Body in the Woods

Reverend Annabelle Dixon #3

by Alison Golden, Jamie Vougeot

Buried bones. A boy. And tales of lost loves.
When a young boy is running home through the woods, he finds a bone: a forearm to be precise; a human forearm. This discovery sets in motion the reopening of a cold case that Reverend Annabelle Dixon, it seems, simply can’t leave alone.
In the quiet and relatively uneventful village of Upton St. Mary, gossip arises as word spreads that a body has been found in the woods. Once the investigation begins, the forensic team believes that it has been there for over a decade. But the question remains: who was buried there all those years ago?

In the sequel to Murder at the Mansion, Reverend Annabelle finds herself, once again, in amongst the thick of the investigation. With her knack for gaining people’s trust, winkling out their secrets, and piecing clues together, Annabelle is determined to solve the mystery.

In Body in the Woods, there are laugh out loud moments as Annabelle gets herself into plenty of scrapes. There is also a newcomer to the village with his heart set on love, antagonism with her crush, Inspector Nicholls, and Philippa, her church secretary, once more supplying Annabelle with gossip, cake, and her own little puzzle that gets Annabelle a-thinking.

Included in this book are recipes for:
– Ecclesiastical Chocolate Éclairs
– Divine Chocolate Dipped Shortbread
– Rapturous Raspberry Cheesecake
– Annabelle's Favorite Apricot Tart
– Saintly Strawberry Cupcakes

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Amazon, Ebooks, Contemporary

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2016

About the author

Alison Golden is the USA Today bestselling author of the Inspector David Graham mysteries, a traditional British detective series, and two cozy mystery series featuring main characters Reverend Annabelle Dixon and Roxy Reinhardt. As A. J. Golden, she writes the Diana Hunter thriller series.

Alison was raised in Bedfordshire, England. Her aim is to write stories that are designed to entertain, amuse, and calm. Her approach is to combine creative ideas with excellent writing and edit, edit, edit. Alison’s mission is simple: To write excellent books that have readers clamoring for more.

Alison is based in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and twin sons. She splits her time between London and San Francisco.

To receive three free books, updates about new releases, exclusive promotions, and other insider information, sign up at: http://www.alisongolden.com.

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the series featuring Annabelle Dixon. Annabelle is the local Vicar and she has quite the nose for mystery. When a small boy discovers what appears to be a human bone in a shallow grave Detective Inspector Nicholls is called in to help solve the case.

Annabelle notices that there are some changes in Detective Inspector Nicholls as he seems angry and terse. Annabelle finds herself searching down clues as to the body in the woods and finds that there is a missing person from many years back.

Annabelle is also concerned about Philippa as she too is acting out of character and seems to have some moral dilemma going on. These are not too much for Annabelle to help solve at one time. She diligently seeks out clues and uses her gentle personality to find answers to the puzzle.

Another hit for Alison Golden. She has created such a lovely world for Annabelle and it is a joy to join her there. After three books the Reverend is well know to me as a reader and I find her fun, compassionate and as diligent as a bull dog. She is amazing.

This series keeps getting better and better. It is a lovely cozy mystery that everyone should read.

Oh a super secret intro to the next Reverend Annabelle Dixon Mystery is included. shh... remember you didn't hear it from me.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun mystery

Lots of color so feel like you are in a small village. You can smell the bread baking, feel the satisfaction of eating a sweet pastry or two with a cup of tea.
The who did it will keep you on your toes.
All the people in the village have grown up together and the mystery of the missing sister, twenty years past, is slowly becoming the talk of the village. With old romances coming alive and new ones blooming.
But the Reverend and the inspector finally get to the sad truth.

[Sandra Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then, specifically after I`ve read several very intense murder mysteries or extremely graphic horror novels, I like to relax with something lighter, less likely to have me jumping out of my seat at every little sound. That is the perfect time for a "cozy mystery." This one filled the bill to perfection.

This was the first one I`ve read in this series and it was quite delightful, and yet it still held some twists, turns, a few very good surprises. And yes, I would definitely recommend it.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this novel with its Reverend Annabelle Dixon poking her nose into the police investigation. I was concerned that there was so much narrative to read through, but the writing flows smoothly. I enjoyed the twists and turns the author provided in the plot to keep the reader from solving the murder too quickly. I will probably read another book by Ms. Golden.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second read of the Rev. Annabelle Dixon series. I found it cute in places, a bit predictable, and a little short. I enjoyed the read, but will not continue with the series. The characters didn't grow on me.

[LisaMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these Reverend Annabelle stories!
This is the 3rd in the series.
They are clean, fun, quirky, fast-paced mysteries that include many of the same characters we've grown to love. Although, each one stands on its own...a new and exciting mystery in each.
Reverend Annabelle does it again in this one in Annabelle fashion. She didn't seem to get herself into as much trouble as she usually does but you gotta lI've her just the same!
This one involves a cold case, unrequited love, a ghost (perhaps), a runaway pig and we are introduced to some colorful residents of the village we've not met yet :)
If you enjoy a good wholesome mystery then these books are for you!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 star read.

Another interesting mystery for Annabelle to insert herself into! I read this novel out of sequence but as all the novels are stand-alone it really didn't matter, although it certainly explained the reason for the Inspector's surliness.
Exceptionally well written and paced in a way that before you know it you have reached the end and the mystery has been revealed. A wonderful array of new characters are introduced in this story, I especially loved the exuberance of little Dougie, the school boy who had the misfortune of discovering the body.
I felt this installment of the Reverend Annabelle Dixon series was not quite as exciting as the other books I have read, but an enjoyable, relaxing, cosy read nonetheless and one I would have no hesitation in recommending.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
Reverend Annabelle Dixon is the vicar in a small and charming village. In this installment, she wears the gloves of a sleuth and aids Inspector Nicholls with a cold case murder. Without her assistance, the police may have had to close the case without determining who the killer was.

There were multiple descriptions of the surroundings, people, and experiences that serve to entertain quite well.

It was a clean and cozy mystery.

[Emme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how I missed book #2, but liked it very much. It was interesting to see how the relationship between Annabelle and Inspector Nichols is developing. The story line was interesting, with a somewhat surprise besides the murder solution. This is a very good series and if you continue reading, will see the characters develop and parts will make you laugh, something not all authors can accomplish.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy series is a riot! It's a clean read with a good mystery. Annabelle, the Vicar, is quite a hoot! She sticks her nose in everywhere trying to solve mysteries. I love all of the folks in the village and really like the setting of Upton St. Mary's. Can't wait to see what Annabelle gets into next time.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body in the Woods:
4 stars
I have purchased a copy of The Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mysteries Book 3:Body in the Woods by Alison Golden and this review was given freely.
Eclectic characters like the outspoken Phillipa, the socially awkward anthropologist Dr.Robert Brownson, the easily irritated Inspector Nicholls, and the dessert loving, curious and at times persistent Reverend add color to the pages filled with rambling descriptions and conversations,multiple mysteries which are entwined with multiple love triangles, a murder, and a love match.
When eight year old Dougie Dewar trips over a skeleton in the woods of Upton ST. Mary, Detective Mike Nicholls tries to keep the quick witted Reverend Annabelle away from the investigation but town gossip situates her perfectly to solve the twenty year old murder case.

Grave in the Garage:
5 stars
I have purchased a copy of The Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mysteries Book 4: Grave in the Garage by Alison Golden and this review was given freely.
Suspenseful and action packed involving a few twist, puppies, and some surprises. As Reverend Annabelle laments the reduction in church funds and her friendship with Inspector Mike deepens, Phillia's matchmaking escalates, and the village of Upton ST. Mary experiences another murder as well as a secret gambling ring.

Horror in the Highlands:
5 stars
I have purchased a copy of The Reverend Annabelle Dixon Cozy Mysteries Book 5: Horror in the Highlands by Alison Golden and this review was given freely.
Vivid descriptions, an eclectic group of colorful characters, and a series of oddities and mysteries fill the pages of this cozy mystery where Reverend Annabelle visits her brother Roger and niece Bonnie on the island of Blodraigh, Scotland where she finds herself having to solve the murder of pub owner Harry Anderson without the help of the police while isolated on a small island in the midst of a severe storm. Things escalate when a chance email results in a surprise visit from Inspector Mike.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you go down to the woods today you are sure to find a good mystery. I am really enjoying this light hearted cosy mystery series, were the only complicated thing is trying to decide which cup of tea to sit back and enjoy with it. The characters are likeable and being set in a small English village you really get the feeling that they are part of a community. The mystery kept me guessing who was responsible especially with all the different opinions about the dead woman. The story also has a couple of side mysteries for you to solve and while one is pretty oblivious, the second was a surprise but both added some more mystery and humour to an already delightful story. It's the type of series that you can picture being turned into a hallmark tv programme. Look forward to the next mystery, which we get a taste for at the end of this book.
When a young boy running home from school stumbles over skeletal remains, Reverend Annabelle finds herself investigating very cold case. The bones are quickly identified, with only one woman having disappeared from the small village but finding her killer isn't so easy. Can Annabelle help the grumpy detective, who is hiding his own secrets, find the killer?
I liked the narrator. She helps to bring the characters to life and makes them easy to imagine.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Reverend Annabelle’s books and I’m hooked. A boy who is staying with his aunt is running home from schools and cuts through the woods. He stumbles and falls ruining his school uniform! Knowing his aunt will be angry with him he looks to see what caused him to trip and finds a bone sticking out of the ground. He runs home to tell his aunt and after convincing her it’s not his run away imagination. She calls the police. As reverend Annabel drives by and see the police she stops by to see what’s going on and that’s all it takes for her to start investigating. The body is of someone on who disappeared 20 yrs earlier. She then sets about the village talking to everyone if they know about anyone missing from a long time ago. Once she discovers who the body is she starts her investigation. The inspectors is none to happy about it but as he’s getting no information from anyone and is easily frustrated he realizes people are talking to the reverend. After several strange events take place in the village Reverend Annabel uncovers the secrets of her village and solves the mysteries that follow. Very well written book. Although I figured out who dunnit fairly early in the book I still enjoyed it.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 20 year old mystery gets aired

A much better read than the previous book. A plot full of angst, love, jealousy and a twenty year old mystery of the disappearance of a young girl. Loved the way the village has taken the Vicar into their lives and the way she has taken to the village. Reminds me of the village life portrayed in St Mary's Mead.
Take a young boy and his zeal for adventure and the woods make a wonderful backdrop until he stumbles and falls over a bone sticking out of the soil. The bone is part of a skeleton which after much asking the Vicar suspects is that of a young girl who disappeared 20 years ago. Investigating forensic pathologists confirm but not before the invited expert finds that his former love is married and out of his reach forever. However this doesn't stop our Vicar and she questions the sister and former boyfriend of the dead girl. The Inspector however is in an awful temper and she suspects that he might also be in love with the coroner. Can she find out what happened to the young girl so many years ago? Will the Inspector tell her why he is being so hort tempered? Can she mend the visiting forensic pathologists heart?

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison Golden has another winner!

This is the second Reverend Annabelle cozy mystery that I have read, and I have enjoyed both. The writing and editing are solid. The town of Upton St. Mary is populated with likeable characters who are English but not too English. You won't find obscure Britishisms here. What you will find is a decent but not over!y complicated plot with a bit of mystery and a wee bit of romance as the vicar looks into the decades old disappearance of a village teen. While you might benefit from knowing a little more about the characters by reading the series from the start, this book stands alone, no cliffhangers. Body in the Woods is a good cozy mystery and I will continue to read this series.

[Daniela Sorgente · Rating 3 out of 5]

This third book in the Reverend Annabelle Dixon series is perhaps just a little better than the first two. This time the Reverend Annabelle finds herself facing a cold case: a skeleton is found in the woods and it turns out that it belongs to a girl who has been missing for twenty years. Concern for the well-being of her parishioners leads her to investigate. This time she and Inspector Nichols exchange information and collaborate. Different characters from the village appear, unlike the previous book, and this makes the setting more credible: the butcher, the owners of the pub and the tea room, a teacher. The culprit was a surprise to me.
A story of unrequited love is treated with little delicacy.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventure for Dougie was endless, in Upton St Mary, full of mayhem and mischief for others to endure. He tripped over something protruding by the tree trunk, nothing he had seen before, Trying to explain why he looked a mess about this thing in the ground. The constable was not pleased to hear he had been called out and put everything on hold from what an eight year old boy said. Reverend was making daily rounds, coming upon the inspector and surmised there was something in the woods. Visiting with Shona and Dougie was all excited to tell what he had found. Leaving the Reverend a cold case to solve. Nice humorous mystery with a young eager boy.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

New (for me) cozy mystery series

I am loving the Vicar Annabelle and her lovely village of Upton St. Mary in Cornwall. The various inhabitants of the village are delightful characters, even those suspected of murder! This murder occurred over 20 years earlier but the body was just discovered buried in the woods by 8-year-old Dougie on his way home from school. Sifting through clues as she tries to coordinate her investigation with an irascible inspector from Truro is humorous and at times counter-productive but ultimately successful. I will definitely read more by this author and am now starting the next in the series.

