It's not at all derivative, but fans of Faith Martin, P.F. Ford, and J.R. Ellis will likely enjoy this one. With three books extant in the series and a fourth out from the same publisher in first quarter 2025, it would be a good candidate for a binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
A Body by the Henhouse is the third Malvern Farm thriller(ish) mystery by Kate Wells. Released 12th June 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also also currently available on KU.
Jude is again drawn into investigating a spate of unsettling occurences and the disappearance of one of her camping guests on Malvern farm. She and DI Binnie again collaborate to get to the bottom of things. There are 5 guests in the group (a hen party), one of whom goes missing early on. It's a testament to the author's command of character that despite being a group of 5, they're delineated very very well and don't blend into one another. Each is quite distinct from the others and readers won't have any trouble keeping them straight.
The author is also quite adept at setting, and the whole is effective and engaging. The mystery itself is well engineered and culminates in a satisfying and twisty way.
It's the third book in the series and although it works well enough as a standalone, the continuing characters' interrelationships develop through the previous two books, and readers should expect some minor spoilers if read out of order.
Four and a half stars. It's not at all derivative, but fans of Faith Martin, P.F. Ford, and J.R. Ellis will likely enjoy this one. With three books extant in the series and a fourth out from the same publisher in first quarter 2025, it would be a good candidate for a binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 16, 2024
After two exciting but gruelling amateur investigations and a very wet start to the year on the farm, Jude Gray is hoping for a more peaceful time. The campsite is going well and she hopes to set up a petting corner, first stop being the farmers’ market for the purchase of four Kerry Hills ewes. However, nothing stays quiet for long and the following morning she discovers the new animals have been poisoned. Fortunately, four of the six ladies forming a hen party at the site are vets and one provides some much-needed emergency treatment, saving the sheep. As if that’s not bad enough, a tent has been sabotaged during the night and Jude immediately suspects her neighbour, the constantly complaining Mike Trout. After all, it was only the previous day he tried to smoke out the campers with a bonfire. Jude reports this all to her close friend, newly promoted DI Binnie Khatri, but there’s not much the police can do without evidence. Things go from bad to worse when one of the hens, the woman who has caused upset and discord amongst the group, goes for a walk and disappears. There’s certainly no shortage of people who would want something nasty to happen to her, and Jude finds herself joining forces with Binnie to get to the bottom of these rather dark and disturbing events at the farm before anyone gets seriously hurt.
There are some great characters in this lovely series, and I have a real soft spot for Granny Margot, Binnie, Noah, Sebbie and all the animals. Jude is smashing, having had to become a tough cookie and a hard worker after the death of her husband but still has a lovely caring side to her and keeps everyone together. I really have my fingers crossed that a certain artist brings her happiness to match that of her sister Lucy and shepherd Noah. Although it’s filled with an ever-increasing number of furry farm animals, there are some very dark goings-on in the quaint village of Malvern End, and the tangle of lies, deceit and underhand tactics surrounding her latest guests provides plenty of surprising twists for the reader. With a lovely ending, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
There are some great characters in this lovely series, and I have a real soft spot for Granny Margot, Binnie, Noah, Sebbie and all the animals. Jude is smashing, having had to become a tough cookie and a hard worker after the death of her husband but still has a lovely caring side to her and keeps everyone together. I really have my fingers crossed that a certain artist brings her happiness to match that of her sister Lucy and shepherd Noah. Although it’s filled with an ever-increasing number of furry farm animals, there are some very dark goings-on in the quaint village of Malvern End, and the tangle of lies, deceit and underhand tactics surrounding her latest guests provides plenty of surprising twists for the reader. With a lovely ending, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
May 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for the opportunity to read "A Body By The Henhouse" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was book 3 in the Malvern Farm Mystery series. We find Jude Gray getting ready to host a hen party at her new campsite. Neighbour Mike Trout is not happy about her new venture. Since moving next-door all he has done is complain about the smell, noise, farm vehicles and dust.
The bride is Shaznay, her little sister Tanisha, bridesmaid Khadija (who is full of attitude), Ellie, Seren and Ash. 4 of the group are vets. All of them have secrets, some of them are resorting to blackmail and threats.
The favourite characters are back Jude's sister Lucy and her son Sebbie (who turns 4 in this book), Noah the shepherd and Jude's best friend Detective Inspector Binita Khatri.
Jude keeps her friend very busy in this story. First she has 4 new sheep who are promptly poisoned by someone. Then someone releases the ropes on Khadija's tent collapsing it on her. Then Shaznay's fiancé Joe arrives - he is entitled, superior to everyone, looks down on Jude as the "female farmer". Arriving with Joe is Dex - Tanisha's boyfriend.
Jude gets into a lot of intrigue in this story. She doesn't help foster good relations with her neighbour Mike when she tries to swipe is phone to look for clues or when she breaks into his shed. Binita gets frustrated with her wanna-be amateur sleuth friend in this story because she puts herself in harms way too many times. Then she finds a body, and then another one. It seems that Malvern Farm is a magnet for murder and mayhem.
Once all the pieces fall into place, many more secrets are revealed and lives torn apart. This addition to the series will keep the reader on the edge of their seats with this wonderful new story.
This was book 3 in the Malvern Farm Mystery series. We find Jude Gray getting ready to host a hen party at her new campsite. Neighbour Mike Trout is not happy about her new venture. Since moving next-door all he has done is complain about the smell, noise, farm vehicles and dust.
The bride is Shaznay, her little sister Tanisha, bridesmaid Khadija (who is full of attitude), Ellie, Seren and Ash. 4 of the group are vets. All of them have secrets, some of them are resorting to blackmail and threats.
The favourite characters are back Jude's sister Lucy and her son Sebbie (who turns 4 in this book), Noah the shepherd and Jude's best friend Detective Inspector Binita Khatri.
Jude keeps her friend very busy in this story. First she has 4 new sheep who are promptly poisoned by someone. Then someone releases the ropes on Khadija's tent collapsing it on her. Then Shaznay's fiancé Joe arrives - he is entitled, superior to everyone, looks down on Jude as the "female farmer". Arriving with Joe is Dex - Tanisha's boyfriend.
Jude gets into a lot of intrigue in this story. She doesn't help foster good relations with her neighbour Mike when she tries to swipe is phone to look for clues or when she breaks into his shed. Binita gets frustrated with her wanna-be amateur sleuth friend in this story because she puts herself in harms way too many times. Then she finds a body, and then another one. It seems that Malvern Farm is a magnet for murder and mayhem.
Once all the pieces fall into place, many more secrets are revealed and lives torn apart. This addition to the series will keep the reader on the edge of their seats with this wonderful new story.
July 15, 2024
Jude Gray finds herself embroiled in another murder investigation with the third Malvern Farm mystery, A Body by the Henhouse.
Running a farm is not a walk in the park and Jude knows this only too well. Juggling the day-to-day demands is tough enough – especially with a grumpy neighbour to contend with! However, Jude is undeterred and with a hen party coming to the farm for a celebration, she is doing her utmost to ensure that the whole weekend goes off without a hitch. With a sheep needing urgent care and hens going missing, it’s all systems go for Jude and although she is always prepared for the unexpected, even she is shocked to her core when she realises that sinister forces are at play and that she is the target of an orchestrated campaign that could put her business and her life in jeopardy.
Jude hasn’t come this far to let some lowlife frighten her. She is determined to get to the bottom of who is doing this to her and luckily for her she has good friends in her corner willing to go the extra mile for her. Can Jude and her friends discover the identity of who is causing her harm? Or is Jude about to come face to face with a killer with murder on their mind?
Fans of Midsomer Murders and Whitstable Pearl will be gripped by Kate Wells’ A Body by the Henhouse. A layered, intelligent and nail-biting mystery full of colourful characters and twists and turns aplenty, A Body by the Henhouse is a clever, exciting and unpredictable crime novel by Kate Wells readers will find themselves devouring in one sitting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Running a farm is not a walk in the park and Jude knows this only too well. Juggling the day-to-day demands is tough enough – especially with a grumpy neighbour to contend with! However, Jude is undeterred and with a hen party coming to the farm for a celebration, she is doing her utmost to ensure that the whole weekend goes off without a hitch. With a sheep needing urgent care and hens going missing, it’s all systems go for Jude and although she is always prepared for the unexpected, even she is shocked to her core when she realises that sinister forces are at play and that she is the target of an orchestrated campaign that could put her business and her life in jeopardy.
Jude hasn’t come this far to let some lowlife frighten her. She is determined to get to the bottom of who is doing this to her and luckily for her she has good friends in her corner willing to go the extra mile for her. Can Jude and her friends discover the identity of who is causing her harm? Or is Jude about to come face to face with a killer with murder on their mind?
Fans of Midsomer Murders and Whitstable Pearl will be gripped by Kate Wells’ A Body by the Henhouse. A layered, intelligent and nail-biting mystery full of colourful characters and twists and turns aplenty, A Body by the Henhouse is a clever, exciting and unpredictable crime novel by Kate Wells readers will find themselves devouring in one sitting.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 6, 2024
This is the third book in this series but my first time reading the series and the author, Kate Wells, is new to me as well.
Jude Gray is trying to keep her late husband's family farm going with the help of her sister Lucy, 4-year-old nephew Sebbie and resident shepherd, Noah. One of the ways she has come up with to bring in extra income is to host camping getaways on the farm. This bring four female veterinarians who have been friends since vet school to the farm to have a bachelorette getaway.
There seems to be some tension and secrets between the bride and her friends. One of the women disappears, the groom and his best friend show up to help with the search. There is a murder, and her guests are there for an extended stay until the police, headed by Jude's best friend, DI Binita Khatri are able to determine how and how much the remaining friends are involved. Add in some vandalism and damage to her farm, a grumpy neighbor who may also be involved and Jude feels she needs to try and find answers.
The Author has built quite the mystery with several twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Sebbie who is adorable. My only criticism is that Jude seemed fixated that her neighbor Mike was involved to the point of possibly missing some early clues. It is a small criticism and did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I look forward to the next installment of this series.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this story.
Jude Gray is trying to keep her late husband's family farm going with the help of her sister Lucy, 4-year-old nephew Sebbie and resident shepherd, Noah. One of the ways she has come up with to bring in extra income is to host camping getaways on the farm. This bring four female veterinarians who have been friends since vet school to the farm to have a bachelorette getaway.
There seems to be some tension and secrets between the bride and her friends. One of the women disappears, the groom and his best friend show up to help with the search. There is a murder, and her guests are there for an extended stay until the police, headed by Jude's best friend, DI Binita Khatri are able to determine how and how much the remaining friends are involved. Add in some vandalism and damage to her farm, a grumpy neighbor who may also be involved and Jude feels she needs to try and find answers.
The Author has built quite the mystery with several twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Sebbie who is adorable. My only criticism is that Jude seemed fixated that her neighbor Mike was involved to the point of possibly missing some early clues. It is a small criticism and did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I look forward to the next installment of this series.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this story.
June 3, 2024
A Body by the Henhouse is a delightful and intriguing cozy mystery set on a sprawling farm in the English countryside. Jude's new campsite on her farm has become a huge success, and she is now hosting a bachelorette party for a group of close friends. However, as the hen party gets underway, strange things begin occurring, starting with Jude's recently acquired animals being poisoned. After one of the bridesmaids disappears, Jude calls her best friend, who happens to be a detective, to investigate. The odd occurrences don't stop there and soon a body is discovered. Jude doesn't know who to suspect. Could it be her grumpy, always-complaining neighbor or could it be one of the hen-do? Until Jude and Binne can solve the mysteries, Jude's campsite is closed and her farm is a crime scene.
A Body by the Henhouse has absolutely everything one would want in a cozy mystery: a fabulous set of lovable characters, a charming setting, and a super intriguing mystery with plenty of twists. I really enjoy that the police/detective character in this series isn't a love interest or someone with a bit of an attitude; rather, it is a very likable best friend. All of the characters are well-developed and an enjoy to read. I even have a soft spot for Mike Trout. I can't wait to continue this series and follow Jude and her family and friends on their next farm adventure!
A Body by the Henhouse has absolutely everything one would want in a cozy mystery: a fabulous set of lovable characters, a charming setting, and a super intriguing mystery with plenty of twists. I really enjoy that the police/detective character in this series isn't a love interest or someone with a bit of an attitude; rather, it is a very likable best friend. All of the characters are well-developed and an enjoy to read. I even have a soft spot for Mike Trout. I can't wait to continue this series and follow Jude and her family and friends on their next farm adventure!
May 13, 2024
The clamping project at Malvern Farm is a success, thanks to Jude Gray’s hard work and her glamping project. A hen (bachlorette) party is scheduled for the weekend and Jude wants everything to be perfect. It is until one of the women disappears. Then she and shepherd Noah try to run the farm as the search continues for the missing women. The farm seems to be a target after some of her sheep are poisoned. An ever complaining neighbor is a natural suspect. To add to the confusion, the demanding groom to be arrives. After a murder, with the bride still missing, Jude begins to piece together the complicated web of jealousy, blackmail and criminal activities that surround her campsite guests. She and her close friend DI Binnie Khatri must find the killer before there is another victim.
A Body by the Henhouse is the third in this excellent series. Familiar characters are joined by new, and Malvern Farm remains a character itself. The tedious, daily work of farming blends with quiet moments of joy watching her nephew, four year old Sebby, learning to be a young farmer and dog trainer! And a teaser in the final pages left me eager to read the Kate Well’s next! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for this ARC.
A Body by the Henhouse is the third in this excellent series. Familiar characters are joined by new, and Malvern Farm remains a character itself. The tedious, daily work of farming blends with quiet moments of joy watching her nephew, four year old Sebby, learning to be a young farmer and dog trainer! And a teaser in the final pages left me eager to read the Kate Well’s next! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for this ARC.
June 13, 2024
The third book in the Malvern Mysteries series shows the farm now diversified with a campsite experiencing some success but tinged with neighbour problems exacerbated when a hen party comes to stay at the farm for a weekend. Animals get sick, tents collapse, and a camper goes missing, but when someone dies in suspicious circumstances, Jude and Binnie, her detective friend, race against time to find the culprit. This cosy mystery has many suspects, unclear motives and a cast of mainly unlikeable characters, all with secrets. I enjoyed the farm setting, which gives this cosy crime story a unique edge. Jude is courageous, determined and likeable but impulsive when pursuing a lead despite the watchful guidance of Binnie, the local detective inspector. I like the suspense building, the character development of Jude and her family and friends and the intriguing mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 5, 2024
Widow Jude Gray is trying to save the farm that she and her husband ran until his untimely death. One thing she is trying is the expansion of a camping/glamping aspect to the farm to help the finance base and that is also the reason for the addition of a few animals, including sheep. This matters because there is a group of young women veterinarians staying in the tents and one was a great help when four of the sheep were poisoned. Jude is certain that her unpleasant neighbor was to blame. Then the obnoxious guest went missing, some incredible things revealed, and a despicable man was murdered. Then things really got sticky! I loved this one just as much as the first two!
Did you know that only girl ducks can quack? Or that rhododendrons are poisonous to sheep?
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Did you know that only girl ducks can quack? Or that rhododendrons are poisonous to sheep?
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
May 8, 2024
Another enjoyable book in this series. So much going on on the farm, and then a group of "hens" arrive for a bachelorette party. They're a lot of trouble for Jude, especially the one who complains about everything and has to have a tent put up for her when she breaks up with her girlfriend. Then the next day she goes missing, leaving her cell phone and her asthma inhaler. Binnie, now a DI, comes to investigate and then the bride's intended and a friend come to the camp. Joe is a braggart and also demands attention from all there. Jude can't get much farm work done trying to deal with these guests. But then bodies are found on the farm - it's a deadly place! But I was glad to read the last paragraph and hope that Jude will find some comfort from it. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.
June 16, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed all the novels in this series and this one was no exception. I assume it's the first time I started a novel and thought about sheep I met years ago.
I need to read realixing and heartwarming story and this one, even if the mystery is solid and twisty, kept me hooked and surprised me with each twists.
There's plenty of twists, there's changes in Jude's behaviour and life. There's a quite realistic description of country life and, as I spent quite a lot of time in the country, I noticed two things: human beings are similar in every country and some lovely places can be full of darkness.
I read it in one sitting and it made me smile and relax
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I need to read realixing and heartwarming story and this one, even if the mystery is solid and twisty, kept me hooked and surprised me with each twists.
There's plenty of twists, there's changes in Jude's behaviour and life. There's a quite realistic description of country life and, as I spent quite a lot of time in the country, I noticed two things: human beings are similar in every country and some lovely places can be full of darkness.
I read it in one sitting and it made me smile and relax
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine
August 28, 2024
Well, I've listened to all three novels in the series and I thought this one was the best as the plot was a little tighter, the setting is still lovely and the characters keep evolving . The novel is still full of the daily details of living, but they lend a homey air to the story and provide a calming contrast to this farm with its extraordinarily unlucky share of murders within its boundaries. The author appears to be cranking out one of these books every six months which seems very quick, and I'm wondering how she can manage to land yet another dead body on the farm in a way that doesn't feel contrived. I think if I lived there, I'd consider selling up!! If Wells sticks with this writing timeline, the next edition should be out in early 2025.
June 10, 2024
Jude’s farm is doing well she has plenty of bookings for her new campsite , even though her grumpy neighbours voices his concerns (frequently!)
A hen party are due to arrive and Jude is prepared and eagerly anticipating their arrival.
Some of the group are vets and this comes in handy when Jude finds her sheep in distress , they’ve been poisoned but who can have done it?
Jude believes it’s her neighbour, but would he stoop so low?
The dynamics in the hen party aren’t working well , and when one of them disappears a web of deceit and lies begins to unravel.
A well written cosy mystery with plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked .
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
A hen party are due to arrive and Jude is prepared and eagerly anticipating their arrival.
Some of the group are vets and this comes in handy when Jude finds her sheep in distress , they’ve been poisoned but who can have done it?
Jude believes it’s her neighbour, but would he stoop so low?
The dynamics in the hen party aren’t working well , and when one of them disappears a web of deceit and lies begins to unravel.
A well written cosy mystery with plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked .
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
June 23, 2024
Body by the Henhouse was enjoyable, but I didn’t feel particularly engaged with the main sleuth or her family.
Jude Gray has set up a camp site for some extra cash. This week her guest are a hen party of six. There is some sabotage on the camp-site and in one of the fields harming a guest and four sheep. Jude suspects her neighbour who’s always complaining about the farm. But the sabotage is beyond his usual pranks.
Then one of the guests disappears. The other five hens all had reason to dislike or hate her. And what about that unsavoury character that hanging around?
I read an ARC through NetGalley.
Jude Gray has set up a camp site for some extra cash. This week her guest are a hen party of six. There is some sabotage on the camp-site and in one of the fields harming a guest and four sheep. Jude suspects her neighbour who’s always complaining about the farm. But the sabotage is beyond his usual pranks.
Then one of the guests disappears. The other five hens all had reason to dislike or hate her. And what about that unsavoury character that hanging around?
I read an ARC through NetGalley.
March 18, 2025
A Body by the Henhouse: (The Malvern Mysteries Book 3). Kate Wells
I really enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of my childhood, living on a small holding surrounded by animals and busy everyday, but never seeming busy because we enjoyed where we lived. Fortunately, we didn’t get murders regularly. I can recommend you read this series of books interesting for all the right reasons. The characters were written very well and everything was exciting I just didn’t want to put my book down. A book well written.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of my childhood, living on a small holding surrounded by animals and busy everyday, but never seeming busy because we enjoyed where we lived. Fortunately, we didn’t get murders regularly. I can recommend you read this series of books interesting for all the right reasons. The characters were written very well and everything was exciting I just didn’t want to put my book down. A book well written.
May 28, 2024
This is my first book in the series. The farm is so atmospheric and the characters are quirky. All seems well and then suddenly it’s not. There’s a sense of unease quite early on in the book because of the guests.
The book is well written and I’m interested in catching up with the series.
Thanks to Kate Wells and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars
The book is well written and I’m interested in catching up with the series.
Thanks to Kate Wells and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
4 stars
June 19, 2024
A great mystery, with lots of twists and turns as you would expect too keep you guessing. The setting is great and a little bit different to the norm. As the story develops we find out that everyone has a secret and will do anything to keep their secrets quiet which is why you are guessing till the end. This is the third book and I hadn't read the earlier books but will be looking to do so. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 10, 2024
I really enjoy listening to this series and I love that it's set on an English country farm. I've enjoyed getting to know Jude and her family and friends. I'm so glad to find out book 4 A Death in the Hills will be out in the new year.
This one was really good, lots of twists and turns and, as an audiobook, held my attention very well. I recommend this series for fans of Frances Evesham and Julia Chapman.
This one was really good, lots of twists and turns and, as an audiobook, held my attention very well. I recommend this series for fans of Frances Evesham and Julia Chapman.
September 25, 2024
Always enjoyable clean murders!
I enjoy the characters and animals. Learning quite a bit about farming also
which is a plus. With each story, I get the feeling that Jude and Noah have more in common than sister Lucy and Noah. Oops, humm? Only time will tell. Great read all around!👍💕
I enjoy the characters and animals. Learning quite a bit about farming also
which is a plus. With each story, I get the feeling that Jude and Noah have more in common than sister Lucy and Noah. Oops, humm? Only time will tell. Great read all around!👍💕
February 6, 2025
While I am enjoying the series, this was my least favourite thus far. I do enjoy all of the main characters. The setting is easily imagined and appreciated. I was so tired of reading the women referred to as hens and reading the word whilst throughout the whole book. Nevertheless, I will be reading the next book in the series.
October 19, 2025
This one kept me guessing and hypothesizing, which were all wrong!, so that makes it a good mystery.
The reason I did not give it 5 stars is I think the author, in one part of the story, turned Jude into a bit of crazy, out of control person in this book, unlike her previous books. I thought it was very out of character.
The narrator for these books is good.
The reason I did not give it 5 stars is I think the author, in one part of the story, turned Jude into a bit of crazy, out of control person in this book, unlike her previous books. I thought it was very out of character.
The narrator for these books is good.
May 14, 2024
The 3rd in the series and boy what a series it is. Thank you to @theboldbookclub for letting me read this book. I’m loving the series and I like how each one is in a different setting. Please read the series.
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