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Julia Bird Mysteries #3
Mord på en byfestival
Den årliga byfestivalen på Berrywick House är i full gång, med överdekorerad tårtbuffé, tävlingar i blomsterarrangemang och bakning som tas på största allvar, och till och med en labyrint för besvikna förlorare att gömma sig i. Julia Bird har kastat sig in i festligheterna med liv och lust. Men ryktet om att hon skapar drama vart hon går visar sig än en gång stämma. För Julia hittar en död kropp i labyrinten.
Det verkar som om Ursula Benjamin, byns besserwisser och tjurig deltagare i bakningstävlingen, har blivit strypt – och mördaren måste vara någonstans på festivalen. Är det en tävlingsdeltagare som tagit konkurrensen på för stort allvar? Eller fanns det något mörkare i Ursulas liv som ledde till hennes våldsamma död?
Julia lägger sig som vanligt i polisutredningen (för hur ska de kunna lösa detta utan henne och labradoren Jake?), men kan hon hitta mördaren och förhindra fler dåd innan byns mysiga gemenskap är förstörd för alltid?
Det verkar som om Ursula Benjamin, byns besserwisser och tjurig deltagare i bakningstävlingen, har blivit strypt – och mördaren måste vara någonstans på festivalen. Är det en tävlingsdeltagare som tagit konkurrensen på för stort allvar? Eller fanns det något mörkare i Ursulas liv som ledde till hennes våldsamma död?
Julia lägger sig som vanligt i polisutredningen (för hur ska de kunna lösa detta utan henne och labradoren Jake?), men kan hon hitta mördaren och förhindra fler dåd innan byns mysiga gemenskap är förstörd för alltid?
8 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
March 2, 2023
Julia Bird and her significant other, Dr Sean O'Connor, along with their dogs, Jake the chocolate Labrador and Leo, Sean's much calmer dog, attended the annual fete at Berrywick House, Julia carrying the chocolate cake she had baked for the competition and to raise funds. They both wandered around, checking out the various stalls until they decided to head toward the maze for some quiet. But it was when Jake pulled away from Julia and ran off, with her chasing him, that they discovered the body of a woman, with Jake sitting guard by her side.
With the police on the case, Julia set her mind to looking for clues. The victim was a school teacher, one who was soon retiring, but there were also other things about her that maybe led to her demise. And when a second body was found, it seemed the two cases were linked. Could Julia find the answers before anyone else lost their life?
A Village Fete Murder is the 3rd in the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle and I enjoyed it very much. Light and entertaining, with a great murder mystery, the characters are fun, especially Julie, Sean and their dogs. I'm looking forward to #4 when it's published. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
With the police on the case, Julia set her mind to looking for clues. The victim was a school teacher, one who was soon retiring, but there were also other things about her that maybe led to her demise. And when a second body was found, it seemed the two cases were linked. Could Julia find the answers before anyone else lost their life?
A Village Fete Murder is the 3rd in the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle and I enjoyed it very much. Light and entertaining, with a great murder mystery, the characters are fun, especially Julie, Sean and their dogs. I'm looking forward to #4 when it's published. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2023
The third in this entertaining series about Julia Bird, a lady who has retired to a small English village and has a habit of discovering dead bodies.
In A Village Fete Murder she is at the local fete with her friend Sean, exploring a maze, when they come upon a woman seated on a stone bench. An inspection by Sean declares her to be dead and she is identified as one of the competitors in the cake competition. As a fellow competitor Julia feels obliged to assist with the investigation.
I rather like Julia Bird as a character. She is mostly logical and sensible in her investigative measures and is more careful than many other cosy main characters. This was a short, interesting and easy read with a pretty setting (take a look at the cover).
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In A Village Fete Murder she is at the local fete with her friend Sean, exploring a maze, when they come upon a woman seated on a stone bench. An inspection by Sean declares her to be dead and she is identified as one of the competitors in the cake competition. As a fellow competitor Julia feels obliged to assist with the investigation.
I rather like Julia Bird as a character. She is mostly logical and sensible in her investigative measures and is more careful than many other cosy main characters. This was a short, interesting and easy read with a pretty setting (take a look at the cover).
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 24, 2023
I love this cozy mystery series. Julia Bird is the type of character I would enjoy being friends with. She is fun, clever, and always up to solve the latest village mystery. Each installment of this series is like catching up with old, beloved friends. Julia, Sean. Hayley and Jake are always greeted with a smile. The latest installment is suspenseful with laughs sprinkled throughout. Heartwarming, intriguing, entertaining, and enjoyable describe this original cozy. This is a must-read for all cozy mystery addicts. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 16, 2023
4.5*
A Village Fete Murder is another great instalment in the cosy Julia Bird Mysteries series by Katie Gayle (the joint nom de plume of South African authors Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel). The series seems to be getting better and better with each book!
It's spring in the Cotswolds, the season for the annual fête at Berrywick House, the grand estate nearby the Cotswold village that bears its name. Retired social worker Julia Bird attends - armed with a home-baked chocolate cake for the W.I. stall - together with her lover, local doctor Sean, and their respective canine pets, Jake and Leo. Since arriving in Berrywick the previous summer, Julia has developed a habit of stumbling across dead bodies, and this trend continues at the fête, as she and Sean discover recently deceased school teacher Ursula Benjamin slumped on a bench in the centre of the Berrywick maze, strangled with her own scarf.
Could a dispute over a cake competition really have led to murder, or was there another motive behind Mrs. Benjamin's sudden demise? As DI Hayley Gibson and DC Walter Farmer undertake official police investigations, Julia can't resist launching her own none-too-subtle inquiries into Ursula's past and present enmities. There's plenty of speculation at Berrywick's Buttered Scone tearoom, the hub of the local community, and Julia's volunteer position at the charity shop also presents her with opportunities to indulge her inner sleuth. As in the previous books, DI Gibson allows Julia a surprisingly long leash when it comes to interacting with witnesses and suspects, the two frequently sharing information as to the progress of their parallel inquiries, although on several occasions Julia oversteps her amateur status, earning Hayley's ire.
A Village Fete Murder is a quick and enjoyable read, the details never gory or overly confronting, but with a satisfyingly twisty mystery plot. The cast of characters, lead by the irrepressible Julia, is delightful, and there's plenty of light relief in the shape of the antics of her boisterous chocolate Labrador, Jake. The bucolic Cotswolds setting brings to mind many beloved examples of the cosy mystery genre, including the late M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series and Caroline Graham's Midsomer Murders. Katie Gayle quickly draws the reader into the story with the winning combination of a well-placed plot, quirky characters and an evocative setting.
I'd highly recommend A Village Fete Murder to any reader who enjoys a high standard of cosy mystery, fun characters and intriguing "whodunnit" plots.
My thanks to the author Katie Gayle (Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel), publisher Bookouture and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title. I can't wait for the next one!
A Village Fete Murder is another great instalment in the cosy Julia Bird Mysteries series by Katie Gayle (the joint nom de plume of South African authors Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel). The series seems to be getting better and better with each book!
It's spring in the Cotswolds, the season for the annual fête at Berrywick House, the grand estate nearby the Cotswold village that bears its name. Retired social worker Julia Bird attends - armed with a home-baked chocolate cake for the W.I. stall - together with her lover, local doctor Sean, and their respective canine pets, Jake and Leo. Since arriving in Berrywick the previous summer, Julia has developed a habit of stumbling across dead bodies, and this trend continues at the fête, as she and Sean discover recently deceased school teacher Ursula Benjamin slumped on a bench in the centre of the Berrywick maze, strangled with her own scarf.
Could a dispute over a cake competition really have led to murder, or was there another motive behind Mrs. Benjamin's sudden demise? As DI Hayley Gibson and DC Walter Farmer undertake official police investigations, Julia can't resist launching her own none-too-subtle inquiries into Ursula's past and present enmities. There's plenty of speculation at Berrywick's Buttered Scone tearoom, the hub of the local community, and Julia's volunteer position at the charity shop also presents her with opportunities to indulge her inner sleuth. As in the previous books, DI Gibson allows Julia a surprisingly long leash when it comes to interacting with witnesses and suspects, the two frequently sharing information as to the progress of their parallel inquiries, although on several occasions Julia oversteps her amateur status, earning Hayley's ire.
A Village Fete Murder is a quick and enjoyable read, the details never gory or overly confronting, but with a satisfyingly twisty mystery plot. The cast of characters, lead by the irrepressible Julia, is delightful, and there's plenty of light relief in the shape of the antics of her boisterous chocolate Labrador, Jake. The bucolic Cotswolds setting brings to mind many beloved examples of the cosy mystery genre, including the late M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series and Caroline Graham's Midsomer Murders. Katie Gayle quickly draws the reader into the story with the winning combination of a well-placed plot, quirky characters and an evocative setting.
I'd highly recommend A Village Fete Murder to any reader who enjoys a high standard of cosy mystery, fun characters and intriguing "whodunnit" plots.
My thanks to the author Katie Gayle (Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel), publisher Bookouture and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this title. I can't wait for the next one!
January 12, 2023
A Village Fete Murder was a simple and easy read. It is the third in the Julia Bird Mysteries. I have read this series from the beginning. Julia Bird has retired from social work and has moved to the town of Berrywick. She is dating a doctor named Sean O'Connor. They have decided to go to the Berrywick Spring Fair to drop off a cake she has made for the contest. While there they decide to do the maze. At the center is a fountain where they find a woman named Ursula Benjamin dead sitting on a bench. She is a teacher at a private school. They call the police and DC Walter Connor, DC Lilian Carson and DI Hayley Gibson arrive. Julia is a busybody who likes to solve cases. She drives Hayley crazy with her investigations. Later in the story the head teacher David Schofield at the private school is also murdered. The reader will follow Julia as she investigates to find the killers. I will let the reader read this story to the end to find out why they are killed and by whom.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
January 22, 2023
The Julia Bird Mysteries is an enjoyable and pleasant adventure series for a sixty something year old Julia. She is a retired social services worker, newly divorced and has moved to the village of Berrywick from the city. She is enjoying her new home, her pup, Jake, her chickens, learning to make great scones, and her new friend, Sean. But she does seem to have a way of finding dead bodies. This time she and Sean were at a fair and right in the middle of a maze, they discovered the body of a woman sitting on the bench. This is another interesting mystery for Julia to help DI Hayley figure out. I am enjoying reading about Julia, her adventures, her friends and new life. Great for cozy (cosy) mystery lovers. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review from Bookouture and NetGalley. All thoughts are mine only.
January 28, 2023
The Commandant’s Daughter and The Pilot’s Girl are the first two books in Hanni Winter series by Catherine Hokin. In this third book, The Girl in the Photo, more of Hanni’s tragic story is told. The war is over, and Hanni was among countless people who experienced unspeakable horrors while trying to survive. Now married to Freddy, Hanni is excelling in her photography career.
Hanni and Freddy are at her first photo exhibit, and Freddy spies a photo of a young girl that takes him on a path of near obsession. Why? He tells Hanni that the girl, at about four years of age in the photo, is his sister Renny. Freddy is determined to find Renny, and this means returning to the concentration camp that holds terrible memories. Fred strongly believes that by returning to the Theresienstadt camp it could possibly be the successful first step in locating Renny.
As Freddy gets closer to locating Renny, Hanni is forced to deal with her painful past. Hanni has had very good reasons for not sharing the depth of events from her life of years ago with Freddy. In fact, this has led to Hanni having kept a huge secret from him. This is where this stellar read becomes heartbreaking, as Hanni is forced to reconnect with her father. What is worse is that she also crosses paths someone truly despicable from her past, and this could bring her life crashing down.
This amazing book had quite an impact on me as it tells a story that I will not soon forget. I imagine there might be one more book in the series. Lovers of historical fiction will get to know Hanni and feel her pain, all while she strives to hold onto a thread of hope as they read all three of these compelling stories.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also enjoy this video book review - https://youtu.be/_HIOdRvQYb0
Hanni and Freddy are at her first photo exhibit, and Freddy spies a photo of a young girl that takes him on a path of near obsession. Why? He tells Hanni that the girl, at about four years of age in the photo, is his sister Renny. Freddy is determined to find Renny, and this means returning to the concentration camp that holds terrible memories. Fred strongly believes that by returning to the Theresienstadt camp it could possibly be the successful first step in locating Renny.
As Freddy gets closer to locating Renny, Hanni is forced to deal with her painful past. Hanni has had very good reasons for not sharing the depth of events from her life of years ago with Freddy. In fact, this has led to Hanni having kept a huge secret from him. This is where this stellar read becomes heartbreaking, as Hanni is forced to reconnect with her father. What is worse is that she also crosses paths someone truly despicable from her past, and this could bring her life crashing down.
This amazing book had quite an impact on me as it tells a story that I will not soon forget. I imagine there might be one more book in the series. Lovers of historical fiction will get to know Hanni and feel her pain, all while she strives to hold onto a thread of hope as they read all three of these compelling stories.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also enjoy this video book review - https://youtu.be/_HIOdRvQYb0
January 30, 2023
A Village Fete Murder is the third book in the Julia Bird Mystery series and I enjoyed this one as much as the first two. Julia is a retired Social Worker living in the small village of Berrywick, dating the local doctor/coroner, Sean O'Connor, but she can't stop getting involved in situations. In this book, she and Sean are attending the Berrywick Spring Fair, and they find a dead body in the middle of the maze. It is suspicious, and it doesn't take long to figure out that is murder. Julia begins to investigate and finds out that the victim, Ursula Benjamin, is a teacher with a reputation for being a great maths teacher, but she has also been bullying students for years. Did one of those students kill Ursula?
I really like Julia and her place in the village. She is a volunteer at the local charity shop, is in a book club with her best friend who is also the librarian, has a dog that failed service dog training and wreaks havoc on his walks and is dating the local doctor. DI Hayley Gibson is the police officer she works with, much to Hayley's chagrin. I do like Hayley, she becomes more real with every book. This story has a storyline that deals with mental health issues and it is realistically done. The mystery was well written with some red herrings, some twists and more than a couple of suspects. I had no idea who the murderer was, but as the reveal takes place, it all makes sense. Another enjoyable visit to Berrywick and I recommend this book if you enjoy a good cozy mystery.
I really like Julia and her place in the village. She is a volunteer at the local charity shop, is in a book club with her best friend who is also the librarian, has a dog that failed service dog training and wreaks havoc on his walks and is dating the local doctor. DI Hayley Gibson is the police officer she works with, much to Hayley's chagrin. I do like Hayley, she becomes more real with every book. This story has a storyline that deals with mental health issues and it is realistically done. The mystery was well written with some red herrings, some twists and more than a couple of suspects. I had no idea who the murderer was, but as the reveal takes place, it all makes sense. Another enjoyable visit to Berrywick and I recommend this book if you enjoy a good cozy mystery.
May 1, 2023
I loved so many things about this. I kind of guessed. This is weird, because I knew I'd "seen" the killer somewhere but I couldn't place it. I just ALSO knew it wasn't any of the others that kept being pushed at me until I knew what I knew.
A murder in a maze is super cool. I know it's probably been done a million times, but it was just well done and all kinds of twisty. For example. I'd expected someone else to die. And that person didn't. Which I thought was pretty cool.
But better than all the murder and mayhem, the STORY in this one... oh, the story. EVERY person who has ever lived through the ugliness that comes out in this book needs to read about how it doesn't have to define or control you--even if that means getting help to ensure it doesn't!
Well done, ladies. Very well done.
A murder in a maze is super cool. I know it's probably been done a million times, but it was just well done and all kinds of twisty. For example. I'd expected someone else to die. And that person didn't. Which I thought was pretty cool.
But better than all the murder and mayhem, the STORY in this one... oh, the story. EVERY person who has ever lived through the ugliness that comes out in this book needs to read about how it doesn't have to define or control you--even if that means getting help to ensure it doesn't!
Well done, ladies. Very well done.
January 27, 2023
The annual village fete at Berrywick House is underway & it’s Julia Bird’s first fete since moving to the village the previous year so she's thrown herself headlong into the festivities & a baked a foolproof chocolate cake. Whilst walking with her friend Dr Sean O'Connor & their dogs they enter the maze only to find a dead body in the centre. It seems Ursula Benjamin, has been strangled. Embroiled once again in a murder enquiry, Julia isn’t about to leave the investigation to the police. Like it or not, she’s involved, and she’s going to help them solve the mystery. But when there’s another death, and it’s clear the murders aren’t isolated incidents, the stakes become even higher
The third outing for retired social worker Julia & a well written entertaining cosy mystery. I love that Julia is in her sixties & is making a new life for herself, recently divorced & retired, she's moved to the village of Berrywick, got herself an adorable but mischievous chocolate Labrador, Jake, some hens & a new 'friend' Dr Sean O'Connor. She's nosy but also observant & loves helping the police & has formed a friendship of sorts with DI Hayley Gibson. There are twists, turns & red herrings before the murderer is caught & Julia is in the thick of it. I read this engrossing mystery in a sitting & look forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The third outing for retired social worker Julia & a well written entertaining cosy mystery. I love that Julia is in her sixties & is making a new life for herself, recently divorced & retired, she's moved to the village of Berrywick, got herself an adorable but mischievous chocolate Labrador, Jake, some hens & a new 'friend' Dr Sean O'Connor. She's nosy but also observant & loves helping the police & has formed a friendship of sorts with DI Hayley Gibson. There are twists, turns & red herrings before the murderer is caught & Julia is in the thick of it. I read this engrossing mystery in a sitting & look forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 3, 2024
In "A village fete", Julia stumbles, yet again, on another body. This time, it's an unknown woman, found dead in the middle of a maze, at first it looks like a heart attack, but then, clues start telling otherwise, and where there's foul play,Julia has a job to do.
The theme of this book is pretty delicate, bullying that is, and the author showed brilliantly its consequences on both the bullied and their family.
The plot was, as usual well crafted, and the clues cleverly put here and there for the reader to pick.
I found out who did it pretty early in my reading but like in the previous books, this didn't alter my experience a bit!
Next one please!
The theme of this book is pretty delicate, bullying that is, and the author showed brilliantly its consequences on both the bullied and their family.
The plot was, as usual well crafted, and the clues cleverly put here and there for the reader to pick.
I found out who did it pretty early in my reading but like in the previous books, this didn't alter my experience a bit!
Next one please!
August 4, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'A Village Fete Murder' by Katie Gayle.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Katie Gayle, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 27th January 2023.
This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'Julia Bird Mysteries' series. I have also read the first book in the series 'An English Garden Murder' which I would highly recommend. This book can be read as a standalone.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'If you like utterly gripping English mysteries, then you’ll love A Village Fete Murder. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands.' I am a huge fan of M.C Beaton and Faith Martin so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Katie Gayle and if this is even half as good as' An English Garden Murder'it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 31 chapters. The chapters are medium to long in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the Cotswolds, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited the Cotswolds on many occasions and find it to be an absolutely gorgeous place so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any of the gorgeous settings.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists is Julia Bird. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that leave you hearing the chickens clucking, Jake barking and it most definitely leaves you wanting cake!!! .The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
Yet another fantastic success Katie Gayle congratulations!! Such an easy, fun cosy mystery that had me hook, line and sinker!!!
I absolutely loved reading this book which took place in such a stunning environment I felt like I had disappeared on holiday for the day. It was a shame it was only a day but that's how long it took me to zoom through the pages after not being able to put it down. I genuinely felt like I was in the storyline and I was devastated to come to the end and have to "unpack my suitcase". The storyline is multilayered with mystery upon mystery to keep the reader completely absorbed throughout without a moment to get bored. It was filled with murder, animals, mayhem, mystery, tension, twists, romance, friendship, cakes, mazes, twists and absolutely everything you could ever ask for in a cosy mystery. The fact that it was filled with animals, chickens and one Jake to be precise and included a book club was right down my street being a huge book and animal lover myself. This is yet another fantastic addition to this addictive series! ! I was not expecting the killer twist so a huge congratulations there!!! I have read so many books it seems to be getting harder and harder to shock me but you definitely managed it after leading me down the garden path several times!! This is an absolutely fantastic, page turning and fun cozy crime series that can be read in any order. I would love to see them all turned into movies and I cannot wait to get into Katie's next fantastic success!!!
Do not pick this up until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!
Although this is the third book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I am absolutely LOVED meeting Julia, Jake, Sean, Leo and everyone else who makes this cosy mystery series perfect the way it was again. I became completely invested in each of the characters and Katie and Gail portray village life and characters perfectly. I really clicked with Julia immediately who was a perfect choice for this cosy mystery. Julia has a habit of coming across bodies and then getting involved with trying to solve the mystery to the annoyance of her friend (for now 😂) and DI Hayley Gibson. I love the fact that Julia refuses to back down on her digging even though she now she will get in trouble!! She is such a strong female role model and I hope she manages to sort things out with her daughter soon. I also loved meeting Sean (007) again and find him to be such a true gentleman. I have loved watching his and Julie's relationship develop and I'm looking forward to watching it continuing to do so. DI Helen can be very grumpy at times especially when she has to tell Julia off for getting involved (several times) but it's nice to see her soft side come out too and watching the friendship develop between them. I am looking forward to meeting them all again in the next book in this fantastic series and seeing how all the friendship and relationships with the characters develop especially with the naughty but lovable Jake (definitely my favourite!!), Tabitha and Leo (a not so naught canine companion!) . Other characters who definitely left an impression on me include DC Farmer, Edna, Pippa and Flo and I'm looking forward to seeing what they all get up to in the not so distant future!!! A group of characters that jump out of the pages and I look forward to meeting time and time again. A fantastic group of unique and strong personalities!!
Congratulations Kate and Gail on an yet another absolutely addictive book in this absolutely page turning series!!! Here's to a fantastic and many more successes 🥂
Overall an addictive cosy mystery set in a stunning area that you won't be able to put down!!
Genres covered in this book include Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Mystery, Humorous Dark Comedy, Cozy Animal Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Private Investigator Mysteries and Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, Claire Chase, Verity Bright, Betty Rowlands and anyone who loves an addictive cosy mystery!!!
262 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Review for 'A Village Fete Murder' by Katie Gayle.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Katie Gayle, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 27th January 2023.
This is the second book I have read by this author. It is also the third book in the 'Julia Bird Mysteries' series. I have also read the first book in the series 'An English Garden Murder' which I would highly recommend. This book can be read as a standalone.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'If you like utterly gripping English mysteries, then you’ll love A Village Fete Murder. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands.' I am a huge fan of M.C Beaton and Faith Martin so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Katie Gayle and if this is even half as good as' An English Garden Murder'it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 31 chapters. The chapters are medium to long in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the Cotswolds, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited the Cotswolds on many occasions and find it to be an absolutely gorgeous place so am looking forward to seeing if I recognise any of the gorgeous settings.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists is Julia Bird. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that leave you hearing the chickens clucking, Jake barking and it most definitely leaves you wanting cake!!! .The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
Yet another fantastic success Katie Gayle congratulations!! Such an easy, fun cosy mystery that had me hook, line and sinker!!!
I absolutely loved reading this book which took place in such a stunning environment I felt like I had disappeared on holiday for the day. It was a shame it was only a day but that's how long it took me to zoom through the pages after not being able to put it down. I genuinely felt like I was in the storyline and I was devastated to come to the end and have to "unpack my suitcase". The storyline is multilayered with mystery upon mystery to keep the reader completely absorbed throughout without a moment to get bored. It was filled with murder, animals, mayhem, mystery, tension, twists, romance, friendship, cakes, mazes, twists and absolutely everything you could ever ask for in a cosy mystery. The fact that it was filled with animals, chickens and one Jake to be precise and included a book club was right down my street being a huge book and animal lover myself. This is yet another fantastic addition to this addictive series! ! I was not expecting the killer twist so a huge congratulations there!!! I have read so many books it seems to be getting harder and harder to shock me but you definitely managed it after leading me down the garden path several times!! This is an absolutely fantastic, page turning and fun cozy crime series that can be read in any order. I would love to see them all turned into movies and I cannot wait to get into Katie's next fantastic success!!!
Do not pick this up until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!
Although this is the third book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
I am absolutely LOVED meeting Julia, Jake, Sean, Leo and everyone else who makes this cosy mystery series perfect the way it was again. I became completely invested in each of the characters and Katie and Gail portray village life and characters perfectly. I really clicked with Julia immediately who was a perfect choice for this cosy mystery. Julia has a habit of coming across bodies and then getting involved with trying to solve the mystery to the annoyance of her friend (for now 😂) and DI Hayley Gibson. I love the fact that Julia refuses to back down on her digging even though she now she will get in trouble!! She is such a strong female role model and I hope she manages to sort things out with her daughter soon. I also loved meeting Sean (007) again and find him to be such a true gentleman. I have loved watching his and Julie's relationship develop and I'm looking forward to watching it continuing to do so. DI Helen can be very grumpy at times especially when she has to tell Julia off for getting involved (several times) but it's nice to see her soft side come out too and watching the friendship develop between them. I am looking forward to meeting them all again in the next book in this fantastic series and seeing how all the friendship and relationships with the characters develop especially with the naughty but lovable Jake (definitely my favourite!!), Tabitha and Leo (a not so naught canine companion!) . Other characters who definitely left an impression on me include DC Farmer, Edna, Pippa and Flo and I'm looking forward to seeing what they all get up to in the not so distant future!!! A group of characters that jump out of the pages and I look forward to meeting time and time again. A fantastic group of unique and strong personalities!!
Congratulations Kate and Gail on an yet another absolutely addictive book in this absolutely page turning series!!! Here's to a fantastic and many more successes 🥂
Overall an addictive cosy mystery set in a stunning area that you won't be able to put down!!
Genres covered in this book include Cozy Crafts and Hobbies Mystery, Humorous Dark Comedy, Cozy Animal Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Private Investigator Mysteries and Mystery amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, Claire Chase, Verity Bright, Betty Rowlands and anyone who loves an addictive cosy mystery!!!
262 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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January 20, 2023
Great for those who like to read amateur sleuth mysteries where the protagonist is older/retired.
Julia Bird is a nosy (she calls herself that) retired social worker who can't keep out of murder investigations. The murderer wasn't obvious and the story was well plotted in that sense. I also liked the small town feel, with keeping your own chickens and neighbourly visits. Jake (the dog) was adorable!
What annoyed me was that the police force was so inept that Julia had to basically do everything for them - not very believable, sorry!
Julia Bird is a nosy (she calls herself that) retired social worker who can't keep out of murder investigations. The murderer wasn't obvious and the story was well plotted in that sense. I also liked the small town feel, with keeping your own chickens and neighbourly visits. Jake (the dog) was adorable!
What annoyed me was that the police force was so inept that Julia had to basically do everything for them - not very believable, sorry!
Read
January 10, 2023Julia and the much loved Jake, her dog, are back in A Village Fete Murder by Katie Gayle with yet another murder mystery to solve. Be warned, there is a lot of mention of cake at the start of the story, especially the chocolate kind!
I am loving this series as there is humor in it and it always keeps me guessing at who the murderer could be. For a cozy crime novel, it will definitely keep you on your toes! A highly entertaining and fun read for the wanna be detectives out there!
I am loving this series as there is humor in it and it always keeps me guessing at who the murderer could be. For a cozy crime novel, it will definitely keep you on your toes! A highly entertaining and fun read for the wanna be detectives out there!
March 16, 2025
Fortsatt habilt.
December 28, 2022
Having read and loved the first two books in the Julia Bird series, I was thrilled to discover book three! This book opens with Julia attempting to bake her entry for the village fete cake contest. Jake, her puppy has his own ideas, leading to a burnt cake and another attempt. I was laughing out loud from the beginning.
Julia drops off her cake and witnesses some unpleasant interactions. She goes off with her companion to explore the fete and they decide to go into the maze. Just when they think they are lost and about to turn around, Jake takes off. Their pursuit takes them to the centre of the maze where they find a body. In spite of her assurances that she will stay out of this investigation, she can't help herself and is soon in the thick of it.
In addition to the mystery, we see Julia getting more comfortable with herself and her past. One of the things I enjoy about this series is seeing the character growth and evolution in the lives of both Julia and Jake. The book has the usual quirky villagers you'd expect and the village hangout where news spreads and gossip is abundant. In this case it's The Buttered Scone, which seems like a great name for a cafe. These books are also funny.
I highly recommend the series, but you do not have to have read the previous two books to enjoy this one.
I received an e-book from NetGalley. I thank them, the publisher, and the author.
Julia drops off her cake and witnesses some unpleasant interactions. She goes off with her companion to explore the fete and they decide to go into the maze. Just when they think they are lost and about to turn around, Jake takes off. Their pursuit takes them to the centre of the maze where they find a body. In spite of her assurances that she will stay out of this investigation, she can't help herself and is soon in the thick of it.
In addition to the mystery, we see Julia getting more comfortable with herself and her past. One of the things I enjoy about this series is seeing the character growth and evolution in the lives of both Julia and Jake. The book has the usual quirky villagers you'd expect and the village hangout where news spreads and gossip is abundant. In this case it's The Buttered Scone, which seems like a great name for a cafe. These books are also funny.
I highly recommend the series, but you do not have to have read the previous two books to enjoy this one.
I received an e-book from NetGalley. I thank them, the publisher, and the author.
January 14, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.
Julia Bird has baked a cake for the WI table at the Village Spring Fair. She go to the fair with her friend, Sean, and their two dogs. Wandering around the beautiful grounds of the mansion house where the fair is being held, they enter the maze, and at the very centre find a woman dead. Sean confirms that she is dead, and they call the police and ambulance. They later learn she was a math teacher at the local school. Julia is determined not to get involved in the investigation, at the request of DI Hayley, but she can't help herself. She finds clues and figures out who was involved, keeping Hayley apprised. But it's not until a man has been arrested that they find out who the real killer is.
I really like the character of Julia Bird - she a spry older woman, wanting to be involved in village life, and having fun with Sean and her friend Tabitha. I will continue to look for more in this series.
Julia Bird has baked a cake for the WI table at the Village Spring Fair. She go to the fair with her friend, Sean, and their two dogs. Wandering around the beautiful grounds of the mansion house where the fair is being held, they enter the maze, and at the very centre find a woman dead. Sean confirms that she is dead, and they call the police and ambulance. They later learn she was a math teacher at the local school. Julia is determined not to get involved in the investigation, at the request of DI Hayley, but she can't help herself. She finds clues and figures out who was involved, keeping Hayley apprised. But it's not until a man has been arrested that they find out who the real killer is.
I really like the character of Julia Bird - she a spry older woman, wanting to be involved in village life, and having fun with Sean and her friend Tabitha. I will continue to look for more in this series.
February 4, 2023
From the cover design and description, I thought this book sounded like something I would enjoy.
This was a charming, entertaining cosy mystery. I hadn't read the previous books, but I warmed to the characters easily. I found Julia very endearing, and she had a relatability that appealed to me. I thought Sean was a very nice character too. This was light, easy reading, and it satisfied my cosy craving. I would probably be interested in reading some of the others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
This was a charming, entertaining cosy mystery. I hadn't read the previous books, but I warmed to the characters easily. I found Julia very endearing, and she had a relatability that appealed to me. I thought Sean was a very nice character too. This was light, easy reading, and it satisfied my cosy craving. I would probably be interested in reading some of the others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
January 16, 2023
I received a free copy of, A Village Fete Murder (Julia Bird Mysteries Book 3), by Katie Gayle. from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Another murder mystery for Julia Bird to solve. Mr. Schofield has been murdered, a headteacher in the local school. Marcus is the prime suspect, did he murder his teacher? Such a fun murder mystery, but its not fun to be accused, or to listen to gossip.
June 10, 2023
I liked the characters, I liked the scene setting, and I enjoyed the first book in the series, but the other books turned out to be formulaic and I figured out the "whodunnits" long before the sleuth. Here's my long review:
https://bookadept.com/2023/06/09/cozy/
https://bookadept.com/2023/06/09/cozy/
January 31, 2023
4 Stars
One Liner: A comfort read dealing with a serious topic
Julia Bird is excited about the village fair at the Berrywick House. The day arrives, and Julia is enjoying the event with Sean on her side. However, the duo ends up discovering a dead body in a maze. The body belongs to none other than Ursula Benjamin, a math teacher at St. Martin’s and a prickly person to anyone who knows her.
This time, Julia is more than happy to let DI Gibson handle the case. But she can’t help it when her mind refuses to ignore the missing links. After all, she found the body and is involved in the case. With another death occurring in the next few days, can Julia find the killer before murder number three?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Julia Bird.
My Thoughts:
This is the third book in the series, and as enjoyable as the previous two. Julia Bird has settled into her village life with a chicken coop, vegetable garden, a part-time job, and her mischievous chocolate Lab, Jake.
This book blends the case and Julia's personal life. We see some developments in her interactions with her daughter, Jess. The reason for her resigning from her previous job is also revealed.
The story is compact (200 pages) and has a decent pace. With recurring characters doing their bit and Julia playing sleuth against her wishes, the case is settled to satisfaction.
What I particularly like in this one is the theme of bullying and its effects on people. Being bullied by schoolmates is one thing. But being bullied by a teacher? The damage can be severe. The book handles the topic with the right touch as required by the genre. It’s not surface level, but it is not too deep either.
Julia and Sean’s relationship is in the background, pretty much established for what it is for the time being. The focus is much on the case, which is a good thing, given the theme. There’s a small action scene in the climax to make it more interesting.
To summarize, A Village Fete Murder is a solid continuation of the series, and the characters are settling in real nice. There aren’t many laughs in this one, but Jake and Julia manage to bring out a couple of chuckles. And... do I sense the DI's story coming up?
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AVillageFeteMurder
One Liner: A comfort read dealing with a serious topic
Julia Bird is excited about the village fair at the Berrywick House. The day arrives, and Julia is enjoying the event with Sean on her side. However, the duo ends up discovering a dead body in a maze. The body belongs to none other than Ursula Benjamin, a math teacher at St. Martin’s and a prickly person to anyone who knows her.
This time, Julia is more than happy to let DI Gibson handle the case. But she can’t help it when her mind refuses to ignore the missing links. After all, she found the body and is involved in the case. With another death occurring in the next few days, can Julia find the killer before murder number three?
The story comes in the third-person POV of Julia Bird.
My Thoughts:
This is the third book in the series, and as enjoyable as the previous two. Julia Bird has settled into her village life with a chicken coop, vegetable garden, a part-time job, and her mischievous chocolate Lab, Jake.
This book blends the case and Julia's personal life. We see some developments in her interactions with her daughter, Jess. The reason for her resigning from her previous job is also revealed.
The story is compact (200 pages) and has a decent pace. With recurring characters doing their bit and Julia playing sleuth against her wishes, the case is settled to satisfaction.
What I particularly like in this one is the theme of bullying and its effects on people. Being bullied by schoolmates is one thing. But being bullied by a teacher? The damage can be severe. The book handles the topic with the right touch as required by the genre. It’s not surface level, but it is not too deep either.
Julia and Sean’s relationship is in the background, pretty much established for what it is for the time being. The focus is much on the case, which is a good thing, given the theme. There’s a small action scene in the climax to make it more interesting.
To summarize, A Village Fete Murder is a solid continuation of the series, and the characters are settling in real nice. There aren’t many laughs in this one, but Jake and Julia manage to bring out a couple of chuckles. And... do I sense the DI's story coming up?
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AVillageFeteMurder
January 18, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Katie Gayle for allowing me an advance copy of this book.
Coming into this series at Book 3, and having never read any of Katie Gayles books before I was hoping I could follow the story without the need to have read previous books.
This is a feel good easy read, the story holds your attention and it is easy to read as a standalone without knowing the background to Julia Bird.
Julia is a 60+ busy body, who really as connotations to be modern day Miss Marple. Her trusty partner and likeable local doctor Sean keeps her grounded and offers logical reasons why she shouldn't interfere, these often fall on deaf ears.
Heavily involved in local activities Julia is a blundering baker who is often distracted by her puppy Jake's antics which results in burnt offerings. But she is determined to produce a cake for the local fete.
During the village fete Sean and Julia deliver her cake to the stall and decide to take a walk through a maze, successfully getting lost. Jake takes matters into his own hands and take off turning left and right with Julia and Sean hot on its heels until they reach the centre where they discover a body.
DI Hayley Gibson is brought into investigate but her patience is tested to the limit when Julia decides to help solve the village mystery often with Julia implying she is in the area when she questions people, this leaves DI Gibson with information that whilst useful could also comprise her investigation. But Katie as implied successfully in her writing, the two have a good friendship whilst maintaining a manageable distance to avoid over familiarity.
Julia, Sean and Jake are a likeable trio and I look forward to reading more of Katie Gayles books.
Coming into this series at Book 3, and having never read any of Katie Gayles books before I was hoping I could follow the story without the need to have read previous books.
This is a feel good easy read, the story holds your attention and it is easy to read as a standalone without knowing the background to Julia Bird.
Julia is a 60+ busy body, who really as connotations to be modern day Miss Marple. Her trusty partner and likeable local doctor Sean keeps her grounded and offers logical reasons why she shouldn't interfere, these often fall on deaf ears.
Heavily involved in local activities Julia is a blundering baker who is often distracted by her puppy Jake's antics which results in burnt offerings. But she is determined to produce a cake for the local fete.
During the village fete Sean and Julia deliver her cake to the stall and decide to take a walk through a maze, successfully getting lost. Jake takes matters into his own hands and take off turning left and right with Julia and Sean hot on its heels until they reach the centre where they discover a body.
DI Hayley Gibson is brought into investigate but her patience is tested to the limit when Julia decides to help solve the village mystery often with Julia implying she is in the area when she questions people, this leaves DI Gibson with information that whilst useful could also comprise her investigation. But Katie as implied successfully in her writing, the two have a good friendship whilst maintaining a manageable distance to avoid over familiarity.
Julia, Sean and Jake are a likeable trio and I look forward to reading more of Katie Gayles books.
January 27, 2023
Favorite Quotes:
Julia always thought the term foolproof sounded like a challenge. She imagined rising to her full height of almost five foot six, placing hands on hips and saying, ‘Foolproof, you say? Well, we’ll see about that. You haven’t met this fool!’
‘Whoever heard of someone killing a person over a WI cake sale? … Having said that,’ Hayley said, in an almost apologetic tone, ‘I’ve seen someone killed over a parking space when I worked up North. And there was once an attempted homicide related to a pear tree– there was an axe involved.’
I’m wondering whether we should close the whole intelligence department and just have someone hang around the Buttered Scone for local intel.
My Review:
I have reveled in each of the three amusing and intriguing installments of this lively cozy mystery series. Much to the amazement of her fellow villagers, since Mrs. Bird’s arrival from London, their small village appears to have become a hot spot for homicide, with Mrs. Bird somehow always in the thick of it. And she has stumbled into yet again in broad daylight with a village fete being in full swing.
As with the previous two books, the crafty scribes known as Katie Gayle’s storylines were easy to follow as well as engaging, beguiling, and delightfully entertaining. The story threads were laced together with clever wry humor, brain and rib-tickling observations, perceptive insights, and uniquely quirky characters.
I hope Mrs. Bird has a long run as I simply adore her and doubt I will ever tire of her propensity to stumble into unusual situations and murders, or of her indomitable curiosity and inability to refrain from snooping. She just can’t help herself, she is a complete busybody. Luckily, she is also a smart and well-seasoned one.
Julia always thought the term foolproof sounded like a challenge. She imagined rising to her full height of almost five foot six, placing hands on hips and saying, ‘Foolproof, you say? Well, we’ll see about that. You haven’t met this fool!’
‘Whoever heard of someone killing a person over a WI cake sale? … Having said that,’ Hayley said, in an almost apologetic tone, ‘I’ve seen someone killed over a parking space when I worked up North. And there was once an attempted homicide related to a pear tree– there was an axe involved.’
I’m wondering whether we should close the whole intelligence department and just have someone hang around the Buttered Scone for local intel.
My Review:
I have reveled in each of the three amusing and intriguing installments of this lively cozy mystery series. Much to the amazement of her fellow villagers, since Mrs. Bird’s arrival from London, their small village appears to have become a hot spot for homicide, with Mrs. Bird somehow always in the thick of it. And she has stumbled into yet again in broad daylight with a village fete being in full swing.
As with the previous two books, the crafty scribes known as Katie Gayle’s storylines were easy to follow as well as engaging, beguiling, and delightfully entertaining. The story threads were laced together with clever wry humor, brain and rib-tickling observations, perceptive insights, and uniquely quirky characters.
I hope Mrs. Bird has a long run as I simply adore her and doubt I will ever tire of her propensity to stumble into unusual situations and murders, or of her indomitable curiosity and inability to refrain from snooping. She just can’t help herself, she is a complete busybody. Luckily, she is also a smart and well-seasoned one.
May 21, 2023
Katie Gayle continues her terrifically entertaining Julia Bird cozy mystery series with another enjoyable installment, A Village Fete Murder.
Julia cannot wait to attend the village fete at Berrywick House where she plans to drink some delicious tea, sample some lip-smackingly lovely cakes and enjoy looking around the stalls and catching up with some of her friends. Having earned herself a bit of a reputation round the village for her penchant for adding drama to every occasion and for stumbling upon dead bodies, Julia hopes to have a relaxing day where the only thing she has to worry about is which baked confection to have next. However, Julia should know by now that wherever she goes, trouble will always follow as another dead body has been found in Berrywick and naturally she cannot resist doing some sleuthing of her own…
Prickly know-it-all and baking competition participant Ursula Benjamin has been strangled – and Julia is sure that the killer is somebody present at the fete. But who? Ursula has put many of the village’s residents’ backs up, but who could possibly have wanted her dead? Was it one of her fellow competitors? Or was Ursula perhaps involved in something far more sinister and deadly? Julia is going to do whatever she can to bring a killer to justice and when another body is found, she vows to leave no stone unturned. Can Julia find out whodunnit? Or will this be a case she simply cannot solve?
Katie Gayle’s A Village Fete Murder is so much fun! A lovely bucolic cosy that I devoured in one sitting, A Village Fete Murder is a delicious and delightful read with a terrific sleuth that I absolutely loved. Funny, fabulous and far too good to miss, A Village Fete Murder is another winner by Katie Gayle.
Julia cannot wait to attend the village fete at Berrywick House where she plans to drink some delicious tea, sample some lip-smackingly lovely cakes and enjoy looking around the stalls and catching up with some of her friends. Having earned herself a bit of a reputation round the village for her penchant for adding drama to every occasion and for stumbling upon dead bodies, Julia hopes to have a relaxing day where the only thing she has to worry about is which baked confection to have next. However, Julia should know by now that wherever she goes, trouble will always follow as another dead body has been found in Berrywick and naturally she cannot resist doing some sleuthing of her own…
Prickly know-it-all and baking competition participant Ursula Benjamin has been strangled – and Julia is sure that the killer is somebody present at the fete. But who? Ursula has put many of the village’s residents’ backs up, but who could possibly have wanted her dead? Was it one of her fellow competitors? Or was Ursula perhaps involved in something far more sinister and deadly? Julia is going to do whatever she can to bring a killer to justice and when another body is found, she vows to leave no stone unturned. Can Julia find out whodunnit? Or will this be a case she simply cannot solve?
Katie Gayle’s A Village Fete Murder is so much fun! A lovely bucolic cosy that I devoured in one sitting, A Village Fete Murder is a delicious and delightful read with a terrific sleuth that I absolutely loved. Funny, fabulous and far too good to miss, A Village Fete Murder is another winner by Katie Gayle.
January 22, 2023
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
This was the first book in the series that I read but I don't think that was a problem. There were enough references to events from previous books that I felt like I understood the relationships between characters and Julia's uncanny ability to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The mystery part of the story was well done and I enjoyed trying to guess who the murderer was. I probably would have been more annoyed with Julia's nosiness, but the fact that she was very self-aware made it amusing. She definitely just can't help from getting involved in things she knows she shouldn't. Some of the tips she gives to police made me wonder how good this police force was because it seemed like things they should have discovered or noticed themselves. But other than that I did really enjoy following along with her investigation. The discussions about bullying (especially that done by teachers) I thought were really well done and a good overall message to remind adults that the things they say to kids are things that those kids carry with them into adulthood. As someone who used to work in a middle school in the US I can atest that there are teachers out there who seem to enjoy embarrassing students and ultimately engage in bullying behaviors themselves. I will definitely be checking out more books from this series.
This was the first book in the series that I read but I don't think that was a problem. There were enough references to events from previous books that I felt like I understood the relationships between characters and Julia's uncanny ability to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The mystery part of the story was well done and I enjoyed trying to guess who the murderer was. I probably would have been more annoyed with Julia's nosiness, but the fact that she was very self-aware made it amusing. She definitely just can't help from getting involved in things she knows she shouldn't. Some of the tips she gives to police made me wonder how good this police force was because it seemed like things they should have discovered or noticed themselves. But other than that I did really enjoy following along with her investigation. The discussions about bullying (especially that done by teachers) I thought were really well done and a good overall message to remind adults that the things they say to kids are things that those kids carry with them into adulthood. As someone who used to work in a middle school in the US I can atest that there are teachers out there who seem to enjoy embarrassing students and ultimately engage in bullying behaviors themselves. I will definitely be checking out more books from this series.
January 31, 2023
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of cozy mysteries, and A Village Fete Murder by Katie Gayle is a favorite of mine. I love the Julia Bird Mystery series and this installment is probably my favorite. It’s time for the annual village celebration at Berrywick House and with all the festivities in full swing and Julia Bird is in the middle of it all. Ursula Benjamin, who seems to know all the happenings in the village, is in everyone’s business, and has entered the baking competition. She has been strangled by one of her competitors and Julia is running out of time to find out who the culprit is. She doesn’t want to leave the investigation to the police knowing full well that she must solve the case as soon as possible. But when there is another murder Julia must step up her game, put her detective skills to work and find who the murderer is before another festival attendee becomes victim number three.
This was a great who-dunnit and I loved the twists and turns throughout the entire story. The author kept me guessing who the culprit was and just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was another twist to the story. I am also a huge fan of Julia’s loveable Labrador Jake. He always has a nose for the story, and makes the story even better. I loved this installment to the fabulous Julia Bird Mysteries Series. This book can be read as a standalone but don’t pass up the other books in this amazing series. I highly recommend it.
This was a great who-dunnit and I loved the twists and turns throughout the entire story. The author kept me guessing who the culprit was and just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was another twist to the story. I am also a huge fan of Julia’s loveable Labrador Jake. He always has a nose for the story, and makes the story even better. I loved this installment to the fabulous Julia Bird Mysteries Series. This book can be read as a standalone but don’t pass up the other books in this amazing series. I highly recommend it.
January 3, 2023
I starting to think that Julia Bird is not a safe person to be around, or that she may be a bad omen or something. She's definitely Berrywick's answer to Miss Marple, only not as old and certainly not a spinster as her blossoming romance with local doctor Sean would attest. She does, however, have a knack for stumbling upon murders, this time discovering a body in the grounds of Berrywick House in the midst of the annual village fete. The victim, the winner of the hotly contested backing competition. The suspects ... well that's a pretty ling list as it happens. But is it a case of Bakeoff gone rogue, or something far more sinister?
I really do like the character of Julia Bird. She's very everyday, exactly the kind of person you can imagine having a catch up with over a cup of tea in The Buttered Scone. She's not wonder woman, not a larger than life busybody who `must be a part of everything, just somewhat inquisitive following her years in Social Services, and when she sees a loose thread she just can't resist pulling it. She's fun as well as determined, and between her and her mad and often uncontrollable Labrador, Jake, often the source of much amusement throughout the book too. She's strangely believable as an amateur Detective and whilst it often frustrates local DI, Hayley Gibson, they do make a good pair and any potential villains in the area should watch out.
I liked the mystery that enveloped this story, lots of misdirection to keep readers on their toes and guessing right to the end of the book. Far from being a wonder baker and pillar of society, it appears that the first victim has a wicked side, and the motive for her murder is not entirely clear. There are many suspects, introduced carefully and in such a way that it casts doubt on anything you might think you know. The authors have dne a great job of hiding the truth in plain sight, and in finding new and very plausible ways for Julia to uncover just the right amount of evidence to move the case along.
This is a wonderful example of cosy crime at its best. Despite a dark topic - murder - it is light hearted but still full of suspense and enough tension to keep me on tenterhooks. The pace picks up well towards the end, concluding in a dramatic showdown with the killer, for this series anyway. Because dramatic in this case is potentially life threatening, but still with an air of the wonderful humour that I love about these books.
I've really enjoyed seeing Julia progress and settle into the village. From such a dramatic introduction to the area, there is a real positivity about her personal, and even professional life now, and with family really at the heart of everything this particular story is about, perhaps a hint of something good about to happen for Julia at home too. Recommended for fans of fun, witty, cosy crime with a wonderfully rural air.
I really do like the character of Julia Bird. She's very everyday, exactly the kind of person you can imagine having a catch up with over a cup of tea in The Buttered Scone. She's not wonder woman, not a larger than life busybody who `must be a part of everything, just somewhat inquisitive following her years in Social Services, and when she sees a loose thread she just can't resist pulling it. She's fun as well as determined, and between her and her mad and often uncontrollable Labrador, Jake, often the source of much amusement throughout the book too. She's strangely believable as an amateur Detective and whilst it often frustrates local DI, Hayley Gibson, they do make a good pair and any potential villains in the area should watch out.
I liked the mystery that enveloped this story, lots of misdirection to keep readers on their toes and guessing right to the end of the book. Far from being a wonder baker and pillar of society, it appears that the first victim has a wicked side, and the motive for her murder is not entirely clear. There are many suspects, introduced carefully and in such a way that it casts doubt on anything you might think you know. The authors have dne a great job of hiding the truth in plain sight, and in finding new and very plausible ways for Julia to uncover just the right amount of evidence to move the case along.
This is a wonderful example of cosy crime at its best. Despite a dark topic - murder - it is light hearted but still full of suspense and enough tension to keep me on tenterhooks. The pace picks up well towards the end, concluding in a dramatic showdown with the killer, for this series anyway. Because dramatic in this case is potentially life threatening, but still with an air of the wonderful humour that I love about these books.
I've really enjoyed seeing Julia progress and settle into the village. From such a dramatic introduction to the area, there is a real positivity about her personal, and even professional life now, and with family really at the heart of everything this particular story is about, perhaps a hint of something good about to happen for Julia at home too. Recommended for fans of fun, witty, cosy crime with a wonderfully rural air.
January 29, 2023
A good cozy with engaging characters, an adorable dog and a satisfying mystery. Julia Bird has developed something of a reputation in the village she recently settled in as a discoverer of bodies and an amateur sleuth. So it isn't a huge shock when she finds a body during the village fete. Of course she feels the need to investigate, though the local police aren't exactly thrilled.
I like Julia. She's down-to-earth and realistic in her attempts to settle into retirement in a new place after her recent divorce. Her divorce wasn't ugly but more uncomfortable as her long-time husband realized he was gay and had fallen in love. So, her life in upheaval she moved to a new place and try to figure out what she was going to do next. In comes a dog who provides plenty to her life, a volunteer job at the local charity shop and a proclivity for finding bodies and doing some amateur investigation. A maybe a new love interest, but that is a slow burn.
Another thing I like about this series is that the police are competent. Julia does provide them with some help but sometimes she is way behind them. There is even some collaboration at times.
An enjoyable series that I will be reading more of.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
I like Julia. She's down-to-earth and realistic in her attempts to settle into retirement in a new place after her recent divorce. Her divorce wasn't ugly but more uncomfortable as her long-time husband realized he was gay and had fallen in love. So, her life in upheaval she moved to a new place and try to figure out what she was going to do next. In comes a dog who provides plenty to her life, a volunteer job at the local charity shop and a proclivity for finding bodies and doing some amateur investigation. A maybe a new love interest, but that is a slow burn.
Another thing I like about this series is that the police are competent. Julia does provide them with some help but sometimes she is way behind them. There is even some collaboration at times.
An enjoyable series that I will be reading more of.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
January 6, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review ‘A Village Fete Murder’, by Katie Gayle.
Julia Bird is a retired social worker who has settled in the village of Berrywick, and she has a habit of stumbling on to murder scenes. She can’t stop her herself from trying to solve the mystery and find the killer. So, when she and her friend, Doctor Sean O’Connor, find a dead woman at the center of a maze on the grounds of Berrywick House during the village fete, it starts her on a hunt to know what happened. When it turns out to be a murder investigation, Julia can’t help but provide clues and information to DI Hayley Gibson, some helpful but irritating to the police.
Julia and her dog, Jake, are believable and entertaining, as well as some of the other colorful characters of the village. Even though Julia is told many times to ‘stay out of the investigation’, she often finds herself right in the middle of everything that happens, finding out important information, and sometimes even accompanying the police as they investigate. After all, enquiring minds just need to know the truth. This inquisitiveness also sometimes puts Julia in the middle of dangerous situations.
This was a nice cozy read, and it was very entertaining.
Julia Bird is a retired social worker who has settled in the village of Berrywick, and she has a habit of stumbling on to murder scenes. She can’t stop her herself from trying to solve the mystery and find the killer. So, when she and her friend, Doctor Sean O’Connor, find a dead woman at the center of a maze on the grounds of Berrywick House during the village fete, it starts her on a hunt to know what happened. When it turns out to be a murder investigation, Julia can’t help but provide clues and information to DI Hayley Gibson, some helpful but irritating to the police.
Julia and her dog, Jake, are believable and entertaining, as well as some of the other colorful characters of the village. Even though Julia is told many times to ‘stay out of the investigation’, she often finds herself right in the middle of everything that happens, finding out important information, and sometimes even accompanying the police as they investigate. After all, enquiring minds just need to know the truth. This inquisitiveness also sometimes puts Julia in the middle of dangerous situations.
This was a nice cozy read, and it was very entertaining.
January 7, 2023
Spring has sprung in Berrywick and local resident Julia Bird is looking forward to visiting the summer fair with her new beau Sean and their dogs. Once there she discovers the location is lovely, the company convivial, and the stalls full of beautiful things to buy. Unfortunately they also find a very dead body which ends their relaxing day prematurely.
Julia isn’t a stranger to discovering dead bodies or helping the local police with their investigations and is soon on the hunt for clues to help identify those responsible for this latest killing. As secrets are revealed and more than one suspect identified Julia finds herself getting more involved and determined to help her friend DI Hayley Gibson solve the case, whether she wants her to or not!
Book three in Katie Gayle's lovely, gentle, crime series is once again a pleasure to read. Julia and chocolate lab, Jake are both relatable and entertaining and, along with the secondary characters, are more familiar with each outing. The authors' notes mention more adventures to come in the near future which I will definitely be on the lookout for.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this and happily recommend it.
Julia isn’t a stranger to discovering dead bodies or helping the local police with their investigations and is soon on the hunt for clues to help identify those responsible for this latest killing. As secrets are revealed and more than one suspect identified Julia finds herself getting more involved and determined to help her friend DI Hayley Gibson solve the case, whether she wants her to or not!
Book three in Katie Gayle's lovely, gentle, crime series is once again a pleasure to read. Julia and chocolate lab, Jake are both relatable and entertaining and, along with the secondary characters, are more familiar with each outing. The authors' notes mention more adventures to come in the near future which I will definitely be on the lookout for.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this and happily recommend it.
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