[Tom MacCasarlaigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle read, no blood or gore but you will find a fast paced novel with a gentle drama unfolding throughout the book. I'm sure most people when reading can imagine the characters be they exciting like Harrison Ford or macho like John Wayne but I found it difficult to imagine the main character of Annabelle. I kept floating between Mrs Bucket, Hattie Jaques, Angela Lansbury and Danw French's character on TV. But nonetheless I flew though the book & enjoyed it for what it is. A nice gentle read.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Madcap Mystery Which Will Charm You"

In Upton St. Mary, England, a boy running through the woods finds a bone. It's a human bone. This sets off Reverend Annabelle Dixon to open a cold case which she can't ignore. She has a knack for finding secrets and linking clues together. She's determined to solve this mystery. There is humor in this story as the reverend gets tangled in some funny dramas, as well as intrigue. This is well written with well defined characters. You'll be swept into this cozy mystery and will be well entertained.

[Theunis Snyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit thin on the mystery side this is an enjoyable cozy. And the people are nice too. The detective is reverend Annabelle who has a sweet tooth and enjoys pastries and cakes. Being a minister myself I don’t think much of the way that she prepares her sermon. For her it is just a talk on a topical subject. Preparing a good sermon takes at least 15 to 20 hours to complete. Lots of reading, meditation, writing, memorization are needed before a sermon can be preached. The book ends with a few recipes of food that is mentioned in the story.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this book. It isn't the first Alison Golden cozy I've read and it sure won't be the last. Like other reviewers I like to sandwich a cozy in
between my usual more graphic mysteries. Ms. Golden's really hit the spot being light,clean and fun.
I really like Rev. Annabelle and all the other characters. I also like the way Ms. Golden introduces new characters with each book and also expands on the old one(Rev. Annabell, Phillipa etc. Can't wait to read #4

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past And Karma

Annabelle and Mike have lots of misunderstandings to clear up. The village seems to be going through some unusual times. A body is found in the woods and an unsolved missing person case is now upped to a murder and needs to be solved. Philippa has a secret which is causing her problems, Mike has an issue which needs to be resolved. Lots of action, plot twists and humor make this a very interesting book! I recommend this book and look forward to the next!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Whenever I am reading one of the stories I flash back to the TV program that I enjoyed.The stories are not what you would call good stories but they keep you turning the pages. The Reverend has the ability to talk to people and have them talk to her. She is mentally sharp and has a good sense of logic. She has a sweet tooth that will never allow her to be thin and it doesn't bother her in the least. The people in the Church especially the bookkeeper love her and she them.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vicar has another mystery to solve. A body discovered in the woods, a grouchy Police DI, the Church Secretary acting strangely, and a Forensic Specialist hoping to renew acquaintance with a lost love.

All make for a tale of intrigue, speculation and of course “mystery”. Who is the mysterious body, who killed this person, Will we find out why the Inspector Nichols suddenly is yelling at everyone for the least little thing. Of course reading the book will answer these questions.

[Ivan Benedict · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy discovers a skeleton of a person in the woods. The body turns out to be someone murdered many years ago. The investigation of what happened is rather lengthy and includes the female priest of the town. Finally, the one who murdered the person is found out. The skeleton had shown a blow to the head. There were also marks of Several fractures. Somehow these are not dealt with and leaves a mystery about those.

[Sharon M. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of the Vicar of Dibley.

The Reverend Annabelle Dixon lives in a small English village where a young boy playing in the woods has found the skeleton of a young girl that disappeared decades ago. Annabelle is very good at sniffing out clues and setting things to right. The story is very well written and is full of colorful characters. Read the whole series.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Reverend Annabelle Dixon butts heads with the police Inspector Nicholls and then joins forces to solve a murder. As a retired vicar I was drawn to this story but was disappointed. In my opinion Annabelle is a nosy gossip who violates the confidentiality I would expect of a member of the clergy.

No sex
No violence

[Patricia Grigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a little trouble concentrating on this book. It is interesting, but it felt as if forced from the writer to me. I couldn't seem to get into it like I wanted to. Of course that could just be me reading during a bad time of worry over water wells and pending surgery. The book is worth getting and reading, so don't let my own grumpy time affect your enjoyment.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabelle Dixon

Another great mystery in the Annabelle Dixon series. A body is found in the woods by 8 year old Dougie and Inspector Nichols and Annabelle try to put the clues together to solve it. The ending was a little shocking but a good story. Highly recommend this book and the series.