Fruit Cake and Fear

Peridale Cafe #8

by Agatha Frost

The 8th book in the BESTSELLING Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series!

A storm hits Peridale with disastrous effects. Barker's cottage is destroyed, forcing him to move in with Julia, but she has more to worry about than him leaving his socks around and not putting the toilet seat up. Julia is shocked when the storm also uncovers a secret basement underneath her cafe and even more shocked when she finds the body of a teenage girl who has been missing for twenty years.

The cold case team rushes in, pushing Julia out of her cafe and leaving her to unravel the truth of the past one thread at a time. When she realises the girl, Astrid, was the daughter of Evelyn, the eccentric B&B owner, Julia vows to piece together the events that led to Astrid being trapped in a basement for decades. How did the girl die, and more importantly who killed her? Julia hunts for clues to a case the village had almost forgotten about so she can bring Evelyn the peace she deserves, but will she be able to do it in time before somebody she loves suffers a similar fate?

Book 8 in the Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series! Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes!

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

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2017

About the author

AGATHA FROST, an Amazon bestselling author, has written over thirty mystery novels. She lives in the North West English county of Lancashire with her two cuddly beagles and one cat.

When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.

From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.

Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.

Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com

Reviews

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is getting even better with each installment. This was my favourite so far. Wonderful characters and a complex mystery that made it hard to put the book down when real life required me to. And it became really scary when development in the case hits close to home.

I love that a well known and colourful character is connected to this "new" case and we get to see her from a different angle. Also it is not all sunshine and roses when Barker moves in with Julia and Jessie and habits and personalities collide.

*Thanks to the author for kindly providing me with a free copy of the book*

[AmBerGUR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best one yet!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is the eighth book in the Peridale Cafe mystery series by Agatha Frost.

This storyline was a little more complex than some of the other books in this series. A horrible storm forces as tree to demolish Barker’s cottage. Plus it breaks loose a paver around Julia’s bakery. She discovers a hidden basement and shockingly a very real skeleton!

I am liking this series more and more as it moves forward in time. This one is the best yet, in my opinion. The complex plot leads us in so many possible ways that it really gives us great insight into the background of many characters. I do wish there was a bit more Jessee in some of these stories. I think it might be a nice idea to spin her off into her own YA type series for a few books just to give the Jesse lovers something more tangible to hold onto.

The whodunit aspect of this had me stumped the entire way through. I had no idea who could be the culprit. This is unputdownable and just keeps you guessing!

If you love Agatha Frost, check out her new series Claire’s Candles Cozy Mysteries or the Scarlet Cove series.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's another brilliant murder mystery from Agatha Frost and another unique premise with all the twists I've come to expect from this author.

Now, while I didn't fully guess this one, I did have a bit of a clue about the baby aspect of it all but not in the way it all finally turned out. There's also the usual family side plot with Julia and Barker, only this time Jessie gets herself a bit too involved in the mystery as well and it prompts a big decision which will have lasting changes to their dynamic.

One things for sure though, I'm glad I don't live in Peridale!

#ARC received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review, which I'm a bit late in doing sorry Agatha!

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked this book. There was a storm and it wrecked Barker's house. He ends up having to stay with Julia. However, Jessie was so horrible to him living there. On top of this a body is found in the basement of Julia's shop. Luckily the killer is found and everything is well for now.

[Isabella ~Mikku-chan~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

Julia’s birthday could be a nice thing; baking for her beloved ones, celebrating and have a great time. The fact that her birthday is overshaddowed by a literally storm which creates a mess she discovers a hidden basement under her café. Curious but also wondering she explores the depths, and the revealings aren’t pleasant.

Julia and Jesse don’t have easy times in the latest Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery book, not only is the discovery of the female body in the basement a shocking news, the fact that Barker has to move in to the two women is not an overly joy.

The crime case around the young girl, Astrid, was really great told and again the reader got a solid investigation. The twist in the case, the revealings and the hidden secrets of character you knew from other books give the thrill, they also show the dark sides of the character.

Although it’s a pretty disturbing and tragic case the book is filled with the well-known humor, the wit and the banter. The fact that Barker has to move to Julia’s house isn’t a start of a honeymoon season. Jesse isn’t happy with the new arrangements though she likes Barker and even Julia has hard times endure her lover and boyfriend.

I really liked the bonds which were strengthen, the interactions were charming.
At the end there was a shocking twist in the book but the crime case could be solved and the danger could be prevented.

Again a great, solid read. Julia, Jessie and Barker grow more and more into a family and the end of the book was kinda surprising but also pretty sweet. :3 5 out of 5 stars for this. :)

Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 8th Book in the Peridale Cafe Mystery Series.

A terrible storm hits Peridale and it's aftermath is something the residents of Peridale won't soon forget. Barker's cottage is destroyed, and with no insurance, Barker has to stay with Julia. Three is a crowd and soon tensions mount between Jessie and Barker. However, Jessie and Barker's bickering is the least of Julia's problems.

The storm also uncovered a hidden basement below Julia's cafe and what she found in there was shocking, to say the least. Hidden in the basement was a body of a young girl named Astrid. She was a girl that had gone missing years ago in Peridale and was never found...until now. She is the daughter of Evelyn, the owner of the B&B in town. Although Evelyn is relieved to finally have found her missing daughter, she is left with more questions than answers. She pleads with Julia to find out who killed her baby girl. Julia was of course reluctant, but she couldn't say no to Evelyn, who only wanted answers. Julia also felt a responsibility to finding out the truth since Astrid was discovered underneath her cafe.

This story by far has been my favorite in the series. It had a more personal note in this for Julia and I was able to relate more to her involvement in uncovering this mystery than any other story. I also enjoyed the little back and forth between Jessie and Barker. They are developing quite the father/daughter relationship, which I was hoping for. Another wonderful story from Agatha. I can't wait to see where she takes Julia next.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my most favorite book in the series. Wow! The mystery was amazing. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I'm so bad at figuring out who did it most of the time I'm close and I love that I get surprised almost every time and this time was no different.

Julia, Barker, and Jessie get closer as a family. What happens to them before they get to this point was so scary and believable that it made me love them more. I love their story. We got a little more of Julia's sister which is always a great thing. Dot wasn't doing anything too crazy here lol but the stuff she says will crack you up.

I recommend this series. It's a fun and great read. I can't wait to get to the next book.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. I think I had some things figured out, not completely, but I feel like the clues added up. I really like Julia. I liked Jessie too. I do have to say (and I have only read the first of this series and this one) Barker was pissing me off! Like for real! I wanted to smack him and tell Julia to run far and fast. He was like a man child, who apparently can not put his dirty clothes away, but more importantly his priorities seemed completely fucked! Anyhoo. I do like this series, will read more. Quick reads, enjoyable characters, good mysteries. I recommend.

[Robin Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars. I'm addicted to cozy mysteries now thanks to Agatha Frost. Julia, Barker, Jessie and Dot are part of my family and I don't know what I'm going to do once I'm done with this series. This particular story dealt with family, disagreements and a cold case with a missing girl. I love that Julia can't keep herself from helping others and giving them some peace of mind. Sometimes I wondered if she would ever figure it out but like always...she came through in the end.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and all the characters!! It's Julia's birthday and a storms brewing. By the time the storm is over, Barker's cottage is smashed by a tree, Julia's car is wrecked and a skeletal body is found underneath the cafe. Could this be a young girl who went missing 20 years ago. Evelyn, the eccentric owner of the B&B, had lost her daughter Astrid 20 years ago, she went missing and they never found her. Always holding out hope she'd be found. Now the mystery of how she died, who done it and why begins. Evelyn has ask Julia to figure it out and Julia does everything she can to help.

While all this is going on, the cafe has been closed while investigators search under the cafe for clues, Barker and Jessie are at each other's throats trying to live together. Barker has nowhere else to go until his cottage is fixed and during one of their arguments, Jessie runs out. Will there be another murder to solve or will Julia figure it out before more heartache comes to Peridale?

What a great book!! I loved it, the mystery, it's more personal this time I think, and there is closure finally for Evelyn. A must read in this series!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story involves fruitcake, a storm, kidnapping, and a cold case. The mystery part of the story was interesting. I was partially right about the ending. I hope that Jessie's past will be explained in one of the upcoming stories. There is also some domestic drama. These moments were both humorous and frustrating.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno dei libri che mi è piaciuto di più di questa serie. Julia si ritrova ad indagare su un cold case (ottima idea per evitare una moria in un piccolo villaggio) mentre avvengono degli importanti cambiamenti nella sua vita. Alla fine ho tremato insieme a lei quando la suspense raggiunge il massimo.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*

Never ceases to amaze me the depravity of people. And Julia's been hit close to home with this one. It's a hard one for her to cope with but she knows she has to make it right for Evelyn. And for the other victims

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest return to Peridale.
A buried body uncovered after a storm is the start to unraveling old secrets and a murder with contemporary danger to the main characters.
I love these characters and find them well written and interesting and the whodunit kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Jen - Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best of the series so far! I absolutely loved it and shed tears at the end.
Onto the next book in the Peridale Cafe cosy mysteries.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Peridale Cafe Mystery series so much. Fruit Cake and Fear was so good. Julia tried staying out of the investigation of a 20 year old murder case, but she finds herself thrown in the middle of it yet again. She works hard to solve who did it and gets to the bottom of the case. Events that happen during her investigation bring her, Barker, and Jessie closer together. I really enjoyed this read and I think you will too, so give it a go. You won't be disappointed.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*

I agree that this is the best one yet

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the Peridale series. A big storm sweeps through the village causing damage to some of the buildings, one of which is Barker's house. After the storm Julia and Jessie discover a hidden basement outside the bakery. Inside they discover a skeleton that turns out to be that of a school mate who had gone missing 20 years ago. Barker moves in with the girls causing a storm of its own, while Julia investigates the past.

[Louise Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are genuinely getting better as the series goes on. The intrigue and mystery surrounding this one was great and I had trouble putting it down. Barker and Jessie's relationship is funny as ever and Dot is always quick with the witty comebacks and put downs, she's such a great character. As ever, I couldn't figure out the mystery but the culmination of the book was one of the best endings of the series. Looking forward to more Julia (and friends!) soon.

[Tracy Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book... Series, I love hard! Each book is getting better & better. I shed a few tears on this book... It was a mystery indeed. I figured out some stuff on my own & was so happy when I was right, lol. There was a couple of heart stopping moments in the book as well & my heart hurt. But the book itself was awesome as usual. So looking forward to reading next book!

[Kelly Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful cozy mystery by Agatha Frost. I dearly love Julia, Jessie, Barker and even Dot. This book brings a special enlightenment into Evelyn's character. I love it how the whole thing comes together at the end. Always a great read.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy had a lot of great drama especially in the last two chapters.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pandemic freebie from the author. All opinions expressed are my own and not affected by the giveaway.

3.5 stars

The worst storm anyone can remember hits Peridale with a vengeance, wrecking Julia's car, destroying Barker's cottage and damaging the café yard. The broken slabs reveal a hidden wooden door to an underground room where the previous owner once made toys. That's not all Julia finds! When she explores the workshop room she finds a skeleton! A real one! She believes the skeleton belongs to a high school student who went missing in 1997. Astrid Wood was the daughter of eccentric Evelyn who has been communing with spirits trying to find her daughter for 20 years. She's distraught to hear of her daughter's death. Everyone assumes Astrid was murdered. The village gossips always said her boyfriend killed her and chopped her into a million pieces. After meeting him, Julia doesn't think so. She also doesn't believe it was the kindly man who sold her his shop. Who could have killed Astrid and left her body in the underground room? Julia is going to butt out of this one and let the cold case team do their job. When Barker's home is destroyed in the storm, he moves in with Julia and Jessie causing some tension in the house. Will life ever return to normal in Peridale? Then Jessie runs off after a fight with Barker and doesn't come home. Julia is terrified history is going to repeat itself. She'll move heaven and earth to find Jessie even if it means solving the cold case herself and even sacrificing her life for her Jessie's.

This story has the dark tone of the previous books in the series. It was rather sad because it dealt with a child's death (a 17 year old) and her mother's grief. I guessed what happened and who must be involved in the murder but I didn't quite put it all together. The reveal was rather shocking. I liked learning the differences between English high school and American. I graduated in 1996 (at 18, 12th grade) and our yearbook was professionally printed and bound, our prom was booked at a venue with a DJ but in England at the time, yearbooks were new and printed on a shoestring budget at a copy shop and proms were like school dances here, held in the school gym. Nirvana was apparently huge in Peridale, surprisingly. I don't remember because I wasn't into them myself and then Kurt Cobain shot himself and that was more interesting than the music. I do remember their music was called Seattle Grunge though. Julia doesn't remember that. The historical details don't really add anything to the mystery but they were fun to help spark Julia's friend Roxy's memory.

This story contains spoilers for Pancakes and Corpses Big spoilers so read at your own risk.

Julia is fierce in this novel. She's still lovely and knows how to mediate a dispute but she becomes Mama Bear when she fears for Jessie's life. I like how she's grown to love Jessie in spite of the girl's sometimes prickly nature and how Julia has quickly come to think of Jessie as her daughter. Julia is not so in love with Barker that she can't see his faults and I really appreciate that. It was funny to learn what bachelor habits men pick up. Barker loses his tough guy image in this book and starts acting like a teenager. Jessie is angsty as usual and angry a lot. I like that Jessie is comfortable enough with Barker to argue with him. I don't think I would feel that way that quickly but she knows him well.

I vaguely remember Julia's friend Roxy from the first book. She's more lively and fun than Julia and willing to tell little white lies to get her own way. She has a mischievous spirit and that sounds good for a first grade teacher to have. Julia also has a friend Johnny who writes for the newspaper. I found him boring and he needs to grow a pair and move on.

Astrid was a shy teenage girl who didn't fit in. She was a good student and good friend. She went missing the night of her prom. The death of a child is completely horrific and tragic no matter how old that child was. Astrid didn't deserve to die. I am heartbroken for Evelyn! Evelyn has her own tragic backstory and it explains why she is the way she is. She's searching for answers, grasping at something comforting and it's not mainstream so the others think she's weird. That attitude got passed on to Astrid who I think was embarrassed by her mother and angry that her mother couldn't be normal. I feel awful for Evelyn, truly. No parent deserves to lose a child ever but especially not at the most difficult age when they probably argued a lot. I didn't understand a part of the reveal though. Why didn't Astrid tell her mother she was pregnant? Evelyn of all people would have understood and not been angry. Was it because Astrid didn't want the baby and feared Evelyn would want to keep it? Astrid's boyfriend, Aiden Black, is the principal suspect. He's a grown man who moons after a long dead girl he once loved in high school in spite of being married. Apparently his only job is as a member of a Nirvana tribute band. Julia likes him and doesn't think he's a murderer but he doesn't have a good alibi. I think he's too weak and too much of a loser to murder his girlfriend but it could have been accidental or he could have been a witness and threatened into keeping quiet. His wife Grace was Astrid's best friend. Grace is now a doctor, following in her mother's footsteps. She loves her family fiercely and hasn't forgotten her old friend but Astrid seems to have been out of sight, out of mind.

Other suspects include Alistair Black, the former toy shop owner who sold Julia her café building. Mr. Black was the most awesome toy shop owner ever! He was like a real life Santa Claus making wooden toys himself in his basement workshop! He's very kindly towards Julia and doesn't seem to know who bricked up the workshop or when. He had rented the building out before selling to Julia. He seems like a very nice man. I trust him and don't think he had anything to do with the murder. Santa Claus wouldn't kill anyone! Grace's mother, Alessandra, is an awful person. She lives at the same retirement community as Mr. Black and treats him like her slave. She's rude to Jessie too and doesn't have anything good to say about her son-in-law. She says she knew Astrid well but doesn't have much to say about her. I think Grace's mum was too selfish to notice what Grace and her friends were up to.

Other characters include Grace's eldest son Mark who is going through a phase, at 20. He's in the emo phase and for some reason dresses like David Bowie. I feel sorry for him because his mother has high expectations and he's still trying to figure out who he is. Something tells me she wouldn't understand if he was anything but "normal." Mrs. Hargreaves, Julia's old Home Ec teacher cares about her students, present and former. She seems like she wants to help them but only if they tell her how. She's not quick to gossip with Julia and Roxy but shares information she feels is necessary. She sounds like she was a good teacher and is a caring person.

While I couldn't put the book down and stayed up late to finish it, I didn't like the subject matter. I have two more freebies in this series to read and I will, eventually, read them.

Trigger warnings:
teenager's death/murder
teen pregnancy death, mental health issue

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

All in the family

Julia finds the body of a young woman who disappeared 20 years before. This is a moving and somewhat sad story but a great addition to the series.

[Courtny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a hit and miss for me. I loved getting to know the relationship between Jess and Julia! Seeing them grow in their relationship together. But Barker striaght up annoyed the heck out of me during this book. Which is rare. I have read all of the other books in the Peridale Cafe Mystery series, and I have always loved Barker for his love of Jess and Julia, and the fact that he has his head on straight.

However, during this book he was a big baby. He was more concerned about his stupid book and the chapters getting ruined then anything else. He needed to work on his temper and he needed to act more like an adult. It annoyed me how childish he was acting. And at the end he decided along with Julia to offically adopt Jess? After he acted like a child and made her run off? I don't know. I can see why Julia was getting annoyed with him towards the end of the book.

I loved the 7th book, and I thought that the relationships were building well and that things were going the way that they needed to. But Barker just annoyed the crap out of me during this book.

However, the murder mystery was really interesting! I loved how intertwined it was with everyone else in the town. How it brought back the past and mingled in with the present. I really liked that aspect of the book. That is what brought the story around for me. I would have rated this book a 2 had the plot to find the murderer not been so interesting. That brought my rating up to a 3. I am excited to see what Agatha Frost comes up with next in the 9th Peridale Cafe Mystery!

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and it just gets better and better! At this point, I feel like Julia and Barker are friends and I'm always looking forward to seeing what is next for them and Agatha Frost does not disappoint. I loved this newest adventure that takes Julia and her friends back to high school days. After a storm wreaks havoc on Peridale, Julia and Jessie discover a hidden basement at her café and in that basement they find a body. Julia is determined to stay out of this one, she has enough to deal with because now Barker is staying with her after his house was destroyed. But, once the body is identified as a teenage girl who went missing twenty years ago, the girl's mother is a long time Peridale resident and asks Julia for help, she can't say no.

I really loved this book, it's a great addition to this series and I love that Agatha Frost brings in a cold case in this one. There are some new characters thrown into the mix in this book that definitely added to the mystery of who killed Astrid. There are some fantastic twists too, I loved the way it kept me guessing and then all came together with a fantastic ending! Julia and Barker's relationship goes to a new level as well, with him staying with Julia and Jessie and good lord those two together amuse me! I'm always happy to go back to Peridale, I absolutely adore this world that Agatha Frost has created, an absolute must read series! I'm already looking forward to Julia's next adventure.

[Noco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the 8th book in the Peridale Cafe Mystery series. The character dynamics get stronger and stronger each book, and I have developed an attachment to the characters.

Although the new development where Barker moves in with Julia frustrated me, I have to admit it added to the drama, and that made the book even more entertaining and hard to put down.

The author really knows how to get readers engaged and invested in the story; the tension which I thought I could almost slice with a knife, literally had me glued to the book; I was flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission till I saw how the mystery and the story tie up in the end.
As always, the author did a beautiful job of getting it all sewn up without leaving any loose ends, but I had a bit of niggle as far as the culprit reveal.
To me, it felt kind of forced and a bit out of left field. I mean, I kind of suspected who the murderer could be and I actually nailed it, but the reasoning why that person did it came across almost as an afterthought, it didn't sit well with me, and that feeling lingered until I reached the last page.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I enjoyed the story on the whole; I had no complaints other than that, and I happily give this book 4 stars.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best yet!!

I've read and enjoyed all the books in the Peridale Cafe series, but this is without doubt my favourite to date!! What exactly it is that makes this story that bit more special I honestly cannot say. In common with the whole series it is a well written cozy mystery with the usual cast of delightful characters, all set within a picturesque Cotswold village. However, in this our eighth visit to the village, the murder requiring our protagonist Julia's attention occurred many years in the past and as comes to light, has deeply affected the lives of more than one of the villages inhabitants. With her usual flair Julia sets out to solve this cold case and in doing so hopes to provide closure to Evelyn, the kooky B&B owner whose daughter has literally been unearthed. What Julia doesn't realise though is just how much this case from the past is going to affect her own life in the present and the danger it poses to someone very close to her....!!

No spoilers here though, you are going have to read it for yourself to discover what happens. But rest assured you will not be disappointed!!!

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this eighth novel, in the Peridale Cafe Cozy Mystery series, I was in love! Agatha Frost has once again worked her magic words over me. The plot was just as enticing, juicy, and hilarious as always. The same group of characters like Dot, Barker, Julia, and Jessie are still around. I was excited. This latest murder mystery case, had me intrigued. A dead girl's body finally found after twenty years. She went missing and was never found until a storm lead to her body. The whole town went into shock and gossip over it. The dead girl's remains haunt Julia as the case keeps going. What caused the death, who did it, and why? Just like that, I was hooked. Fruit Cake and Fear is everything I expected it to be. Funny, deadly, and sweet. Unlike the previous cases, this one, happens on Julia's birthday. That's one way to celebrate...overall, I love this writer's work. Agatha Frost never disappoints. In fact, there's another book out after this one. I can't wait to dig in...this, is a must read series. Once you start, you can't stop reading it...

I received this copy from the publisher. This, is my voluntary review.