Murder in the Cotswolds

by Greta Sinclair

who knew they could be so deadly?

When international food critic Darcy Finnegan and her bestie, visit the charming Cotswolds for a mouthwatering bake-off, -they didn’t expect murder on the menu.

But when the judge drops dead mid-bite, whispering his chilling last words, Darcy is compelled to crack the case.

With the help of her bestie and her trusty Schnoodle, Mozart, they begin to sniff out cryptic clues.

It turns out everybody had it in for the judge —a jolly baker, a mysterious apothecary, and a newcomer with a shadowy past.

The plot thickens as Darcy discovers an unsavory web of deceptive motives and encounters unexpected obstacles.

There’s something sinister baking in this English village and Darcy has to race against time to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

Genres: Mystery

52 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2024

Reviews

[Mazzy Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not quite novella sized. I downloaded it from a collection of free ebooks and this is probably designed as a reader magnet … if it was intended to pique my interest in reading more from this author, it didn’t do its job. Told in first person point-of-view, it has some cute expressions, some pleasant descriptions of locations and food, a dog who is probably supposed to capture hearts (if only the dog could talk) but it did not engage me emotionally as a reader nor create any sense of investment in the main characters, something I look for in a series.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Cotswolds is the first book by Greta Sinclair that I have enjoyed reading, and I am certain it won’t be the last. I was pulled deep into its world when I read the first page. There was plenty of mystery and suspense.

Darcy Finnegan and her best friend Lizzie visit the charming Cotswolds for a mouthwatering bake-off. Darcy then travels the world looking for food to blog about. One thing they were not looking for was for the judge to drop dead right before their eyes.

Darcy and Lizzie, with the help of Darcy’s little dog Mozart, start their investigation into who might have wanted to harm the judge. The more they question everyone in the small town, the longer their suspect list becomes.

Darcy and Lizzie decide to start by questioning the shop owners. Their investigation turns up a list of suspects who may have had it out for the judge.

There were quite a few twists and turns that kept the story flowing with ease. After interviewing the shop owners the clues they find bring up more secrets and the mystery deepens. I couldn’t stop reading I had to know who did it.

I highly recommend Murder in the Cotswolds to all mystery fans! Grab a copy of Murder in the Cotswolds today!

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short well written mystery that keeps you engaged. Darcy Finnegan, her photojournalist Elizabeth Hayes, and Darcy's dog, Mozart, visit the charming Cotswolds to report on the great food there for her food blog. But they didn't expect to find a murder at the bake-off. When the judge dies after taking a bite of one of the entrants he mutters some strange words. Was it a clue? What does it mean? Then Mozart finds a clue and the girls are off on an investigation of their own. And they find there is a plethora of suspects and they have their work cut out. Can they find a murderer and stay out of danger themselves? I really liked this book and the characters were well done. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder in the Cotswolds is a relatively good short story precursor to a series. The descriptive writing is well done and the end of the story nicely leads into what could be another adventure.

For me the main character, Darcy, seems to be a bit too in-your-face in her dealings with other people and I don’t love her because of that. As I read through I found that there were some things that don’t make sense to me (like the relationship with the DI that seems like they should have some history to make their actions more believable) or how she brings evidence to the attention of potential subjects (which gives them the chance to get rid of it.)

I think there is potential here and wish you good luck with the series Ms. Sinclair.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
This was a “new to me author” and she didn’t disappoint. This was an endearing mystery adventure trying to figure out who did it before the author let us know was fun all the while letting us get to know the characters and places they were. This won’t be the last book I read of hers.
There were no sexual references or language so I can safely recommend this to my preteen advanced reading friends or anyone that wants a good story. And even though this is part of a series you don’t have to read them in order (I didn’t as this was my first snd so far only book by thus author) .

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m very torn about reviewing this cozy mystery. This is the second book I’ve read in this series, and while the first—set in Scotland—was one of my favorite cozy mysteries of the year, this one fell quite a bit short of that mark.

It’s not because it’s shorter. In fact, I appreciated that the mystery hit the ground running right away. However, everything wrapped up so simply that it felt underwhelming.

That said, will I stop reading the series? No. I actually plan to read another to see how it compares, and I’m hoping for a storyline as exciting as the first one I read.

[Stevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

short and full of baking puns

Although this was a short mystery, it was fun to read. I really enjoyed all the baking puns both Darcy and her best friend Lizzie used as they hunted for the murderer that struck an unpleasant judge during the town’s baking contest. The fast pace and clever amateur detective work kept me turning page after page until the surprise culprit was revealed.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Something's cooking all right, and I think it's up to us to make sure the police have all the right ingredients."

When Darcy Hayes,her Snoodle Mozart and her sidekick Lizzie Finnegan arrive in the Cotswolds to visit a food festival they run into a food critic nobody likes, and he is soon dead by nefarious means.

Can Darcy and Mozart find out who and why someone killed George Bernard?

A fast read by a fairly new author for me, although I own some others of hers. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick, lovely trip into the Cotswolds in the middle of a baking and pastry competition where a hated critic dies suspiciously. Turns out he was poisoned and the baker of the sponge cake in the deceased's hands is fingered for the crime. Darcy is not convinced, despite the cryptic clue the deceased mutters in her ear before he died. My fellow readers should enjoy the steps taken to find the real murderer and I definitely recommend they do so.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short story as introductery to the main charcter in her next three books. It was very fast read with just the right amount of info about the characters and what they do. I am looking forward to read the rest of Greta Sinclair's books. I have started to read Murder at Blackrock Castle and it looks to be just as interesting as the first book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this culinary cozy, the recipe in the back, and the history behind it. Those are three of my favorite elements in a cozy. I felt it had humor and great banter between the detective inspector and our amateur detectives. All in all, it was great fun. I received this book via Book Funnel when I joined the author’s newsletter.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I downloaded this short story and a couple of others from a list of free books. Sadly, both were a waste of time. Lack of character development and gaping plot holes left me with no desire to pick up any other titles from the list. In fact, I deleted all the remaining downloads without opening them.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darcy and her friend and her dog are in the Cotswolds at a judging competition when the judge collapses and dies after eating sponge cake. Darcy tries to help but is unable to save the man she investigates the murder. This was a really fun story and I recommend it.

[J And · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Second Wonderful Mystery!

This second Darcy and Mozart mystery is also a fun page turner. Murder, of course, is not fun, but the adventures Darcy, Mozart, and Lizzie have in trying to solve the mystery are. You won't want to miss this one either!

[Megan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a novella it was a quick read. It was fun and was a quick solve of the mystery that the two ladies found themselves in. The characters were well drawn and it would be fun to read more.

[Sarah Lewin · Rating 5 out of 5]

English countryside, baking and cakes, a clever dog, two women sleuths, a cozy mystery, what could be better than this! Can't wait to read more from this author.

[CR1017 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder in the Cotswolds: A Delightfully Unputdownable Cozy Culinary Mystery is a short novella, but an entertaining quick read with a quirky collection of characters.

[Sunny Lovestories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women to the rescue! With the help of a dog named Mozart. Quick read with wit and charm all while a mystery is unraveled right before us

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining short cozy mystery

An entertaining quick read. A short cozy mystery with great characters and a really cute dog who sniffs out the clues.

[Jan Sjostrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story made one want to go to England . Darcy and company are visiting a bake off when one of the judges gets killed. Lots of twists and turns kept the story moving fast

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet. Darcy, Lizzie and Mozart are at again, discovering clues with the help of Mozzie. Enjoyed reading, the perfect length for a quick read. Recommend reading.

[teal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, entertaining read

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although not as long or as convoluted as some of the other mysteries in this series I still enjoyed it. I love the characters and the story was good, just a bit quick for me, still good though. I look forward to more in the series.

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Cotswald

Murder in the Cotswald brings a food blog ,a photographer and a Schnoodle to this island and helps solve a murder. Short and sweet! I loved it!