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Buried in the Brambles
A Body in the Garden
While Esmé Proudfoot watches the chaos caused by her neighbour’s landscape gardeners from her kitchen window, a shocking discovery is made—a man's body hidden in the undergrowth. The police quickly conclude it's a case of natural causes, believing the man to be a lost hiker who tripped and fell on a rock. However, Esmé isn't convinced. Together with the young lodger in her attic, she embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about the man's identity and what led him to her garden.
While Esmé Proudfoot watches the chaos caused by her neighbour’s landscape gardeners from her kitchen window, a shocking discovery is made—a man's body hidden in the undergrowth. The police quickly conclude it's a case of natural causes, believing the man to be a lost hiker who tripped and fell on a rock. However, Esmé isn't convinced. Together with the young lodger in her attic, she embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about the man's identity and what led him to her garden.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2025
35 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 10, 2025
What brought Jack to a garden grave?🤔
4.5🌟stars
Esme, the retired civil servant who's more curious than the cat, is the real heart of this new cozy murder investigating crime series set in the Cotswolds. She's roped her investigative journalist boarder Amos into working with her on a death of a hiker in the next door neighbor's garden that her policeman son Matthew says was not suspicious. Esme doesn't allow her son to tell her what to do and embarks on a path that uncovers lots of suspicious activity, not least of which by deceased businessman/hiker Jack, who didn't initially appear to have any reason to be in town let alone where he died.
One mystery regarding the victim I had quickly figured out the answer to but the killer and motive remained well hidden in a mass of red herrings through most of the story. It's a good cozy mystery with plenty of unpredictability and some interesting local characters in addition to intrepid Esme. Esme's vicious cat even lends a paw into making it easier to identify the culprit when they dare to trespass on Esme's domain!
Made me want to read more about Esme and Amos's exploits. I understand that there was a prequel and think I'll want to get my hands on a copy so I can better understand what brought Amos to the village and away from his life in London.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
4.5🌟stars
Esme, the retired civil servant who's more curious than the cat, is the real heart of this new cozy murder investigating crime series set in the Cotswolds. She's roped her investigative journalist boarder Amos into working with her on a death of a hiker in the next door neighbor's garden that her policeman son Matthew says was not suspicious. Esme doesn't allow her son to tell her what to do and embarks on a path that uncovers lots of suspicious activity, not least of which by deceased businessman/hiker Jack, who didn't initially appear to have any reason to be in town let alone where he died.
One mystery regarding the victim I had quickly figured out the answer to but the killer and motive remained well hidden in a mass of red herrings through most of the story. It's a good cozy mystery with plenty of unpredictability and some interesting local characters in addition to intrepid Esme. Esme's vicious cat even lends a paw into making it easier to identify the culprit when they dare to trespass on Esme's domain!
Made me want to read more about Esme and Amos's exploits. I understand that there was a prequel and think I'll want to get my hands on a copy so I can better understand what brought Amos to the village and away from his life in London.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
September 23, 2025
This is the first book in a new series featuring a retired (maybe) spy, Esme, and her lodger, Amos, an investigative journalist. I recommend reading the prologue book, Amos Leaves Town, for a good introduction to the characters and their relationships, as well as an interesting mystery.
This mystery is similar in style to Hillary Pugh's previous books, which are twisty mysteries with many layers that peel back as the story progresses. I like this book because there are multiple mysteries solved gradually, with a twist at the very end. The story is believable, and the details make it feel real. As in all her books, the characters feel like real people with normal human idiosyncrasies, and I expect that they will mature as the series continues. There's a little bit of competition between the two main characters, as each seeks to prove their worth to the new partnership.
I recommend this book, and both of her previous series as well, for anyone who enjoys being an armchair detective.
This mystery is similar in style to Hillary Pugh's previous books, which are twisty mysteries with many layers that peel back as the story progresses. I like this book because there are multiple mysteries solved gradually, with a twist at the very end. The story is believable, and the details make it feel real. As in all her books, the characters feel like real people with normal human idiosyncrasies, and I expect that they will mature as the series continues. There's a little bit of competition between the two main characters, as each seeks to prove their worth to the new partnership.
I recommend this book, and both of her previous series as well, for anyone who enjoys being an armchair detective.
November 10, 2025
Buried in the Brambles is book #1 in the Proudfoot and Handy Investigate series by Hilary Pugh.
I’m a fan of Hilary Pugh’s writing so I was excited to read this new series. I wasn’t disappointed. The two main characters are Esmé Proudfoot, former MI5 agent and mother the local police inspector, and Amos Handy, a journalist who is a boarder in Esmé’s house. They are asked to investigate the death of a man by his widow when the police conclude the death was from was natural causes. The characters are interesting and there’s many layers to the story. This was a great start to a new series and I look forward to the next book!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I’m a fan of Hilary Pugh’s writing so I was excited to read this new series. I wasn’t disappointed. The two main characters are Esmé Proudfoot, former MI5 agent and mother the local police inspector, and Amos Handy, a journalist who is a boarder in Esmé’s house. They are asked to investigate the death of a man by his widow when the police conclude the death was from was natural causes. The characters are interesting and there’s many layers to the story. This was a great start to a new series and I look forward to the next book!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
September 16, 2025
Esme is an instigator, not just an investigator. At least that's the impression I had when I finished Buried in the Brambles, Ms. Pugh's latest mystery series starter.
Overall I enjoyed the story; easy to follow but not easy to sus out the murderer. It will be interesting to see how Esme and Amos get along in the later books. In this one they foil one another quite well with lots of opportunity to grow in crime-solving partnership.
Nothing gratuitous included here (thank you!) although things were hinted at as off-page (which is fine). Clean - no foul language, a good cozy mystery.
Lavender... loved to hate her!
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
Overall I enjoyed the story; easy to follow but not easy to sus out the murderer. It will be interesting to see how Esme and Amos get along in the later books. In this one they foil one another quite well with lots of opportunity to grow in crime-solving partnership.
Nothing gratuitous included here (thank you!) although things were hinted at as off-page (which is fine). Clean - no foul language, a good cozy mystery.
Lavender... loved to hate her!
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
September 19, 2025
A man has been found in a patch of nettles & brambles in the garden next door to Esme. It seems he’d slipped & hit his head on a rock, only, he was obviously a very experienced hiker, from the clothes he was wearing. So, Esme, calls her lodger, Amos, who happened to be in London, to hurry back home! They are asked to delve into just how the man, Jack, ended up where he die, by his widow. They find a lot of very interesting stuff, but, eventually, thanks to a party held in a quarry, leads them to a big clue. A very interesting book.
October 19, 2025
A new series staring Esmé Proudfoot and her investigative journalist lodger Amos Handy. Esmé just happens to have had an interesting career and is the mother of local Police Inspector Matthew.
I am a huge fan of Hilary’s books and this book is also an excellent read. There’s a mystery to be solved, but not according to the police. Esmé and Amos set out to investigate and make some very interesting and intriguing discoveries. All is not as the police thought!
Looking forward to Book 2. Highly recommend.
I am a huge fan of Hilary’s books and this book is also an excellent read. There’s a mystery to be solved, but not according to the police. Esmé and Amos set out to investigate and make some very interesting and intriguing discoveries. All is not as the police thought!
Looking forward to Book 2. Highly recommend.
October 22, 2025
First in a new series, this teams up a 70-something ex MI5 operative with a young investigative journalist. Esme and Amos are fun personalities with a sense of humor, that are determined to find out what really happened. An entertaining mystery with a small town setting and likeable sleuths that kept me turning pages. Looking forward to the next adventure!
I received a free, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I received a free, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
October 21, 2025
An intriguing cozy mystery with a strong, well developed and interesting storyline, and engaging characters. I loved Proust!
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
September 14, 2025
A son searching for his mother found dead before they could meet. Can Esme and Amos find the killer among a slew of suspects? Can you? Sure to get the detective in you moving.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
October 8, 2025
I always enjoy books by this author so much and this adventure did not disappoint. Love learning about the new characters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews