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Marigold Cottages Murders #2
Murder on Charity Lane
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26The charming and heartfelt follow-up to The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, written in the vein of The Thursday Murder Club and "Only Murders in the Building," with a southern California twist.
After the recent 'hubbub'—as Mrs. B describes the murders on the property—quiet descends upon the Marigold Cottages. Sophie is moving in with Nicholas, Anthony is smitten with Lily-Ann, and life is returning to normal.
But Mrs. B misses the hubbub.
That's why she invites her friend Elsa Moore to move into Sophie's now-vacant cottage: Elsa is a suspect in the death of her employer, who tumbled down the stairs of his mansion during a dinner party. His much-younger window claims she saw Elsa push Frank, but Mrs. B knows she's innocent.
Mrs. B rallies the residents to investigate the party-goers: an eccentric couple who owe Frank, a fundraiser who depends on his largesse, and an old friend obsessed with life-extension. But the tenants all come to the same conclusion: Elsa is guilty.
And as they investigate, someone is snooping around the Cottages, leaving windows unlocked and papers misplaced. Then there’s a second murder, and they discover that Mrs. B risked the Marigold Court for Elsa. With their tight-knit community on the line, they must prove her innocence.
After the recent 'hubbub'—as Mrs. B describes the murders on the property—quiet descends upon the Marigold Cottages. Sophie is moving in with Nicholas, Anthony is smitten with Lily-Ann, and life is returning to normal.
But Mrs. B misses the hubbub.
That's why she invites her friend Elsa Moore to move into Sophie's now-vacant cottage: Elsa is a suspect in the death of her employer, who tumbled down the stairs of his mansion during a dinner party. His much-younger window claims she saw Elsa push Frank, but Mrs. B knows she's innocent.
Mrs. B rallies the residents to investigate the party-goers: an eccentric couple who owe Frank, a fundraiser who depends on his largesse, and an old friend obsessed with life-extension. But the tenants all come to the same conclusion: Elsa is guilty.
And as they investigate, someone is snooping around the Cottages, leaving windows unlocked and papers misplaced. Then there’s a second murder, and they discover that Mrs. B risked the Marigold Court for Elsa. With their tight-knit community on the line, they must prove her innocence.
- GenresMysteryCozyCozy Mystery
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 18, 2026
3 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Jo Nichols
5 books72 followersFrom the book cover:
"Jo Nichols is the pen name of a wife-and-husband team who've published thirty-one books in five genres, written an animated series for Netflix, and spent a combined thirty-six years in Santa Barbara, where they've lived in eleven places. Their hobby is reminiscing about restaurants that no longer exist."
"Jo Nichols is the pen name of a wife-and-husband team who've published thirty-one books in five genres, written an animated series for Netflix, and spent a combined thirty-six years in Santa Barbara, where they've lived in eleven places. Their hobby is reminiscing about restaurants that no longer exist."
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February 23, 20264 ⭐
This book is the second installment in The Marigold Cottages Murders series and is set six months after the series debut. To get the most from this story, I’d recommend starting with book one.
I loved escaping back into Ms. B’s world; the ensemble cast of unconventional found family instantly pulled me in. I love how this cast of unusual and quirky renters makes the community feel familiar and allows me to sit back and laugh or gasp at the antics. Don’t get me wrong, Ms B steps up her game and there are still mysteries and murders to solve, but the solidarity and camaraderie of these renters is the highlight of the series. It may not have had the same tone as the series debut, but I LOVED that the authors chose to gloss over the character introduction. It’s a big pet peeve of mine when sequels take up pages reintroducing cast members. If you’ve read book one, you’ll be able to hop right into the action in this installment after meeting one new renter, Elsa.
I’m all in for book three!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This book is the second installment in The Marigold Cottages Murders series and is set six months after the series debut. To get the most from this story, I’d recommend starting with book one.
I loved escaping back into Ms. B’s world; the ensemble cast of unconventional found family instantly pulled me in. I love how this cast of unusual and quirky renters makes the community feel familiar and allows me to sit back and laugh or gasp at the antics. Don’t get me wrong, Ms B steps up her game and there are still mysteries and murders to solve, but the solidarity and camaraderie of these renters is the highlight of the series. It may not have had the same tone as the series debut, but I LOVED that the authors chose to gloss over the character introduction. It’s a big pet peeve of mine when sequels take up pages reintroducing cast members. If you’ve read book one, you’ll be able to hop right into the action in this installment after meeting one new renter, Elsa.
I’m all in for book three!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle (Kobo edition)
📃 352 pages
⏱ 4.5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Minotaur Books
📅 Release Date: August 18, 2026
✨ ARC provided by NetGalley
After adoring the first Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, I was both nervous and giddy to see if Jo Nichols could pull it off again... and Jo Nichols delivered! Murder on Charity Lane leans into everything that made Book 1 sparkle: cozy chaos, loveable oddballs, and Mrs. B’s irresistible meddling. In book one, murder landed at Marigold Cottages uninvited. But this time, Mrs. B practically sets out the welcome mat for it. And honestly? I loved that bold energy.
Because we already know the residents, Nichols skips lengthy character reintroductions. Which is refreshing, but also my gentle PSA: read this series in order. The ensemble dynamic is half the magic. Watching this found family grow more comfortable, more united, and more in sync with each other’s quirks made the whole experience warmer and richer. The multi-POV structure (everyone except Mrs. B) adds layers, though I am deeply curious why we’re denied her perspective. And Sophie alone narrating in first person? Intriguing choice. I have questions, Jo Nichols. I have questions. The pacing is gentle but confident, and Nichols’s descriptive touch strikes just the right balance: warm, vivid, and never bogged down.
The writing remains smooth and immersive, painting Marigold Cottages in cozy, sun-warmed tones without overindulging in description. The mystery itself keeps the pages turning, but it’s the community that anchors everything. This series has that rare “I want to live there” quality. Coming back to Marigold Cottages felt like catching up with old friends, ones you’d absolutely gossip with over tea and scones while a murder unravels next door. Mrs. B has fully taken the reins as the Queen Bee of Charm and Chaos, and I, for one, am delighted to follow her anywhere. I cannot get enough. Book three might be a year away, but consider me already impatient.
Would I recommend it?
Murder on Charity Lane is a charming, clever sequel that wraps humor, heart, and a solid mystery into one breezy read. If you love small-town cozy mysteries, strong ensemble casts, and that warm “found family” feeling wrapped around a twisty whodunit, this series continues to deliver. It’s comfortable without being complacent, charming without losing stakes. Mrs. B remains iconic. If you loved the first, this one’s an automatic pre-order.
📃 352 pages
⏱ 4.5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Minotaur Books
📅 Release Date: August 18, 2026
✨ ARC provided by NetGalley
After adoring the first Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, I was both nervous and giddy to see if Jo Nichols could pull it off again... and Jo Nichols delivered! Murder on Charity Lane leans into everything that made Book 1 sparkle: cozy chaos, loveable oddballs, and Mrs. B’s irresistible meddling. In book one, murder landed at Marigold Cottages uninvited. But this time, Mrs. B practically sets out the welcome mat for it. And honestly? I loved that bold energy.
Because we already know the residents, Nichols skips lengthy character reintroductions. Which is refreshing, but also my gentle PSA: read this series in order. The ensemble dynamic is half the magic. Watching this found family grow more comfortable, more united, and more in sync with each other’s quirks made the whole experience warmer and richer. The multi-POV structure (everyone except Mrs. B) adds layers, though I am deeply curious why we’re denied her perspective. And Sophie alone narrating in first person? Intriguing choice. I have questions, Jo Nichols. I have questions. The pacing is gentle but confident, and Nichols’s descriptive touch strikes just the right balance: warm, vivid, and never bogged down.
