Scarecrow Secrets: A Lucy Harford Narrowboat Mystery

by P. Thompson

When ex-police constable Lucy Harford moors her narrowboat, The Curious Cat, in the picturesque village of Lower Wick, she's seeking nothing more than peace and a chance to focus on her painting. Instead, she finds herself at the heart of a baffling murder mystery.

The village's annual Scarecrow Festival should be a time of community celebration, but when Lucy discovers the local vicar's body displayed as a macabre exhibit, the festivities take a sinister turn.

Assisted by Sir Meows-a-Lot, a stray ginger cat with an uncanny knack for appearing at crucial moments, she begins to unravel Lower Wick's buried grudges and hidden connections.

Could the murder be connected to the controversial housing development that the vicar opposed? What about his mysterious past with the local antique dealer? And why does everyone seem so interested in a letter that ended up in the wrong place?

As Lucy delves deeper, she discovers that in a village where everyone knows everyone else's business, the deadliest secrets are the ones nobody talks about—and someone is willing to kill to keep it that way.

The first book in the Lucy Harford Mysteries series, perfect for fans of traditional British village mysteries with a contemporary twist.

Perfect for fans of Faith Martin's Hillary Greene series and Betty Rowlands' Melissa Craig mysteries, the Lucy Harford series offers the authentic village atmosphere readers love with the unique freedom of narrowboat life.

245 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2025

About the author

Hello, Mystery Friends! I'm absolutely delighted you've found your way here!

As a country parson, I've discovered that the most intriguing mysteries happen in the most peaceful places. Drawing on my experience in parish life, counselling, and restorative justice, I bring authentic insight into village dynamics and the secrets that simmer beneath charming exteriors.

Now I get to share these adventures through Lucy Harford – a former police constable who's traded her beat for life aboard a narrowboat on England's waterways. What makes Lucy's mysteries special is that she can discover new communities while maintaining that intimate village atmosphere we cozy mystery lovers adore. Plus, her feline companion Sir Meows-a-Lot occasionally offers his own insights into the mysteries of village life!

I aim to continue the beloved tradition that Agatha Christie pioneered and wonderful authors like Faith Martin, Betty Rowlands, and Caroline Graham have kept alive, but with the unique twist of narrowboat living and the remarkable healing power that close-knit waterway communities can offer.

Whether you're curled up with a cup of tea or dreaming of your own canal adventure, I hope Lucy and Sir Meows-a-Lot will become cherished companions on your mystery-reading journey!

Reviews

[Steve Exeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fellow mystery writer featuring a strong female main character, I was keen to meet Lucy Harford, and she didn’t disappoint. ‘Scarecrow Secrets’ introduces her with a steady hand and an eye for atmosphere, blending canal-side tranquillity with the darker ripples of small-village intrigue.

Lucy is a former police officer who has swapped her badge for a paintbrush and life aboard her narrowboat, ‘The Curious Cat’. It’s a setting that feels fresh and vividly drawn. I could picture the mist curling off the water and hear the quiet creak of ropes against the dock. The story begins with the village’s annual Scarecrow Festival taking a macabre turn, and from there the mystery unfolds with satisfying layers of gossip, suspicion and buried secrets.

What I enjoyed most was the balance: gentle without being twee, clever without ever feeling forced. Sir Meows-a-Lot, Lucy’s feline companion, adds warmth and humour without stealing the scene. The clues are neatly planted, the tone is inviting, and the ending ties together in a way that feels both earned and comforting.

Fans of Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will find plenty to love here. ‘Scarecrow Secrets’ is a confident debut and a charming start to a series that promises both heart and intrigue. I’ll happily follow Lucy Harford on her next mooring.

[APK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Scarecrow Secrets, and it was exactly the kind of comfort read I adore. I love cozy mysteries to begin with, and when you pair that with an atmospheric English village and life on the canal? It’s basically a guaranteed win for me.

Lucy Harford is a wonderful protagonist — gentle, observant, and so easy to like. I caught a little whisper of Miss Marple in her approach, but it honestly did nothing but make me love her more. She feels warm and real, the kind of sleuth you could imagine having a cup of tea with before she casually unravels someone’s long-buried secret.

The pacing felt effortless — clues sprinkled at just the right moments, enough twists to keep me guessing, but never so many that you feel jerked around. And the ending ties everything up in a way that’s satisfying without being overly neat.

The mystery is clever, the setting is charming, the scarecrow festival adds delicious creepiness, and Sir Meows-a-Lot is pure joy (and as a cat lover, I absolutely adored him).

Overall, it’s warm without being sugary, suspenseful without being stressful, and honestly just the perfect curl-up-and-read mystery. I’m absolutely hopping aboard for Lucy’s next adventure!

[Linda Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cozy Mystery with Charm and Chills

Scarecrow Secrets is an enjoyable blend of small-village intrigue, quirky characters, and classic British mystery charm. Lucy Harford makes a likable and grounded heroine, someone who wants peace but somehow attracts trouble. Her life on a narrowboat adds a refreshing touch, giving the story a unique setting that feels both calm and full of hidden tension.

The mystery itself is well-paced, with enough twists to keep you guessing without becoming overcomplicated. The Scarecrow Festival backdrop is delightfully eerie, and the author does a great job balancing cozy atmosphere with darker undertones. Sir Meows-a-Lot, the ginger cat sidekick, adds just the right bit of warmth and humor.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy gentle mysteries that still offer real suspense. It’s engaging, charmingly written, and leaves you curious for Lucy’s next adventure along the canals.

[Reina Everhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Scarecrow Secrets, and it’s a charming, cozy mystery with just the right amount of village intrigue. I really enjoyed following Lucy Harford. She’s down-to-earth, curious, and just wants to enjoy her quiet life on her narrowboat, which gives the whole story a calming, misty-canal feel. The murder mystery is gripping but still keeps that warm, classic British-village atmosphere. The Scarecrow Festival adds a fun mix of whimsy and unease. Sir Meows-a-Lot was a highlight for me—he brought just enough cat magic without taking over the story. The clues are smart, the pacing is smooth, and the ending wraps things up in a satisfying way. It’s gentle but not predictable, cozy but not too sweet, and there’s enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. I’ll definitely be reading Lucy’s next adventure.

[Olivia Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

cozy mystery

I really enjoyed Scarecrow Secrets! It’s the kind of cozy mystery that pulls you in without trying too hard. The setting on the narrowboat was different and really added to the atmosphere—I could almost picture the misty canals and quiet little towns. Lucy Harford is a fun character to follow—curious, brave, and a little stubborn in all the right ways.

The story had a few slow parts, but once the mystery started unfolding, I couldn’t put it down. The ending tied things up nicely and left me looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like small-town mysteries with a touch of charm and suspense, this one’s worth reading.

[Sherri Moorer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a charming and intriguing British mystery! Scarecrow Secrets is a great mystery about a woman trying to escape her past, only to be called back. Lucy has recently retired and is enjoying life of art and leisure on her narrowboat when she finds a unique Scarecrow Festival, which promises fun and intrigue in a small village. But small villages have a life and secrets of their own, which Lucy learns when one of those scarecrows is more than it seems. Suddenly, she's entangled with a mystery that reeks of secrets, betrayal, and the complicated undercurrents of a quaint little village. A wonderful read!

[Mehmet Çalışkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

P. Thompson’s Scarecrow Secrets is a mystery novel. The story centers on former police officer Lucy’s life aboard her narrowboat, The Curious Cat, and a mysterious death that occurs during the Scarecrow Festival in a small English village. The charming cat, Sir Meows-a-Lot, adds warmth and delight to the story. With its original characters, atmospheric setting, and engaging clues, this book offers an enjoyable reading experience, and I think readers who enjoy small-town life and cozy English mysteries will appreciate it.

[Leanne Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read, perfect for a few hours on the beach. The author created a charming village setting, one that you could visualize as you read the book. The characters were interesting and could have been developed further. This book would benefit from an editing process as there were a number of typos, missing words, double verbs and repeated paragraphs. There were also several places in the story where two versions of a scene were presented, which was confusing. Overall, a light entertaining read.

[Ashlee Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Lucy Harford is a great protagonist. She is down-to-earth, a little wily, and completely at home on her narrowboat in a setting you don’t see all too often. The mystery had the right mix of rural charm, quirky characters, and enough twists to keep me interested and guessing. If you’re in the mood for something cozy with a fresh backdrop and a solid whodunnit feel, this book delivers. I’ll most likely be digging into the next Lucy Harford adventure.

[Gracie Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarecrow Secrets is a charming cozy mystery with a wonderfully unique setting. The narrowboat life and small village atmosphere pull you in right away. Lucy is an easy character to root for—curious, grounded, and quietly determined.

The Scarecrow Festival adds a fun, slightly eerie twist to the mystery, and the story balances warmth and suspense really well. A quick, engaging read that leaves you wanting more of Lucy’s adventures.

[Eliza Thorncroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarecrow Secrets pulled me in from the very first pages. The mystery is atmospheric and full of intrigue, with that perfect balance of charm and darkness in a small-village setting. Lucy Hardford is a clever and engaging sleuth, and every chapter leaves me wanting to know more. It’s addictive, immersive, and exactly the kind of cozy english mystery I love to get lost in.

[Unscripted Chic · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love cozy mysteries, Scarecrow Secrets is a lovely escape. Lucy Harford—an ex-police constable turned artist living on her narrowboat—has exactly the right mix of curiosity and heart. The sleepy village setting is full of charm, until a scarecrow festival turns deadly and Lucy’s detective instincts kick in. Definitely a delightful book to read.

[Tom Leverett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author puts us in a small village where people have held their passions over the years. The main character is a former detective, but fortunately just enough things happen to her that she feels impelled to solve the crimes, and they are substantial crimes. I liked the characterization of the small village and the canal; the characters and plot are well-done too.

[Dimitris Margetas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cozy and fun to read. I liked the small-village vibes, the boat life, and of course the cat. Lucy is an easy character to like. She is curious, brave, and just a bit stubborn. The mystery builds slowly but keeps you hooked once it picks up. It’s more about the atmosphere than the action, which I enjoyed. A few slow spots, but overall a charming and clever cozy mystery.

[Nora S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cosy mystery is an easy, enjoyable read with a smooth, engaging writing style that makes the story flow effortlessly. The author brings the village to life with warmth and detail, while keeping the mystery clear and intriguing. Lucy Harford is a likeable lead, and the gentle humour and classic British charm make this a thoroughly satisfying read.

[Gideon Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe this as a cute story that would be acceptable for anyone in the family to read. The characters are interesting, and there are numerous opportunities for readers to delve into the mystery, exploring various rabbit holes along the way.

[Tanya Bulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming, atmospheric cozy mystery that perfectly captures life along the English canals. I really loved the blend of small-village gossip and eerie scarecrow imagery. Lucy is very relatable. A fun read.

[ReadingIsFun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Scarecrow Secrets."
The story centres on Lucy Harford, a former police officer and artist living on her boat. The village is charming, but when the Scarecrow festival turns deadly, Lucy's keen investigative skills are put to the test. It's a truly engaging read.

[M D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer does a great job in building an English village on the canal bank so vividly and sensory you that live along the characters. The cat character is very nice, too. Lucy Harford is a bit disturbing, but in a good way.
All in all a nice read

[Curious Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarecrow Secrets: A Lucy Harford Narrowboat Mystery is a cozy mystery about a former police constable, now living on a boat called The Curious Cat. 

The novel gives a lovely feel for life on a narrowboat, as well as a great sense of an English village. Many characters have unique foibles and personalities, befitting a cozy mystery. As a former constable, Lucy Harford has left her old life behind, yet is drawn toward solving the murder, despite warnings not to interfere. The mystery and community life are involving and there's an underlying sense of menace.

My favorite character, is, of course, the cat. Mysteries and cats just fit together. 

The novel is told in third-person from Lucy's point of view. Hints of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple are layered into the story, though Lucy is younger. 

There are continuity/story concerns in the novel which posed readability issues, including:

--Characters and their information are sometimes introduced to the narrative more than once as if newly appearing or not having been met previously. 

--"Jenny" addresses "Bartholomew" as Bartholomew, then in the same scene calls him "Mr. Barnes."

--The first mention of DI Sayers is in Chapter 7, but Lucy recalls him questioning a witness on the day the murder. Yet in Chapter 4, we're only introduced to Constable Hall and are told two police constables join him. 

--Lucy is told by Constable Hall in Chapter 5 not to get involved in the investigation. In Chapter 7, Lucy recalls DI Sayers warning her not to get involved. He DOES warn her, but it isn't until Chapter 8.

--Lucy thinks of the stray cat as "Sir Meows-A-Lot" in Chapter 9, but the name only occurs to her in Chapter 15.

Resolving the above mentioned continuity/story concerns, among others, would strengthen a charming and interesting cozy mystery. Readers should enjoy this slice of English life with a side of mystery. 

(Read on Kindle Unlimited)