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Smart Woman's Mystery #1-5
The Complete Smart Woman’s Mysteries Books 1–5
Searching for your new favourite detectives? Meet Ursula and Pandora Smart, two sharp-tongued crime lovers turned amateur sleuths . . .
***Winner of the People’s Book Prize for Fiction 2021***
One award-winning author. Five wickedly witty whodunnits. The Golden Age of murder mystery brought bang up to date.
“An unusual and enjoyable take on the classic-style country house mystery. It kept me guessing to the end.” Faith Martin, bestselling author
Meet the Smarts
Dreamy young bookworm Ursula Smart is never happier than when she has her nose in a baffling murder mystery. She dreams of being a bestselling crime writer, but to save money while she pens her masterpiece, she moves back in with her bossy mother Pandora. On the plus side, she can wander the dusty shelves of her mother's antique bookshop for inspiration. There’s even a book club for her to join. But not everyone in the group is friendly. At least one member is hiding a shocking secret . . .
Ursula’s acid-tongued mother, Pandora Smart, spends her time managing her beloved bookstore and writing her blog, Death Smarts, where she reveals the family’s close encounters with death. But despite her disapproval of her relatives’ exploits, especially those of Ursula and her formidable Aunt Charlotte, Pandora would risk her life for her family and is all too often called upon to do just that.
***Winner of the People’s Book Prize for Fiction 2021***
One award-winning author. Five wickedly witty whodunnits. The Golden Age of murder mystery brought bang up to date.
“An unusual and enjoyable take on the classic-style country house mystery. It kept me guessing to the end.” Faith Martin, bestselling author
Meet the Smarts
Dreamy young bookworm Ursula Smart is never happier than when she has her nose in a baffling murder mystery. She dreams of being a bestselling crime writer, but to save money while she pens her masterpiece, she moves back in with her bossy mother Pandora. On the plus side, she can wander the dusty shelves of her mother's antique bookshop for inspiration. There’s even a book club for her to join. But not everyone in the group is friendly. At least one member is hiding a shocking secret . . .
Ursula’s acid-tongued mother, Pandora Smart, spends her time managing her beloved bookstore and writing her blog, Death Smarts, where she reveals the family’s close encounters with death. But despite her disapproval of her relatives’ exploits, especially those of Ursula and her formidable Aunt Charlotte, Pandora would risk her life for her family and is all too often called upon to do just that.
1455 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2025
About the author
Victoria Dowd
21 books84 followersVictoria is a crime writer and her first novel, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder, won The People’s Book Prize 2020/2021. It was also In Search of the Classic Mystery’s book of the year 2020. It’s the first in the Smart Woman’s mystery series. The second is Body on the Island and the third, The Supper Club Murders is out on 16th September. They are a dark comedy take on the classic whodunnit.
She is also an award winning writer of short fiction, having won the Gothic Fiction prize for short fiction by Go Gothic. She was the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award and her work has been short listed and Highly commended by Writers’ Forum magazine. She was also long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in various literary and arts journals such as BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Gold Dust magazine and Dream Catcher. She has spoken at various literary festivals, most recently in Bath, and at various schools and book groups. Her historical fiction, The Painter of Siena, was published in 2016.
After studying law at Cambridge University, she was a criminal law barrister for many years, but finally hung up the wig in favour of more fictional crimes.
She is also an award winning writer of short fiction, having won the Gothic Fiction prize for short fiction by Go Gothic. She was the runner up in The New Writer’s writer of the year award and her work has been short listed and Highly commended by Writers’ Forum magazine. She was also long-listed for The Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition. She has had short stories published in various literary and arts journals such as BTS Literary and Arts Annual, Gold Dust magazine and Dream Catcher. She has spoken at various literary festivals, most recently in Bath, and at various schools and book groups. Her historical fiction, The Painter of Siena, was published in 2016.
After studying law at Cambridge University, she was a criminal law barrister for many years, but finally hung up the wig in favour of more fictional crimes.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 20, 2025
Gripping!
I wasn't sure about this series, but thanks to Joffe's excellent pricing I decided I had nothing to lose by reading. Well, I wasn't quite correct. Although the time spent reading wasn't actually lost, I was amazed how unputdownable the stories were!
The people were real despite all having their individual excentricities.
I was concerned, though, for Victoria Dowd, the amazing author. Her understanding and drives of Ursula Smart's anxiety and its manifestation made me feel that she was describing her own mental health. If so, then she has been brave to be able to share. If the descriptions are based on her research then she has amazing empathy.
I shall be looking out for more of her books in the Joffe library.
I wasn't sure about this series, but thanks to Joffe's excellent pricing I decided I had nothing to lose by reading. Well, I wasn't quite correct. Although the time spent reading wasn't actually lost, I was amazed how unputdownable the stories were!
The people were real despite all having their individual excentricities.
I was concerned, though, for Victoria Dowd, the amazing author. Her understanding and drives of Ursula Smart's anxiety and its manifestation made me feel that she was describing her own mental health. If so, then she has been brave to be able to share. If the descriptions are based on her research then she has amazing empathy.
I shall be looking out for more of her books in the Joffe library.
June 21, 2025
I reviewed each book separately. There are 5 in the series.
March 31, 2026
Story
Good stories but tedious to read. Had to space the books with other books so I didn’t get bogged down.
Good stories but tedious to read. Had to space the books with other books so I didn’t get bogged down.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews