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Lady Matilda Investigates #0.5
The Case of the Deadly Dog Show
In the quaint English village of Little Biddington, Devon, life is as peaceful as a cup of tea on a summer’s day—until murder turns up at the local dog show
Recently widowed and struggling to find her place in a world without her husband, Lady Matilda Farnworth reluctantly agrees to judge the village's annual dog show, accompanied by her late husband’s mischievous basset hound, Wellington, and her well-meaning but comically confused companion, Hetty Trelawny. But the event takes a dark turn when the show’s front-runner, an elegant Pekingese, is discovered beside the strangled body of its owner, the spirited socialite Adelaide Forsythe, her own dog’s lead around her neck.
With the village in shock and the local authorities baffled, Lady Matilda finds herself drawn into the investigation. From a disgruntled military man with a penchant for spaniels to a spinster with a sharp tongue and a secret to hide, it seems everyone in Little Biddington has something to gain—and lose—from Adelaide’s demise. But as Lady Matilda digs deeper, she uncovers more than she bargained for, including a tangled web of jealousy, deceit, and a decades-old affair.
Can Lady Matilda, with a little help from Hetty’s malapropisms and Wellington’s keen nose for trouble, uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?
Recently widowed and struggling to find her place in a world without her husband, Lady Matilda Farnworth reluctantly agrees to judge the village's annual dog show, accompanied by her late husband’s mischievous basset hound, Wellington, and her well-meaning but comically confused companion, Hetty Trelawny. But the event takes a dark turn when the show’s front-runner, an elegant Pekingese, is discovered beside the strangled body of its owner, the spirited socialite Adelaide Forsythe, her own dog’s lead around her neck.
With the village in shock and the local authorities baffled, Lady Matilda finds herself drawn into the investigation. From a disgruntled military man with a penchant for spaniels to a spinster with a sharp tongue and a secret to hide, it seems everyone in Little Biddington has something to gain—and lose—from Adelaide’s demise. But as Lady Matilda digs deeper, she uncovers more than she bargained for, including a tangled web of jealousy, deceit, and a decades-old affair.
Can Lady Matilda, with a little help from Hetty’s malapropisms and Wellington’s keen nose for trouble, uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
114 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2025
58 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Coles
39 books308 followersThe daughter of a military father, Catherine was born in Germany and lived most of the first 14 years of her life abroad. She spent her school years devouring everything her school library had to offer!
Her favourites were romance and mysteries. Her love for the Nancy Drew books led Catherine to check out every mystery story she could find. She soon found Agatha Christie who quickly became Catherine's favourite author.
Catherine writes cosy mysteries that take place in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie mysteries are set in 1920s North Yorkshire. Her new series, the Martha Miller cosy mysteries, are set in the years following the Second World War in Berkshire.
Catherine lives in northeast England with her two spoiled dogs who have no idea they are not human!
You can connect with Catherine on her website - www.catherinecoles.com
Her favourites were romance and mysteries. Her love for the Nancy Drew books led Catherine to check out every mystery story she could find. She soon found Agatha Christie who quickly became Catherine's favourite author.
Catherine writes cosy mysteries that take place in the English countryside. Her extremely popular Tommy & Evelyn Christie mysteries are set in 1920s North Yorkshire. Her new series, the Martha Miller cosy mysteries, are set in the years following the Second World War in Berkshire.
Catherine lives in northeast England with her two spoiled dogs who have no idea they are not human!
You can connect with Catherine on her website - www.catherinecoles.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 23, 2026
How shallow am I?
A Booksta review drew my attention to this book, and I fell in love with the cover. I mean…what a cute Bassett dog. So yes, I basically judged a book by its’ cover (and a great review.)
Another factor was that there is so much stress and non-sense in the news at the moment, I fell so powerless against obvious injustice that a comfort read was in order. And happily The Case of the Deadly Dog Show did no disappoint.
Recently widowed Lady Matilda is not a dog lover, but has been asked to judge the local dog show. Begrudgingly she agrees, accompanied by her scatty maid, Hetty, and her deceased husband’s beloved hound, Wellington.
But things take an unexpected turn when the disagreeable socialite, Adelaide Forsythe is found to have been strangled with her own dog lead. It falls to Matilda to investigate, which she does with aplomb.
This is a comfort read of a book, a bit of cosy flimflam that hits the right notes at the right time. It was just what I needed and I will happily pick up more books by the author. Also, note, this is a novella rather than a novel – but that’s just fine as it is perfectly paced for the word count.
A Booksta review drew my attention to this book, and I fell in love with the cover. I mean…what a cute Bassett dog. So yes, I basically judged a book by its’ cover (and a great review.)
Another factor was that there is so much stress and non-sense in the news at the moment, I fell so powerless against obvious injustice that a comfort read was in order. And happily The Case of the Deadly Dog Show did no disappoint.
Recently widowed Lady Matilda is not a dog lover, but has been asked to judge the local dog show. Begrudgingly she agrees, accompanied by her scatty maid, Hetty, and her deceased husband’s beloved hound, Wellington.
But things take an unexpected turn when the disagreeable socialite, Adelaide Forsythe is found to have been strangled with her own dog lead. It falls to Matilda to investigate, which she does with aplomb.
This is a comfort read of a book, a bit of cosy flimflam that hits the right notes at the right time. It was just what I needed and I will happily pick up more books by the author. Also, note, this is a novella rather than a novel – but that’s just fine as it is perfectly paced for the word count.
May 14, 2025
1924 Devon. Lady Matilda Farnworth opens thr local dog show, only for her and her companion Hetty Trelawny to discover a body. That of dog owner Adelaide Forsyth.
An enjoyable historical cozy mystery
An enjoyable historical cozy mystery
January 20, 2026
A prequel novella in the Lady Matilda Investigates Series.
Lady Matilda, who is mourning the unfortunate death of her husband, is convinced to host the village of Little Biddington's annual dog show, bringing her companion Hetty and late husband's basset hound, Wellington, with her. But when the very unpopular Adelaide Forsythe is found murdered in the middle of the dog show, Lady Matilda is encouraged to try her hand at sleuthing to solve the mystery of Adelaide's death.
A fun, cosy historical mystery set in the 1920s featuring a plucky female amateur sleuth and her faithful and very forthright companion. The Case of the Deadly Dog Show is a light-hearted, fun and witty novella with interesting characters and an amateur sleuth who is trying to establish a new life for herself after becoming a widow. A great read for cosy historical fiction fans who love small-town British cosy crime.
Lady Matilda, who is mourning the unfortunate death of her husband, is convinced to host the village of Little Biddington's annual dog show, bringing her companion Hetty and late husband's basset hound, Wellington, with her. But when the very unpopular Adelaide Forsythe is found murdered in the middle of the dog show, Lady Matilda is encouraged to try her hand at sleuthing to solve the mystery of Adelaide's death.
A fun, cosy historical mystery set in the 1920s featuring a plucky female amateur sleuth and her faithful and very forthright companion. The Case of the Deadly Dog Show is a light-hearted, fun and witty novella with interesting characters and an amateur sleuth who is trying to establish a new life for herself after becoming a widow. A great read for cosy historical fiction fans who love small-town British cosy crime.
May 17, 2025
Perfect evening read‼️
🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
Excellent start to a new series! An unlikely duo of a Lady and her companion must solve a murder on their own with just a hint of advice from seasoned sleuths Tommy and Evelyn ( from another excellent series). Nervous at the outset they soon find a balance and the case is solved. Wellington proves that dogs are indeed man's best friend in a harrowing scene! Great characters with well developed traits ~ it's going to be another page turning series by Catherine! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
Excellent start to a new series! An unlikely duo of a Lady and her companion must solve a murder on their own with just a hint of advice from seasoned sleuths Tommy and Evelyn ( from another excellent series). Nervous at the outset they soon find a balance and the case is solved. Wellington proves that dogs are indeed man's best friend in a harrowing scene! Great characters with well developed traits ~ it's going to be another page turning series by Catherine! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 19, 2025
What a fun start to a brand new series. The Lady Matilda investigates series,
This is a short book, just to introduce you to this character, her maid and wonderful dog!
Book no1 comes out soon, if you like British cozy mysteries, a great character who becomes an
Amateur sleuth ( think Phryne Fisher) a maid/ companion and a trustee dog this is the series for you.
This is a short book, just to introduce you to this character, her maid and wonderful dog!
Book no1 comes out soon, if you like British cozy mysteries, a great character who becomes an
Amateur sleuth ( think Phryne Fisher) a maid/ companion and a trustee dog this is the series for you.
April 11, 2025
This is a quick read with an introduction to the new series and main characters. If you read the Tommy and Evelyn books, you'll be happy to see that they make an appearance too! I enjoyed this British Historical Cozy mystery book very much! I'm looking forward to the series.
November 1, 2025
I can’t wait for the next one!
Catherine Coles is a marvelous storyteller as you will see from this prequel to her new series. The characters really are—well, characters. Simply delightful!
Catherine Coles is a marvelous storyteller as you will see from this prequel to her new series. The characters really are—well, characters. Simply delightful!
June 5, 2025
Lady Matilda is opening a dog show when the body of a very disliked woman is found. With Evelyn heavily pregnant and also laid up with an ankle injury, it falls on Matilda and her companion to do some amateur sleuthing.
This was a quick read and a very enjoyable one, giving us a quick glimpse into the character of Lady Matilda in time for a new series that is coming soon. It certainly does the trick of getting me interested in reading the first book.
This was a quick read and a very enjoyable one, giving us a quick glimpse into the character of Lady Matilda in time for a new series that is coming soon. It certainly does the trick of getting me interested in reading the first book.
July 4, 2025
entertaining
November 7, 2025
Cute novella. Introduces Lady Matilda and her companion, Hetty. I will read the next book but think I will get tired of Hetty’s malapropism .
November 25, 2025
A wonderful start to a new series. Lady Matilda is great, but I confess Hetty stole the show.
October 17, 2025
Fun new series. Lady Matilda (a recent widow) investigates her first case - a murder at a dog show. Along with her companion, Hetty Trelawny, she begins hunting for the murderer. Lady Matilda has an interesting relationship with her late husbands dog, a basset hound named Wellington. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews