Death in the Countryside: A Novel

Wren & Wilson #1

by Maria Malone

The sudden disappearance of a local woman reopens an old case in a small English town where everyone knows everyone’s business. 

This debut police dog mystery will delight fans of Ann Cleeves and Margaret Mizushima.

Sergeant Ali Wren has recently returned to her charming Yorkshire hometown of Heft, accompanied by her trusty canine companion Officer PD Wilson, a Springer Spaniel with a nose for trouble. Together they are the police force quietly serving the town.

When Brian, an older resident, reports his wife, Melody, missing, Ali at first suspects a routine case. Melody, tired of playing dutiful wife to an inattentive husband, may simply have left. But suspicion soon begins to mount when it emerges that Brian’s first wife died under tragic circumstances and Ali uncovers evidence of Melody’s recent puzzling behavior.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, British Literature

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

My first crime novel, A Deadly Affair in the Dales (published as Death in the Countryside in the US) will be out in August 2025.
I've worked in regional journalism and TV and have ghosted autobiographies (Tony Hadley, Little Mix, Mica Paris, Girls Aloud and others).

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is also published under the title Death in the Dales.

Sergeant Ali Wren is the sole police person in a small village in the English countryside. As such she gets mostly small crime to deal with until a resident in the village reports his wife as missing. Has she left under her own devices or has something worse occurred? Luckily Ali has her police dog Wilson at her side and he is really the star of the whole story.

The book is a cross between a police procedural and a cosy mystery. The author writes well and much better than the average cosy. Having the main character a police person who can legally question people also leans towards police procedural. However the presence of a very talented Spaniel and all the small town characters puts it squarely into cosy country.

Whichever genre it is I enjoyed it very much and would be happy to read a sequel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out very slowly as Ali, who is a new officer in the local police department, gets a case where a man named Brian says his wife is missing. Did she leave voluntarily? Is she still alive? It's hard to believe that Ali, in her efforts to aid the poor helpless man, cooks for him and irons his shirts. The second half of the book gets better as Ali solves a 20 year old murder, deals with a local bakery vendetta, and searches tirelessly for the missing woman. Her dog Wilson, who goes with her everywhere, is another big asset to the story. Four stars for the second half and for the dog. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

When a husband reports his wife missing, Sergeant Ali Wren and her K-9 Springer Spaniel, Officer PD Wilson, are on the case. Ali has just returned to her quiet hometown of Heft as the lone officer, and so far, the cases have been routine, but this one becomes more intense as a woman leaving a relationship of her own free will turns to more nefarious reasons for her disappearance. Can Ali and Wilson find the answers they need? Or will this missing person case go cold?

In meeting Sergeant Ali Wren, we see that rural policing is much more than investigations and arrests. Ali is on call 24 hours a day to keep the peace, settle disputes, and help the people of Heft in any way that she can. She loves her job, but it is frustrating at times. I love the “soft approach” she has when meeting with members of the community. One moment, she could be making a cup of tea, or an omelet, or a variety of other tasks to put people at ease and open up. Her husband Nick works from home and sometimes travels, but when they are together, the love they share is evident. Canine Officer PD Wilson is a smart dog who does his job very well and enjoys being by Ali’s side, whether using his super sniffer on a case or just taking a walk for some fresh air. Ms. Malone does a fine job with her core characters as they strive to find the balance between work and home life.

Ali handles several smaller cases while searching for information about the missing woman. Because of this, the book has a slower pace and a disjointed feel. I appreciated how she investigated using all her resources. She also questioned people several times after it was clear they were holding back or lying. It was very satisfying when the last clue fell into place. She also solves cold case. I found that case as interesting as her current missing person case. Another case had a twisted and surprising ending. All three cases worked; I just wish they were blended more so that it didn’t feel like three separate stories.

I did enjoy the author’s detailed descriptions of each place Ali and Wilson traveled. One place was literally a cliffhanger, and I felt like I was right there.

Death in the Countryside was an entertaining read. I found Ali and Nick to be very likable, and Wilson adorable. I would love for this book to bloom into a series, so we could get to know them better. I am sure Heft/Yorkshire has plenty more mysteries Ali could solve.

I was a little confused when I saw Maria Malone had another book on Amazon with the same cover but a different title. At first glance, I thought A Deadly Affair in the Dales was the next book in this series. Then I read the blurb and realized it was the same story with a different publisher, which I now know, after a bit of research, is a publisher in the UK. So, different titles for different countries.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death in the Countryside" by Maria Malone is set in the English countryside. Sergeant Ali Wren is getting established as the local Bobby of her hometown. We also get the occasional viewpoint of other characters. She's the only police officer stationed there too. This means she pretty much has zero time off from the trivial stuff the villagers feel need mediation.

The story primarily revolves around the disappearance of a missing woman. However, there are two subplot mysteries too. They're not really related to the missing woman and could have been their own books. Or, at least, they really didn't connect other than they overlap time wise for Ali.

Despite seemingly being a police procedural mystery it is really quite cozy mystery. It's very cozy mystery with the main character just have a bit more authority than the usual cozy mystery main character.

[Melisa Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death in the Countryside" came across as a cozy mystery even though the heroine is a police officer. Ali's the only police officer in a small town, and her main job seemed to be to help people get along. Ali's dog partner was trained by her and mainly acted as an emotional support dog. People liked to pet the attentive dog and would say things to him that they weren't comfortable saying directly to Ali. She occasionally let the dog off his leash to sniff around with the vague assurance that he'd let her know if he found something important. He found several critical clues with no obvious guidance from Ali on what he should look for (a dead body, drugs, evidence, etc.).

The mystery was clue-based and was paced more like a detective mystery. Ali gathered information, followed up on clues, and used police resources to dig into background information and such. She tended to assume the best about people and helped them out even when they didn't ask for help. I was willing to accuse whodunit long before Ali had the proof she needed to do the same. I liked that she did get her proof for the missing woman, the murder, and the bakery shops rivalry.

There were no sex scenes. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.

I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Mandy Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
This one starts just a little slow, but then gets better.
Strong FMC (Ali), which I love.
Character development was done very well throughout the book.
Cozy feels that were mixed in with mystery.
Small town. Small as in, there is only 1 police officer in the whole town (well, and Wilson, Ali's dog). Ali is trying to find a work-life balance.
People start going missing. The mystery develops.
The plot is structured very well. However, the pace was slow. Definitely a slow-burning mystery. I felt like there were some areas that could have been tightened up and sped up. Specifically, the first half of the book was very slow. Once things started happening (I don't want to give too much away), the pace got a little better.
Again - characters are well developed. Easy to connect with.
I have to say.. this almost reads like one of the older detective/police/crime shows. Something happens, clues are gathered, an investigation occurs, and then the bad guys are apprehended.
Overall, not a bad book. Good for a beach read. Quick and easy, not very thought-provoking, which I enjoy when on vacation.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review. I give this one 3 stars because it was a cute small town mystery read, but quite slow before things started happening, and unfortunately one too many characters introduced throughout.

With that being said I do enjoy how the author builds up to the main plot. I feel like we were never really sure as readers what actually happened to the missing person or who the suspect was. I like books where you are thrown left and right with clues as to who it might be.

I absolutely LOVED Wilson, he was the perfect other main character in the story. Showcasing how different people act based on if they’re dog persons or not was too real, and in my opinion made the FMC a bit more interesting. Ali Wren is impressive, doing all this work by herself, but her trusty side kick definitely added to that!

Overall an enjoyable read! I would recommend it to those who are in need of a new small town, countryside, muster book with a super cute dog as the MC’s bff, and a story that will keep you guessing until the very end!

[boogleloo · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5 stars: This is Malone's British Police Procedural Cozy-ish Mystery which is set in England and features a Sergeant and her trusty canine companion, who most often find themselves negotiating rival bakers and neighborhood squabbles. That is until an older resident reports his wife missing and while the woman might have simply gotten tired of playing dutiful wife and left without a word. Suspicions begins to mount when it emerges the husband's first wife died under tragic circumstances and evidence is uncovered of the missing woman's recent puzzling behavior. When she discovers that the disappearance may be connected to an old unsolved case she and her faithful dog will have their work cut out for them. While Malone's writing and character work are well done and this story has an intriguing plot this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 12%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Drebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Death in the Countryside” is a nicely done mystery by Maria Malone. I love the main character – Sergeant Ali Wren, who is very good at her job, and her canine companion, Officer PD Wilson, who is also good at his job and invaluable in helping solve mysteries. The two make a great pair. Also well done is the description of the town of Heft where Ali works and lives – a small English town where residents feel free to drop in on Ali and Wilson to discuss petty crime (often speaking more to Wilson than Ali!). Life in Heft can be a bit leisurely and so is this book – a nice relaxing book to read. Besides the two main mysteries (both involving disappearances), there are several smaller mysteries. All of these are well done and it is fun to read as Ali (and Wilson) unravel the crimes, not taking things at face value. There are moments of sadness but there are also moments of happiness and hints for happiness in the future. I don’t know if there will be future books involving Ali and Wilson but I hope so because I really enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Death in the Countryside" by Maria Malone is set in the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, where Sergeant Ali Wren is navigating her new role as the local police officer. The story centers around the disappearance of Brian's wife Melody, but it's complicated by two subplot mysteries that feel somewhat disconnected from the main case.

As the sole police officer in the area, Ali is overwhelmed with trivial village disputes, leaving her little time off. This adds to the story's tension and highlights the challenges of rural policing.

While the setting and characters show promise (I love Wilson), the subplots feel like separate stories, which can make the narrative feel disjointed. Despite this, the book has potential, and I'm interested in seeing how the series develops.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

#DeathintheCountryside #NetGalley is the first book I've read by this author, however, I absolutely loved it.
Sergeant Ali Wren and her canine police dog are determined to find out why two residents are missing.
Ali isn't sure if something bad happened or if it's just a case of a wife leaving her husband.
In her small town, everyone knows each other's business, so Ali and Officer Wilson, her smart canine partner, listen to the gossip and rumors, trying to sift through it all, hoping to find the one clue that will solve this mystery.

This is an easy to read story, filled with solid characters and a good mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sgt Ali Wren has returned to the small town of Heft in Yorkshire as the lone policeman (along with her dog, Officer Wilson). She wants to be involved in the community, but is swamped with all kinds of minor complaints that have nothing to do with the police. Before long, though, Ali has not one, but two missing persons cases to solve.
Ali is learning that she needs to balance work and her personal life, but it also feels right to her to be involved in her community. She is an excellent policeman and truly cares about people. She has a great relationship with her dog and the Yorkshire countryside is amazing. I really enjoyed this mystery.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder mystery with a dog? Sign me up!

Ali is a small town police officer, and with her dog Officer PS Wilson, they help keep the peace. However, when Melody, a local resident,goes missing it up to Ali and Wilson to uncover the secrets that lie behind the missing woman's disappearance.

I enjoyed Ali's character. She is meticulous and kind-hearted. Her detective skills are thorough, and she really enjoys serving justice. Wilson was a delight to read, so smart and passionate with his work.

A beautiful cozy murder mystery that is enjoyable from beginning to end!

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book primarily revolves around the case of a missing woman. However, there are two subplot mysteries too another missing person from 20 years ago and a bakery rivalry. Each mystery is unrelated but they overlap time wise for Ali. I expected this to be a police procedural as Ali is a serving police officer however this really had the feel of a cozy mystery which was a nice change. All the mystery's were resolved in the end and as Springer Spaniel owner of over 30 years Wilson made the book for me. 4 stars because it was very slow to get going but the second half was great. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately what had the potential of being a cozy read is bogged down by too many asides, from how tangential characters like their eggs to the importance of hiking poles. The primary case doesn't make a lot of sense, as new details emerge almost as if the foil any attempts to guess the murderer. The second case is introduced too late and is really strange. The small town drama even has a strange twist that didn't make sense. In hindsight, it feels like Malone was throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what stuck.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Maria Malone and I enjoyed it. The pace of the first half was slow so but once things started happening, the pace picked up and it was an enjoyable read. Ali and Wilson are a good team. I like that Ali has a legitimate reason to be investigating because that is her job. It is a cozy-ish police procedural.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I found the setting well established, consistent with the unfolding plot and important to the narrative. The characters were well established, enough to constitute a community but limited enough to keep track of and differentiated. An intelligent small town cop who doesn’t play it alone but develops networks of specialised and more experienced police in the region - makes for a great read . The dog is a bonus, playing a sensible role without dominating the narrative.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery enjoyable cosy crime, a good start to a new series.
My only complaint is that the second ‘crime’ she investigated was resolved very quickly, compared to Melody’s disappearance. Additionally, would a DS be so heavily involved in her village? Poetic license perhaps.
I look forward to the next book being published.
Melody was killed by the brother in law. Not sure why. The second case involved someone’s son having been missing for20 years. The DS found his body and suspected his girlfriend had killed him, as she had attempted to do with her current fiancé

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this new cozy, and look forward to another when it comes.

The author has created strong characters and believable scenarios. The plot features a number of spin-offs and reminded me a little in structure of local writer Garry Disher's Hirsch series which is not as cozy but also describes the role played by a local policeman.

5.0, BITTER WASH ROAD - Hirsch #1 - aka HELL TO PAY
5.0, PEACE- Hirsch #2
5.0, CONSOLATION - Hirsch #3
4.7, DAY'S END- Hirsch #4
4.7, MISCHANCE CREEK - Hirsch #5

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was sold! A small British Yorkshire, town, a female police officer and her trustee K9 partner? What’s not to love about that? The book itself did not disappoint and I cannot wait for more in this series. From the mystery to the coziness this was not quite what I was expecting given me protagonist detective, but it really hit the sweet spot with a current investigation and a cold case that ties in I’ll definitely be back for more in this series.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ali Wren returns to her home village of Heft as their new police constable with her police dog Wilson. Being a local girl everyone knows her and thinks nothing of calling day or night. When a local woman goes missing she starts her investigation and everyone in town has a theory. Along with the local bakeries going to war over stolen recipes, Ali has her hands full. This is book 1 in a new series, Wren and Wilson.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maria Malone does a great job of capturing the daily tasks of an officer in a small town. Unfortunately, it’s done in such detail that so much of the story is lost in it and comes off as dull. I could not get through this. Even the dog, which usually saves things for me, and his movements were so overly described that it was tedious. This wasn’t for me.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sargeant Ali Wren and Officer PD Wilson are the only police in this small town. Being that it is a small town every issue, police related or not, is brought to Ali. One of the men contacts her when is wife isn’t home in a timely manner. Is she just late or is he right, something has happened to her. Next day another villager is missing. Is he just missing, or is more going on here.

[June Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book and the very visual storytelling. The characters feel real and well rounded, including a most clever dog called Wilson! There's more than one crime to solve and for a cosy crime novel there's plenty of tension. Plus it all happens in a beautiful Yorkshire Dales setting. What more can you ask?
I'm eager to read the next one.

[NickeySummer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very light crime, where all the actual crime happens in the last few chapters! A lot of pre-rambling, some not altogether necessary, however it’s her first book and I’m
Guessing she’s setting us up for a series, so bedding in the characters ready for more crime in Heft and the surrounding area.
Thoroughly enjoyable, just a bit long winded at times.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started as a missing person turned not so much more. I really enjoyed reading Death in the Countryside. Strong female character with a down home feel. Many characters to keep up with, but in the end everything falls into place. Highly recommended this read.

[Kayla M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a NetGalley ARC — This book was a bit of a slow burn, cozy English mystery. It started a bit slower than I anticipated, but I ended up really enjoying it. This book was a good blend of a cozy mystery and lovely character development.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

As other readers have said this book starts out slowly, building a picture of Ali Wren and her faithful police dog Wilson. I’d describe this book as a ‘cosy detective’ story, one which takes in some of the Yorkshire areas along the way.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new author for me. I loved this book.