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Ruth Morgan Cosy Mysteries #2

The English Village Murder

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Obsessed by Agatha Christie? Curl up in your comfiest chair and escape to a pretty — but deadly — English village, in this utterly addictive murder mystery packed with red herrings.

Ruth Morgan tried retirement. It didn’t stick. Now she solves murders.

That’s not her official job, of course. The sixty-five-year-old former police officer spends her days crisscrossing Britain in her motorhome with her pampered Burmese cat, Merlin, advising restaurants on their menus . . . and staying out of trouble. Mostly.

But when Ruth makes a spontaneous stop in a charming but isolated English village, she checks into the local B&B — and discovers the elderly landlady’s body at the foot of the stairs.

The police call it an accident. But Ruth smells a mystery. Somewhere among the cobbled streets and thatched cottages lurks a cunning killer. The only question can she stay alive long enough to catch them before they strike again?

The Ruth Morgan Mysteries are perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Veronica Heley, Fiona Leitch, Simon Brett, The Thursday Murder Club , MC Beaton’s Agatha Raisin and Clare Chase — and anyone who wished they could be Nancy Drew when they grew up.

Please note this was previously published as Murder at Vanmoor Village, and contains light editorial revisions.

Readers LOVE The English Village Murder:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The story got me from the very beginning and the ending didn't disappoint either. I think I'm going to be addicted to Ruth's adventures.’ Freda

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this one . . . The characters are so well described you instantly feel like they are old friends and you're rooting for them every step of the way.’ Em

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Really entertaining, funny and couldn't put it down, love a good mystery. Can’t wait to read the second book.’ Lisa M.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this book has everything going for it. A good plot, interesting characters and a good dollop of humour that had me laughing out loud.’ Hamish M.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved everything about this book! . . . This story sucks you in and makes you want to know what Ruth and her sidekick get into next. Humor and suspense. Read, you will not be disappointed!’ Sally T.

MEET THE SLEUTH
Former police officer turned caterer Ruth Morgan is well aware that sixty-five is when most sensible people put their feet up. She tried that, and discovered — well, she’s not most sensible people. Now she spends her days travelling across Britain in her motorhome, eating delicious food and telling restaurants how to make their menus even better.

Ruth is owned by Merlin — a Burmese cat of impeccable taste and terrible manners — and has recently been joined on her travels by her nineteen-year-old grandson Greg. He thinks Ruth is too curious, but it’s not like she looks for murders on her travels. You know what they say! Old habits die hard.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2023

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About the author

Peter Jay Black

23 books67 followers
Keep updated with future releases at peterjayblack.com

Peter Jay Black enjoys spending his time between the UK and US, loves everything technology, science and movie related, along with an interest in ancient Egypt and history.

Urban Outlaws: Peter wrote the first book in the series from a Hollywood apartment - middle grade action & adventure novels about a team of super-skilled kids, who use gadgets and hacking to take from bad guys and give to the needy. Packed full of high-octane fun.

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5 stars
431 (47%)
4 stars
304 (33%)
3 stars
133 (14%)
2 stars
21 (2%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
266 reviews2 followers
June 27, 2026
Ruth Morgan Book 1

Nice book. Took a bit to get into it but it was worth it. A lovely bit of escapism from everyday insanity. All ages.
Profile Image for Ale.
365 reviews4 followers
November 9, 2023
ITA
Mentre si dirigono a Ivywick Island da Margaret, la sorella di Ruth, Ruth e Greg hanno un piccolo incidente e sono costretti a fermarsi a Vanmoor Village mentre il meccanico aggiusta il loro mezzo.
Alloggiano nell’unico B&B del posto dove durante la notte Ruth sente uno strano rumore, si sveglia e trova la proprietaria del B&B morta in fondo alle scale.
La signora è scivolata dalle scale? Qualcuno potrebbe averla uccisa e perché?
Come se non bastassero già due guai, la sera mentre sono a cena una ragazza chiede anche a loro se hanno visto un ragazzo nella foto: è Mia che cerca il fratello scomparso.
In questa avventura finalmente Greg partecipa alle indagini non ufficiali insieme alla nonna. Il suo personaggio mi aveva incuriosito dal primo libro, in questo modo ho avuto la possibilità di leggere qualcosa in più su di lui.
Ovviamente il personaggio superiore a qualsiasi cosa è Merlin: gli basta la sua scatola, la lettiera pulita, crocche e acqua e può succedere di tutto con suo consenso.
Mi è piaciuto molto: l’ho trovato avvincente e divertente.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita dall’autore che ringrazio molto. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente.

ENG
On their way to Ivywick Island to visit Ruth's sister Margaret, Ruth and Greg have a minor accident and are forced to stop in Vanmoor Village while the mechanic fixes their vehicle.
They stay at the only B&B in the place where, during the night, Ruth hears a strange noise and wakes up to find the B&B owner dead at the bottom of the stairs.
Did the lady slip down the stairs? Could someone have killed her, and why?
As if two troubles were not enough already, in the evening while they are at dinner, a girl also asks them if they have seen a boy in the picture; it is Mia who is looking for her missing brother.
In this adventure, Greg finally participates in the unofficial investigation along with his grandmother. His character had intrigued me from the first book; this way, I had a chance to read more about him.
Obviously, the superior character to anything is Merlin: all it needs is its box, a clean litter box, kibble, and water, and anything can happen with its consent.
I really enjoyed it. I found it engaging and entertaining.
I received an advance review copy for free from the author Thank you Peter!), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,247 reviews2,909 followers
October 13, 2023
Book Review: Murder at Vanmoor Village by Peter Jay Black

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars

In “Murder at Vanmoor Village,” the second book in Peter Jay Black’s captivating whodunit series, we are once again introduced to Ruth Morgan, a food consultant with a knack for amateur sleuthing. When Ruth is unexpectedly detoured to a charming village, she plans to enjoy some downtime. However, a missing artist and a mysterious death at the local bed-and-breakfast soon ignite her curiosity and suspicion. As the stakes rise and the mysteries deepen, Ruth must use her wit and sleuthing skills to unravel the truth before more lives are claimed.

Thoughts: Firstly, let’s appreciate the beautiful covers that grace the books in this series. They capture the essence of the stories and instantly draw readers in. Now, onto my review of “Murder at Vanmoor Village.” As a fan of the first book, I was happy to find that this installment was just as charming and delightful. While I gave the first book a full 5-star rating, this one falls slightly short at 4.5 stars. This is mainly because I personally enjoyed the “close room” setting of the cruise ship in the first book a tad bit more.

However, that being said, “Murder at Vanmoor Village” is still a fantastic read. Peter Jay Black’s writing is impeccable, effortlessly keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The pacing is well-executed, ensuring that suspense and intrigue are maintained throughout the story. The village setting is vividly described, immersing readers in its quaint charm.

The mystery itself is skillfully plotted, filled with clever twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Ruth Morgan, our main character, is immensely likable and relatable, making it easy for readers to root for her. The supporting characters are also well-developed and add depth to the story.

In conclusion, I cannot sing enough praises for “Murder at Vanmoor Village” and this captivating series as a whole. It is an absolute pleasure to dive into these books, and I eagerly anticipate each new installment. If you are a fan of modern British mysteries and female detectives, this series is a must-read. Prepare yourself for an entertaining escape into a world of intriguing whodunits.
Profile Image for Ann.
1,848 reviews
April 25, 2024
I gave the first of this series 3 stars -- liked it well enough to give a try to entry #2. And I'm glad I did. Ruth is about 65 years old and retired -- though from what isn't completely clear. She was a police officer for a while and now travels the UK as a free lance food consultant with her 19 year old grandson Greg. They're on the way to visit her sister when a faulty handbrake causes their motor home to roll down a hill -- fortunately not too steep. So they hike to the nearest village to arrange repairs.

It's a very neat and prosperous looking place and they look forward to spending a few relaxing days while they wait for their repairs but soon notice some weirdnesses. For example, why so many CCTV cameras about the town. And the owner of the B&B is fairly standoffish, while the young maid/assistant just seems scared. Later, in the pub, a young woman comes in asking if anyone has seen her brother and the local law enforcement seems a little excessive in moving her along.

And then the B&B owner is found dead at the bottom of the stairs -- which she'd been been very clear that she never uses, there being a perfectly serviceable lift. Suddenly Ruth's long dormant investigative senses are tingling again and she can't help think that the missing brother and the dead woman are somehow connected. But she has to be a bit circumspect about asking questions as a stranger to the village with no authority to investigate at all.

It all wraps up very nicely and is a much less unlikely scenario overall. Plus, Ruth does get herself into some danger, but it feels much less like doing foolish things, and more like doing things that have some risk but taking as many precautions as practical. I'm definitely looking forward to their next adventure.
3 reviews
April 14, 2025
Anachronistic Americanisms

A good story and interesting characters but spoilt by Americanisms creeping into the narrative and, even worse, the dialogue of the very British and mostly older people described. Words like 'snuck' instead of 'sneaked' and 'dove' instead of 'dived' would never be used by the generation the author is attempting to portray. I can happily accept these words in an American novel about Americans but they have no place in the cosy English mystery and stand out as much as would glaring spelling errors as a sign of poor editing. I am sure a gentle word with the author would have avoided these needless anachronisms.
355 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2025
Ruth Morgan, food consultant is traveling in a motor home with her 19 year old grandson Greg to visit her sister Margaret, when her hand brake failed causing accident and damage. Need to stay in Vanmoor Village while it is being repaired. She has a cat, Merlin, Sara is her daughter
Landlady, fell down steps and died.
Sergeant Fry, daughter Constance involved in smuggling. Elsie, Bistro owner, needed a new forger, because Arthur died
Bill killed, Ethan dead?
Reverend Collins, undercove
Scott kidnapped to paint forgeries of paintings.
Mia -the sister, who was looking for her brother - Greg likes her.
Trevor fixed the RV
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,088 reviews13 followers
October 7, 2023
Turn the first page of this book and you’re hooked. The captivating story, the delightful humour, the wonderful characters (I love Ruth and Greg), and the excellent mystery make for a highly entertaining read.

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
95 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2024
Amusing and exciting

Fast paced and quirky, just the sort of book to keep me reading and wanting more!

The story got me from the very beginning and the ending didn't disappoint either. I think I'm going to be addicted to Ruth's adventures.
207 reviews
September 5, 2024
Light hearted

Light hearted murder mystery. Set in a strange village they were passing through. Im not sure how many books before the main character gets annoying but I might read another.
1 review
September 29, 2024
fun read

Fun read with interesting characters. It’s not really a five star book, but there’s such a gap between outstanding and most of what is being mass produced, that I gave it the extra star to attract attention.k
53 reviews
March 5, 2025
Mystery murders at Vanmoor Village!!

This was a fun read. Never imagined all the things that could go wrong, did go wrong. I look forward to reading the next books in this series!!
Profile Image for Jill.
447 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2026
Very Enjoyable

I love a sleuth who is a woman and right about my age. This story was really interesting. Missing people, murders, fishy coppers and more! Can't wait to read the next one.
135 reviews
August 26, 2026
Enjoyed it but

I became increasingly fed up with the annoying lead character, I've never known anyone to be so full of themselves!!
I loved the idea as I have a motor home friend who is also a widow and drives all over, but Ruth was a nightmare, loved Trevor though
302 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2024
Murder at at Vanmoor Village

I hope to read the next series. It a a lot of twist and turns. U guess who did it until the end. Was a very funny story.
26 reviews
July 14, 2024
Fun and enjoyable read

I enjoyed this book very much! It is very well written and funny as well as a good mystery with intelligent and nutty characters.
28 reviews
October 8, 2024
Love it

I think this series is great with a bit of humour and mystery. I will certainly be reading more of them I have already download the next two
55 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2025
Really Great.

An excellent read, full of brilliant humour which made this tale very readable. The characters came to !I've very well. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hard to put down.
20 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2025
Fun cozy mystery. Loved the setting and the relationship between grandmother and grandson.
106 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2026
a cosy read with laughs

Wasn’t sure about this story till i got into it and found I couldn’t put it down, serious yet funny and it also kept you guessing right to the last pages and what a turn up. Certainly one to read
3 reviews
May 7, 2026
This was a really fun book to read. The ending was very surprising. Highly recommended for those who love mysteries.
Profile Image for Jill.
887 reviews10 followers
August 8, 2026
Ruth is an elderly nearly retired former detective, now involved as a consultant in the food industry. She is traveling with her 19-year-old grandson in her giant RV, which she crashes into a ditch, leaving them stranded in a small village until the repairs can be completed. They get a room at a local B&B and find that the proprietor has recently turned up dead. This pique's Ruth's curiosity and she decides to insert herself in the investigation, to the ire of the local constable. More and more deaths and disappearances happen, and the plot gets rather complicated until the loose bits start to come together at the end. It all seems highly improbably and not nearly as amusing and entertaining as I had hoped...
Profile Image for G Victoria Jerome.
69 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2026
interesting read

Lively story of Ruth and her grandson Greg set in modern times in England. This book is the first in what I presume is a series. After an unexpected detour, Ruth and Greg stumble upon a mysterious case of a missing brother and set out to find him. The characters are fun, not a lot of depth and the story is entertaining for a cozy afternoon read.
Profile Image for Beth.
350 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2026
Quick Read Had its Moments!

Good mystery - main character Ruth seemed to switch thru several personalities - early on I didn’t like Ruth much
Profile Image for MRS G .
283 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2026
Easy entertaining read. More complex than I initially thought, which was great.

It did take me until the latter end of the book to decide I liked the characters and the writing. So I'm straight onto the next one with enthusiasm.
Profile Image for Marseydoats.
2,515 reviews9 followers
August 4, 2026
This was great! Glad to have a new author and series to read.
4 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2026
loved it

Fast paced and full of surprises 🫣 Highly recommended. Looking forward to other books by this author. Go find it 🤗
Profile Image for Bruce Clark.
414 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2026
Delightful English village mystery featuring 65 year old Ruth Morgan, her 19 year old grandson Greg, and serene Persian cat Merlin.
240 reviews
July 31, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would be happy to read the rest of the series. The only aspect that annoyed me is the grandson. He doesn't seem to like his grandmother very much, and comes off disrespectful. I hope that gets better, but I doubt it. It wasn't enough to turn me much off though.
50 reviews
July 28, 2026
Charming Mystery

A delightful read filled with charming characters and twists and turns to make it a delightful and charming mystery. Written so well you felt that you were in the charming English Village
Profile Image for Karen Olson.
Author 2 books16 followers
July 13, 2026
a fun book

The story moved along quickly as the characters became more developed and entertaining. It was a little hokey but I looked forward to my time to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews