Misteri, delitti e sale da tè: The Busybody Book Club

by Freya Sampson

Nova Davies ha avuto un'idea fondare un gruppo di lettura nel piccolo circolo ricreativo del villaggio di mare dove si è appena trasferita da Londra. Peccato che fin dall'inizio sia un i cinque membri non vanno d'accordo su nulla, e quando durante uno degli incontri scompare una grossa somma di denaro, il centro rischia la chiusura. Tutti i sospetti ricadono su Michael, uno dei membri del club, finché lui sparisce nel nulla e, poco dopo, un cadavere viene ritrovato nella sua casa. Ma si sa, i lettori non si arrendono facilmente. Phyllis, fan sfegatata di Agatha Christie, è convinta che Michael sia stato incastrato. Arthur, eterno romantico, sospetta che dietro tutto ci sia una donna misteriosa. E Ash, adolescente con la testa tra le stelle e i romanzi fantascientifici, teme che ci siano forze oscure all'opera. Tra teorie improbabili, segreti ben nascosti e svolte da romanzo, questo gruppo così improbabile dovrà risolvere il mistero prima che sia troppo tardi. Perché il lieto fine perfetto è tornare a casa, vivi e con un buon libro tra le mani.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Books About Books, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Freya Sampson is the USA Today bestselling author of The Last Chance Library and The Lost Ticket/The Girl on the 88 Bus. She studied history at Cambridge University and worked in television as an executive producer, making documentaries about everything from the British royal family to neighbours from hell. She lives in London with her husband, children and cats. Nosy Neighbours is her third novel.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

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3.5 Stars

I loved The Lost Ticket by this author and jumped at the chance to read this, her newest, from NetGalley. While The Lost Ticket remains my favourite, this one did not disappoint. Who wouldn't like to read a book about a book club!? Count me in!

I am not one for cozy mysteries, but because of my positive experience reading this author before, I wanted to give it a chance. What made this a winner for me is the characters. We have curmudgeon old women, teens, and everything in between. There are five members of the club. When one of them goes missing, and they find a dead person at his house, the rest of the group decides to investigate.

This was charming and heartwarming in equal measure. It was the perfect escape with quirky characters, lots of humour and a wonderful sense of community. The story was engaging, and it left me with all the feels. I loved the witty dialogue, and even though the characters are unique, they were also very relatable. The couple of niggles I do have is the predictable main plotline, and even some of the subplots could have been explored with a bit more depth. Even though I noticed these small points, The Busybody Book Club was a fun read that brought me joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freya Sampson, the QUEEN of heartwarming “found family” novels is back with a whole new cast of Busybodies!

Nova Davies has recently moved to Cornwall, and she really needs this fresh start and her new job to work out so she starts the St. Tredock Book Club to impress her boss Sandy-but so far it’s been a “less than impressive” beginning.

There are only 5 members, including herself, in the club, and rounding out the group are :

Arthur, an Octogenarian who gets around town on his tractor and reads romance novels to his wife who has lost her sight.

Ash, a shy teenager who hopes to impress his secret crush.

Micheal, the newest member, who is a mystery to the others so far.

And, (scene stealer) Phyllis, -a wannabe “Miss Marple” who knows every one of those Agatha Christie stories forward and backwards, and never leaves home without her elderly, arthritic English bulldog named Craddock.

The book opens with a delightful book club scene where the members are discussing “Where the Crawdads. Sing” (no spoilers!) but during that meeting, Micheal gets a text that sends him running and then it is discovered that six thousand pounds has been stolen from the community center sometime that evening.

To make matters worse, later that night, a dead body is found at Michael’s home and he is reported as missing!

Now, Nova’s job is at risk, and if the money isn’t recovered the center won’t be able to get a new roof and will be closed down.

This gives the group a whole new sense of purpose as Phyllis knows that British Police never manage to solve a crime without the help of an amateur detective, and she has been waiting her whole life for this moment!

“What would Miss Marple Do”?

Now, you may think that you have had your fill of “senior citizen detectives” but, even though this started out as Nova’s story-over the course of the 9 days-Phyllis and Craddock steal the show!

This one is a delightful, “cozy” mystery story that can be read in one sitting and the book that finally got me out of my book slump and had me wanting to pick up a book again!

Loved the final chapter too!

3.75 rounded up!

Also-If you haven’t already read “The Lost Ticket” -please do so! It remains my favorite:
See Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn! Be sure to watch for their wonderful reviews!

Available Now!

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! As always, these are my candid thoughts!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Busybody Book Club is a delightful cozy mystery full of humor and heart. There's theft and murder and gassy English bulldogs and a healthy dose of found family, and it's all rather entertaining. No one's going to mistake it for an Agatha Christie novel – I guessed the culprit well before Nora and her gang did, something that never would have happened had Hercule Poirot been on the case – but it's still a solid and well-written mystery that manages to stay lighthearted and fun while addressing some serious topics.

And speaking of Agatha Christie, if you're a fan of her most famous detectives, you're likely in for a treat with this one. Amateur sleuth and busybody Phyllis is a huge Miss Marple fan and frequently takes her sleuthing inspiration from Marple's cases. Sure, I mean, perhaps her deductions aren't always quite as accurate as Miss Marple's, but she certainly gives it her best shot. And maybe she's a little critical of Hercule Poirot (blasphemy!) and his gigantic ego, but the frequent references to Dame Agatha's novels are a lot of fun.

This is also a book about books. There are so many books. There's the book club and their selections, couples meeting and bonding over books, the multiple references to Christie's novels, books whose plots assist the book club gang in solving their own mystery, a husband who devotedly reads romance novels to his ailing wife, and more. Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing also plays an important role in one of the subplots … along with a Star Wars film or two.

So, yeah. There's murder. There's mystery. There are books. There are dogs … or one dog, anyway. There's humor and heart and entertaining characters. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with all of the above, definitely consider giving this one a read.

My overall rating: 3.85 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 27, 2025.

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nova, Arthur, Phyllis, Ash, and Michael...

...are the five members of the St. Tredock Book Club, a newly re-formed book club that hasn't quite found its groove yet. Can this book-loving group forego their disagreements, criticisms, and rigidity, and come together to solve the 'snowballing' mystery that impacts them all?...

The Busybody Book Club is tons of fun to read. This cozy mystery features short chapters that keep the pages turning, pique your curiosity, and draw you in. Once the twists kick in, so do the surprises.

As you meet these book club characters and watch them grow within the story, I hope you will come to love them too. My favorite is Phyllis, with her nod to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. Her love of this character is a delight. Arthur deserves honorable mention as the type of friend everyone needs and should have. I miss both of them already, and by default, Miss Marple, too.

The Busybody Book Club is the second book I have read by Freya Sampson, who writes stories that are cozy and comfy enough to sink into, with a diverse character mix that keeps things moving, and themes that make essential connections to what matters in our lives.

Lastly, I do have one question for my British GR friends: Are Fish Paste Sandwiches really a thing? Y'all seem to come up with the most interesting food stuff from a can. Or is it a tube in this case? Just curious...

4⭐

Thank you to Berkley and Freya Sampson for the gifted DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up
Freya Sampson is known for writing heartwarming stories with quirky characters. She’s done it again with The Busybody Book Club. The five members of the St. Tredock book club range in age, book interests and biscuit preferences. In fact, there’s nothing much they agree on. On the night of the book club, £10,000 goes missing, money meant to repair the community center roof. Suspicion falls on Nova, the community center worker who leads the book club and Michael, a new member who isn’t known by the other members.
The book is told from their various POVs, which keeps the story moving right along. Phyllis is a Miss Marple wannabe and determines they need to investigate. Of course, she gets more wrong than right. And poor Nova just can’t seem to catch a break.
The plot often veers into unbelievable territory. This is a book one enjoys because of the characters, not the plot. But it’s great for when you just want to read something that brings a smile to your face.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down for pacing. Author Sampson jumps on the “senior sleuths cozy mystery” trend here, with a bit less success, IMHO, than her previous charming “slice of life” English stories, which fair, do often also contain both older folks & quirky "hot mess" heroines. It was cute in places and I did enjoy this one too but thought it was rather slow, especially in the middle, which I had trouble focusing on and nearly DNF'd, but it wrapped up nicely and I will still check out the author’s next release.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming story about a unique book club with quirky members. It is the first book I have read by Freya Sampson. A very enjoyable book.
This is a character driven story. Nova has recently moved to Cornwall from London and is engaged to be married.
She has a secret that she is carrying from the past. She has started a book club in the community center where she works. It’s member consist of Arthur an older man who drives a tractor. He reads romance novels to his wife. Ash a teenager who enjoys sci fi and is very shy. Phyllis is an older woman who is a wanna be Miss Marple. She knows every Agatha Christie book by heart. Michael is a new member and is very mysterious.
During their club meeting Michael gets a text and leaves suddenly. It is discovered that money is missing from the community center. Phyllis is all over this, but finds out that not only is Michael missing but a body is found in his home.
Miss Marple is assigned the case. Phyllis sees all kinds of clues that no else sees. She gets Nova involved on the Eve of her wedding.
It is a fast moving story with a lot going on, many twists and turns.
I loved the mention oh Agatha Christie novels.
A fun read.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

In this humorous cozy mystery, four VERY disparate members of a book club investigate a theft; a suspected murder; and a disappearance.

*****

Let's meet the book club participants.

✸ Nova Davies:



Nova recently moved from London to St. Tredock, where she has her dream job at the St. Tredock Community Center. Nova helps coordinate the center's programs, which include the food bank; the tai chi class; the after-school club; the carers support group; the knit and natter group; the silver swans ballet class; and more. Nova also re-started the community center's book club, which shut down when Nova's predecessor was fired for drinking whiskey while overseeing the under-fives play group.



Nova and her fiancé Craig.....



......currently live with Craig's parents while the couple look for a house. Craig's parents, especially his pushy mother Pamela, have insisted on making a HUGE wedding, though Nova wanted a small quiet affair. This causes tension in the household.



✸ Phyllis Hudson:

Phyllis is an older woman who goes nowhere without her flatulent English bulldog Craddock.





Phyllis knows all the Agatha Christie books by heart, and applies the Miss Jane Marple philosophy - 'suspect everyone' - to all situations. As a result Phyllis exposed the too-chatty postman who was stealing ladies underwear from washing lines, and the girl in the newsagents who wouldn't allow Craddock in the shop and had her hand in the till.



Phyllis had a horrible mother and is haunted by a sad incident in her past.

✸ Arthur Robinson:



Arthur is an eighty-one-year-old retired dairy farmer who rides around town on a battered tractor.



Arthur and his beloved wife Esi were married in Esi's hometown in Ghana in 1966, and have been together for six decades. Arthur is a huge fan of romance novels, a predilection he acquired when he started reading books to Esi, who lost her vision over time.



Arthur is kind, caring, and always looking out for others. Arthur's overarching philosophy is 'it always comes down to love'.



✸ Ash Chalabi:

Ash is a shy teenage computer whiz who can look up information at lightning speed.



Ash doesn't say much at book club meetings, but avidly listens to the discussions. Ash loves the Stars Wars movies and sometimes wears a 'Return of the Jedi' T-shirt.



Ash has a crush on his handsome classmate Dan, who always has smart things to say while discussing books in English class. This is what inspired Ash to join the community center book club.



*****

As the story opens, a Wednesday night book club meeting is in session at the community center, and a man named Michael Watkins - who attended one previous meeting - shows up late. The club is discussing 'Where The Crawdads Sing' when Michael gets a text message, jumps up, and runs out of the room.



The next morning, the petty cash box, which contains ten thousand pounds for roof repairs, is missing from the office. This is tragic for the community center, which will be forced to shut down if the money isn't found.



Suspicion falls on Michael Watkins, and Phyllis decides to be a present-day Miss Marple. Phyllis and her pooch Craddock make their way to Michael's home, where Michael and his wife Cynthia live with Michael's mother.



As Phyllis skulks around Michael's house spying, a stretcher is wheeled out. Phyllis learns that Michael's mother was killed by a fall down the stairs, and the police suspect murder. Moreover, when several book club members pay a 'condolence call' on Michael, they learn he's vanished.



Nova and the others decide they have to investigate all this, to get back their ten thousand pounds. Things get complicated as the amateur sleuths are all over the place with their suspicions.



Did Michael kill his mother for the inheritance? Did Cynthia kill her mother-in-law and Michael for the inheritance? Did Michael run off with another woman? Was Michael abducted and imprisoned somewhere?

Nova, Phyllis, Arthur, and Ash all participate in the investigation, and Phyllis in particular is a hoot as she applies the Miss Marple principle to everything she sees, and usually comes up with the wrong end of the stick.



Meanwhile, the book club members go on with their personal lives, and it's fun to see Nova tussling with her fiancé and his parents; Ash and Arthur bonding over an occurrence at the library; and Phyllis barging in everywhere with smelly Craddock - who's usually not a welcome guest.



As events progress, secrets emerge; there are romantic sparks; and the protagonists bond and help one another. All this leads to a surprising, but satisfying and believable finale.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery and will look out for more books by Freya Sampson.

Thanks to Netgalley, Freya Sampson, and Berkley for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Emma.catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I expected this book to be a ‘filler’ between great reads, but as it turns out, it was one of those hidden gems 💎

This is a cleverly crafted cozy mystery; aka, one of my favourite genres 🤌🏽💖✨ Along with a quirky bunch of characters, a funny old dog, and witty humour - It is one to be devoured 🤭

“When Nova had set up this book club, it never occurred to her that one day she’d be holding a late-night meeting with this motley crew. But then again, it never occurred to her that one day they’d be investigating a murder either." 🧐

As soon as I saw the book club were reading Where the Crawdads Sing (one of my all time favourite books), I was 100% committed 🙇🏻‍♀️ and this was only the beginning…I’m not going to say too much about the plot but I don’t want to give ANYTHING away…but believe me, there is a lot to unpack 🤐

However, I will tell you how much I loved the upbeat tone of the narrative, despite the criminal themes running throughout the storyline. There is a strong ‘found family’ vibe amongst this cast - it felt like a big hug 🤗 And, aside from the mystery theme, there is a lot of book chat, which I loved.

This book honestly has so much going for it: there's murder, mystery, book chat, interesting and complex characters, and a loveable dog. What more could you want?

“But, whatever I end up doing, I want to be the main character in my own story again, not a side character in yours.’" 🙌🏽💖✨

4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

[Laura (thenerdygnomelife) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the handful of Freya Sampson novels I've read in the past, so I was excited to pick up The Busybody Book Club for another dose of warm and fuzzy connections among misfits. I'm sad to say that my reading experience of her latest book was, however, a miss for me.

As part of the staff of the local community center, Nova is in charge of running the book club. It's during one late-night meeting when the community center's fund for a new roof is stolen — putting Nova's job and reputation at risk. When the book club's members begin to believe that one of their own is getting framed for the theft and a recent death, they band together to solve the mystery, save Nova's job, and restore their beloved community center.

Unfortunately, I found the plot a bit too predictable for my taste and the writing quality felt a little below the standard I've come to expect from Sampson. It's worth noting that The Busybody Book Club has strong echoes to the plotline of Nosy Neighbors — a group of loosely connected strangers, most of them lonely, must work together to save a worn-out building from its demise, solving a cozy mystery along the way. That said, The Busybody Book Club does have its own unique merits, and avid readers will get a kick out of the many literary references woven throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing Group, and the author for an advance copy for honest review. This book wasn't for me, but my past track record with the author will have me coming back for more. 2.5 stars rounded down.

[Karen J · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Entertaining but not great…

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Freya Sampson. I just thought I would try another by her since I enjoyed Nosy Neighbors. Also, I love reading books about various book clubs.

Description:
The five members of the St. Tredock Book Club disagree on everything, from the books they read to the biscuits they eat. But when one of the group suddenly disappears and a dead body is discovered at his house, these bibliophiles must put their differences aside to solve the mystery.

Having recently moved to Cornwall, Nova Davies started the book club to impress her new colleagues at the community center, but so far it’s a disaster. To make matters worse, six thousand pounds is stolen from the community center during one of her meetings, putting both her job and the whole center at risk.

Suspicion for the theft falls on book club member Michael, especially when a dead body is discovered at his house and Michael disappears. The police think he’s simply run away, but the other members have their own theories. Agatha Christie superfan Phyllis is determined to prove he’s a murderer as well as a thief, while secret romance reader Arthur believes Michael’s eloped with his mistress, and teenage sci-fi fan Ash thinks dark forces are at play.

While trying to find Michael and recover the money, each book club member has their own secrets to protect. With inspiration from their favorite fictional sleuths, they won’t rest until they’ve cracked the case and everyone is safe at home where they belong.

My Thoughts:
This is really a dysfunctional book club. It has very few members and they don't seem that interested in books. I guess they just needed somewhere to hang out. Nevertheless, it was an interesting group. Phyllis is an eccentric, nosy character who seemed to stick her nose it everywhere it didn't belong. The group turned into investigators when one of their members disappears along with a bunch of money that was being held for the community center's roof. Nova was the one who started the book club. She was fairly new to the town and her job at the community center. I felt sorry for her because of what was happening - she had quite a few challenges. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and the characters.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group through Netgalley for an advance copy.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for early access to this novel!

At its core, this could (and should) have been a good book. The premise was fun and unique, and I was excited to request it as an arc. Right away, I got the vibe that this wasn't going to be what I hoped, but I wanted to give it a chance. The more I read, the more frustrated I became. So many things were unrealistic, choices were downright stupid, and the twist ending was absolutely ridiculous. I'll start with the positives before I lay out all of the issues I had.

Positive one: Arthur. I LOVE this character. The way he loved his wife? Beautiful. His love of romance novels? Adorable. Loved him. He was the reason I kept reading, honestly.

Positive two: This is a great example of the found family trope. The epilogue is so cute with this. This is where my positives end, unfortunately.

Negatives:

Nova, one of our main characters, makes choices that make absolutely NO sense, and she comes across very immature. She decides to take an 8 hour round trip road trip the DAY before her wedding to chase an idea? I remember the day before my wedding-- I barely had time to think. This decision is what led to the end conclusion coming to a head. I don't think that this makes sense, and it came across as the author realizing she needed to wrap this up, but the timeline wasn't going to work. Instead of altering it, our characters just made absolutely stupid decisions.

My next grievance-- Craig. Nova INSISTS (almost too much) that she loves him and wants to marry him (hahahahahahaha.... glad I held out for that???). Nova, girlie pop, WHY would you want to marry this man? He is so hot and cold, but ultimately is just mean. He calls an elderly lady a "busy body and old cow." REALLY?? And the times he cuts her off, gaslights her, and then OH tells her, "quit your job or no wedding." OKAY NO WEDDING, THEN. BYE, CRAIG! But does our character get to be a strong woman and stand up for herself? No. Just "I would give Craig grace if he were me." Okay but he isn't giving you grace. I was so ready to chuck this book at a wall due to this.

The ending left me feeling very "meh." I don't think it was worth struggling to the end for this. For one, two big plot points were very predictable. The one event that I didn't predict made me roll my eyes SO MUCH. I felt like it was pulled out of a hat and was so unsatisfying.

Would I recommend? No, sadly. I may just not be into this type of book anymore, but there were too many infuriating aspects to this read.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nova Davies started a book club so she could impress her fellow workers at the community center.

The book club turned out to not be very impressive, though. Nova held her breath every month wondering if anybody would show up.

The people that do show up are a young boy who reads romance and is trying to hide it.

A man who reads to his wife who is losing her sight.

A woman who is a fan of Agatha Christie along with her smelly dog and uses the skills she learned from reading the books to help solve murder cases and in this case missing money as well.

And a man named Michael who rarely says anything, and who ran out before the book club was over.

No one thought anything of his running out until they heard there was a dead body found in his house, and it wasn’t his body.

Another sweet, heartwarming read by Freya Sampson with an odd, but lovable cast of characters who try to solve the mystery of the missing money and who the murderer was. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Janereads10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freya Sampson delivers that rare literary alchemy where the mystery itself becomes secondary to the absolute joy of watching bookworms attempt to solve it. This cozy mystery sparkles with humor as characters deploy their favorite fictional detective techniques on a very real disappearance—creating moments so genuinely funny I found myself laughing aloud in public places.

The St. Tredock Book Club assembles the most delightfully mismatched quintet of amateur sleuths you'll encounter. From Phyllis, the Agatha Christie devotee who views every situation through a Miss Marple lens, to teenage sci-fi enthusiast Ash convinced of supernatural explanations, these characters clash spectacularly over everything from literary tastes to investigative approaches. Yet somehow, their contradictory perspectives create a collective intelligence greater than its parts—especially when tracking their missing member and solving the mystery of the stolen community center funds.

The verbal sparring during their book discussions transported me directly into those cramped meeting rooms, where the scent of questionable biscuits mingles with passionate literary debates. I couldn't help nodding along whenever they referenced books I've loved, creating this wonderful sense of being an honorary member of their chaotic circle.

And then there's Craddock the English Bulldog, whose rumbling presence provides both comic relief and unexpected emotional weight. This slobbery sidekick somehow steals scenes without saying a word, proving the perfect foil for the humans' increasingly elaborate theories.

What makes this mystery special is how Sampson weaves friendship formation, amateur detective work, and personal growth into something far richer than a simple whodunit. These unlikely companions find connection through their investigation, reminding us that sometimes the best stories are the ones we create together—preferably with a good dog snoring nearby.

Thank you, Berkley and NetGalley, for the free copy for review.

[melhara · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 27, 2025 Review:
Happy publishing day! This cozy and delightful mystery is out now!

May 8, 2025 Review:
What a fun and cozy story set in a small town, featuring a delightful group of book club members trying to solve a mystery!

We have the following book club members:

Nova Davies - Nova is new to town and works at the community center hosting the book club. She's getting married in 10 days and the stress of the missing/stolen money is getting to her.

Phyllis Hudson - the real busybody of this book club. Phyllis (who's in her 70s) and her sidekick Craddock (her dog) is obsessed with all things Agatha Christie (with a particular obsession with Miss Marple), has an overactive imagination, and fancies herself a detective. She is convinced, and even managed to convince everyone else, that Michael is a thief and a murderer.

Arthur Robinson - the sweetest 81 year old ever. Arthur is a retired farmer who loves reading romance novels aloud to his sick wife, Esi.

Ash Chalabi - the youngest member of the group. Ash is a shy and quiet teenager who loves Star Wars and science fiction.

Michael Watkins - a mysterious and miserable looking man in his 60s. Michael suddenly storms out of their book club meeting the same night that the community center fundraised money goes missing. Naturally, he's a prime suspect.

While there is a mystery element to this story, this was more of a character-focused story. Every single member of this book club is going through something and the more time they spend together, the more they learn about each other and form the unlikeliest and sweetest friendships. It's wonderful to see people with such different interests, taste in books, and of different generations come together and discuss their thoughts and opinions in a safe environment.

Seeing as this features a group of fairly well-read book club members, you can expect a lot of book references, particularly references to many of Agatha Christie's books (in which I've only read one...), Bridgerton (in which I've only watched the show), Much Ado About Nothing (which I am unfamiliar with... so there were definitely spoilers), and Star Wars (in which I still haven't watched The Rise of Skywalker/Episode IX and had managed to avoid spoilers up until I read this book.... 😭).

Anyways, here's the full list of books/movies mentioned in this book (this book also includes some spoilers for some of the following):
- Where the Crawdads Sing (some spoilers)
- Murder at the Vicarage
- The Viscount Who Loved Me (some spoilers)
- Grease
- At Bertram's Hotel
- Frozen
- Return of the Jedi /Episode VI
- Much Ado About Nothing (some spoilers)
- They Do It With Mirrors
- After the Funeral
- Murder is Easy
- The Force Awakens /Episode VII
- The Last Jedi /Episode VIII
- The Rise of Skywalker /IX (major spoilers)
- The Empire Strikes Back /Episode V
- Ordeal by Innocence
- A Murder is Announced
- A Caribbean Mystery
- And Then There Were None
- The Moving Finger
- Devil in Winter
- Pride and Prejudice
- On the Way to the Wedding
- The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- The Pilgram's Progress
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Wuthering Heights
- Anna Karenina
- The Big Sleep
- Columbo
- The Left Hand of Darkness
- The Mousetrap

The following authors were also mentioned: Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Josephine Tey.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**

*** #28 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book that features an unlikely friendship ***

[Linsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight from start to finish! I was obsessed with all the allusions to Agatha Christie, especially — made me smile every time! I loved watching the mystery unfold alongside the characters’ relationships and personal growth, and what wonderful characters. Real, quirky, lovable, and memorable. I’d be in their book club! I loooved Phyllis! I keep telling y’all, I can’t get enough of these nosy old lady sleuths! Highly recommend this read for anyone who loves a classic mystery and celebrating the power of books. 📚💙

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of the characters in this book, but it really wasn’t much of a mystery. I almost quit reading it about 3/4 of the way through, but I pushed through. The ending was the best part of the book. It was sad mostly. I would love to know if there’s a second part?

[Leesdromen · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHEF’S KISS! Everything you want and hope from a book written by Freya 🥺✨

Freya is one of my favorite writers, and via a giveaway on her instagram I won a physical ARC copy and I DEVOURED IT!

A cozy crime by Freya is just the best of all worlds! I loved the characters, they have depth, and I got dragged in the story and just devoured it and loved everything about it!

I can tell so much more about this book, about the characters who not all are the standard of likeable but at the end of the book I kept them in my heart, but I hope you enjoy this all by yourself.

Absolutely loved it!

[Melissa | bookswithbuzzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was cute and fun but it took me literally a month to read so I can't justify rating it more than 3 stars

[Lisa Leone-campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Busybody Book Club is an enjoyable, cozy, funny mystery with so much heart and soul. You will fall in love with the characters, warts and all as they try and play amateur sleuths to solve a terrible crime, find a missing person, keep their community center open and most importantly learn so much about themselves and each other and the secrets they all carry that they will be friends for life.

Nova Davies has just moved from London to a little village with her fiancé. His parents live here, and they are staying with them until their wedding which is in just a few short weeks. Nova was fortunate enough to get a job working at the local community center thanks to her best friend. Although new at this job, she was a social worker back in London and is pretty good at handling people. Or so she thought.

On this night, the book club is gathering to discuss the book, Where the Crawdad Sings. The regulars are filing in. We have elderly Phyllis and her faithful companion Craddock, a bulldog. An Agatha Christie specialist, Miss Marple being her favorite, she would prefer to read something different. She is a bit of a curmudgeon. Then there is Arthur who is also elderly and takes care of his wife. He reads romance stories to her as she is blind. He enjoys getting out and the book club is one of his favorite activities. He sees the good in everyone and everything! Ash is a teenager who rather enjoys science fiction and is quite shy. Although he normally doesn't participate, he's trying to learn how to be more outgoing. There is a reason for this!

As they begin their discussion, a man walks in. He seems a bit sketchy. His name is Michael, and he seems nervous. Not really participating, he suddenly gets a text and shoots up and leaves. Needless to say, the group don't know what to make of this.

The next day when Nova comes in she discovers someone last night stole the money which was set aside for the new roof for the community center. She realizes she accidentally left the office door unlocked. She is beside herself. And of course, they blame her.

Well, the book club group with Phyllis as their leader decide to investigate. They all believe it had to be Michael who stole the money. But when they finally find out where Michael lives, they discover he has disappeared, and his mother has been murdered.

Thus begins the most adorably well crafted, funny yet charming mystery. All of them trying to figure out who took the money and especially how to save Nova's job. But be careful what you wish for because there are people who will try and stop them.

What they don't realize is this mystery will not only bring The Busybody Book Club closer to each other but change their lives forever in the best way possible! The characters are entertaining, the mysteries a complete surprise! Hopefully they will be back to solve another whodunit!

Thank you #NetGalley #Berkley #FreyaSampson #TheBusybodyBookClub for the advanced copy.

[Emilie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

Maybe I am not supposed to be reading "cozy" mysteries. But I feel like a low-stakes, easy, and pleasantly entertaining mystery can still have well-developed characters and an interesting plot--I know a requirement of cozies is not characters who are just cartoonish ditzes, right? I feel like I've read good cozy mysteries in the past. But after this one I think I am going to have to avoid all cozies in the future.

I knew going in that there would probably have to be some suspension of belief on my part as our gang of busybody book lovers band together to find out where their community center's missing roof-repair money has gone. And I was right, but I didn't mind. That was really the least of my issues with the book.

And I enjoyed several of the characters. Arthur was endearing, even though I figured out what was going on with him right from the beginning. While Ash wasn't really developed, he wasn't bad either. And Phyllis was lots of fun--I loved her spunk, her Christie references, and her opinion of Poirot! Nova, however, got on my nerves, and by 1/3 of the way in I was pretty much done with her. The author seemed to want to create a quintessential idiosyncratic heroine, with crazy fashion-sense that of course totally represented her uniqueness as a person, a deep desire to help others and make a difference, and a sweet--bordering on gullible--personality. But in giving her all of these characteristics and describing them IN DETAIL, the reader lost any nuance or depth in understanding Nova's character. The author used all these surface"quirks" and characteristics to define her as a person, instead of letting Nova unfold organically. As a result, she came across as naive, weak, flighty, and boring. Don't get me started on her and Craig. I was sick of that the first time Craig opened his mouth.

The plot, as far as cozies go, was fine. I didn't really enjoy the big reveals toward the end. I would say it messed up the pacing, but the pacing was weird through the whole book.

All of that said, I went into this knowing it was a cozy, and therefore knowing what I was getting into. But the lack of any sort of depth in the main character just tainted the whole rest of the book for me.

[Olivia's Cpt 2 Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice cozy!

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her beloved father, Nova Davies moves from London to a small village on the seaside in Cornwall. She's come to her fiance's hometown where they are living with his parents, and his mother has taken over plans for the wedding setting Nova's wishes aside.

Nova works for the local community center which is in financial difficulty. She also runs a book club through the center. Her readers are a small, eclectic mix. Phyllis is an elderly Agatha Christie fan who sees mysteries everywhere and who has been warned off by the local constabulary for her excessive "help." Athur is an elderly farmer who reads a lot of romances aloud to his housebound, blind wife of sixty years. Ash is a quiet teenager who is a science fiction fan. Michael is a new member of the group and somewhat mysterious.

When Michael gets a text and rushes out of the meeting one Wednesday night. Next, the theft of 10,000 pounds is discovered. It had been kept in the petty cash drawer intended as a payment to the roofers who were set to begin fixing the leaky roof the next day. Nova is being blamed for allowing the theft because she didn't lock the office door.

The book club decides to track down Michael because they are certain he was the only one who could have taken the money. When they get to his house, the find the police and an ambulance and see a body being removed from the premises. But it is Michael's mother who has died, and no one can find Michael.

Our amateur sleuths are undaunted though Nova tries to reign them in since she should be working on her wedding plans for her rapidly nearing wedding date. However, she's having some second thoughts about getting married and she's being plagued with other mistakes at work.

This was an engaging story filled with quirky but lovable characters. I liked the mystery. But what I liked most of all was getting to know the members of the Busybody Book Club.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sappy. Melodramatic. Bland.

This cozy mystery is brimming with wacky characters: good, bad, sad, lonely, unsure, vengeful... It also has an adorable English bulldog. It’s about a found family and a real family. It is about striving for what makes you happy. It’s loaded with literary references from books that are likely known to many readers.

Even with all those accolades, I only found this mildly entertaining. I felt neutral on the cast. The plot did have enough misdirection that I didn’t fully work it out before it was disclosed. Somehow it never felt like a cohesive story. There were many pieces and side pieces spinning around and this made it feel disjointed.

However, many readers will probably find this utterly charming, especially those looking for a quick cozy read that is low stress and doesn’t require much energy.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very cute. I enjoy Freya Sampson's stories.

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 shiny stars rating from me!!! ✨✨✨✨💫

I just finished reading this book and oh my gosh, I absolutely loved it!! I was drawn in from page 1! The characters are well developed and totally believable. What a mixture of people who form this book club are amazing! We have Nova, the leader of the book club, Phyllis who adores everything about Agatha Christie and tries to solve crimes, Arthur ( my favorite character), he's an 81 year old man who adores his wife and reading and Ash, a shy teenager who loves Science Fiction and Michael, a shy middle aged man.

There's a lot going on in this book because the book club tries to solve the mystery of the missing money stolen from the community center and a murder when Michael's mom is found dead at his house and where Michael disappeared to!

I was reading this book and didn't want it to end!! I was definitely invested in it and kept turning the pages to see what happened next! I'm sad now that it's over but have another adventure to read. 😄📖💛

I very highly recommend this one to everyone, you're in for a treat!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💛

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5

Freya Sampson specializes in multi-generational found family novels. She is also a fan of spaces where lonely people can meet friends. The Busybody Book Club features a small book club that meets at a community center that, like many community centers, is always short of funds. The book club is coordinated by Nova, who is new to small town life and the job at the community center. She favors quirky thrift shop attire. Other members include Arthur, a man in his 80s; Phyllis, a woman in her 70s; Michael, a man in his 60s; and Ash, a teenager. There’s also a stupid and ugly but charming dog.

Not surprising in a book about a book club, there are many references to other books. One member is obsessed with Agatha Christie and sees herself as a modern Jane Marple. The teenager and his crush talk about Star Wars a lot. The Bridgerton books come up often. The author really throws a lot of darts at the dartboard hoping to appeal to a wide audience.

It took me a little longer to get into this novel than the two previous books I’ve read by Sampson. Nova is adrift, living with her fiancé and his parents but with no real friends of her own. She is not engaged by the planning of her wedding. Then she starts making mistakes – room reservations at the center get canceled, doors are left unlocked, money is stolen. Are they mistakes, or is someone gaslighting Nova?

There is some very questionable behavior by members of the book club, but the book finally found its rhythm for me. There are a number of secrets that are easy to guess from the beginning. There’s also quite a bit of info dumping (especially about Phyllis and Michael). While not quite as good as the other two books I’ve read by Sampson, I still enjoyed The Busybody Book Club. All the characters grow and overall it has a feel good vibe.

I read an advance reader copy of The Busybody Book Club from NetGalley.

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Name dropping from Bridgerton to Star Wars.

I assume the concept is a cosy, lighter version of the Thursday Murder Club. The characterization is uncomplicated, but thoughtful. It kept name-dropping and Phyllis’s self-identification with Jane Marple made it feel like all the heavy lifting was being done by referring to other books or movies.

This was a bookclub read. We thankfully don’t usual do a group read, because the two choices I’ve done have been meh, at best. So not bad, but not great. A feel good, cosy mystery.

Missable.

[Bree Doby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️! a sweet & funny novel about a book club-turned-sleuths-turned-found family. some silly happenings send the book club on a wild hunt for answers with life lessons learned along the way. this was great on audio!