The Little Black Book Killer: The Village Detectives, Book 3

by Fiona Walker

The third charming instalment in the page-turning cosy mystery series from MILLION COPY bestseller Fiona Walker, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Rev. Richard Coles!

Matchmaking has never been so murderous…

Juno is feeling ready – at last – to start dating again, after losing her husband some years ago. She is sure she can make time from being a Village Detective, indeed it might help distract her from her crush on hunky (but far-too-young!) pub landlord – Mil.

So she’s signed up to an exclusive new dating app and cannot wait. But when one of the founding investors in that same dating app drops dead in front of fellow Village Detective Phoebe in a nearby hotel – and then a second investor is found hanging in the local cricket pavilion just days later – Juno knows she’ll have to put her love life on hold.

Teaming up once more with Phoebe, Felix and Mil… the Village Detectives are back. And this time Juno – who’d thought she was getting under the covers with a new lover – is going undercover to catch a killer…

Wickedly funny cozy crime, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona Walker! Fans of The Thursday Murder Club and A Death on Location will love the Village Detectives!

Audible Audio

Published October 8, 2025

Reviews

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little Black Book Killer is the third novel in Fiona Walker’s Village Detective series, and while it’s technically possible to read it as a standalone, I’d highly recommend starting with the first book to fully appreciate the characters and their relationships.

This was my first Fiona Walker novel, and I’ll admit it took me a little while to get my bearings. Dropped into a quaint English village full of strangers, I initially struggled to understand who everyone was and how they were connected. Once I framed the Village Detectives—Juno, Phoebe, Felix, and Mil—as a charming, amateur sleuthing team reminiscent of The Marlow Murder Club, the plot clicked beautifully.

In this installment, Juno decides to try dating and joins an exclusive dating app—only to discover that romance is the least of her worries when several men connected to the app end up dead. Fortunately, the murders occur off-page, so the story maintains its cozy mystery vibe rather than venturing into gory thriller territory. Walker skillfully balances humor, suspense, and clever twists, much of the comedy stemming from the antics and, occasionally, the alcohol-fueled escapades of the characters.

The story steadily builds as the Village Detectives piece together the puzzle, with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing until the end. The writing is witty and warm, and the characters are engaging—even if you haven’t read the earlier books. By the time the mystery resolved, I was fully invested in both the investigation and the relationships between the sleuths.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC to read and review. While I enjoyed this novel and the cozy humor, starting with the first book will make The Little Black Book Killer an even richer and more satisfying experience.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Black Book Killer is an ambitious mystery that kept me hooked most of the way through. It does run long and at times felt a bit muddled with the number of characters. I had to stop a few times and remind myself who was who. That said, it gave a really in depth look at the main characters in this installment and that part I absolutely loved.

The writing builds atmosphere well and there are some great twists along the way. It has that kind of tension that makes you want to read just one more chapter. The main characters in particular are written with care and depth. They felt like real people to me, and I found myself invested in what happened to them. I really hope that Juno and Mil pull their fingers out and get together soon!

For me it just needed a little trimming and a slightly tighter focus on fewer characters. With that said, it is still a really solid mystery and a satisfying read. If you enjoy complex plots and getting under the skin of well-developed characters, this one is worth picking up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for an ARC.

[Laura Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Black Book Killer is the third in the Village Detective series. The protagonists are Juno, who is getting over her husband’s death, her friend Phoebe, Phoebe’s husband Felix and Mil, the pub landlord. The book follows Juno signing up to an exclusive dating site to try get into the dating scene again. But when one of the app’s founding investors dies suddenly in front of Phoebe, and then a second investor is found dead in the local cricket pavilion, Juno and the Village Detectives take on the case, with Juno going undercover to investigate.

I found the idea of linking deadly crimes to a dating app a really great twist to the normal cosy crime books. I found Juno’s emotions to be described brilliantly and her character has a lot of depth. The dynamic between the 4 main characters is warm and engaging. There was plenty of humour to keep this interesting outwith the mystery plot. I found the mix of comedy and mystery really well written and it added to the story enjoyment of the book. I felt it was paced really well - it gave characters moments however the momentum was still there making me want to read more. I hadn’t realised this was part of a series and although it can be read as a standalone, there was some references and character backstories mentioned. If you like cosy crime with older amateur sleuths, this is the book for you!

[Chryssa.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Village Detectives Series, and my first read from the author.
This is a cozy murder mystery book, about Juno whom is a widower and she thinks that is time to start dating again. And even though she has a crush on her friend , Mil, she thinks he is a little young for her so she gives a new date app a chance.
But some deaths happens and other things, so she and her three friends, Phoebe, Felix and Mil, are trying to solve it.
I liked how the story was written and the characters described and also their interactions with each other.
The pace of the story kept me guessing and trying to figure out who was the killer and what were the motives.
And I also was curious about the relashionship between Jono and Mil. Maybe in the next book they will get toghether, finally.

You should give the book a try. It is a good read , next to a cup of some warm drink.

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book in advance. This is my honest and only opinion.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this cozy county mystery which is set in modern day England in a lovely village with lots of hidden secrets and agendas. The Village Detectives are ready for another case and when a body is found hanging in suspicious circumstances, the group launch themselves into the fray, in varying degrees of enthusiasm.

I have not read the others in this series but found it easy to pick up and loved the characters and their easy relationships with each other. I enjoyed the steady way the different members of the group went about solving the puzzle and enjoyed the humour in the book also. I very much look forward to reading more of the series.

The characters are varies and full of life. I laughed at their exploits and cheered them on to chasing down the culprits. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Miki Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're back in Inkbury with Juno, Phoebe, Felix and Mil. Phoebe is at the Priory, a local posh hotel meeting a tv executive who is interested in her books and making a tv series. The meeting gets cut short and Phoebe then witnesses a man die of a heart attack.
When Phoebe relays this to the rest of the gang, Juno is convinced there is more to it.
When local man Rich Bass is found dead in the cricket pavilion wearing women's underwear after Juno's housewarming party, Juno's detective itch is fully activated.
The gang navigate the world of app dating to find the killer with plenty of red herrings flying around.
A fun book which conveys the urgency at the end very well.