What do you think?
Rate this book
Thea Osborne #1-6
The Cotswold Village Mysteries, Books 1-6
Meet feisty, sharp-tongued forty-something Thea Osborne — dog-walker, house-sitter . . . and now solver of puzzling crimes!
After her husband’s death, Thea packs up her life and heads for the sleepy village of Duntisbourne Abbots, where she and her adorable cocker spaniel, Hepzibah, have their first ever house-sitting gig.
It’s not Thea’s dream job. But all she wants right now is a peaceful summer out in the lush green hills, with Hepzibah at her heels — and a cozy pub at the end of every twisty country lane. Her biggest fear is that she won’t have enough to do. But Thea needn’t worry . . .
Thanks to her knack for stumbling on grisly crime scenes, Thea’s new life in the Cotswolds turns out to be anything but boring.
She and Hepzibah encounter murder and mystery at every turn, from a body in a babbling brook to a human skull, tangled in the roots of a fallen tree. The villagers who surround her might seem pleasant enough. But they all have secrets to hide.
Included in this 6-volume box set:
Book 1: A Cotswold Killing
Book 2: A Cotswold Ordeal
Book 3: Death in the Cotswolds
Book 4: A Cotswold Mystery
Book 5: Blood in the Cotswolds
Book 6: Slaughter in the Cotswolds
After her husband’s death, Thea packs up her life and heads for the sleepy village of Duntisbourne Abbots, where she and her adorable cocker spaniel, Hepzibah, have their first ever house-sitting gig.
It’s not Thea’s dream job. But all she wants right now is a peaceful summer out in the lush green hills, with Hepzibah at her heels — and a cozy pub at the end of every twisty country lane. Her biggest fear is that she won’t have enough to do. But Thea needn’t worry . . .
Thanks to her knack for stumbling on grisly crime scenes, Thea’s new life in the Cotswolds turns out to be anything but boring.
She and Hepzibah encounter murder and mystery at every turn, from a body in a babbling brook to a human skull, tangled in the roots of a fallen tree. The villagers who surround her might seem pleasant enough. But they all have secrets to hide.
Included in this 6-volume box set:
Book 1: A Cotswold Killing
Book 2: A Cotswold Ordeal
Book 3: Death in the Cotswolds
Book 4: A Cotswold Mystery
Book 5: Blood in the Cotswolds
Book 6: Slaughter in the Cotswolds
1695 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2025
567 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Tope
82 books219 followersRebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.
She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.
She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.
She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.
She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 9, 2025
Who knew house-sitting was so risky? Some people just seem to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course, if you're extremely curious (or should I say nosy) and don't consider the dangers of finding out what's happening...
The books definitely held my interest. I galloped through them like a chocoholic with a Whitman sampler, and was a bit sad to find I'd read them all.
The books definitely held my interest. I galloped through them like a chocoholic with a Whitman sampler, and was a bit sad to find I'd read them all.
December 23, 2025
Dissapointing
I purchased the first 6 books in this series so hung in there and read the lot, hoping things would improve. Alas they did not. As the books developed I found it harder and harder to warm to the protagonist, it was becoming quite hard to actually like her character and how she treated those around her. I buy these books to have a light hearted read, bit of a who-dunnit and escape the issues of real life - this books does not deliver this. Other than the lovely descriptions of the areas in which they are set they are based too much on the negative introspections of Thea, waaay too many family issues surfacing everywhere and story lines that raise with more questions than they answer, angry at the characters and leave you with a bit of a negative feel after finishing it. Not the reason I chose to read these sorts of books. If I wanted something like that I would head to a totally different part of the library. Also the liberty afforded to her by the police is beyond the usual stretch in these sorts of books.
I was almost considering getting the next one to see if the character improved but luckily I found a great review of all the books in the series (and found the reviewer shared he same feelings as I) so now won’t bother. She did say book 1 seems the best if you are still keen.
I purchased the first 6 books in this series so hung in there and read the lot, hoping things would improve. Alas they did not. As the books developed I found it harder and harder to warm to the protagonist, it was becoming quite hard to actually like her character and how she treated those around her. I buy these books to have a light hearted read, bit of a who-dunnit and escape the issues of real life - this books does not deliver this. Other than the lovely descriptions of the areas in which they are set they are based too much on the negative introspections of Thea, waaay too many family issues surfacing everywhere and story lines that raise with more questions than they answer, angry at the characters and leave you with a bit of a negative feel after finishing it. Not the reason I chose to read these sorts of books. If I wanted something like that I would head to a totally different part of the library. Also the liberty afforded to her by the police is beyond the usual stretch in these sorts of books.
I was almost considering getting the next one to see if the character improved but luckily I found a great review of all the books in the series (and found the reviewer shared he same feelings as I) so now won’t bother. She did say book 1 seems the best if you are still keen.
Read
September 12, 2025Sorry, I tried reading this series, just could not connect. I struggled through book one, hoping book two would be more my thing. It was not. Did not finish it or progress further into the series.
I don't know why, but I just found the narration a dull monotone with the occasional harsh spike in it.
I totally blame myself. I simply do not feel I was the right reader for this series, seeing so many other people seemed to have enjoyed it.
But, as I only spent 99 cents to buy this series, not that upset that it wasn't for me. May the right readers find it and keave more rave reviews.
I don't know why, but I just found the narration a dull monotone with the occasional harsh spike in it.
I totally blame myself. I simply do not feel I was the right reader for this series, seeing so many other people seemed to have enjoyed it.
But, as I only spent 99 cents to buy this series, not that upset that it wasn't for me. May the right readers find it and keave more rave reviews.
March 16, 2026
Unusual
They where different type of who dun it books, not the usual police mysteries, well i suppose they where but from a different perspective. Confused at what I've written, well i was after reading these 6 book's. I had to read them all but after the first two they
Seemed to blend into one, not sure i can recommend them. I have given them 4stars because they are really well written all the story's follow on very nicely and are quite easy to follow. Not sure I will read this author again. And i am confused.
They where different type of who dun it books, not the usual police mysteries, well i suppose they where but from a different perspective. Confused at what I've written, well i was after reading these 6 book's. I had to read them all but after the first two they
Seemed to blend into one, not sure i can recommend them. I have given them 4stars because they are really well written all the story's follow on very nicely and are quite easy to follow. Not sure I will read this author again. And i am confused.
October 10, 2025
The Cotswold Village Mysteries Books 1-6 Rebecca Tope
I enjoyed reading these books so much I hardly put the iPad down all week. Good job it wasn’t a busy week. I was transfixed by Leah and her House sitting jobs her beautiful little dog and all her adventures. How so many murders happened everywhere she was quite amazing but I didn’t care because it was so lovely to read all day. Thank you Rebecca Tope for writing them with such great characters
I enjoyed reading these books so much I hardly put the iPad down all week. Good job it wasn’t a busy week. I was transfixed by Leah and her House sitting jobs her beautiful little dog and all her adventures. How so many murders happened everywhere she was quite amazing but I didn’t care because it was so lovely to read all day. Thank you Rebecca Tope for writing them with such great characters
March 12, 2026
Disappointing
I started out enjoying books 1 and 2 and found the main characters of Thea and Phil quite engaging. The stories had a great deal of detail and the locations were well descibed. However as I plodded through each successive book, the main characters did not continue to develop and Thea in particular became less and less likeable. I only continued to book 6 as a challenge to myself to finish the series. Cannot recommend.
I started out enjoying books 1 and 2 and found the main characters of Thea and Phil quite engaging. The stories had a great deal of detail and the locations were well descibed. However as I plodded through each successive book, the main characters did not continue to develop and Thea in particular became less and less likeable. I only continued to book 6 as a challenge to myself to finish the series. Cannot recommend.
July 24, 2025
good stories
I enjoyed this series. Particularly how some of the books were told from different perspectives of the characters. The Cotswolds locations were a great setting
I enjoyed this series. Particularly how some of the books were told from different perspectives of the characters. The Cotswolds locations were a great setting
August 1, 2025
Great set of books, feel you know the characters personally, if you enjoy easy reading, it's a good shout 😀
August 20, 2025
Five very different scenarios .
How is this series going to end? The scenarios were completely different in an area of England you want to explore.
How is this series going to end? The scenarios were completely different in an area of England you want to explore.
December 20, 2025
A bit of a slog
I'm sorry but the last couple in this set were just not at the same level as the first couple which I enjoyed
I'm sorry but the last couple in this set were just not at the same level as the first couple which I enjoyed
January 21, 2026
I enjoyed the first 4 more than the last 2 in the series. It got depressing as the crimes became less interesting .
January 21, 2026
Convoluted
Twists and turns in every book keeps interest high, but almost requires taking notes. Characters are well defined and it’s definitely worth reading all 6.
Twists and turns in every book keeps interest high, but almost requires taking notes. Characters are well defined and it’s definitely worth reading all 6.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews