Death at the Village Garden Party

Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries #4

by Debbie Young

Bunting. Fairground rides. Music... Murder. What more could you want from a garden party?

Alice Carroll is happily settled in the Cotswold village of Little Pride, running her beloved Curiosity Shop and cautiously planning the next chapter with her partner, Robert. So when Robert buys the neighbouring Cold Bottom estate, Alice offers to help him win over its eccentric residents by reviving the village’s once-loved summer garden party.

But between grumbling fairground workers, gloomy villagers and a downpour that would dampen anyone’s bunting, the day doesn’t quite go to plan.

Then a guest stumbles into the marquee – and he’s dead before his body hits the ground.

Can Alice untangle old rivalries and strange secrets to find the killer? Or will Cold Bottom’s fresh start end in another funeral.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Contemporary, Crime, Cozy Mystery

210 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2026

About the author

Hello dear readers!

I hope you will enjoy my warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction, full of English humour and heart, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been my home for over 30 years. I have three series of cozy mystery novels, a new standalone mystery, plus various short fiction, and I've written a couple of non-fiction books too.

NOVELS

My latest book is "Death at the Village Garden Party", launched on 31st July 2026. This is the fourth cosy mystery novel In my Cotswold Curiosity Shop series, which begins with "Death at the Old Curiosity Shop", moving from the city to the lively Cotswold village of Little Pride, Alice Carroll (50) discovers that nothing is quite what it seems in her new business enterprise. Each novel in this series has at its heart an intriguing item to be found in her bric-a-brac shop, and features eccentric characters, plenty of red herrings and lots of English humour.

My Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series begins with "Best Murder in Show". Originally envisaged as a seven-book series to run the course of a calendar year in the life of the idyllic English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, it continues to grow, with the most recent addition being Sophie Sayers' ninth outing, "Driven to Murder",

My Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series is a mashup of romantic comedy, gentle mystery and nostalgia for classic children's school stories but aimed at adults. It focuses on the intrigues among the teachers and visitors to the school, rather than the children. "Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's" (previously published as "Secrets at St Bride's"), and is followed by "Sinister Secrets at St Bride's" (formerly "Secrets at St Bride's"), Wicked Whispers at St Bride's", and "Artful Antics at St Bride's". Two further books will follow to complete the series of six, running the course of the academic year at St Bride's Boarding School for Girls.

I have also published a standalone cosy mystery, "The Importance of Being Murdered", based on the murder mystery event I wrote for my village amateur dramatics group. Several of the characters later appear in "Death at the Village Garden Party".

All of my novels are now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio in English. There are also German language editions of Sophie Sayers' adventures and Italian translations of Gemma Lamb's.

SHORT FICTION

My series of comedy mystery novelettes, Tales from Wendlebury Barrow, is set in the same world as the Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries. The first, "The Pride of Peacocks", is available exclusively to members of my Readers' Club (visit my author website to claim your copy). "The Natter of Knitters" and "The Clutch of Eggs" are available in ebook and paperback. A Christmas special, "Christmas with Sophie Sayers", featuring festive short stories set in the same world, was published for Christmas 2023. Three more Sophie Sayers short stories appear in the charity anthologies, "Fate", "Everyday Kindness" and "The Little Shop of Murders". Look out for another one in the "Courage" anthology, coming in 2026!

My standalone novella, "Mrs Morris Changes Lanes", is a second-chance mid-life romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism, set in the Cotswolds in spring,

Earlier in my career, I published three themed collections of short stories, "Stocking Fillers", "Marry in Haste", and "Quick Change".

PLAYS

I've also now started writing scripts for murder mystery events, My debut play, "The Importance of Being Murdered", was premiered by Hawkesbury Drama Group in April 2025 ,and I've now turned it into a novel. My second play, "Murder at the Office", will be premiered by Hawkesbury Drama Group in April 2026. I plan to publish both play scripts for amateur drama groups to enjoy all over the world.

AWARDS

The first St Bride's novel was shortlisted for the 2020 Selfies Award given for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. The sixth Sophie Sayers novel was shortlisted f

Reviews

[Teresa]

I have enjoyed the books in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop series by Debbie Young. I liked getting to know Alice, Robert, and the many people of Cotswold Village. The actual garden party was so appealing and I would love to be able to attend one in a cozy village in England. Having just returned from a trip there in which we tooted all around the countryside, I could easily envision the setting. The murder mystery will get your attention and clues sprinkled throughout the pages will keep you invested in the story. This was a delightful addition to this series and I look forward to more time in merry old England.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

[Vanna Book-Mage]

This was mostly just okay for me.

[Elizabeth Sirett]

Two years ago Alice Carroll’s life had been at a low point: her partner of over twenty years had left her in order to travel and ‘find himself’, then she was made redundant from her job at a local museum. In search of a new start, Alice moved to the Cotswold village of Little Pride and bought a curiosity shop from its elderly owner who wished to retire. After a shaky start, both Alice and the shop have become popular in the village and she has made lots of friends, also she has started a relationship with a local millionaire, Robert Praed. Most extraordinary of all, Alice has shown a remarkable talent for investigation and has successfully solved several murders.

Alice is still not completely accustomed to Robert’s great wealth and she is shocked when he tells her that he has purchased the house and estate of the late Duke of Bunbury, the last in a long aristocratic line who had led a dissipated life and died without issue. The estate is situated near the isolated and rural village of Cold Bottom and all of the villagers were tenants and employees of the late duke. Robert plans to open the house as a conference and wellness centre and intends to retain the status quo regarding the inhabitants of Cold Bottom, allowing them to retain their homes and jobs.

One of the ways in which Robert hopes to smooth the transition for the villagers is to reinstate the annual fair, which has been a tradition for generations, although the last duke had allowed it to lapse. Alice admires Robert’s determination to make bonds with his new tenants but everything she has heard about Cold Bottom makes her feel uneasy because, on her first visit to the village, she was threatened by the late Duke’s gamekeeper who pointed a gun at her. Her doubts increase when Robert asks Alice to deliver some flyers to the villagers to advertise the fair. She is accompanied by her friend Danny and they find the whole village deserted, apart from one aggressive old man who throws a chamber pot at them from the first floor window and subjects Danny to racial abuse.

This confirms Alice’s instinctive feeling that the villagers of Cold Bottom are hostile and the atmosphere there is sinister. Despite Alice’s misgivings, the fair goes well, even though most of the villagers take advantage of Robert’s generosity to drink far too much. When the fair is over and most of the people from the surrounding villages have left, Robert, Alice, Danny and Danny’s partner, Jack, are waiting in a marquee for the villagers to come and listen to a presentation about Robert’s plans for the estate. Only one villager turns up and before he enters the marquee, he is killed, shot in the back by a bolt from a crossbow. Afraid that they might become suspects, Alice and her friends start to investigate, but soon Alice receives threats, which warn her to stop probing before she too becomes a victim.

Death at the Village Garden Party is the fourth book featuring Alice Carroll and the other residents of Little Pride. It is a gently paced murder mystery with engaging and eccentric characters, perfect for those who enjoy a traditional cosy crime series.
--------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)

[Kimberly]

I wasn’t expecting a village garden party to end with a murder, but that’s exactly why Debbie Young’s Death at the Village Garden Party kept me reading. Boldwood Books, thank you, along with NetGalley, for the gifted ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“What more could you want from a garden party?”

I always enjoy a cozy mystery that lets me settle into the setting before everything falls apart. Little Pride feels like one of those villages where everyone knows everyone, everyone has an opinion, and somebody is definitely keeping a secret.

Alice is one of those characters I genuinely like spending time with. She isn’t flashy, and she doesn’t act like she’s smarter than the police. She owns her curiosity shop, she’s excited about her future with Robert, and together they’re trying to make his newly purchased estate feel welcoming again by bringing back the old summer garden party. It sounded like such a good idea… until it wasn’t.

The party itself was probably one of my favorite parts. The bunting, tea, rides, neighbors catching up, and all the little village moments made it easy to picture being there. Then someone walks into the marquee and collapses before anyone can even figure out what’s happening. That scene completely changed the mood.

The mystery isn’t rushed. Debbie Young takes her time introducing the people of Cold Bottom, and honestly, that helped me understand why so many of them seemed determined to avoid Robert and his plans for the estate. There were plenty of suspects, a few surprises, and I never completely settled on one person.

I will say this is a slower cozy mystery. If you’re looking for constant action, this probably isn’t it. I actually didn’t mind because I enjoyed getting to know Alice, Robert, Wendy, and the wonderfully odd collection of villagers. Sometimes a quieter mystery is exactly what I’m in the mood for.

This series also works surprisingly well if you’re jumping in here. I could tell there was history between the characters, but I never felt lost.

Four stars felt right for me. It was charming, relaxing, and exactly the kind of book I’d reach for on a quiet afternoon when I want a mystery without a lot of darkness.

If you love small English villages, quirky neighbors, amateur sleuths, and mysteries that unfold at an easy pace, I think you’ll have a good time with this one.

Would you still go to the village garden party after hearing what happened… or would you stay home with a cup of tea instead?

[Tzia]

Alice Carroll (yes, really) runs a small curiosity shop in the small Cotswold Village of Little Pride. When her partner Robert buys the country estate of Bunbury house and its associated land and village, he has big plans for the place. His first order of business is to hold a village garden party to introduce himself to his tenants - but when one of them drops dead in decidedly un-natural circumstances, Alice and Robert find themselves in the middle of exactly the kind of attention they didn't want.

This was a strange one - I really enjoyed it and genuinely didn't want to put it down, but can't totally tell you why! I think a lot of it is down to the atmosphere created in the village of Cold Bottom - honestly that place is dripping with rural malice and is very much 'for the locals.' Every description of the place and its people made me think how much I would be willing to pay to avoid having to go there. It belongs in a horror film honestly. The choice of murder weapon was an unusual one, which I liked. There are also a couple of lovely plays on words and innuendos which had me smiling as I read them.

That aside though, there really wasn't a lot of tension or peril in this book. We didn't get to interact with very many of the residents of the village and so much happens off page that it doesn't feel like there was really any investigation to speak of. There were a few clues but no real way for the reader to deduce the killer or motive before it was revealed - both the motive and culprit make total sense so the conclusion is satisfying in that sense, but we don't actually get to see it.

I would come back to this series, I really enjoyed it - but I do think it's essential to know that most of the action will be removed from the reader rather than getting to feel a part of it.

- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -

[Mary Lawrey]

This is a fun easy read. Debbie Young is a new author to me, writing in a genre I rarely read, but that might have to change now! The latest in a series of cozy mysteries, but I found it works well as a standalone.

Alice recently moved to the small Cotswold village of Little Pride to live & run her small business, The Curiosity Shop. Her good friend & neighbour Robert is a successful businessman with a sideline in renovating & selling on heritage properties. She’s surprised to discover the scale of his success when he announces his latest purchase, Bunbury House, is the estate of the late Duke of Bunbury. He plans to revive the traditional village Garden Party for the estate workers living in the tied cottages in Cold Bottom as a way of introducing himself & his renovation plans. But Cold Bottom is not a very friendly place, as Alice discovers when she visits.

The garden party is very successful, with all the usual fairground fun - rides, coconut shy, stalls selling cakes, produce etc. The estate workers & their families all turn out, but are a bit intimidating to other visitors. The murder happens late in the day after everyone has left, but why it happened & who did it is not obvious. Alice, who is naturally observant of detail & curious about everything, feels compelled to put her mind to trying to help. Inevitably the reader joins her as the clues are uncovered, trying to solve it with her. Alice soon makes friends with Meg Windermere, the new police sergeant who recently moved to neighbouring Bunbury, a friendship that looks set to grow in future books.

It’s great fun & I really enjoyed reading this book. It’d make a good holiday read.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an arc of this book which I am reviewing voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

[Brenda]

When Alice Carroll's partner, Robert, bought the Cold Bottom Estate, which wasn't far from her home in Little Pride, she vowed to help him with his plans for the locals, and the renovating of the manor into a wellness retreat. Resurrecting the once loved summer garden party was an idea they both thought would go down well with the locals, as well as the neighbouring communities. The day of the party, with rides, stalls for all who wanted to participate, a beer tent, a tea room and much more, Robert was more than happy with how things were going. It was when the meeting with the locals was to take place at 7 that evening, after the party had finished at 5, that things went horribly wrong.

Alice and Robert decided to investigate themselves to attempt to discover the murderer. But it was a baffling case; since the lord of the manor had passed, the locals/workers had been left to their own devices. Would Alice and Robert manage to make sense of the reticence of said locals?

Death at the Village Garden Party is the 4th in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries by Debbie Young and I quite enjoyed it. An entertaining cosy mystery, with characters both good and bad. The location of the Cotswolds is once again beautifully described, with eccentric townsfolk popping into Alice's Curiosity Shop on a regular basis. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Boldwood Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Paloma]

Alice Carroll and Robert Praed are living up their romance in the beautiful village of Little Pride. He forgot to mention to Alice that he purchased Bunbury House, a sizeable village located in Cold Bottom after the passing of the last Duke of Bunbury. Robert seeks out Alice to help him get acquainted with and establish a means of communication with the community of Cold Bottom. They come up with the idea of reviving the Cold Bottom Garden Party so that the neighbors can start to know their new land owner. When the party is over, the town is invited to come see Robert's presentation about the future of their town. Only one visitor shows up and the group soon notices that a crossbow bolt is lodged between his shoulder blades. Soon, Alice finds herself helping out Detective Sergeant Windermere with this case while also figuring out why no one showed up for Robert. Could both incidents be connected?

I am a huge fan of Alice. She is so grounded, put together and is always so composed even when there is a killer on the loose. I don't know why Robert was being so aloof about the whole purchasing Bunbury House and then letting Alice know after the fact but only because he needed her help. I enjoyed Alice's mom coming over to help out. She is such a sweet woman and always finds a way to help. The whole situation with what was going on at Cold Bottom without Robert's knowledge was quite disturbing. It felt like the whole town was in on it for their own personal reasons. Another great story and I was happy to be back at Little Pride and the Curiosity Shop.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Kai]

This one ticks every box: bunting, fairground rides, a colourful cast of village eccentrics, and a body dropping at the heroine's feet before the tea tent even opens. Young clearly has fun with her setting, and it shows.
What sets this instalment apart is the deliciously silly backstory behind its title, the neighbouring estate's unfortunate name, Cold Bottom, and the centuries-old snobbery that led its dukes to distance themselves from it, gives the whole book a wry, self-aware sense of humour before the murder even happens. That blend of gentle village comedy and genuine mystery is where the book shines; Alice's amateur sleuthing is grounded by real curiosity about the people and old grudges of the community, rather than feeling like a convenient excuse to solve a crime.
Alice herself is an easy narrator to spend time with warm, a little wry, and refreshingly non-melodramatic even when the stakes (quite literally) turn deadly. The supporting cast of villagers, tenants, and travelling showmen gives Young plenty of red herrings and old rivalries to play with, and the historical thread about the estate's traditions adds welcome texture without slowing the pace. Fans of series regulars will also appreciate the quieter, character-driven moments tucked in alongside the investigation this is as much about community and belonging as it is about whodunit.
If you enjoy your murder mysteries cosy rather than gritty think country fetes, nosy neighbours, and a sleuth who'd rather solve things over a cup of tea than a car chase this is a satisfying entry in the genre, with enough wit and warmth to make the darker turns land without feeling heavy-handed.

[Tracy Wood]

Alice Carroll, owner of the Curiosity Shop in Little Pride, knew her partner Robert was a wealthy man but even she was shocked when he purchased the newly vacant Banbury House and surrounding estate. Wanting to get off on the right foot with his new tenants in the small hamlet of Cold Bottom, Robert enlists Alice, her mum, Wendy, and friends Danny and Jack to help reinstate the Cold Bottom garden party. With beautiful weather and large crowds the day is a success until as a summer storm sweeps in a local resident collapses dead at their feet! Desperate to avoid any negative publicity the five friends begin their own investigation. Dealing with a hamlet full of silent tenants, unexplained hostility, and a major  restoration project about to begin can they discover the culprit before everyone's plans change?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Boldwood Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. With a hamlet called Cold Bottom as the main location you'd hope this would be a fun and it absolutely was! A little different in its set up than previous books in the series it also links seamlessly with the author's standalone novel The Importance of Being Murdered meaning there was welcome information on what happened next to some of the Bunbury Players and local constabulary. There was a definite feel of justice being served here, as well as the main protagonists all on top form. I thoroughly enjoyed this and hope there will be more soon.

[Acantha]

What an odd, yet highly entertaining and compelling book.

The atmosphere in this book was top notch. Cold Bottom was a truly chilling, unsettling village and every time they had to go there, I was couldn't help the twist of dread in my gut. It was a 'local village' for 'local people'.

This was a slow build up of a book, the murder happens a decent way into it.

I've read one of her previous books, a stand alone. I was delighted to discover that it took place in this universe and some of the lesser characters of that book showed up in this book. Evan Bevan is still a fantastic name that just rolls off the tongue.

The dialogue was a little stilted at points, with characters talking as if they were 'characters' over a real person.

There was a lot of things that happened off page - even the dénouement and arrest of the villain of the piece happened not only off page but was told to us a step removed. It was a strange choice and it strengthened the feeling I had throughout this book that this author finds the actual murder investigation part of a cosy the least interesting part of the writing process. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the book is enjoyable in its own right, but its certainly something to consider if, as it seems, this is a trend of this author.

I would still recommend this book and I want to read the next in the series to see what happens with these people but I would need to adjust my expectations going in.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Deborah Almada]

I have come to enjoy this unassuming little series set in small village England. Alice is enjoying her Curiosity Shop in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride. She is also enjoying her growing relationship with her neighbor, the wealthy Robert of Bob Sponge fame. When Robert purchases the estate of the late Duke of Bunbury with thoughts of turning the estate into a conference center with health and wellness facilities, while allowing the tenants to remain in their homes and jobs, he asks Alice to help him with the transition and buying over the tenants. In order to do that, he plans on having a Village Garden Party as they did in years before but hadn't been done in 20 years! While the Party is well attended and enjoyed, when it comes time for the tenants to gather and hear about Robert's future plans, only one attends, and he is shot in the back with a crossbow as he enters the tent. What a disaster! Can Alice help Robert figure out what is going on in the Village of Cold Bottom? Who is the dead man, and why was he killed? Are the tenants opposed to the plan or just frightened? Can they figure out the real story of Cold Bottom? You will enjoy the read to the answers. Thanks to #Netgally, #BoldwoodBooks, and author for an opportunity to read. #DeathattheVilliageGardenParty #CoswoldCuriosityShopMysteries #DebbieYoung #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Anna]

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read "Death at the Village Garden Party" in exchange for my honest review.

This is book 4 in The Cotswold Curiosity Shop series but it is very well written and easy to follow, even if you have missed the previous books.

Alice Carroll own the Cotswold Curiosity Shop and is seeing Robert Praed. He has bought the late Duke of Banbury's Estate in Cold Bottom. He made his money in the Everlasting Sponge business. He plans to continue the tradition of holding a Garden Party for the estate workers. He also wants to share with them his plans to turn the pile into a Conference Centre with health and wellness facilities.

All are happy to attend the Garden Party and partake of the free food and beer. What could possibly go wrong at a Garden Party? As soon as the drinks run out everyone leaves, no one stays for the presentation Robert prepared about the Conference Centre. Excited to see someone arriving, they soon find that he has been shot with a crossbow and the search for the killer begins. Not easy in
Cold Bottom the grim little hamlet with rather unfriendly and unhelpful inhabitants.

The many interesting clues along the way and the intertwined lives and loves make for an exciting mystery for Alice, her mother and Robert to solve.

[Sarah]

This is another enjoyable instalment in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries, with Alice once again finding herself caught up in a local murder investigation. This time the action moves away from Little Pride and into the neighbouring village of Cold Bottom, where Robert has recently bought an estate.

I have to admit that the atmosphere of Cold Bottom immediately reminded me of the village from Hot Fuzz. The locals are cold, suspicious of outsiders and fiercely protective of their own, which gave the story a fun underlying feel while still keeping it firmly in cosy crime territory.

One thing I noticed was that I often found myself thinking that not a great deal had happened in a chapter. Yet somehow, by the time I reached the next one, the investigation had quietly moved forward. Rather than relying on constant dramatic twists, the story gradually builds through conversations, clues and village secrets, and before long the mystery has gathered plenty of momentum.

The mystery itself kept me engaged, the familiar cast continue to be delightful company, and I enjoyed seeing Alice navigate another tangled case. It may be a gentler paced cosy mystery, but it still delivers an entertaining puzzle and leaves me looking forward to Alice's next adventure.

Thank you again to NetGalley, Debbie Young and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Donna]

Death at the Village Garden Party is the fourth book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Series by Debbie Young. Even though I had not read the previous three books, I was easily able to follow along as enough background information was shared by the characters throughout the book. The story line was well thought out and organized (unlike some of the thoughts of the characters when they gave impulsive responses!) which made this an easy book to read.

The characters were varied and the Cotswold vernacular was ever-present which added to the entertainment level of the story. The characters were indeed characters, especially the residents of the hamlet, Cold Bottom. A favorite line from the book, which set the tone quite well, was "But if you were a Duke, would you want to be known as the Duke of Cold Bottom?" When I read this line, I developed high expectations for humor throughout the story and Debbie Scott delivered on that point!

A great cozy mystery set mainly on the picturesque estate of the Duke of Bunbury., filled with local color, intriguing characters, and a murder!

Thank you, Net Galley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Vintagebooklvr]

This is a bit more of a slow-paced cozies than I usually like--the murder doesn't happen until about 40% into the book--but it does let you get to know the characters, which is helpful if you have never read the series before like me. I also got to enjoy the events at the "old-fashioned" garden party which was fun to read about.

Alice Carroll, the owner of the local curiosity shop and amateur detective, wants to help her partner win over the local tenants in the small village attached to the estate he just bought. So they decide on throwing a garden party with rides that use to be so popular in the area. But the planned afterward community meeting to address the future is unattended except for a man who stumbles in with a cross-bow bolt in his back. It will be a challenge for Alice, Robert and a variety of other quirky characters to solve this mystery.

I did enjoy the characters and it had a good feeling like you expect out of a cozy. I wished it moved a little faster but overall a solid mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucy]

Robert's latest project, a lovely fête, and a Murder (of course!)

Robert Sponge, wealthy industrialist & inventor of the Everlasting Sponge, and Alice's 'boyfriend' has just completed the purchase of the Duke of Bunberry's home & estate. Unfortunately, Cold Bottom (the local village) is quite well-known for its insular attitude. Robert decides to reinstate the fête or village Garden Party to introduce himself, as the staff (nearly all) live in cottages on the estate. Alice finds herself voluntold to hand out invitations to the Garden Party, but most villagers aren't in the least excited. One villager even sicks his 3 dogs on her & also tosses a chamber pot within inches of Danny (her helper). Later at the end of the party, a villagers is murdered quite spectacularly in front of Robert & Alice.
No murder weapons are found, just the perfectly aimed crossbolt, which ensured the victim would die instantly.
Another well-crafted mystery on several different levels. Characters we know & love are back in this 4th installment. There are a few twists and plenty of puzzle pieces.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but PLEASE READ THEM IN ORDER.

4.7 ☆

[Mihaela]

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Debbie Young for the ARC.

It's a low-stake, cozy murder mystery book, the fourth in the series. It can be read as a standalone as well, as the author does tell you about the characters and things that happened in the other books.

The series revolve around Alice Carroll, a fifty year old sleuth who just bought Curiosity Shop from its previous owner. This book in particular is mostly about her life and relationship with Robert, who had bought the neighboring estate, and their plans to develop it. We get to learn about its history, its occupants, how it was before and how it could change.

The sleuthing is done on the downlow, neither of them pushing the police out of their way to get to the truth. Throughout the book, the action and dialogue are comparable to sitting with friends, gossiping and catching up.

It's a nice read, not much tension happening between acts, perfect if you need to relax and not worry about what might happen to the characters.

[Karen Stallman]

"Death at the Village Garden Party” the 4th instalment in The Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series by Debbie Young set in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, England. In this instalment Robert buys the neighbouring Cold Bottom estate, Alice offers to help him win over its eccentric residents by reviving the village’s once-loved summer garden party. Alice’s mum shows up to help again and who knows maybe she will become a new resident in the village.

Bunting. Fairground rides. Music... Murder. What more could you want from a garden party?

The mystery is engaging, with clever twists keeping me on the edge. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the killer's identity.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Debbie's writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment.

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Agatha Marplewood]

Death at the Village Garden Party is another charming visit to Little Pride, and I loved being back in Alice Carroll’s world.

Alice is so wonderfully normal as a woman in her 50s, starting over after a long relationship, running her curiosity shop, juggling her mum and a budding romance with Robert, and somehow still finding time to solve murders.

This time around, Robert has bought an estate that comes with its own small village, though his tenants are not exactly the friendliest bunch!

When one of them is murdered, Alice and Robert stumble into the investigation. That said, this one leans more into “sensible sleuthing”, with Alice working closely with the detective rather than throwing herself into danger, which felt realistic without losing tension.

I didn’t guess the culprit at all, but I still had a great time with the setting, the humor, and the cozy, grounded vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Death at the Village Garden Party by Debbie Young in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Laura]

Death at the Village Garden Party is the fourth book in Debbie Young’s Cotswold Mysteries series. Although it works reasonably well as a standalone, I couldn’t help feeling I was missing some of the background and relationships between the recurring characters. I suspect readers who have followed the series from the beginning would get much more from it.

My biggest issue was the pacing. It was almost halfway through the book before the murder actually took place, and the slow build-up made it difficult to stay engaged. I found myself waiting for the story to really begin.

Once the mystery finally got underway, I enjoyed it more, but even then it felt a little too cosy for my taste. There wasn’t enough suspense, misdirection or genuine sense of danger to keep me eagerly turning the pages. The mystery was pleasant enough, but it lacked the twists and red herrings that make a cosy crime novel truly gripping.

Overall, this is a gentle, easy read that will probably appeal most to established fans of the series, but I was left wishing for a faster-paced plot and a little more tension.

[Colin Bell]

This is the latest in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries, although it can readily be read as a standalone book. Alice is surprised to find that her close friend and neighbour Robert has bought the local manor house. The house with its tired tied cottages needs work, but Robert plans to update the house and create a restful retreat. To try to bring the workers in the tied cottages onboard he decides to revive the well loved summer garden party. Things go well until a murder occurs.
This is a slow paced gentle cosy mystery, concentrating on the characters rather than the actual murder. I enjoy this style of book, but others might prefer a faster pace. There are certainly some very strange characters living in the tied cottage hamlet, known as Cold Bottom - think of the TV series League of Gentlemen and you get the feeling. A nice read for a sunny afternoon in the garden or by the pool.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Jocelyn]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Very glad to be reunited with Alice Carroll of Little Pride after the first 3 books. Somehow she has a tendency to get in the middle of murders despite the low resident count of her small village. This time, it is a murder in Cold Bottom, a neighbouring village and her boyfriend Robert had bought over a duke’s estate.

I very much enjoyed reading about the estate, and having Alice’s mother stay and crochet in her shop of curiosities again. Their relationship is slightly tricky, as it is when parents suddenly are staying with adult children again.. and we have to tiptoe around them like we are kids even in our own house. I totally feel her pain.

The ending was a little abrupt and would have wanted some confrontation between Alice and the villains directly to make things more exciting. Otherwise I very much sped through the book in trying to find out who did it!

[Sarah Truckell]

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. 4 stars. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, so the first book I’ve read in this series. Although the main characters Alice and her partner Robert and the residents of Little Pride were new to me I soon got to know them and didn’t need prior knowledge of other storylines. Alice runs the Curiosity Shop in the village. Robert is a wealthy and successful businessman. He buys the estate of neighbouring Cold Bottom and sets out to win over the residents by reviving the summer garden party and then his plan is to tell them how is going to transform the estate. The garden party is a success with many attending. At the start of the evening residents’ meeting a figure stumbles into the marquee having been shot with a crossbow! A great cosy mystery as Alice sets out to solve the murder and work out what the mysterious goings on in Cold Bottom are.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books]

This is a brilliant, hilarious but deadly mystery
With plenty of quirky characters and village history
Rival villages, secrets from the past
Romance and dramas, what a fun blast!

Alice runs the Curiosity Shop in Little Pride
But her sleuthing credentials she can't hide.
With her partner, Robert, now an estate owner, too,
There's so much more for them both to do.

Reviving the garden party after decades of none
Will they win over the estate workers when it is done?
Or will the unexpected bolt from the blue
Put an end to the chance for Robert's dreams to come true?

With old rivalries and secrets to be uncovered
And clues needing to be discovered
Visiting Cold Bottom could be filled with danger
Will the killer be from there or be a stranger?

What a great read, with laughter and romance
As well as a mystery to solve - well worth a chance!
For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Ariana Ochoa]

Book 4 in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop series was another smashing, small town cozy mystery.

In this installment, Alice’s relationship with her partner Robert is progressing, but when he buys an estate by the late Duke of Bunbury, she helps with the transition by hosting a town fair. Hoping the villagers in Cold Bottom would warm up to Robert, Alice is disappointed by the poor turnout but is even more shocked when a villager attending is murdered in one of the tents. Alice and her friends are on the hunt for another killer, but will they walk away unscathed?

If you haven’t read anything by Debbie Young, you are missing out. I love her cozy mystery books, but this one is very special. I enjoyed all the eccentric characters, including new faces in town.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries set in the Cotswolds, you’ll enjoy this book.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.

[Bee]

I received this book as an arc, this is my honest opinion.

I felt like the book started off slow and I found myself thinking when is someone going to die (morbid, I know) but perhaps that’s because this isn’t my usual genre to read. I’ve never read cozy crime before.

I liked Robert but it seemed like Alice brought up his wealth a lot, like okay we get it, he has money and you don’t.

The reasoning behind the death was also a bit of a cop out for me. I was expecting more besides a guy getting killed because two gangster villagers were growing weed and supplying it to the neighbours while using money and the drugs to keep people quiet. Felt like I was reading an episode of Eastenders.

I’m not sure if I’ll pick another book up but, I’m sure it’ll appeal to someone else! Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

[J.]

Robert has purchased the late earl’s estate in the nearby village of Cold Bottom and is putting on an old-fashioned village garden party on the grounds. He wants to reassure his tenants that they aren’t being fired and evicted from their cottages. The villagers are an unfriendly lot and only one shows up to Robert’s presentation to the tenants. Unfortunately, he falls dead at the entrance with a crossbow bolt through his heart. Alice and Robert do some sleuthing, but Robert is a wealthy businessman with a reputation to uphold, so he is reluctant to do much.
The case is solved and Alice and Robert’s relationship seems solid. It’s fun to read a cozy mystery with a middle-aged sleuth and with older couples finding romantic partners. If you enjoy cozy mysteries set in country villages, you’ll enjoy this one.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kelsiesinkandpages]

If cosy crime is your thing, then this series is one you need to pick up.

Set amongst the charming villages of the Cotswolds, this is another wonderfully cosy whodunnit packed with quirky characters, village drama and a mystery that slowly unfolds. It has everything I look for in a cosy mystery – a gorgeous setting, a cast of characters that feel like old friends and just enough twists to keep you turning the pages.

This is the fourth book in the series, and one of the reasons I keep coming back is the pacing. Nothing feels rushed. You have time to settle into the story, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters.

If you love slow-burn mysteries, charming village life and books that are perfect for an afternoon curled up with a cup of tea, this series is definitely worth adding to your TBR.

[Amanda]

There are a lot of background filling chapters to read before the death scene is reached, some details of which didn't really lead anywhere, and were not strongly enough presented to be convincing "red herrings". I thought that the characters could have been far more interestingly introduced to the reader.
Once the motive was known and the perpetrator's name had been addressed, the conclusion came very quickly. This was disappointing as there was so much more to say about the outcome.
I would have enjoyed this story more if much of the building detail was removed and more emphasis placed on the investigation and conclusion. The ending seemed rushed, unbelievable and a little weak of the characters being portrayed.

This book would be appealing to anyone who enjoys Cozy Mystery reads that while away an afternoon when you have nothing better to do.