Death at the Village Christmas Fair

Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries #3

by Debbie Young

It’s been a busy year for Alice Carroll, with her Curiosity Shop opening for business, and not one but two murders shaking things up in her quaint Cotswold village. She’s looking forward to her first countryside Christmas, complete with traditional Christmas Fair and Santa Run.

But her hopes for innocent festive fun are thwarted when one of the Santa Runners steals something from her mum's knitting stall. His festive outfit makes him hard to spot, until he's found fatally injured outside the village hall with the stolen item.

Despite what the police say, Alice suspects there's more to his murder than meets the eye. She's determined to solve the mystery - including why, once more, a stranger thought something from her Curiosity Shop was worth killing for.

With the help of her charming neighbour Robert Praed, can Alice find the killer before the bells ring out this Christmas?

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy, Contemporary

Audible Audio

Published August 16, 2025

About the author

Hello dear readers!

I hope you will enjoy my warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction, full of English humour and heart, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been my home for over 30 years. I have three series of cozy mystery novels plus various short fiction, and I've written a couple of non-fiction books too.

NOVELS

My latest book is "Death at the Village Christmas Fair", the third in my Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series. The series begins with "Death at the Old Curiosity Shop", followed by "Death at the Village Chess Club". In this series, moving from the city to the lively Cotswold village of Little Pride, Alice Carroll (50) discovers that nothing is quite what it seems in her new business enterprise. Each novel in this series has at its heart an intriguing item to be found in her bric-a-brac shop, and features eccentric characters, plenty of red herrings and lots of English humour.

My Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series begins with "Best Murder in Show". Originally envisaged as a seven-book series to run the course of a calendar year in the life of the idyllic English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, it continues to grow, with the most recent addition being Sophie Sayers' ninth outing, "Driven to Murder",

My Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series is a mashup of romantic comedy, gentle mystery and nostalgia for classic children's school stories but aimed at adults. It focuses on the intrigues among the teachers and visitors to the school, rather than the children. "Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's" (previously published as "Secrets at St Bride's"), and is followed by "Sinister Secrets at St Bride's" (formerly "Secrets at St Bride's"), Wicked Whispers at St Bride's", and "Artful Antics at St Bride's". Two further books will follow to complete the series of six, running the course of the academic year at St Bride's Boarding School for Girls.

All of my novels are now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio in English. There are also German language editions of Sophie Sayers' adventures and Italian translations of Gemma Lamb's.

SHORT FICTION

My series of comedy mystery novelettes, Tales from Wendlebury Barrow, is set in the same world as the Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries. The first, "The Pride of Peacocks", is available exclusively to members of my Readers' Club (visit my author website to claim your copy). "The Natter of Knitters" and "The Clutch of Eggs" are available in ebook and paperback. A Christmas special, "Christmas with Sophie Sayers", featuring festive short stories set in the same world, was published for Christmas 2023. Three more Sophie Sayers short stories appear in the charity anthologies, "Fate", "Everyday Kindness" and "The Little Shop of Murders". Look out for another one in the "Courage" anthology, coming in 2026!

My standalone novella, "Mrs Morris Changes Lanes", is a second-chance mid-life romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism, set in the Cotswolds in spring,

Earlier in my career, I published three themed collections of short stories, "Stocking Fillers", "Marry in Haste", and "Quick Change".

PLAYS

I've also now started writing scripts for murder mystery events, My debut play, "The Importance of Being Murdered", was premiered by Hawkesbury Drama Group in April 2025. The original playscript will be published later this year for use by amateur drama groups all over the world, and I'm also working on a novelisation.

AWARDS

The first St Bride's novel was shortlisted for the 2020 Selfies Award given for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. The sixth Sophie Sayers novel was shortlisted for the same award in 2021. My short story "The Alchemy of Chocolate", from "Quick Change", was a winning entrant to the April 2015 Stroud Short Stories competition, and as a result I was later invited to read it at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

FREE EBOOK

Rec

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Carroll loved her Curiosity Shop, and with Christmas coming, her Mum was joining her as well. Alice's Mum was a top knitter and could create magic with her knitting needles. She promised to knit plenty of Christmas items which could be sold at the annual Christmas Fair and Santa Run; Alice would add festive season items from her shop to the stall as well. When the Santa Run was over, the stalls were open for business. Alice was astounded at how quickly her Mum's items were selling, but suddenly the lady alongside yelled that a thief had stolen something from the stall. Two of Alice's friends, Jack & Danny, took off after the thief; when they caught up, he'd been fatally attacked. The police were soon on scene, and the investigation began. But Alice and her good friend, Robert, knew there was more to what was showing on the surface. Why was the man killed? And what was he killed for - surely not for the item he had stolen?

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the 3rd in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop series by Debbie Young and it was fun and entertaining. I haven't read #1 or #2, so this one can be read as a standalone; I didn't feel I had missed anything in the telling. The MCs are all well written and likeable which is important to me; I'll be looking at more in the series. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a few of Debbie Young's cozy mysteries and enjoyed them, but this one wasn't for me. I found the protagonist frankly irritating and not nearly clever enough. She finally works out what has happened right at the end, when it was obvious to me from the beginning. Her "investigation" is just laughable. She stumbles around with no logic and even when she decides she has to look into something, she doesn't follow up. The village atmosphere is cozy and there are some sweet moments, but it isn't nearly enough to carrry the book. Disappointed.
I Received this novel as an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Jenee White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read too many Frieda books… this murder mystery was slow and boring.

[Carla]

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the 3rd book in The Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series. I did not read the first two, but will go back and read them now. Alice Carroll moved to Little Pride earlier in the year and is looking forward to her first Christmas in the village she calls home. It's been a busy year running her Curiosity Shop and solved two previous murders. Recently Alice has received a few collections of buttons that she is sorting and has given a few to her mother to add to her handmade scarves. Her mother has a stall at the village market and someone dressed as Santa steals one of her scarves. She isn't too concerned until a man is found strangled by the scarf and the button attached to it is missing. Alice wants to find out what happened, especially why something from her Curiosity Shop was worth killing for. With the help of her neighbour, Robert, she investigates and finds out things she never knew about buttons.

This was an interesting cozy mystery story. I liked Alice, Robert and her mom. The quaint village with all its inhabitants was a great setting for this story. Alice was relatable and likable, but for the protagonist who already solved 2 murders earlier in the year, she seemed pretty naive at times. By the time she solved the mystery, I had figured it out, and that doesn't happen often. The button tins that Alice received brought back some great memories and had me scurrying to my sewing room. I have both my mom's and grandma's buttons, and although I do occasionally use some of them, most are still in their containers. I wonder what my kids will do with them when I'm no longer around? The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed learning about netsuke buttons or toggles. This was definitely cozy story with family and friends, Christmas festivities, some interesting characters and a close knit community along with the mystery. A nice holiday story. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Willow Nash and enjoyed her performance.

[Hannah Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! Even tho I hate buttons, this story was interesting and cute and Christmas cozy, so yay!

[Jasmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

If it’s a murder mystery, there needs to be a murder before I’m 20% through the book. While I enjoy knitting in the Cotswolds, I would ALSO enjoy some PLOT

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death At The Christmas Village Fair is the third book in the Cotswaldb Curiosity Shop Mysteries by Debbie Young, Alice’s mom called to tell her a beloved friend from her hometown Mrs. Hardy has died and left the inventory of her knitting shop to her mom so this means more crochet treasures for Alice’s little shop she also gets her own collection of strangeness with an abundance of buttons this is her first year living in the village for the Christmas fair and everyone keeps telling Alice how much fun she’s going to have but it is also at the Christmas fair where one of the marathon Santa Claus is murdered. The suspects prove worthy of suspicion until one of them is also found dead Alice is spending more time with ROBERT the popular author she’s dating and he is also her investigation partner in her amateur sluething mystery solving venture. I have really started loving cozy mysteries and although this one was OK I found Alice to be a tad bit fanciful not to mention I found more than one character had the tendency to use the same phrases which for some reason really irritates me in a book. Although I appreciated the Christmas theme and all the great descriptions I only found this book OK some may love it but I myself took a while to finish it.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #DebbieYoung, #DeathAtTheChristmasVillageFair,

[Tiffany Mccormick · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars

Boy was that painful. I tried really hard to give it a chance but I more or less finished it out of spite. The mystery was bizarre and nonsensical. It was predictable and just plain clunky.

[Pattie Tierney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another book that fulfills my mystery trifecta – Christmas, a cozy mystery, and an English location (Cotswolds) — I quite enjoyed Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young. Reading it in July didn’t dim its festive magic; the Santa Run and bustling Christmas Fair in Little Pride wrapped me in that warm holiday glow I love. The Cotswolds setting felt like a dream, making me yearn to revisit those charming villages. Coming from a family of knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, and button collectors, the story’s focus on a button-adorned scarf hit so close to home. I could almost feel myself rummaging through my grandmother’s button tin, each one sparking memories, just like Alice’s mum’s nostalgic biscuit tin of buttons did for me.

I found Alice Carroll, the Curiosity Shop owner and amateur sleuth, so relatable, though I’ll admit her naivety annoyed me a bit at times. Still, her heart and determination won me over, and I loved how her romance with Robert Praed felt real rather than cloying. The mystery, involving a murdered Santa and a stolen scarf with a valuable netsuke button, was straightforward but fun, perfect for when I’m craving cozy vibes over a tricky plot. Learning about netsuke was a delightful surprise, like finding a hidden gem in my family’s crafting stash.

This book’s charm lies in its blend of humor, heart, and holiday spirit. Alice’s mum, with her quick knitting and witty remarks, felt like she could join my family’s crafting circle. Little Pride itself is so vivid it’s practically a character, making me long for that village life, murders aside. While the mystery isn’t the twistiest, it is the kind of story that feels like a warm blanket. As a Debbie Young fan, I’m torn between her Sophie Sayers series and this one, but Death at the Village Christmas Fair is a new favorite. For now, I wholeheartedly suggest this to anyone craving a festive, cozy escape, especially if you love Christmas and a good button jar memory.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's December, and Curiosity Shop owner Alice Carroll is looking forward to enjoying her first Little Pride Christmas Fair complete with a Santa Claus race. Her mum, Wendy, has come to stay and booked herself a stall to sell her beautiful hand knitted creations. When a Santa takes one of her scarves and leaves without paying things take a serious turn, especially as the thief is discovered fatally injured minutes later. When the scarf fastener disappears at the same time Alice and partner Robert know something strange is going on. After all, it was just a teddy bear button, wasn't it? As they begin their own investigation, the reason for the theft becomes clear, but someone from the fair is a killer. All they have to work out is who!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Boldwood Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This series is becoming a must-read for me now. I love all the regular characters, and Alice and Robert especially are great together. I did have a bit of a grrr, moment early on, which, as it seemed an obvious thing to do, lost it a star but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and all the information which was added throughout. I will definitely be on the lookout for book four early next year.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa is dead!!!!!! I say that but it’s not really. Someone dressed as Santa has been attacked outside the village hall as the local community hustle and bustle inside for Christmas presents and other festivities as well as the all important raffle! More importantly, said Santa is wearing on for Alice’s mum’s handmade scarves! What is the world coming to?!?

The police’s line of investigation doesn’t sit right with Alice and she’s got an itch to scratch. An itch that’s telling her she needs to get justice for this fallen Santa! And I was with her there. Their logic was slightly off – maybe they need to read more crime fiction 😆

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Alice, her mum and her friends. Her relationship with Danny is wonderful, her romance with Robert is rather formal but it’s touching in its own way.

This cosy crime investigation with two amateur sleuths at the helm was an enchanting read. I’ve not read any of the previous books in the series but I didn’t feel I’d missed out on any back stories. This is a book I can imagine being adapted as a Christmas special, it reminded me a bit of the Death In Paradise spin off Beyond Paradise, which is meant as a complement. I’ll definitely be getting myself the rest of the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series to read!

[Alexia | Books4Dreamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Boldwood Books for the gifted ARC of the third installment in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries.

Returning to Alice, Robert and the rest of the gang in their charming Cotswold village felt like coming home. And the icing on the cake? It’s set during Christmas! This cozy murder mystery has everything you could hope for: charm, humor and a touch of holiday magic.

The story is lighthearted, witty, and warm—like curling up with a blanket and a cup of mulled wine on a crisp winter evening. The mystery is clever and simple, making it a perfect read for fans of cozy whodunits.

While it’s part of a series, it works beautifully as a standalone, so even newcomers can jump right in. Debbie Young stays true to the genre, delivering a story that’s both smart and heartwarming, with just the right sprinkle of festive cheer.

I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment—here’s hoping it won’t be long before it lands on my bookshelf!

[M Hardowar · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Vicky D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was learning experience as well as entertainment. My favorite kind of book.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s comfort reading at its finest: gentle, satisfying, and filled with the warmth of good company. Whether you’re seeking an escape to a snow-dusted village or hoping for a mystery that leaves you smiling, this book is an ideal companion for the holiday season.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started slow for me but picked up and drew my interest. I liked the main characters and the mystery was unique. I liked learning something. I have not read the first books but would read the next as I feel I learned enough to do that. A nice job was done of filling in backstory.

[Laureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cozy murder mystery. The setting and the characters were delightful. I love a heartwarming British murder mystery especially at Christmas. This was brilliant and I plan on reading the other two books set in this quaint village with these wonderful people.

[Rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did I read the same book as everyone else who has left a review!? The dialogue was written so badly, people just do not talk like that. Awful plot, awful characters

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 3.5/5

The writing was light, and gave the book small village charm vibes. It was an interesting mystery that had a couple of different elements to it.

The chapters were fairly long, which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on, plus you were able to get fully immersed in what you were reading.

The chapters each had amusing titles which gave a small hint as to what you were going to read next.

There was a good flow between the chapters, so I was happy to read it for long periods of time.

There was an interesting pace to the book. Whilst you felt like you were always moving forward, with more information being added to the initial theories, there were some interesting time jumps. What I thought was the next day was actually the following week for example. It was just casually mentioned which took me by surprise.

The characters were interesting. I didn't realise that this was part of a series, so whilst it was a good standalone, I feel that I would have appreciated the characters more if I had read the other books. That being said there was enough information that I was able to enjoy reading about the characters' adventures in this book without too much trouble.

Lastly the settings. I loved the shop and the small town. The Christmas setting was fun and I enjoyed reading about it. The descriptions were light as it was a character based story, but they were enough to make the story cosy and festive.

Overall a cute, small town read.

[SaturNalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Santa is killed during a Santa run and an old button goes missing. I didn't find the mystery interesting. Alice and Rodger were running around looking for buttons. Leads for the case didn't come from logic or deduction, it was luck.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you thought Christmas fairs were just about twinkly lights and overeating mince pies, Death at the Village Christmas Fair is here to ruin your cozy little bubble because someone dressed as Santa gets strangled with a stolen scarf. Yep, that’s the holiday spirit in Little Pride, a picture-perfect Cotswold village where charm meets chaos and knitwear becomes murder weapons. Alice Carroll, who owns a shop full of weird old stuff, suddenly finds herself knee-deep in murder, mystery, and a rare Japanese netsuke button that turns out to be the hottest thing since Christmas pudding. Add her swoony neighbor Robert, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a festive disaster with a side of detective work.

The whole setup is pure small-town chaos wrapped in a Christmas bow. Alice is trying to enjoy her first countryside Christmas, which should be all cozy vibes and twinkling lights, but instead she’s juggling her mum’s relentless knitting projects (I swear, the woman never stops), the village Christmas fair, and a murder investigation. The scarf with the rare netsuke button isn’t just a crafty conversation starter; it’s the clue that drags Alice and Robert into a tangle of museum thefts, secret pasts, and a whole lot of gossip that spills faster than the village’s Christmas punch bowl.

Here’s the thing though, while the charm and setting are on point, the mystery itself is a bit of a slow roast. I caught onto parts of the crime well before the big reveal, which made some sections drag more than a Christmas caroler who won’t quit. But I’ll forgive the pacing because the heart of the book lies in the village itself. Little Pride feels like that eccentric aunt’s house at Christmas where everyone knows your business but somehow still manages to make you feel like family. Alice’s mix of earnest curiosity and occasional cluelessness is endearing rather than frustrating, and Robert’s laid-back but loyal nature makes him a perfect partner in crime-solving and Christmas cheer.

The romance simmers sweetly in the background without becoming overbearing. No swoon-worthy declarations at every turn, just a realistic, slow-building connection that actually fits the story rather than distracting from it. Robert’s chill, down-to-earth vibe balances out Alice’s occasional scatterbrained energy, making them a surprisingly believable pair in a genre that often falls into over-the-top romance traps.

What really had me hooked was the whole knitting and button obsession. I never thought I’d get so invested in tiny Japanese netsuke buttons, but Debbie Young sneaks in all this quirky, crafty trivia like Christmas stocking stuffers you didn’t know you needed. Alice’s mum brings the perfect dose of sarcasm and wisdom with her knitting needles flashing as fast as her wit. Their banter alone could keep a winter fire burning on the coldest nights.

The village gossip is a character all on its own, mixing humor and suspicion in equal measure. Everyone’s got a theory, and nobody’s shy about sharing it. This makes the mystery feel like a warm stew bubbling on the stove, sometimes slow to develop, but satisfying once all the flavors come together.

So, what’s the bottom line? This book is like your favorite ugly Christmas sweater. It’s comfy, a little goofy, and full of heart. It won’t blow your mind with twisty plot turns, but it wraps you in a cozy blanket of festive vibes and small-town warmth that’s hard to resist. Perfect for a quiet night with hot chocolate where you want something light but still juicy enough to keep turning pages.

Sweet, sometimes slow, but undeniably charming, a festive little whodunit that’s more about warm feels and quaint village vibes than a complex mystery. 3.5 stars.

Whodunity Award: For Making Buttons Way More Suspicious Than They Have Any Right to Be

Big thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, because nothing says “holiday spirit” like getting a murder mystery delivered straight to my digital doorstep. Seriously, you guys keep my TBR dangerously festive and my hot chocolate intake dangerously high. Keep ‘em coming, because I’m here for the cozy chaos!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young is the third charming installment in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries, and it’s a delightful blend of festive spirit, classic whodunnit structure, and sharp character work. Published by Boldwood Books, I want to thank them and NetGalley for the gifted ARC that allowed me to revisit Little Pride during one of its most festive—and most sinister—seasons yet.

Alice Carroll is trying to embrace the quiet joys of her first full countryside Christmas after a whirlwind year that involved not one, but two murders in her sleepy Cotswold village. She’s running her Curiosity Shop, preparing for the local Christmas Fair, and hosting her witty, no-nonsense mum, who has her own stall selling hand-knit scarves and winter wear. But peace in Little Pride never lasts long. When a Santa runner is caught swiping a handmade scarf from Alice’s mum’s booth and later turns up dying outside the village hall—with that same scarf, now a murder weapon—the mystery kicks off fast and doesn’t let up.

At first, it seems like a bizarre holiday mishap. But Alice quickly discovers that the scarf’s unique button isn’t just a quirky embellishment—it’s a valuable Japanese netsuke, stolen from the local museum. That revelation pulls her into a deeper investigation involving stolen antiquities, hidden identities, and some very slippery suspects. The police chalk it up to a petty thief getting what was coming to him. Alice, of course, knows better—and with her trademark persistence, plus some help from her enigmatic neighbor Robert Praed, she sets out to uncover the truth behind the crime.

Debbie Young excels at building a world that feels lived-in and authentic. Little Pride isn’t just a cozy setting—it’s a fully realized community with complex relationships, unspoken tensions, and layers of personal history that add texture to the story. The characters feel like people you might actually know: quirky, kind, occasionally irritating, but always human. Alice is a strong amateur sleuth—curious, grounded, and willing to risk her reputation to get to the truth. Her relationship with Robert continues to evolve in subtle, believable ways, avoiding overdone romance tropes in favor of something more mature and real.

The mystery itself is satisfying without being overly complicated. Young includes enough twists to keep readers guessing, but she doesn’t rely on shock for effect. Instead, she lets the clues surface naturally through character interactions, local gossip, and Alice’s own investigations. If anything, the only thing I wanted more of was the final confrontation—a bit more emotional depth or confrontation between victim and killer would’ve made the payoff stronger. But that’s a minor note in what is otherwise a very well-constructed cozy.

What makes Death at the Village Christmas Fair stand out isn’t just the murder plot—it’s how skillfully Young blends it into the rhythms of village life. There’s humor and warmth throughout, especially in the scenes with Alice’s mum, whose dry commentary is often laugh-out-loud funny. There’s a real sense of community, too—the kind where everyone knows your name, your past, and your business, whether you want them to or not. And underneath the surface of holiday lights and Santa suits, there’s always the question of what people are willing to hide—and what’s worth killing for.

Debbie Young’s writing hits that sweet spot between clever and comforting. Her mysteries never lose sight of the humanity behind the crime. And though this one leans more whimsical than dark, it still manages to touch on deeper themes like grief, legacy, and how far people will go to protect what they believe is rightfully theirs. It’s a perfect read for fans of M.C. Beaton, Jeanne M. Dams, or anyone looking to escape into a wintry English village with secrets around every corner.

“Even the jolliest Santa costume can’t hide a guilty conscience.”

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read of this series so I can vouch that it works well as a stand alone. Alice Carroll is preparing for her first Christmas in her new home, a celebration that includes not just the traditional Christmas Fair but a Santa Run. Her mother is visiting and Alice is looking forward to a peaceful holiday celebration with her relatively new beau, Robert who, as we find out, has money. Lots of it. That's beside the point, however, as he's genuinely likable and low key about his status. To be honest, though, Alice can't help but be a bit subdued by his wealth as, well, what do you buy someone who has the money to buy about anything he wants. She's also a tad uncertain about her status but they do seem to work well together, especially when it comes to sorting out whodunit in a murder.

So, who killed Clive and why? Strangled with a scarf stolen from the booth owned by Alice's mother, Alice is naturally interested. I won't spoil the plot any further except to say there's an interesting twist to the crime. If you don't know what Netsuke is, you will by the time you finish this book. It was rather fun to learn a bit about this art form as well as some aspects of museum collecting and investments/sponsors. I liked the cast if characters and you'll easily figure out who is who and the relationships they have with each other. Some are rather naive, even Alice at times, but they come across as good people that are easy to root for. Robert's granddaughter, Tilly, was a standout, and I'm guessing that Alice's mother may be sticking around based on her so easily fitting into the knitting community. She's one fast knitter, too. The village of Little Pride might be said to play a role, too, with both positives and negatives.

Bottom line, while somewhat slow in pace, I wound up enjoying the book. The characters are a real plus with them seeming to be real people prone to think the best of others. And, of course, there's that blossoming romance between Alice and Robert. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for giving me this early peek at Alice's world and the doings of Little Pride. It was fun to imagine the Santa Race, especially the slower paced, not so athletic ones, and loved the giving spirit of the community, and the mention of Paddington Bear and toggle buttons was a bonus. Made me remember my grandmother's button jar.

[Brian Clegg · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's nothing like a good Christmas mystery this time of year - and this is nothing like one. Debbie Young's book is to a good Christmas mystery what a made-for-streaming Christmas movie is to It's a Wonderful Life. It is bland fare, if suitably festive to pass the time waiting for the big day. There is far too much knitting, contemplating buttons, and heavy-handed dialogue. The main characters seem determined to think of implausible reasons for something to happen - for example blaming a raid on someone's button collection on local kids where it's already obvious that someone is after a valuable, button-like object.

It's probably breaking a butterfly on the wheel but there are assorted iffy elements that distract from a smooth reading experience (including a surprising number of typos). At one point were are told when an assaulted character dies 'I'm afraid they couldn't save him. The police are now treating his assault as attempted murder.' You might ignore the stilted dialogue, but when the victim is dead, it's not exactly 'attempted'.

In an attempt at CSI thinking, we have a magnificent discussion of the possibility of identifying the murderer using the aforementioned bear-shaped button-like object. Our central character Alice comments 'The texture might make a fingerprint harder to decipher.' Her love interest Robert replies 'But not DNA residue.' We then get from Alice '"Goodness," I replied. "And there was me thinking how tiny the bear was. Beside a DNA cell it would be a monstrous giant."' A DNA cell? Really?

And then there's a magnificent stray from logic in a description of the entrance to a privately funded museum. 'Just inside the lobby stood a large glass cube with a slot in the top for donations. Inside it was a foot-deep pile of banknotes and coins - a mosaic of copper, silver, blue and brown, peppered with other colours of higher denomination notes that seldom came my way.' Lots of cash donors then. 'Next to the charity box was a card machine to accept electronic donations. I guessed their usual class of visitors didn't bother with loose change.' As the entirely empty cash box demonstrated. Doh.

Because I'll read anything vaguely Christmassy this time of year, I finished the book in the hope of an interesting ending. Hope is a wonderful thing.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas is fast approaching, the first one in Little Pride for Alice Carroll, aged 50, who split with her lawyer partner of many years Steven and relocated to the village whilst simultaneously being made redundant from her job as Victorian expert at the Broadwick City Museum. An overlooked clause in the sale contract of her new home meant she had to continue running the business now known as Alice’s Cotswold Curiosity Shop and, aided by her best friend Danny from the museum, also now lodging with her after splitting with his partner Martin, she finds she has become surprisingly good at it. A great added bonus has been her blossoming romance with billionaire industrialist neighbour Robert Praed (he of the famous Eternal Sponge, hence his nickname Bob), and her relationship with her mother Wendy has also become stronger than it has been for years. One of the highlights of the festive season is the Little Pride Christmas Fair, and Wendy is hard at work producing a mass of knitted items to sell. The day of the fair dawns, as dozens of costumed runners line up for the famous Santa Run but soon tragedy strikes. A scarf is stolen from Wendy’s stall by a Santa and is found wrapped around the neck of the man as he lies dying outside. The little wooden bear shaped toggle has been ripped off and Alice is reminded of several strange “button” themed incidents that have taken place recently. Could there be a connection? With the local police uninterested in her theories, it looks like it is up to Alice and Robert to undertake a bit of amateur sleuthing of their own again.
Well it’s hard to believe I’m already reading Christmas stories in the sweltering August temperatures! There is lots of wit and charm in this lovely third book in a great series featuring a village full of some very likable quirky characters such as Nell, Coralie, Suki and Maudie. Alice and Robert make the perfect pairing, together with regulars Jack, Danny and of course little Tilly. This is a nice easily enjoyable cosy crime story with a smashing ending and I look forward to seeing what book four brings!

[Elizabeth Sirett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Carroll has grown to love her Curiosity Shop. Initially following a split with her partner of some years, she had bought the old curiosity shop with the intention reverting it back to the cottage that it once was. Unfortunately, the conveyancing was done by her ex-partner who had decided to go travelling. When Alice moved in she discovered that legally the cottage had to remain a shop.

However, she has made many friends in the village of Little Pride mainly because as she discovered her curiosity shop is much loved by the villagers. They bring in things to sell to her, and she sells things to them. It works wonderfully. Alice is now also the editor of Little Pride’s Parish

Following the death of Mrs Hardy, Alice learns that the kind old lady has left all her wools and craft supplies to Alice’s mother who is also an inveterate knitter. And so she turns up at Alice’s complete with stocks of wools to knit holly wreaths, Christmas jumpers, Santa Hats and bunting for the shop. Alice has been sorting out all the buttons she has and putting them on display. Coralie, the village hairdresser is thrilled when she visits the shop and sees the buttons. I just love buttons she said, they make great earrings. During the village annual Santa run, one of the Santas steals a knitted scarf from Alice’s mother’s stall. Later he is found dead.

Then Alice learns that the thief dressed as Santa had stolen the scarf that had had sewn into it a rare and valuable antique Natsuko button. Which often command quite high prices.

Alice has been looking forward to her first Christmas in Little Pride, also secretly hoping to spend some time with Robert Sponge, nicknamed Bob Sponge owing to his invention of the everlasting washing-up sponge, on which he had built a lucrative global business.

So, Alice and Robert set out to solve the crime. As they work together investigating they get closer to solving the crime and closer to each other. An intriguing and fascinating mystery, combined with some marvellous
characters. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third Cotswold Curiosity Shop cozy mystery by Debbie Young. Released 16th Aug 2025 by Boldwood Books is 235 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is *not* currently included in the KU subscription library, but the first two books in the series *are* available on KU.

This is a fun character driven village cozy set in "Little Pride", a fictive village somewhere in the Cotswolds. It's full of the whimsical slightly eccentric secondary characters, hidden motives and secrets, and over-the-top motivations which keep cozy readers turning pages. Obviously it would never fly in real life, and the main characters often seem to be fresh out of middle school instead of their actual ages/supposed maturity levels. It's within the acceptable parameters for a village cozy however; no harm, no foul.

Four stars. The language is clean and there's no questionable content. With three books extant in the series, it would be a good candidate for a weekend binge or buddy read. It's a nice holiday themed cozy, so bonus points for that as well.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:

I looked him up and down. There was something about him that made me uneasy. Perhaps it was that he had dressed like a cartoon spy? He even had a furled copy of the Daily Telegraph under his arm. I wondered whether, if he opened it up, there’d be holes cut in the pages for his eyes.

It just goes to show that you should never underestimate the elderly. They were all young once, and you never knew what their back story might be.

To my relief, Mrs Shepherd laughed and laughed, as if I’d made a hilarious joke. ‘Oh, good Lord, I’m not ill. I’m not sick in any way, praise be. Living in the refrigerators that pass for vicarages for thirty years has hardened me against physical illness. Any germs that cling on to me when I’m out and about leap off and run the minute I enter my front door, driven by their instincts for self-preservation.’

Suki’s method is always at risk of Chinese Whispers distorting the message in the process. That’s one reason why Suki’s gossip is always such fun– it’s a heady blend of fact and fiction, and not to be taken seriously without a fact check.

I defy anyone walking into a police station not to feel a little nervous, as if they’re about to be rumbled for some inadvertent misdemeanour.


My Review:

This was an entertaining and amusing tale, and I also learned 2 new things from perusing this fun little missive. I had never heard of a Wendy house, but Mr. Google has informed me that it is what the British call a children’s playhouse, and was named after Wendy Darling from Peter Pan. How precious is that? I also learned about the elaborate Japanese collectable art of netsuke, something I didn’t expect to happen from reading a British cozy mystery, but there you have it. And my mother always chided me for reading fiction, saying it was a waste of time.
The writing style is well-polished, humorous, easy to follow, and comfortably engaging. I enjoyed the author's wry wit and colorful descriptions, which conjured vivid images in my mind's eye. I will be watching for future installments of this lively series.

[Ariana Ochoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I love this series! Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third book in the Curiosity Shop cozy mystery series, and if you enjoyed her other two books in the series, you are in for a treat.

In this installment, Alice is back for a new mystery. As Alice prepares for her first Christmas in her Cotswold village, she is looking forward to the Christmas fair and the Santa Run. When Alice decides to set up a stall at the Christmas fair, her mom agrees to sell her festive knitwear. Just when the fair and the Santa Run are underway, a runner pilfers something from Alice’s stall. As Danny (Alice’s roommate) and his partner Jack chase after the assailant, they soon discover he has fallen to tragedy. What was so significant about the stolen item that led to the runner’s unfortunate demise? Alice is once again on the hunt for the truth and enlists the help of her dashing neighbor and love interest, Robert.

I loved this cozy mystery book! It was well written and worked well as a standalone book, which is nice if you have not read the previous books in the series (do yourself a favor and read the other two book because they are just as wonderful). There is humor, a great cast of characters, knitting, and is a perfect mystery novel for the Christmas season or for those who love seasonal cozy mystery books.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This review was voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It’s been a busy year for Alice Carroll, with her Curiosity Shop opening for business, and not one but two murders shaking things up in her quaint Cotswold village. She’s looking forward to her first countryside Christmas, complete with traditional Christmas Fair and Santa Run.

But her hopes for innocent festive fun are thwarted when one of the Santa Runners steals something from her mum's knitting stall. His festive outfit makes him hard to spot, until he's found fatally injured outside the village hall with the stolen item.

Despite what the police say, Alice suspects there's more to his murder than meets the eye. She's determined to solve the mystery - including why, once more, a stranger thought something from her Curiosity Shop was worth killing for.

With the help of her charming neighbour Robert Praed, can Alice find the killer before the bells ring out this Christmas?

My Opinion

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series and I would highly recommend reading the series in the correct order. A cosy, festive mystery. Another charming novel by Debbie Young. Debbie Young has created a lovely village with some great characters.

Rating 4/5