Mud

by Claire Dowley

What if everything we know is just mildly incorrect?
Against a backdrop of coastal village life, high art and fishing, a band of local vigilantes takes revenge for past wrongs and a fresh murder. A gallery of endearing characters exists beneath the surface of the rich and not-so-famous. Their talents combine to muddy waters, outwit outsiders and support their fellow villagers against the onslaught of absurdity.

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Claire Dowley read English and American Literature at the University of Warwick. She worked in London for Theatrical and Advertising Agencies during the eighties before packing a rucksack and flying to Australia. There she trained as a teacher and taught English and Literature in schools for 25 years. Retiring in 2019 she turned her hand to writing. Her first novel, "Blackwood", was a finalist in the 2021 Claymore Award and in 2023 was long listed for the McKitterick Prize.
Claire's second novel, "Mud", reached the final of the Page Turner Awards and the semi-final of the Chanticleer International Book Awards for the Mystery and Mayhem category in 2024. She now divides her time between her two homes in Norfolk, UK and Bells Beach, Australia.

Reviews

[Richard Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - cover to cover within 2 days. I particularly appreciated some thought-provoking themes as well as several chuckles. Would happily recommend.

[George Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Mud’ starts with a train journey that takes us on a ride to East Anglia’s own ‘Milk Wood’. We are lead by the author, waltzing and skipping through the muddied lives (and deaths) of many colourful characters.

What appears to be an idyllic landscape on the surface is actually a much deeper arena of lost lives, love and murder.

If you enjoy the wide open, innocent skies of the East Anglian coastline, it might be time to look down at the hidden beauty and dark humour of the mud between your toes and read this book.

[Fiona Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire’s second novel is an intriguing plot located in a small village on the north Norfolk coast. The locals are invaded by ‘new money’ and decide to exploit what they cannot change. This crime evolves with the subtle exchanges between the villagers until the denouement in the final chapter. An excellent read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every word of this quirky book. I was drawn into the bosom of an English village and became one of the insiders who enjoyed great food, fine wine, clever conversations, the landscape and the sea- and became privy to an hilarious heist. I was sorry I had to turn the last page. I highly recommend this book. It would make a great film!

[Ian Jory · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely tale, based on a village where we spent our summers as children, with a cast of characters who seemed very familiar.
Love the writing and a thoroughly good-natured suspense that was held until the last few pages.
Easy reading and totally recommended.

[Anthony Loring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Mud by Claire Dowley. It has a decent plot with a sting in its tail (or should that be tale). Mud incorporates Claire's two big betes noirs, namely, the invasion of fat wallets to the North Norfolk Coast having an adverse effect on the indigenous population and the over promotion of under qualified teachers. Your views on these two topics may affect your judgement of the book. Try it and see.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mud shifts, sand shifts, well-drawn characters shift & the artwork in Eddie's house is perpetually on the move! Read on to find out what ploys & skulduggery are afoot.....?

[Nataliesimmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a unique ride, equal parts cozy coastal mystery and satirical look at small-town life with a twist of philosophical mischief. It plays with the idea that maybe everything we know is just a bit... off. And somehow, that makes perfect sense in the world of this story.
The cast of characters is fantastic, wonderfully oddball but strangely relatable. There's an undercurrent of loyalty, mischief, and quiet rebellion running through the village, and I found myself rooting for these unlikely vigilantes even as they did increasingly questionable things. The mix of high art, fishing, and low-key vengeance made for a surprisingly addictive combination.
It’s not your typical murder mystery; it’s weirder, wiser, and full of subtle, dry humor. If you like stories that are charmingly absurd yet emotionally grounded, and that poke fun at life while still celebrating it, this is one you’ll enjoy.
A little bit Wes Anderson, a little bit Hot Fuzz, and entirely its own thing.

[Mr Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star ! Excellent....
What an enjoyable read ! One of those books you just can't put down. Lots of fantastic characters I'm sure we can all relate to, and some we would like to meet, some we have already met and wish we hadn't.
Really well written again by this author Claire Dowley, with a really funny storyline, which I won't spoil for you, as you really need to read it, and if you've ever lived in a village community which still has local inhabitants, you will definitely relate to the story.
This would make a fantasticly funny, feelgood film !
Can't wait for yhe next book please !

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend Mud for switched-on Book Clubs.
On one level, it is a relatively easy read, replete with witty observations, wry humour and quirky characters in a quintessentially English village setting.
On another level, a closer reading of Mud leads to a better appreciaton of the author’s sense of empathy and championing of social justice. There are hidden gems and cultural references to explore while the lyricism of much of the writing is a joy in itself.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many a chuckle escaped as I emerged myself in Mud. A charming, quirky insight into the lives and deaths of the locals ( and wealthy outsiders) of a small coastal English village, many with oh so apt names. As we move through the daily life of high art, good food and hidden beauty of the area, a darker muddied undercurrent evolves and a quiet rebellion is slowly exposed. An enjoyable romp with clever and witty references.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining light hearted read with locations that are almost recognisable to anyone familiar with the North Norfolk coast. Tongue in cheek observations about a myriad of humorous local characters that you’d like to think really exist. The annual London visitors come in for some stick!
A great book for the summer (and winter for that matter).

[Helen Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book excavating what the mud hides. What goes on under the social surface? What is really happening? Where are the moral lines drawn?

Some vintage characters in a mythical estuarine village on England's Norfolk coastline provide a slow moving drama with an absurdist edge. An intriguing and enjoyable read.

[Suzy Reindorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect holiday read. I thought the way the characters are depicted was excellent and would love to live amongst them. The issue of how small seaside villages cope with an influx of summer villages is thought provoking.

[Sophie De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful glimpse of muddy rural village life. Bursting with memorable characters, dialogue and descriptions. A great Summer read.

[Ann Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warm (and some not so warm!) characters weaved into a story well written. The grip of wanting to know more about both made this a very quick read. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The commentary on art was priceless. The exploration of the role of churches in modern society is food for thought. However, the title and the references to mud somewhat distract from the storyline.