Murder on Bluebell Hill: Perfect for fans of cozy crime and amateur sleuth mysteries in 2026!

Violet Brewster #4

by Jane Bettany

'If it’s cosy crime you’re after, this has all the essential ingredients' Daily Mail

'Clear your diaries for another marvellous Merrywell mystery!' Clare Chase

'Kept me guessing right until the end' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If you’re looking for a cosy murder mystery then I 100% recommend this book.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In a quaint village in the Peak District, murder is brewing…

Violet Brewster is settling into the quiet life in Merrywell. The last thing she needs is to get mixed up in a police investigation…

When a snazzy tearoom opens at the local garden centre on Bluebell Hill, residents flock to visit the establishment. But not everyone is happy about the new business venture…

Matters escalate when the owner of the tearoom is found dead on the premises. As Violet unwittingly finds herself at the centre of another murder mystery, can she shift suspicion away from those closest to her and find the true culprit?

Praise for the Violet Brewster 'An entertaining and engaging cozy mystery set against a beautiful backdrop.’ Clare Chase

‘A thoroughly enjoyable and suspenseful story’ Daily Mail

‘Jane Bettany delivers cosy with a dash of sass – thoroughly enjoyable and utterly irresistible’ Peter Boland

‘A murder mystery with a blossoming romance … what more could one ask for? Delicious!’ Katie Gayle

‘Completely compelling from the get-go, I didn’t want to put it down! Brilliant cosy mystery at its most charming best.’ Jonathan Whitelaw

‘A perfect cosy mystery with an engaging cast of characters and a beautifully drawn setting’ Roz Watkins

'If you love cozy crime/mystery books then you will not be disappointed… A book to put to the top of your ‘must read now’ pile!’ C.L. Peache

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Audiobook, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2025

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new tearoom has opened at the garden centre on the outskirts of Merrywell which looks very nice, unless, of course, you are the owner of a popular café and coffee shop in the center of Merrywell itself. Violet Brewster finds herself trying out the new eatery because her best friend Fiona needs to check up on the competition! When she discovers a dead body by the water features the following morning Violet is determined to keep away from the investigation but somehow she just can't help herself, especially when someone close to her emerges as the prime suspect! 

Book four in this cosy series was a good read. There was plenty going on, and the unpopularity of the victim meant there was no shortage of suspects to work through! Violet is a fun main protagonist, and I look forward to returning to Merrywell again soon.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, HQ Digital, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is another good addition to this series, which has definitely found its feet now.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a snazzy tearoom opens at the local garden centre on Bluebell Hill, residents flock to visit the establishment. Including Violet Brewster But not everyone is happy about the new business venture.
Matters escalate when the owner of the tearoom is found dead on the premises. As Violet unwittingly finds herself at the centre of another murder mystery.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I do really like Violet & co. Another very well written cosy mystery, there were the obligatory twists, turns & red herrings as well as intrigue. A fun, entertaining cosy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed & an added bonus was that I was kept guessing until the end
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Haxxunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder she brewed
—
In her fourth outing, Violet Brewster and her friend and cafe owner Fiona are checking out the new competition, the refurbished tearoom at the garden centre, managed by the unpopular Hilary Spenbeck. As things come to a head with Hilary, Fiona is forced to leave and Violet gallantly follows her friend. But when Hilary turns up dead the next day, Fiona is suspect number one, and it’s up to Violet to step in to save her friend.

I love me a cosy mystery. If the police were tracking these cosy mystery amateur sleuths—and let’s be honest, if you were any self-respecting police force in the countryside, you’d wonder why this particularly person kept turning up in the latest murder investigation—they’d be arresting them immediately for at least abetting the murderer. It’s just too handy, that they’re in the wrong place at the right time, there to help the police. This was a perfect afternoon’s read, enough to engage my brain but not enough to make me work hard.

Three and a half stars

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The local garden center in Merrywell recently added a cafe to their already booming business so Violet and Fiona went there to check out the competition. Just as they were preparing to leave, the owner, Hilary Spenbeck confronted them which quickly turned ugly resulting in what appeared to be Fiona knocking Hilary down. The following morning Hilary's body is discovered face down in a fountain on display inside the store. Fiona becomes a "person of interest" after the death is declared a homicide. Violet cannot let her best friend be suspected of murdering someone so she begins investigating the incident the only way she knows how - by talking and asking questions of Merrywell's citizens. Also in this book, Matthew proposes that he and Violet take their friendship to the next level. It has been a while since his wife died. But Violet has just begun to appreciate being on her own and making decisions for herself since her divorce was finalized.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, I enjoyed this relaxing read!

It was another entertaining trip to the delightful villages and countryside of Derbyshire, in the company of Violet Brewster. I feel as though I've got to know Violet well over the four books of this cosy crime series. She’s so relatable: an independent woman of a certain age, who’s a good friend and neighbour and who’ll never say no to a blueberry muffin!

When a (not very nice) woman – the owner of a new garden centre teashop – is found dead, suspicion falls on several people, not least, Violet’s best friend, Fiona. Needless to say, Violet soon gets involved in trying to solve the mystery.

As always, there were plenty of twists and turns in the story before Violet helped to uncover the truth! (And I hadn’t guessed who the villain was).

I look forward to the next in the series – and hopefully more about Violet and Matthew’s on-going, later-in-life romance!

[zoe Hitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new tea room is opening at the garden centre in Bluebell Hill and Violet and her best friend are checking it out .
Fiona wants to see if the tea room will have an impact on her own business , the business is busy and Fiona is more than a little down hearted .
Hilary one of the owners has a nasty conversation with Fiona which soons turns ugly and it looks like to the other customers in the tea room that Hilary is pushed over by Fiona .
That’s not the case but that is how it appears
Violet visits the garden centre the next day and finds one of the owners prone on the floor , the last thing Violet wants is to be in the middle of a police investigation , but that is exactly what happens ..
The main suspect is Fiona due to the incident the day before .
Can Violet prove that her friend is not a murderer ?
The story makes a great read , the characters are likeable and make for an enjoyable read.
An entertaining cosy read!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a joy to catch up with Violet Brewster, Matthew Collis, Fiona and Eric Nash. The story begins with the opening of a new tearoom near to Books, Bakes and Cakes are in Merrywell. Fiona and Violet go to sample the food and end up in a situation that no one could foresee. The owner of the tearoom at the Bluebell Hill Garden Centre has been discovered dead. DS Charlie Winterton is on hand to investigate the goings on and tries to find the culprit. However, he soon realises, that Violet cannot help herself to play at amateur sleuth. I love the plot, it was fast paced, an unputdownable read, and the characters are fantastic. All the sub plots weave together to a dramatic conclusion.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet and her friend and cafe owner Fiona are checking out the competition at the garden centre tearoom. An unfortunate incident has them leaving abruptly, but Violet has to return the next day on business. The tearoom owner meets a suspicious end, which embroiled Violet in the investigation. There are plenty of suspects and motives, and the story is well-paced. The investigation is absorbing, and Violet is a character you invest in. I also enjoyed the setting, as I know the area well.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! It was so cosy and easy to read.

I had such a good time with this, this is book 4 and I must admit I haven’t read the other two, but I will be ASAP!

The writing in this was engaging and the story glowed beautiful all the way through. I absolutely adored Violet, I loved her character. She was so likeable.

If you’re looking for a cosy murder mystery then I 100% recommend this book.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good series. I like the character of Violet. She's moved to a new town after her divorce and has to start her career again, and make new friends. She's successful with both. While interviewing for a job to make a small film for a garden center, she discovers the wife dead from drowning in a fountain, and her husband distraught. It had just happened. When her friend Fiona is considered a suspect, Violet is determined to prove her innocence.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid addition to this series. I do wish it had been a bit longer of a page count though - the ending felt somewhat rushed because of this.
The first book I believe is still the longest of the series, and I know there's another coming out later in the year, around the same page count as this book. While I do enjoy this cosy crime series, hopefully any more after book 5 will be at least 300 pages to fill the mystery out a bit more...??

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous instalment of the murder mysteries Violet Brewster manages to get herself mixed up in. Cosy by nature and intriguing entirely this series is a joy to read. I can’t wait for the next one! The murderer kept me guessing right until the end which for me is the sign of a great mystery read.

Thanks Netgalley

[Linda Leedham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from Jane Bettany solving the murder on Blueberry hill now waiting for the next book out soon . I did wonder at the beginning of the story if that was the murderer but I changed my mind many times before the end of the book. I do smile at the antics of Violet and what she gets herself into trying to solve these murders , she would do well to change jobs to the police force 😀

[Kristen Kase-Janowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great read

I love this series! They are fun and I enjoy the multiple story lines happening, even more so that they are not so all over the place that it’s hard to keep track of them. Can’t wait to read the Christmas Murder story!

[A.A.B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading this series out of order, but so far it's been quite steady. The resolution of this mystery was sketchy, but in these books there is usually enough of other plotlines going on to make the mystery less important.

[Theresa Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

always love a trip to Merrywell. brilliant read as always.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely cosy crime mystery.

[Jacqueline Chipperfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Very good story, lots of plot twists and an excellent ending. Glad Violet's love life is coming along nicely with Matthew.