The writing remains smooth and immersive, painting Marigold Cottages in cozy, sun-warmed tones without overindulging in description. The mystery itself keeps the pages turning, but it’s the community that anchors everything. This series has that rare “I want to live there” quality. Coming back to Marigold Cottages felt like catching up with old friends, ones you’d absolutely gossip with over tea and scones while a murder unravels next door. Mrs. B has fully taken the reins as the Queen Bee of Charm and Chaos, and I, for one, am delighted to follow her anywhere. I cannot get enough. Book three might be a year away, but consider me already impatient.
Would I recommend it?
Murder on Charity Lane is a charming, clever sequel that wraps humor, heart, and a solid mystery into one breezy read. If you love small-town cozy mysteries, strong ensemble casts, and that warm “found family” feeling wrapped around a twisty whodunit, this series continues to deliver. It’s comfortable without being complacent, charming without losing stakes. Mrs. B remains iconic. If you loved the first, this one’s an automatic pre-order.
February 22, 2026
I discovered The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective via NetGalley last year. I really enjoyed it and was hoping or more time with the residents of the Marigold Cottages. I was happy to see Murder on Charity Lane is coming out later this year and jumped at the chance to read the arc.
Murder on Charity Lane takes place 6 months after the first book. All seems calm and peaceful at the Marigold Cottages. Lily-Ann and Anthony are dating, and Sophie and Nicholas are taking their relationship to the next level and moving in together.
Mrs. B sets Ocean up with CJ, who she met at the YMCA. CJ works for elderly millionaire Frank as his live-in personal assistant. When Frank dies after taking a tumble down the stairs at a party, his wife claims she saw CJ push him. CJ now needs to prove her innocence, and she also needs to place to live, as she’s been kicked out of Frank’s mansion.
Mrs. B offers CJ Sophie’s old home, and the residents of the Marigold Cottages band together to clear CJ’s name.
This is another fun book staring the kooky cast of characters who call the cottages home. I value my privacy and I don’t know my own neighbors very well, but I wouldn’t mind living in one of the Marigold Cottages and hanging out with its residents.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, but I didn’t find it difficult, as most of them were first introduced in The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective. The book is told in multiple points of view, which I don’t mind. I did get a little annoyed that Sophie’s chapters are told in the first person while the others are told in the third. Perhaps it’s because Sophie is a playwright, and she’s writing about the murders, however, it doesn’t seem necessary, as the book isn’t her play.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.
Murder on Charity Lane takes place 6 months after the first book. All seems calm and peaceful at the Marigold Cottages. Lily-Ann and Anthony are dating, and Sophie and Nicholas are taking their relationship to the next level and moving in together.
Mrs. B sets Ocean up with CJ, who she met at the YMCA. CJ works for elderly millionaire Frank as his live-in personal assistant. When Frank dies after taking a tumble down the stairs at a party, his wife claims she saw CJ push him. CJ now needs to prove her innocence, and she also needs to place to live, as she’s been kicked out of Frank’s mansion.
Mrs. B offers CJ Sophie’s old home, and the residents of the Marigold Cottages band together to clear CJ’s name.
This is another fun book staring the kooky cast of characters who call the cottages home. I value my privacy and I don’t know my own neighbors very well, but I wouldn’t mind living in one of the Marigold Cottages and hanging out with its residents.
There are a lot of characters to keep straight, but I didn’t find it difficult, as most of them were first introduced in The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective. The book is told in multiple points of view, which I don’t mind. I did get a little annoyed that Sophie’s chapters are told in the first person while the others are told in the third. Perhaps it’s because Sophie is a playwright, and she’s writing about the murders, however, it doesn’t seem necessary, as the book isn’t her play.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I couldn’t wait to pick up book two of this series and it did not disappoint. The Marigold Cottages family is full of funny, lovable characters—especially Mrs. B. While the multiple points of view can get a bit confusing at times, the mystery itself was engaging and kept me guessing right to the end. I loved seeing further development of all of the main characters and I really hope this series continues for many more books!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews