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Violet Brewster #2
Murder at the Book Festival
When a body is found at the Merrywell Book Festival, amateur sleuth Violet Brewster must leave no page unturned to solve the mystery… The small and idyllic village of Merrywell is getting ready to host its first ever book festival, and Violet Brewster is delighted when she is asked to interview the star author. Leonie Stanwick , now a bestselling romance author, is the featured guest of the festival. She was born in Merrywell, but abruptly left when she was 18 years old and never came back. But the festival takes a dark turn when Leonie is found murdered; her return to the village had clearly shaken someone up. When a shocking secret about Leonie’s past is revealed, Violet’s suspicions must turn to her own neighbours. Who in the village was intent on making sure Leonie could never leave the village again? An utterly gripping and unputdownable English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 16, 2024
239 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Jane Bettany
18 books136 followersI am the author of the DI Isabel Blood crime novels, set in the fictional Derbyshire town of Bainbridge, and the cosy crime series featuring amateur sleuth Violet Brewster, which is also set in Derbyshire.
My debut novel In Cold Blood (the first in the DI Isabel Blood series) won the 2019 Gransnet and HQ writing competition, for women writers over the age of 40 who had written a novel with a protagonist in the same age range.
Before turning to novel writing, I had been writing short stories and non-fiction articles for over twenty years, many of which have appeared in women’s magazines, literary magazines, newspapers and online.
I live in Derby, UK and have an MA in Creative Writing.
My debut novel In Cold Blood (the first in the DI Isabel Blood series) won the 2019 Gransnet and HQ writing competition, for women writers over the age of 40 who had written a novel with a protagonist in the same age range.
Before turning to novel writing, I had been writing short stories and non-fiction articles for over twenty years, many of which have appeared in women’s magazines, literary magazines, newspapers and online.
I live in Derby, UK and have an MA in Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
January 12, 2024
This is the second book in the Violet Brewster Mystery series. I have not read the first one, but it was easy to follow this one as a stand alone. I picked it up because, hey, who can resist a book festival?
Description:
When a body is found at the Merrywell Book Festival, amateur sleuth Violet Brewster must leave no page unturned to solve the mystery… The small and idyllic village of Merrywell is getting ready to host its first ever book festival, and Violet Brewster is delighted when she is asked to interview the star author. Leonie Stanwick , now a bestselling romance author, is the featured guest of the festival. She was born in Merrywell, but abruptly left when she was 18 years old and never came back. But the festival takes a dark turn when Leonie is found murdered; her return to the village had clearly shaken someone up. When a shocking secret about Leonie’s past is revealed, Violet’s suspicions must turn to her own neighbours. Who in the village was intent on making sure Leonie could never leave the village again? An utterly gripping and unputdownable English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands.
My Thoughts:
This was a fun, cozy mystery and I read it one rainy day, so it was fairly short. There are red herring here so if is difficult to guess the real killer until near the end. The village of Merrywell provided a good backdrop for the close community. I liked Violet and how she wanted to help her friends. Violet's relationship with Matthew seems promising and I liked him as well. There are secrets revealed in the story and it was a fun investigation. What more could you want in a cozy?
Thanks to HQ, HQ Digital through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on January 16, 2024.
Description:
When a body is found at the Merrywell Book Festival, amateur sleuth Violet Brewster must leave no page unturned to solve the mystery… The small and idyllic village of Merrywell is getting ready to host its first ever book festival, and Violet Brewster is delighted when she is asked to interview the star author. Leonie Stanwick , now a bestselling romance author, is the featured guest of the festival. She was born in Merrywell, but abruptly left when she was 18 years old and never came back. But the festival takes a dark turn when Leonie is found murdered; her return to the village had clearly shaken someone up. When a shocking secret about Leonie’s past is revealed, Violet’s suspicions must turn to her own neighbours. Who in the village was intent on making sure Leonie could never leave the village again? An utterly gripping and unputdownable English cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Frances Evesham and Betty Rowlands.
My Thoughts:
This was a fun, cozy mystery and I read it one rainy day, so it was fairly short. There are red herring here so if is difficult to guess the real killer until near the end. The village of Merrywell provided a good backdrop for the close community. I liked Violet and how she wanted to help her friends. Violet's relationship with Matthew seems promising and I liked him as well. There are secrets revealed in the story and it was a fun investigation. What more could you want in a cozy?
Thanks to HQ, HQ Digital through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on January 16, 2024.
March 17, 2025
4.5*
Murder at the Book Festival is the second delightful instalment in Jane Bettany's series featuring video documentary maker-turned- amateur sleuth Violet Brewster.
Violet is set to interview raunchy romance novelist Leonie Stanwick, who is the guest of honour at Merrywell's upcoming inaugural book festival, hosted by Books, Bakes and Cakes, the shop owned by Eric and Fiona, Violet's friends and co-tenants at the boutique Merrywell Shopping Village.
Leonie grew up in Merrywell, but left in shadowy circumstances as a young adult and has seldom returned since, despite her family remaining in the area. Her presence at the festival has started ruffling feathers even before she's arrived in Merrywell, and she then makes the unexpected announcement during her interview with Violet that her next book will be a personal memoire. When Leonie fails to arrive for a planned workshop the following morning, Violet offers to drive to her hotel to rouse her, but instead finds a dead woman lying prostate and lifeless behind her car at the far end of the hotel carpark, a knife in her back...
With one successful amateur investigation already under her belt (see Murder in Merrywell), Violet takes charge, calling emergency services and securing the crime scene. Despite the entreaties of D.S. Charlie Winterton not to get involved, inevitably Violet's involvement in the festival gives her a front-row seat, allowing her to chat with suspects and start building her own theories about the crime. Her developing relationship with romantic interest Matthew is stifled somewhat by the uninvited appearance of her ex-husband Paul, who happens to be a Chief Superintendent with the MET.
Murder at the Book Festival is another enjoyable instalment in what's shaping to be a great cosy mystery series. Violet is a cut above many amateur sleuths who feature in the genre, with a great deal of common sense and great insight into human foibles. Her blossoming relationship with Matthew brings a romantic thread into the stories, without it ever overwhelming the central mystery plot. The setting of (fictional) Merrywell in Derbyshire is delightful, somewhere anyone with a love of books, natural beauty and history would love to visit.
I'd highly recommend Murder at the Book Festival to any reader who enjoys well-written cosy mysteries, with well-paced plots and great characters.
My thanks to the author, Jane Bettany, publisher HQ | HQ Digital, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Murder at the Book Festival is the second delightful instalment in Jane Bettany's series featuring video documentary maker-turned- amateur sleuth Violet Brewster.
Violet is set to interview raunchy romance novelist Leonie Stanwick, who is the guest of honour at Merrywell's upcoming inaugural book festival, hosted by Books, Bakes and Cakes, the shop owned by Eric and Fiona, Violet's friends and co-tenants at the boutique Merrywell Shopping Village.
Leonie grew up in Merrywell, but left in shadowy circumstances as a young adult and has seldom returned since, despite her family remaining in the area. Her presence at the festival has started ruffling feathers even before she's arrived in Merrywell, and she then makes the unexpected announcement during her interview with Violet that her next book will be a personal memoire. When Leonie fails to arrive for a planned workshop the following morning, Violet offers to drive to her hotel to rouse her, but instead finds a dead woman lying prostate and lifeless behind her car at the far end of the hotel carpark, a knife in her back...
With one successful amateur investigation already under her belt (see Murder in Merrywell), Violet takes charge, calling emergency services and securing the crime scene. Despite the entreaties of D.S. Charlie Winterton not to get involved, inevitably Violet's involvement in the festival gives her a front-row seat, allowing her to chat with suspects and start building her own theories about the crime. Her developing relationship with romantic interest Matthew is stifled somewhat by the uninvited appearance of her ex-husband Paul, who happens to be a Chief Superintendent with the MET.
Murder at the Book Festival is another enjoyable instalment in what's shaping to be a great cosy mystery series. Violet is a cut above many amateur sleuths who feature in the genre, with a great deal of common sense and great insight into human foibles. Her blossoming relationship with Matthew brings a romantic thread into the stories, without it ever overwhelming the central mystery plot. The setting of (fictional) Merrywell in Derbyshire is delightful, somewhere anyone with a love of books, natural beauty and history would love to visit.
I'd highly recommend Murder at the Book Festival to any reader who enjoys well-written cosy mysteries, with well-paced plots and great characters.
My thanks to the author, Jane Bettany, publisher HQ | HQ Digital, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
January 16, 2024
It was a perfect book for a cold winter day, and I spent it by the fireplace reading this cozy mystery. It is a fairly short but enjoyable read that kept me entertained while guessing who the killer is.
March 30, 2024
The only thing better than a traditional English cozy mystery is one that is set in a booklover's paradise.
Jane Bettany has created a cozy mystery series that is sure to become popular. Violet Brewster fits the very definition of a cozy protagonist; she is even compared to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple by a friend. In the first book, “Murder in Merrywell”, Violet has moved to the quaint village of Merrywell after her divorce to start over in a new home and new career. Although the divorcée or widow who moves to a small town to start over has become a modern cozy mystery trope, Bettany employs the premise with getting campy. she also avoids the trope of the unthinking female who barrels headlong into danger and needs to be saved. Although she gets into tight squeezes, Violet is a smart, sensible and levelheaded woman who can take care of herself. With this second book in the series, Bettany serves up a book sure to please booklovers. There is a whole subgenre of cozy mysteries that features libraries, bookstores, book clubs or bookfairs. Violet has agreed to interview the featured guest author at the book festival, a local girl who moved away and became a bestselling author. When a body turns up later, Violet wonders who hated the author enough to kill. The author has created a group of Merrywell residents that the reader will love to visit time and time again. The new characters in this book are entertaining and they provide enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. After getting a review copy of this book through NetGalley, I read both stories and loved them. However this book can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
Jane Bettany has created a cozy mystery series that is sure to become popular. Violet Brewster fits the very definition of a cozy protagonist; she is even compared to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple by a friend. In the first book, “Murder in Merrywell”, Violet has moved to the quaint village of Merrywell after her divorce to start over in a new home and new career. Although the divorcée or widow who moves to a small town to start over has become a modern cozy mystery trope, Bettany employs the premise with getting campy. she also avoids the trope of the unthinking female who barrels headlong into danger and needs to be saved. Although she gets into tight squeezes, Violet is a smart, sensible and levelheaded woman who can take care of herself. With this second book in the series, Bettany serves up a book sure to please booklovers. There is a whole subgenre of cozy mysteries that features libraries, bookstores, book clubs or bookfairs. Violet has agreed to interview the featured guest author at the book festival, a local girl who moved away and became a bestselling author. When a body turns up later, Violet wonders who hated the author enough to kill. The author has created a group of Merrywell residents that the reader will love to visit time and time again. The new characters in this book are entertaining and they provide enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. After getting a review copy of this book through NetGalley, I read both stories and loved them. However this book can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
March 29, 2024
Murder at the Book Festival is book two in Jane Bettany's Violet Brewstern series. Violet Brewster was looking forward to her interview with star author Leonie Stanwick, who grew up in Merrywell and is returning to the first-ever Merrywell Book Festival. On the eve of the Festival, the star author, Leonie Stanwick, dies suspiciously. Violet Brewster starts investigating to ensure that the first Merrywell Book Festival will not be the last. The readers of Murder at the Book Festival will continue to follow Violet Brewster to discover what happens.
I enjoyed reading Murder at the Book Festival, and I was drawn to it because I always wanted to run a book and cake shop. I engage with the story from the beginning to the end. I love Jane Bettany's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Murder at the Book Festival is well-written and researched by Jane Bettany. I like Jane Bettany's description of the settings of Murder at the Book Festival, which complimented the book's plot.
The readers of Murder at the Book Festival will understand the hard work of setting up a book festival and learn about a small bookshop in a rural community.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading Murder at the Book Festival, and I was drawn to it because I always wanted to run a book and cake shop. I engage with the story from the beginning to the end. I love Jane Bettany's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Murder at the Book Festival is well-written and researched by Jane Bettany. I like Jane Bettany's description of the settings of Murder at the Book Festival, which complimented the book's plot.
The readers of Murder at the Book Festival will understand the hard work of setting up a book festival and learn about a small bookshop in a rural community.
I recommend this book.
March 14, 2024
Thanks Joanne for gifting me this book, a perfect easy read when I was confined to bed with a dreadful cold. If you like cosy murders (a strange but popular concept), then this is for you. Midsomer Murders with an amateur sleuth, charming village setting with the usual cast of characters and a very likeable protagonist. I read it in a day, enjoying the whodunnit romp with a few twists on the way.
November 10, 2023
This was a fun read. Since I love books, what could be better than a novel about a book festival. This is the first of this series that I have read. It is about Violet Brewster who owns a small business. Because she is friends with the bookstore owners who are putting on the festival, she agrees to interview Leonie Stanwick.
Leonie grew up there and made it as a romance author. She rarely comes home but the book festival drew her home. She has a younger sister Angeline Hammond who she is estranged from. When an old classmate shows up and says that she and Leonie were best friends, Violet thinks it’s odd that Leonie denies knowing the woman.
Leonie comes off as a snob who came home to rub her success in the face of others. When Violet goes in search of Leonie who had promised to conduct a master writer’s class and she finds a body next to Leonie’s Audi, Violet at first assumes it is Leonie.
Eric the bookstore owner confides to Violet that he has sunk a lot of money into this event and that he can’t afford to fail. He asks Violet to investigate the death and hopefully help him pull everything together so that the death doesn’t bankrupt the event.
There are plenty of suspects and Violet manages to follow all the clues until she can tie all the ends up together and help the police solve the murder.
I didn’t guess who the killer was until the end. That is always a good sign for a mystery.
This was a pleasant cozy mystery. I enjoyed the twists. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing. I liked the author’s voice. Liked the development of the series with the promise of romance for Violet. Liked that the author didn’t make her ex-husband a total villain. He had a human side that made me feel sorry for him. He obviously didn’t realize what he had lost when he and Violet split. I like that Violet is a strong character who doesn’t feel she has to have a man to be happy. I like that we got to see Leonie change. She went from a diva to someone who could be a friend to Violet. I enjoyed the setting. The story pulled me in until the very end.
I gave this book 4 stars and would recommend it to cozy mystery lovers. Especially the ones who love books.
Leonie grew up there and made it as a romance author. She rarely comes home but the book festival drew her home. She has a younger sister Angeline Hammond who she is estranged from. When an old classmate shows up and says that she and Leonie were best friends, Violet thinks it’s odd that Leonie denies knowing the woman.
Leonie comes off as a snob who came home to rub her success in the face of others. When Violet goes in search of Leonie who had promised to conduct a master writer’s class and she finds a body next to Leonie’s Audi, Violet at first assumes it is Leonie.
Eric the bookstore owner confides to Violet that he has sunk a lot of money into this event and that he can’t afford to fail. He asks Violet to investigate the death and hopefully help him pull everything together so that the death doesn’t bankrupt the event.
There are plenty of suspects and Violet manages to follow all the clues until she can tie all the ends up together and help the police solve the murder.
I didn’t guess who the killer was until the end. That is always a good sign for a mystery.
This was a pleasant cozy mystery. I enjoyed the twists. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing. I liked the author’s voice. Liked the development of the series with the promise of romance for Violet. Liked that the author didn’t make her ex-husband a total villain. He had a human side that made me feel sorry for him. He obviously didn’t realize what he had lost when he and Violet split. I like that Violet is a strong character who doesn’t feel she has to have a man to be happy. I like that we got to see Leonie change. She went from a diva to someone who could be a friend to Violet. I enjoyed the setting. The story pulled me in until the very end.
I gave this book 4 stars and would recommend it to cozy mystery lovers. Especially the ones who love books.
October 10, 2023
Murder at the Book Festival is a delightful cozy mystery that takes place during a book festival in the charming town of Merrywell. When one of the authors is discovered murdered, the festival takes a dark turn. Determined to ensure the rest of the festival is a success and that there isn't a murderer running loose around Merrywell, Violet dives into the investigation. When she finds out the author was a local, she knows there will be plenty of secrets to uncover and lies to reveal.
Murder at the Book Festival is a perfect cozy. Violet and her friends are such fun characters, and I'm truly loving getting to know them. I am thoroughly enjoying the development of Violet and Matthew's relationship. The setting of Merrywell is absolutely spot-on for a cozy - it gives off all the small-town/village vibes. This series makes me want to visit the Peak District immediately. I can't wait to follow Violet and her friends in their next adventure!
Murder at the Book Festival is a perfect cozy. Violet and her friends are such fun characters, and I'm truly loving getting to know them. I am thoroughly enjoying the development of Violet and Matthew's relationship. The setting of Merrywell is absolutely spot-on for a cozy - it gives off all the small-town/village vibes. This series makes me want to visit the Peak District immediately. I can't wait to follow Violet and her friends in their next adventure!
February 20, 2024
A cosy, Midsomer Murders style read with an enjoyable enough plot if you suspend disbelief. However, all of the characters speak like they are the exact same person, i.e., a middle-class, Mary Berry type who over explains every sentence. The writing gets better as the novel progresses but would be improved by taking out half of the adverbs and spelt-out emotions.
Also, the Kat and Zoe Slater element of it all is obvious from the get-go and could be “revealed” much earlier.
Also, the Kat and Zoe Slater element of it all is obvious from the get-go and could be “revealed” much earlier.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2024
Cosy, made me smile and it was everything I love in an easy read. Main point: it wasn’t super predictable (those who know me well know I cannot stand predictable books like rom coms - sorry!) I love it when a cosy mystery has…well, actual mystery, that I don’t immediately guess. I think readers might guess the end but there are nice twists along the way.
October 22, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my approval to read and review this book.
This is the second in the series with Violet Brewster as the main character. As you can see from the title - there is a Murder at the Book Festival. So let me tell you a story of how it begins, Eric Nash the owner of a book shop decide to plan the first first festival in the Village of Merrywell. He invites Leonie Stanwick, a local girl, who has since moved away and become a famous romantic writer, to be the main star of the festival weekend. Eric asks Violet to be the interviewer and she agrees straightaway. The plot is full of twists, turns and a few red herrings and Violet saying she will not interfere with the investigation like last time. I loved how the characters and locations are written. I could see them in my mind. No spoilers from me as you need to discover this for yourself. Let me say that I didn't see how the book would end. I recommend you read the book.
This is the second in the series with Violet Brewster as the main character. As you can see from the title - there is a Murder at the Book Festival. So let me tell you a story of how it begins, Eric Nash the owner of a book shop decide to plan the first first festival in the Village of Merrywell. He invites Leonie Stanwick, a local girl, who has since moved away and become a famous romantic writer, to be the main star of the festival weekend. Eric asks Violet to be the interviewer and she agrees straightaway. The plot is full of twists, turns and a few red herrings and Violet saying she will not interfere with the investigation like last time. I loved how the characters and locations are written. I could see them in my mind. No spoilers from me as you need to discover this for yourself. Let me say that I didn't see how the book would end. I recommend you read the book.
December 30, 2023
I absolutely adored this book. One of those that you never want to put down. Whenever life forced itself between me and my reading time, I got twitchy, desperate to get back to Violet, Merrywell and murder.
Merrywell is hosting its first book festival and its highest profile author grew up in that very village, Leonie Stanwick. However, Leonie brings with her more than just a case of signed copies of her latest book. What secrets will be revealed by her return? And can Violet Brewster unravel the tangled web in time to stop a murderer escaping justice?
This is the perfect cosy crime. Violet Brewster is a Miss Marple for the modern age, Merrywell is every bit as perfect as St Mary Mead and I can’t wait to revisit Violet, Matthew and the rest of the inhabitants in, what I hope will be, the next instalment of a long and successful series.
October 19, 2025
I enjoyed this second entry in the Violet Brewster mystery series. This time, the action focuses around a book festival set in the small village where Violet has moved. Violet's business is booming now, and the friendships she made in the first book are getting stronger.
Of course, being a mystery, a murder occurs in relationship to the book festival, and Violet once again unwittingly gets involved in solving it. I'll admit I guessed pretty quickly what one of the big twists was going to be, but not the ultimate murderer. There were a lot of possible suspects, and I found the unraveling of the mystery interesting.
Of course, being a mystery, a murder occurs in relationship to the book festival, and Violet once again unwittingly gets involved in solving it. I'll admit I guessed pretty quickly what one of the big twists was going to be, but not the ultimate murderer. There were a lot of possible suspects, and I found the unraveling of the mystery interesting.
July 10, 2024
I got this from The Works in London on a whim and am so glad I did!!! Yay!!!
I loved reading about Violet and her sleuthing even if she wasn’t supposed to. Violet was friendly, engaging, and an interesting protagonist.
The twists starting around halfway through the book and kept coming … omg my jaw dropped almost every chapter …
Every murder mystery isn’t complete without a detective who dislikes the main character’s involvement, a little sprinkle of romance, a pet that you dream to have, and a new village/town that you want to move to for the cozy vibes.
A song that was stuck in my head during the read of this is … Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor - because I can’t stop singing it’s a murder at the book festival and you better not kill the groove … haha
I loved reading about Violet and her sleuthing even if she wasn’t supposed to. Violet was friendly, engaging, and an interesting protagonist.
The twists starting around halfway through the book and kept coming … omg my jaw dropped almost every chapter …
Every murder mystery isn’t complete without a detective who dislikes the main character’s involvement, a little sprinkle of romance, a pet that you dream to have, and a new village/town that you want to move to for the cozy vibes.
A song that was stuck in my head during the read of this is … Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor - because I can’t stop singing it’s a murder at the book festival and you better not kill the groove … haha
Read
May 29, 2024Audiobook
An entertaining, light mystery which I enjoyed. . Good to listen to while doing other things.
An entertaining, light mystery which I enjoyed. . Good to listen to while doing other things.
March 16, 2024
3.5⭐️
August 6, 2024
3.75 stars
September 30, 2024
This was a fun. cosy read.
Violet lives in the shopping village of Merrywell and is asked to interview a famous Romance Author, formerly a resident, at the upcoming book festival.
The Festival is a huge success, until a body turns up - the romance author!
Violet can't help but become involved in the investigation for the murderer, uncovering some long buried secrets along the way.
This was a quick, enjoyable read. Violet's character was likeable, as were the other Merrywell residents. The plot was clever enough to keep me guessing and I enjoyed the cosy village setting. I would read more in this series.
Violet lives in the shopping village of Merrywell and is asked to interview a famous Romance Author, formerly a resident, at the upcoming book festival.
The Festival is a huge success, until a body turns up - the romance author!
Violet can't help but become involved in the investigation for the murderer, uncovering some long buried secrets along the way.
This was a quick, enjoyable read. Violet's character was likeable, as were the other Merrywell residents. The plot was clever enough to keep me guessing and I enjoyed the cosy village setting. I would read more in this series.
May 6, 2025
All opinions are entirely my own. I am in no way affiliated with the author or publisher. Remember to support your local indie bookstore and library!
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ ᰔ ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Protruding from beyond the front of the Audi were a pair of booted female feet, lying prostrate on the tarmacked surface of the car park.
- [ ] Star Rating: 2.5
- [ ] Discovery: Browsing
- [ ] Reading Format: Physical
- [ ] Read Time: 3 Hours
The idyllic village of Merrywell is getting ready to host its first ever book festival, and Violet is delighted when she is asked to interview the star author. Leonie Stanwick, best selling romance author is the featured guest of the festival but her story takes a dark turn when Leonie is found murdered.
Leonie was a diva but the mystery wasn't that compelling.
I may have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first book but I did not enjoy this book enough to go back and read the first book.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨ ᰔ ୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Protruding from beyond the front of the Audi were a pair of booted female feet, lying prostrate on the tarmacked surface of the car park.
- [ ] Star Rating: 2.5
- [ ] Discovery: Browsing
- [ ] Reading Format: Physical
- [ ] Read Time: 3 Hours
The idyllic village of Merrywell is getting ready to host its first ever book festival, and Violet is delighted when she is asked to interview the star author. Leonie Stanwick, best selling romance author is the featured guest of the festival but her story takes a dark turn when Leonie is found murdered.
Leonie was a diva but the mystery wasn't that compelling.
I may have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first book but I did not enjoy this book enough to go back and read the first book.
April 17, 2024
Good second book in the series. A little convoluted at times.
January 3, 2024
I loved reading the second in this cosy crime series. As well as being a standalone story i've enjoyed the development of the regular characters which i feel is important in a series and I cannot wait to find out what they are doing in the next book. I love book festivals so this was right up my street and who doesn't love a good murder to solve! I also enjoyed the fact i know many of the locations in the book, such as Matlock. If you're looking for cosy crime books which will keep you guessing, then add this series to your tbr pile.
No spoilers here! :)
No spoilers here! :)
January 16, 2024
I enjoyed this one so much that I've bought the first one!
Violet Brewster is enjoying her new life in the village of Merrywell, and is thrilled that the local bookshop owner is creating a Book Festival, hopefully to run annually. The star attraction is author Leonie Stanwick, born locally but no longer attached to the area. Violet is thrilled when she is asked to interview her. However, the next day a body turns up and Violet finds herself determined to find out what's going on . . .
This is another excellent mystery, well planned and skilfully written. There's certainly plenty going on in Merrywell and I have a feeling it's going to be the next Midsomer! A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining novel from beginning to end, and most definitely a series I want to follow. 4.5*.
My thanks to the publisher for my ccopy via NetGalley; this is - as always my honest, original and unbiased review.
Violet Brewster is enjoying her new life in the village of Merrywell, and is thrilled that the local bookshop owner is creating a Book Festival, hopefully to run annually. The star attraction is author Leonie Stanwick, born locally but no longer attached to the area. Violet is thrilled when she is asked to interview her. However, the next day a body turns up and Violet finds herself determined to find out what's going on . . .
This is another excellent mystery, well planned and skilfully written. There's certainly plenty going on in Merrywell and I have a feeling it's going to be the next Midsomer! A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining novel from beginning to end, and most definitely a series I want to follow. 4.5*.
My thanks to the publisher for my ccopy via NetGalley; this is - as always my honest, original and unbiased review.
December 28, 2023
The second book in the Violet Brewster series return us to a wonderful small village setting with a cast of great characters and an intriguing mystery. The characters feel like old friends already and there is a real feeling in the book that they know each other well. It's not always easy for authors to pull that off, but Jane Bettany manages to do so. It adds to the overall charm of the story and the setting.
The setup of the mystery is something book lovers will enjoy, that being a local literary festival and the return of an author who grew up locally. It's not a unique concept, but it's well written and has a few exciting twists and surprises that make you wonder about characters early on. Even before the mystery starts. I enjoyed that setup very much.
So while we have a strong mystery that will keep you guessing, the author doesn't forget to bring the cosy elements into the story. Violet's ex-husband appears unannounced, stating he's there for the festival, but does he have other motives? And will that interfere with Violet's budding friendship with Matthew? There's also themes about family and generational taboos thrown into the story that add to the cosy and mystery themes. For a cosy mystery that is such a breeze to read, there are complex themes and threads through this story. I also very much enjoyed the writing style, which only adds to the enjoyment of the book.
I really hope this series continues because the setting, the characters, and the mystery are all very well written. I found this a delight to read.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book to read for an honest review. All comments are my own.
The setup of the mystery is something book lovers will enjoy, that being a local literary festival and the return of an author who grew up locally. It's not a unique concept, but it's well written and has a few exciting twists and surprises that make you wonder about characters early on. Even before the mystery starts. I enjoyed that setup very much.
So while we have a strong mystery that will keep you guessing, the author doesn't forget to bring the cosy elements into the story. Violet's ex-husband appears unannounced, stating he's there for the festival, but does he have other motives? And will that interfere with Violet's budding friendship with Matthew? There's also themes about family and generational taboos thrown into the story that add to the cosy and mystery themes. For a cosy mystery that is such a breeze to read, there are complex themes and threads through this story. I also very much enjoyed the writing style, which only adds to the enjoyment of the book.
I really hope this series continues because the setting, the characters, and the mystery are all very well written. I found this a delight to read.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book to read for an honest review. All comments are my own.
October 25, 2023
Murder at the Book Festival is the second in the series featuring Violet Brewster, the owner of the Memory Box. The local business community is involved in setting up their first Book Festival and are thrilled that local girl turned big-time author, Leonie Stanwick, is returning to be the star guest. But there are secrets all around, and Violet will have to dig into them to keep everyone safe.
What I enjoyed most about this is the village setting; everyone is nosy, but they will all pull together to put on a festival. I also found the business set up to record people’s memories is interesting as a real idea as well as a good way to reveal secrets in a mystery. It’s a different cozy occupation than the usual baker or yarn shop owner.
What I had more difficulty with was why Violet was so intent on solving the murder. Usually, the MC is related to someone who has been accused or have themselves been looked at as the murderer. There just wasn’t really any compelling reason for her to be involved, although I do give her credit for letting the police know what she was doing.
Some of the characters could use a little more fleshing out, particularly the love interest. However, Leonie turned out to be more layered and interesting; she was pretty sassy, in fact.
All in all, this is a good, quick cozy read.
What I enjoyed most about this is the village setting; everyone is nosy, but they will all pull together to put on a festival. I also found the business set up to record people’s memories is interesting as a real idea as well as a good way to reveal secrets in a mystery. It’s a different cozy occupation than the usual baker or yarn shop owner.
What I had more difficulty with was why Violet was so intent on solving the murder. Usually, the MC is related to someone who has been accused or have themselves been looked at as the murderer. There just wasn’t really any compelling reason for her to be involved, although I do give her credit for letting the police know what she was doing.
Some of the characters could use a little more fleshing out, particularly the love interest. However, Leonie turned out to be more layered and interesting; she was pretty sassy, in fact.
All in all, this is a good, quick cozy read.
June 5, 2024
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway, and I enjoyed it, so I'm writing a review to support the author.
This book is the second in the Violet Brewster cosy mysteries series. Cosy mysteries are my go-to genre for a relaxing, comforting read, so this was very much my kind of book. I would definitely read another book featuring Violet as a protagonist because I really liked her, and liked how she worked with the other characters. There were some humorous moments, and some more serious moments, and I felt the balance was just right.
The story is set in Derbyshire, and mentions locations that I've visited, so that really helped to bring the story to life for me, and I enjoyed picturing those locations in my mind as I read. This was a lovely book to relax with, and I would read it again.
Thank you very much to the author for sending me a copy.
This book is the second in the Violet Brewster cosy mysteries series. Cosy mysteries are my go-to genre for a relaxing, comforting read, so this was very much my kind of book. I would definitely read another book featuring Violet as a protagonist because I really liked her, and liked how she worked with the other characters. There were some humorous moments, and some more serious moments, and I felt the balance was just right.
The story is set in Derbyshire, and mentions locations that I've visited, so that really helped to bring the story to life for me, and I enjoyed picturing those locations in my mind as I read. This was a lovely book to relax with, and I would read it again.
Thank you very much to the author for sending me a copy.
February 18, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was eager to start the second one Murder at The Book Festival and it did not disappoint. The characters continue to develop, particularly Violet who is really growing on me. Another murder to solve with some good plot twists with Violet settling in to village life and getting to know the locals a little better. Just a little more about her past life is revealed in this book and I’m intrigued to learn more. Great cosy crime hope there will be more in this series.
May 20, 2024
The star is for the storyline which was fairly good. I really struggled with the style of writing though. It was trite and so full of clichés that it was like reading a creative writing check list. Such a shame because a better choice of language would have improved it massively.
January 13, 2024
Murder at the Book Festival is a great book to curl up with a cup of hot tea and escape to the small Derbyshire village of Merrywell in the English countryside. Stroll among the shops, meet the wonderful people who care about each other and are eagerly anticipating the upcoming book festival with something for everyone. The book festival will bring in much needed revenue and is welcoming home Merrywell's most famous ex-resident Leonie Stanwick, a famous romance novelist.
There is only one thing that will interrupt all this country charm - a murder!
This is the first book I have read by Jane Bettany and I discovered a gem and a go-to author for a well-written British mystery. Ms. Bettany has an easy-going style and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her fictional town and all of the wonderful characters. I am amazed when an author creates an entire place out of their imaginations and all of the fictional inhabitants work together with the shops, restaurants, homes and hotels, to tell the story. I will definitely be a frequent visitor to Merrywell. This is part of a series of books and Violet Brewster, who moved Merrywell to start over from her divorce, is the lead character, who cleverly tells the story and who helps the police solve the mystery.
In addition to Violet and discovering whodunit, we get a budding romance, a quirky ex-husband, fudge. a cat, a luxury hotel, a long-time secret revealed and a rekindling of an old flame as part of the story. Trying to solve the mystery along with Violet will keep you guessing, I thought I had it figured out, but then I realized it could have been several people. This is definitely a book to read when you want a quick, addicting book to escape into for a while.
There is only one thing that will interrupt all this country charm - a murder!
This is the first book I have read by Jane Bettany and I discovered a gem and a go-to author for a well-written British mystery. Ms. Bettany has an easy-going style and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her fictional town and all of the wonderful characters. I am amazed when an author creates an entire place out of their imaginations and all of the fictional inhabitants work together with the shops, restaurants, homes and hotels, to tell the story. I will definitely be a frequent visitor to Merrywell. This is part of a series of books and Violet Brewster, who moved Merrywell to start over from her divorce, is the lead character, who cleverly tells the story and who helps the police solve the mystery.
In addition to Violet and discovering whodunit, we get a budding romance, a quirky ex-husband, fudge. a cat, a luxury hotel, a long-time secret revealed and a rekindling of an old flame as part of the story. Trying to solve the mystery along with Violet will keep you guessing, I thought I had it figured out, but then I realized it could have been several people. This is definitely a book to read when you want a quick, addicting book to escape into for a while.
February 7, 2024
Book Review: Murder at the Book Festival by Jane Bettany
Rating: 3.5 stars
In "Murder at the Book Festival" by Jane Bettany, readers are transported to the charming village of Merrywell, where the much-anticipated book festival takes a dark turn when someone is found murdered. Amateur sleuth Violet Brewster takes on the challenge of unraveling the mystery behind the shocking crime, delving into the secrets and suspicions lurking in her own neighborhood.
Bettany's storytelling shines in this well-written and well-paced mystery novel. The plot is intricately woven with plenty of twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the very end. Red herrings are strategically placed throughout the narrative, adding layers of intrigue to the investigation.
The characters in the book are not only well-developed but also immensely likable, making it easy to invest in their stories and motivations. The cozy setting of the small village adds an extra layer of charm to the narrative, creating a comforting backdrop for the unfolding mystery.
Overall, "Murder at the Book Festival" is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries. Jane Bettany has crafted a compelling story that leaves readers wanting more. I eagerly anticipate future books from this promising author.
If you're looking for a gripping mystery to curl up with on a cozy evening, "Murder at the Book Festival" is a perfect choice that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 3.5 stars
In "Murder at the Book Festival" by Jane Bettany, readers are transported to the charming village of Merrywell, where the much-anticipated book festival takes a dark turn when someone is found murdered. Amateur sleuth Violet Brewster takes on the challenge of unraveling the mystery behind the shocking crime, delving into the secrets and suspicions lurking in her own neighborhood.
Bettany's storytelling shines in this well-written and well-paced mystery novel. The plot is intricately woven with plenty of twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the very end. Red herrings are strategically placed throughout the narrative, adding layers of intrigue to the investigation.
The characters in the book are not only well-developed but also immensely likable, making it easy to invest in their stories and motivations. The cozy setting of the small village adds an extra layer of charm to the narrative, creating a comforting backdrop for the unfolding mystery.
Overall, "Murder at the Book Festival" is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of classic whodunits and cozy mysteries. Jane Bettany has crafted a compelling story that leaves readers wanting more. I eagerly anticipate future books from this promising author.
If you're looking for a gripping mystery to curl up with on a cozy evening, "Murder at the Book Festival" is a perfect choice that will keep you entertained from start to finish.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
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