Six gripping mysteries full of sparkling wit. Over 2000 pages of crime-solving. Beneath the charm of the village Tarnfield lies a trail of murder, lies — and one unlikely sleuth.
Meet the Amateur Sleuth Suzy Spencer never planned on village life — or amateur sleuthing. A former London TV producer turned single mum, she moved to Tarnfield when her husband Nigel uprooted the family for his advertising job. He lasted a year before running off with his new PA, leaving Suzy behind with the kids, a mortgage, and no plan B.Now Suzy’s juggling freelance media work, chaotic school runs, and a church flower rota she never actually signed up for. Sharp, irreverent, and usually running late, she’s more at home with takeaway pizza than floral swags — but she has a knack for spotting what others miss.
Messy but intuitive, underestimated but relentless — Suzy may not look the part, but she’s exactly the woman to unravel the secrets simmering beneath Tarnfield’s picturesque surface. And when secrets start bubbling to the surface in Tarnfield, she can’t help digging — especially with quiet, grief-stricken Robert Clark often by her side.
The Setting Tarnfield looks like a postcard-perfect Cumbrian village — rugged fells, stone cottages, winding lanes. But beneath the charm lies a hotbed of secrets and simmering tensions. Life revolves around All Saints Church, where parishioners are as quick to gossip as they are to pray. There’s the Lo-cost supermarket, the Plough pub, and a constant hum of village drama. The pavements are uneven, the flower arranging fiercely competitive, and outsiders like Suzy Spencer soon learn that even the prettiest places can hide dark truths. Behind the Easter services and choir rehearsals lurk rivalries, scandals — and the occasional murder.
Fans of LJ Ross, Rhys Bowen, Richard Osman, Jeanne M. Dams, Frances Evesham and Margaret Mayhew are sure to be enchanted.
PRAISE FOR THETARNFIELD COZY MYSTERIES:
'A pleasure to read . . . engrossing to the end.' San Jose Mercury News
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This series was a complete surprise and I’ve loved reading each.' Barbie T.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This was an excellent read — with many twists and turns whilst holding on to a very interesting storyline.’ KtMac
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book is brilliant and if you are looking for a cosy and not too blood curdling a murder it is ideal.' Murrow M.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I am an avid reader of who-dunnits and have a particular soft spot for insular, rural, parochial mysteries! This from Lis Howell ticks all my boxes and more.' J.S. Bundy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The plot is intriguing and highly original, the characters fascinating and believable. At the end of each chapter I said, OK, just one more chapter — and then the day was gone.’ Bryan
This series is solved by a group of mystery-minded friends.
In this small village there are a group friends who solve the various mysteries ultimately by gathering around Suzy's large scrubbed wooden table. There, after eating a hearty northern English meal, are able to solve the mystery.
Delightfully convoluted plots replete with red herrings, relatable characters who sometimes jump to conclusions (both as sleuths and in their personal lives), and some truly evil villains who eventually reap their rewards. What's not to like? I raced through these because I couldn't stop reading, but was sad when they came to an end. Well done.