What do you think?
Rate this book
Alex Duggins Mystery #1-7
The Complete Cotswolds Murder Mysteries Books 1-7
1,400 pages. 7 fiendishly twisty whodunnits. One sleepy little English village where there is always a mystery to be solved.
Calling all armchair sleuths! Do you love a classic British mystery? Packed with enough red herrings and shifty suspects to keep you guessing until the final page? Then cozy up with a cup of tea and get ready to discover your new favourite series . . .
Welcome to Folly-on-the-Weir. A picture-perfect little village in the Cotswold Hills. To feisty thirty-something Alex Duggins, the place will always feel like home. She knows its twisty lanes like the back of her hand. From the village green to the babbling brook, and back home for a pint beside the roaring fire in the Black Dog Inn, where she grew up with her landlady mum.
As a headstrong teen, Alex couldn’t wait to escape to London, to make her mark as an artist. But now, peace is what she craves. A place to heal her broken heart after her messy divorce — and where better than Folly?
She’s determined to get her life back on track. Pulling pints at the Black Dog ought to be a cinch, but Alex is about to get more than she bargained for . . .
Out on a wintry walk in the woods, Alex stumbles across something terrible. A frosty corpse, buried deep in a drift of snow. His neck pierced by a vicious dart.
Just like that, Alex finds the finger of suspicion pointing at her!
Can she uncover the true killer, hiding in plain sight among her friends and neighbours, before someone silences her forever?
THE VILLAGE
A view of Folly from The Hill — as locals call it — is cause for a smile in any season. Let’s try December, early on a cold morning. Snow covers frozen twigs that crackle beneath your feet. The snowfall is only a fine swirl now. On a high point to the west stands ruined Tinley Tower, the folly the village was named for. Below, across the green with its frozen duck pond, honey-yellow cottages huddle. Thin smoke straggles from chimneys and lights shine through small leaded windows. Villagers wake early here. The Black Dog, Alex Duggins’ pub, sits at the heart of it all, strands of coloured lights shining along its eaves. George’s bakery van is already on its rounds, as is the Lovell’s Dairy lorry. It’s too early for the scarlet-blazered children to be climbing on the school bus, but dog walkers are already marching through the narrow streets and across the green. Idyllic. Deceptively so?
Book 1: FOLLY
Book 2: OUT COMES THE EVIL
Book 3: MELODY OF MURDER
Book 4: LIES THAT BIND
Book 5: WHISPER THE DEAD
Book 6: TRAP LANE
Book 7: THE PLAYING FIELDS
Calling all armchair sleuths! Do you love a classic British mystery? Packed with enough red herrings and shifty suspects to keep you guessing until the final page? Then cozy up with a cup of tea and get ready to discover your new favourite series . . .
Welcome to Folly-on-the-Weir. A picture-perfect little village in the Cotswold Hills. To feisty thirty-something Alex Duggins, the place will always feel like home. She knows its twisty lanes like the back of her hand. From the village green to the babbling brook, and back home for a pint beside the roaring fire in the Black Dog Inn, where she grew up with her landlady mum.
As a headstrong teen, Alex couldn’t wait to escape to London, to make her mark as an artist. But now, peace is what she craves. A place to heal her broken heart after her messy divorce — and where better than Folly?
She’s determined to get her life back on track. Pulling pints at the Black Dog ought to be a cinch, but Alex is about to get more than she bargained for . . .
Out on a wintry walk in the woods, Alex stumbles across something terrible. A frosty corpse, buried deep in a drift of snow. His neck pierced by a vicious dart.
Just like that, Alex finds the finger of suspicion pointing at her!
Can she uncover the true killer, hiding in plain sight among her friends and neighbours, before someone silences her forever?
THE VILLAGE
A view of Folly from The Hill — as locals call it — is cause for a smile in any season. Let’s try December, early on a cold morning. Snow covers frozen twigs that crackle beneath your feet. The snowfall is only a fine swirl now. On a high point to the west stands ruined Tinley Tower, the folly the village was named for. Below, across the green with its frozen duck pond, honey-yellow cottages huddle. Thin smoke straggles from chimneys and lights shine through small leaded windows. Villagers wake early here. The Black Dog, Alex Duggins’ pub, sits at the heart of it all, strands of coloured lights shining along its eaves. George’s bakery van is already on its rounds, as is the Lovell’s Dairy lorry. It’s too early for the scarlet-blazered children to be climbing on the school bus, but dog walkers are already marching through the narrow streets and across the green. Idyllic. Deceptively so?
Book 1: FOLLY
Book 2: OUT COMES THE EVIL
Book 3: MELODY OF MURDER
Book 4: LIES THAT BIND
Book 5: WHISPER THE DEAD
Book 6: TRAP LANE
Book 7: THE PLAYING FIELDS
1400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2025
About the author
Stella Cameron
117 books423 followersStella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series. Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron’s reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.
Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.
Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 2, 2026
I'm sorry to say that I found this series utterly dismal. From very early on in the first book, things jarred; things simply did not feel quite right. From the expressions the characters used, to the way they behaved and the names of the places concerned (Leaves of Comfort? Really? For a British tea shop?) I began to get the nagging feeling that the author was an American, and one who had never spent enough time in Britain to realise that writing in "English" is not enough to erase cultural differences. I'm afraid that spoilt the series for me. I'm sensitive enough to language that I want the characters to speak in an appropriate form of English for the place they are in, and these don't. I didn't bother to finish the series; the stories are pretty thin, and frankly, it's not worth the effort. I'm sure Ms. Cameron could have written very good American stories, but writing 'British' stories in the style of an American 'cozy' mystery just jars.
April 20, 2025
Annoyingly compulsive series
The fact that the heroine ABSOLUTELY KNOWS she shouldn’t hide info from the police she puts herself in jeopardy every time. It’s infuriating because the author relies on that as a plot mechanism when all it indicates is serial stupidity. However, plots are intriguing and secondary characters are well drawn, so I gnashed my teeth through the entire series.
The fact that the heroine ABSOLUTELY KNOWS she shouldn’t hide info from the police she puts herself in jeopardy every time. It’s infuriating because the author relies on that as a plot mechanism when all it indicates is serial stupidity. However, plots are intriguing and secondary characters are well drawn, so I gnashed my teeth through the entire series.
July 30, 2026
very good
The stories are great, but the ends felt incomplete. Once invested in a story, I want to know more about the outcome. Example: what happened to Hugh's distillery?
In the story that the characters from a prior murder came back to Folly, the editing or proofreading missed several errors. The Major got a promotion to Admiral. And violinist became a singer. Sorry not good spelling ENGLISH name. Also, what became of Annie?
The stories are great, but the ends felt incomplete. Once invested in a story, I want to know more about the outcome. Example: what happened to Hugh's distillery?
In the story that the characters from a prior murder came back to Folly, the editing or proofreading missed several errors. The Major got a promotion to Admiral. And violinist became a singer. Sorry not good spelling ENGLISH name. Also, what became of Annie?
March 24, 2025
Absolutely amazing
Sometimes you buy books on a whim and then find out they were just what you needed to read at that time. They are based in an area I know slightly but remind me of someone I lost recently. The atmosphere, setting, and characters all add up to an amazing series I couldn't put down. Thank you
Sometimes you buy books on a whim and then find out they were just what you needed to read at that time. They are based in an area I know slightly but remind me of someone I lost recently. The atmosphere, setting, and characters all add up to an amazing series I couldn't put down. Thank you
May 10, 2025
Complete Cotswolds murder mysteries
There was nothing to dislike about these books! The characters were fully developed and the descriptions of the scenes were perfect. The continuity from the first to the last book was amazing. I am sorry to have the stories end.
There was nothing to dislike about these books! The characters were fully developed and the descriptions of the scenes were perfect. The continuity from the first to the last book was amazing. I am sorry to have the stories end.
August 3, 2025
Tedious
Protagonists are meant to be smart but make some absolutely ridiculous decisions that no sane person would. Repeatedly. Storyline and culprits were too predictable. Couldn't wait to finish and not in a good way.
Protagonists are meant to be smart but make some absolutely ridiculous decisions that no sane person would. Repeatedly. Storyline and culprits were too predictable. Couldn't wait to finish and not in a good way.
March 21, 2026
Love the Characters
Enjoyed this series of books and the cozy atmosphere of the Cotswolds. But while the author is talented, she seems to have difficulty wrapping up the books at the end. I still think they’re worth reading.
Enjoyed this series of books and the cozy atmosphere of the Cotswolds. But while the author is talented, she seems to have difficulty wrapping up the books at the end. I still think they’re worth reading.
March 21, 2025
Excellent Series
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the entire Cotswolds Murder Mystery series. I would recommend the series, it was a fun read. KathyB
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the entire Cotswolds Murder Mystery series. I would recommend the series, it was a fun read. KathyB
April 1, 2025
Very interesting characters and story lines.
April 12, 2025
Worth the time
Each of these books kept delivering! The main characters, Alex and Tony had their own stories to tell. Murders and mayhem seem to follow them wherever they went.
Each of these books kept delivering! The main characters, Alex and Tony had their own stories to tell. Murders and mayhem seem to follow them wherever they went.
April 13, 2025
Triumph for Stella Cameron
Descriptive text and convoluted plots makes this series a compelling read. This box set would make a good TV series!
Descriptive text and convoluted plots makes this series a compelling read. This box set would make a good TV series!
April 19, 2025
Wonderful!
I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves pubs, extended families, and clever unexpected twists. Wish there were more in the series.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves pubs, extended families, and clever unexpected twists. Wish there were more in the series.
April 21, 2025
Easy reading..
It was very easy reading, I read all 7 one after the other. Very enjoyable, plus a dog interest thrown in. Definitely look out for the author in future......
It was very easy reading, I read all 7 one after the other. Very enjoyable, plus a dog interest thrown in. Definitely look out for the author in future......
July 21, 2025
An enjoyable series. Alex Duggins becomes a character embedded in the mind as a likeable, and frustrating character. Left feeling a little bereft when I finished the series.
August 4, 2025
The Folly family
I enjoyed all the books . All the characters and how they completed the town. The solving of the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat .
I enjoyed all the books . All the characters and how they completed the town. The solving of the mystery kept me on the edge of my seat .
Read
December 17, 2025Really enjoyed these books
I loved all the characters and they soon felt like friends to me. Well worth reading. Alex can be stupid at times.
I loved all the characters and they soon felt like friends to me. Well worth reading. Alex can be stupid at times.
April 11, 2026
Great reads!
Couldn’t put them down! Kept u reading! Great series! Kept u guessing about who done it! Liked the characters in them.
Couldn’t put them down! Kept u reading! Great series! Kept u guessing about who done it! Liked the characters in them.
July 15, 2026
Quite a reading experience
Reading the first seven volumes of the most interesting characters and situations you can imagine has left me wanting more of the series.
Reading the first seven volumes of the most interesting characters and situations you can imagine has left me wanting more of the series.
July 15, 2026
terrific !
loved it ! I could not put it down. As usual, it keeps you on your toes. Excellent read, as always.
loved it ! I could not put it down. As usual, it keeps you on your toes. Excellent read, as always.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews