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Waterfell Tweed #1-3
Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Box Set: Books 1-3
Welcome to Waterfell Tweed, where things aren't as cozy as they seem...
Sandy Shaw was happy with her life running the village cafe and bookstore, until a series of murders in the sleepy village cause everyone to second-guess just how peaceful things are.
Join Sandy as she sets out to solve the killers, and get peace restored, in this box set collection of the first three books in the Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Series.
This box set includes ONCE UPON A CRIME, A TALE OF TWO BODIES and A VALENTINE'S KILL.
Each novella is around 30,000 words long and is a cozy mystery, meaning they are safe from swearing, sex, violence and cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone but the series is best enjoyed if read in order.
Sandy Shaw was happy with her life running the village cafe and bookstore, until a series of murders in the sleepy village cause everyone to second-guess just how peaceful things are.
Join Sandy as she sets out to solve the killers, and get peace restored, in this box set collection of the first three books in the Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Series.
This box set includes ONCE UPON A CRIME, A TALE OF TWO BODIES and A VALENTINE'S KILL.
Each novella is around 30,000 words long and is a cozy mystery, meaning they are safe from swearing, sex, violence and cliffhangers. Each book can be read as a standalone but the series is best enjoyed if read in order.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2018
297 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 23, 2022
This three book audio set was a fun way to get immersed into the lives of these new to me characters and their daily lives. The first book started off a bit slow for me and I was a bit frustrated that the police detective focused on the main character over such a flimsy bit of reasoning, not even evidence. However, the story progressed allowing me to get to know the characters better and getting me more engaged. The second book was great with some quality humor to boot! The "quick to judgment" detective stayed true to character thus making the first book set his personality even more thoroughly. The third book was even better than the first two with each getting better and better. The plots were all well thought out and you were able to follow Sandy, the main character, as she untangled the whodunit aspect of the storylines. By the third book, the quick to judgment detective was also starting to take a slower approach and a follow the evidence approach rather than just deciding who was guilty and sticking to that. I am quite excited to get started on the next box set which are books 4-6 in the series!
May 6, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs 19 mins
A Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Series, Box Set 1: books 1-3 by Mona Marple is a charming mystery series set in a quaint little village bookshop/cafe called Books and Bakes. Owner Sandy Shaw becomes drawn into a series of murders, using her local knowledge to uncover the truth, much to the chagrin of the City detective who has been ushered in to crack the cases.
Waterfell Tweed itself is a rather twee village which feels as though it could be anywhere across Britain, as it doesn't have a very distinct regional personality. This makes it easier to imagine it being the 'local' country village with which each reader is familiar, but does make it a little more difficult to imagine the author's vision. I'm sure the location was described in the very beginning but I failed to make a mental (or physical) note of it, and consequently had no notion at all of its geographical location until the Peak District was mentioned in Book 2. Even the detective is referred to as being from The City. I found this anonymity quite distracting, especially given that the narrator has a slight Australian accent, and many of the characters’ names sounded as though they would suit Home and Away, too (Sandy, Cassie, Dory, Bernice, Elaine, etc). It all contributed to the sense of Waterfell Tweed lacking a little identity that might help anchor it to a tangible sense of place.
This series is best described as 'chick lit' though I do wish there was a better term for it. The mysteries are a little predictable but that goes with the territory when reading a cosy, and the books are all lightweight listening with sweet, clean, ‘girly’ themes and emotionally-driven plots. I haven't listened to many other books in the ‘women’s fiction/rom-com’ genre but once I got to know the characters I enjoyed it. I needed something that was very easy to listen to this week, and it was no chore at all to sit back and drift off into a little bookshop bakery.
These books feature several female characters from various generations, and initially I felt that I would have preferred the stories to have been from the perspective of one of the older women; perhaps Dory of the 'Black Widows Club'. But, regardless of age, the common thread linking all three books is that they are predominantly stories about women, perhaps even more so than they are mysteries. The investigations into the various deaths are just the mechanism by which we come to learn about how the women of the village really live. Sandy slowly comes to see that behind closed doors there are widows rebuilding their lives, sisters learning to be a family, mothers struggling to feed their kids, and wives battling their husbands' addictions. Once I understood that, the books grew on me with each subsequent title in the collection.
I would listen to other Waterfell Tweed collections like this one, as they are great for days when I need to rest and not invest my attention in anything too cognitively or emotionally draining, but still wish to be entertained.
I felt that the writing could have been a little tighter and less passive. It felt at times as though the narrator tripped up on a few of the more awkward phrases, and repetitive wording always feels clunky. (I think anyone would stumble when trying to say "twice-baked strawberry shortcake cheesecake" in the middle of a sentence!) However, it does also give the characters some realism when they have a few rough edges. Real people do repeat themselves or have 'favourite sayings' so perhaps it is a little pedantic to be annoyed with Sandy for frequently "sitting down as she tried to calm her breathing". I am terrible at regularly practicing the mindfulness which helps me rest effectively, so perhaps when I listen to future Waterfell Tweed collections I can turn Sandy's recurrent breathwork into a meditative prompt to centre my own!
There were two plot points that I found irksome, and the first involved Sandy's sister, Coral. Coral's previous career as a journalist is frequently referenced but never really utilised. She also appears to be the least curious person in the world, contentedly serving food at the cafe while her sister is out chasing down leads and trying to piece together mysteries. It's quite odd that Coral isn't joining Sandy to talk to people or helping her to untangle events and search for answers. In fact, Coral is exactly the sort of person who would normally have been the protagonist of this kind of story. It could be argued that it's refreshing to turn that on its head, but if Coral's journalistic background isn't going to be used constructively then I think it would have made more sense to give her a different career history. Something administrative and task-oriented, or people-based that would explain why she finds it fulfilling to bustle around the cafe serving customers and gossiping with them without deliberately fishing for information. It means that Coral's character often feels like a 'means to an end' who frees Sandy up to leave the shop and pursue her mysteries, rather than a character who earns her role in the story. (For contrast, consider Sarah's assistant, Grace, who fulfils the same role in the Cherringham mystery series. Grace's character is more rounded, and though she is kept on the fringes of most storylines it is explained as a desire to shield her from the consequences of the investigations. When her skills might be useful, however, she has always been keen to help.)
My second gripe was with Sandy's love-interest. Their acquaintance started out well and looked like it was going to be a nice, slow burn with a few bumps in a road which would ultimately bring them together. But it all felt a bit unbelievable when Sandy suddenly declared her love for someone she wasn't sure if she had actually even been dating. It didn't feel out of place when 15-year-old Olivia became besotted by her boyfriend just as swiftly, but in an older, more independent woman it was disappointing. Sandy is described as 'homely' early on in the series, with the man whose eye she catches perceived as the village 'hunk', so for her to fall almost instantly in love with him just feels a bit... Predictable? Cheap? I was rooting for them as a couple up until that point, but it felt like it came out of nowhere and made Sandy seem like a bit of a drip. Instead of feeling romantic it seemed rushed to give the collection a Happy Ever After.
There were a few niggling inconsistencies in the books, which was only noticeable because they were packaged into a trilogy which I listened to back-to-back. In Book 1, Olivia is introduced as Cass' half-sister as they share a father, but in Book 2 Olivia is referred to as her step-sister. Also, Sandy claims that after the fight outside Gus' Butcher's shop, is the first time Derek - who usually calls her "lady" - has used her name. The first instance is actually in the previous book when she was giving him a lift back to the village.
Both these inconsistencies are easily missed when changing details, timelines, and backstories as a manuscript evolves, but they do tend to jar me out of a story if they sneak their way into the finished product. If a reader or listener is to really invest in a character or fictional world then it is important to be true to their history.
A lovely touch to these books is the inclusion of several recipes. Some are part of the main story, and others are included at the end. The stand-out bake for me, which embodied the sweet, comforting, feel of the series was Sandy's Honey Cake. I have asked the author if I can include a link to it, or reproduce it for you here, and will update this post if I hear back. Until then, I would recommend baking this simple Honey Cake Recipe from James Martin’s collection for BBC Food as the best accompaniment while listening to the series.
The narrator, Nano Nagle, has a pleasant and expressive voice which brought each of the characters to life very nicely. She handled the broad age-ranges well, and all her characters had personality. I found her delivery a little languid so sped up the audiobook to 1.10x playback speed, which made it flow better to my ear. This is always personal preference, however, and I know many people who usually slow down narration, for whom Nano Nagle's performance would be perfectly suited just as it is.
Overall, I feel that this collection of novellas would be the perfect lightweight summer holiday listening for anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries and village bake-sales. They may be good fun for people who like M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, though they are rather different in tone, and for anyone who enjoys stories about a community of women. (Though my favourite pick in that particular genre is Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows .)
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
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A Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Series, Box Set 1: books 1-3 by Mona Marple is a charming mystery series set in a quaint little village bookshop/cafe called Books and Bakes. Owner Sandy Shaw becomes drawn into a series of murders, using her local knowledge to uncover the truth, much to the chagrin of the City detective who has been ushered in to crack the cases.
Waterfell Tweed itself is a rather twee village which feels as though it could be anywhere across Britain, as it doesn't have a very distinct regional personality. This makes it easier to imagine it being the 'local' country village with which each reader is familiar, but does make it a little more difficult to imagine the author's vision. I'm sure the location was described in the very beginning but I failed to make a mental (or physical) note of it, and consequently had no notion at all of its geographical location until the Peak District was mentioned in Book 2. Even the detective is referred to as being from The City. I found this anonymity quite distracting, especially given that the narrator has a slight Australian accent, and many of the characters’ names sounded as though they would suit Home and Away, too (Sandy, Cassie, Dory, Bernice, Elaine, etc). It all contributed to the sense of Waterfell Tweed lacking a little identity that might help anchor it to a tangible sense of place.
This series is best described as 'chick lit' though I do wish there was a better term for it. The mysteries are a little predictable but that goes with the territory when reading a cosy, and the books are all lightweight listening with sweet, clean, ‘girly’ themes and emotionally-driven plots. I haven't listened to many other books in the ‘women’s fiction/rom-com’ genre but once I got to know the characters I enjoyed it. I needed something that was very easy to listen to this week, and it was no chore at all to sit back and drift off into a little bookshop bakery.
These books feature several female characters from various generations, and initially I felt that I would have preferred the stories to have been from the perspective of one of the older women; perhaps Dory of the 'Black Widows Club'. But, regardless of age, the common thread linking all three books is that they are predominantly stories about women, perhaps even more so than they are mysteries. The investigations into the various deaths are just the mechanism by which we come to learn about how the women of the village really live. Sandy slowly comes to see that behind closed doors there are widows rebuilding their lives, sisters learning to be a family, mothers struggling to feed their kids, and wives battling their husbands' addictions. Once I understood that, the books grew on me with each subsequent title in the collection.
I would listen to other Waterfell Tweed collections like this one, as they are great for days when I need to rest and not invest my attention in anything too cognitively or emotionally draining, but still wish to be entertained.
I felt that the writing could have been a little tighter and less passive. It felt at times as though the narrator tripped up on a few of the more awkward phrases, and repetitive wording always feels clunky. (I think anyone would stumble when trying to say "twice-baked strawberry shortcake cheesecake" in the middle of a sentence!) However, it does also give the characters some realism when they have a few rough edges. Real people do repeat themselves or have 'favourite sayings' so perhaps it is a little pedantic to be annoyed with Sandy for frequently "sitting down as she tried to calm her breathing". I am terrible at regularly practicing the mindfulness which helps me rest effectively, so perhaps when I listen to future Waterfell Tweed collections I can turn Sandy's recurrent breathwork into a meditative prompt to centre my own!
There were two plot points that I found irksome, and the first involved Sandy's sister, Coral. Coral's previous career as a journalist is frequently referenced but never really utilised. She also appears to be the least curious person in the world, contentedly serving food at the cafe while her sister is out chasing down leads and trying to piece together mysteries. It's quite odd that Coral isn't joining Sandy to talk to people or helping her to untangle events and search for answers. In fact, Coral is exactly the sort of person who would normally have been the protagonist of this kind of story. It could be argued that it's refreshing to turn that on its head, but if Coral's journalistic background isn't going to be used constructively then I think it would have made more sense to give her a different career history. Something administrative and task-oriented, or people-based that would explain why she finds it fulfilling to bustle around the cafe serving customers and gossiping with them without deliberately fishing for information. It means that Coral's character often feels like a 'means to an end' who frees Sandy up to leave the shop and pursue her mysteries, rather than a character who earns her role in the story. (For contrast, consider Sarah's assistant, Grace, who fulfils the same role in the Cherringham mystery series. Grace's character is more rounded, and though she is kept on the fringes of most storylines it is explained as a desire to shield her from the consequences of the investigations. When her skills might be useful, however, she has always been keen to help.)
My second gripe was with Sandy's love-interest. Their acquaintance started out well and looked like it was going to be a nice, slow burn with a few bumps in a road which would ultimately bring them together. But it all felt a bit unbelievable when Sandy suddenly declared her love for someone she wasn't sure if she had actually even been dating. It didn't feel out of place when 15-year-old Olivia became besotted by her boyfriend just as swiftly, but in an older, more independent woman it was disappointing. Sandy is described as 'homely' early on in the series, with the man whose eye she catches perceived as the village 'hunk', so for her to fall almost instantly in love with him just feels a bit... Predictable? Cheap? I was rooting for them as a couple up until that point, but it felt like it came out of nowhere and made Sandy seem like a bit of a drip. Instead of feeling romantic it seemed rushed to give the collection a Happy Ever After.
There were a few niggling inconsistencies in the books, which was only noticeable because they were packaged into a trilogy which I listened to back-to-back. In Book 1, Olivia is introduced as Cass' half-sister as they share a father, but in Book 2 Olivia is referred to as her step-sister. Also, Sandy claims that after the fight outside Gus' Butcher's shop, is the first time Derek - who usually calls her "lady" - has used her name. The first instance is actually in the previous book when she was giving him a lift back to the village.
Both these inconsistencies are easily missed when changing details, timelines, and backstories as a manuscript evolves, but they do tend to jar me out of a story if they sneak their way into the finished product. If a reader or listener is to really invest in a character or fictional world then it is important to be true to their history.
A lovely touch to these books is the inclusion of several recipes. Some are part of the main story, and others are included at the end. The stand-out bake for me, which embodied the sweet, comforting, feel of the series was Sandy's Honey Cake. I have asked the author if I can include a link to it, or reproduce it for you here, and will update this post if I hear back. Until then, I would recommend baking this simple Honey Cake Recipe from James Martin’s collection for BBC Food as the best accompaniment while listening to the series.
The narrator, Nano Nagle, has a pleasant and expressive voice which brought each of the characters to life very nicely. She handled the broad age-ranges well, and all her characters had personality. I found her delivery a little languid so sped up the audiobook to 1.10x playback speed, which made it flow better to my ear. This is always personal preference, however, and I know many people who usually slow down narration, for whom Nano Nagle's performance would be perfectly suited just as it is.
Overall, I feel that this collection of novellas would be the perfect lightweight summer holiday listening for anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries and village bake-sales. They may be good fun for people who like M C Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, though they are rather different in tone, and for anyone who enjoys stories about a community of women. (Though my favourite pick in that particular genre is Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows .)
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
If you liked this review then please join me for more!
| Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
April 15, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"Books, her closest friends and greatest teachers."
Set in the small, very windy, village of Waterfall Tweed, all three stories in this book centre around Books and Bakes, a cafe and bookshol, and it's owner, Sandy.
Book One: Once Upon a Crime.
Sandy's shop was struggling. Although the cafe with it's delicious came selection was reasonably successful, no one seemed interested in buying books. Then Sandy becomes prime suspect in the murder of a man who had announced his intention of opening a top of the range bookstore opposite her own shop. Sandy needs the help of her sister and her loyal customers to try to clear her name.
Book Two: A Tale of Two Books.
The major bouse, left empty when the owners left for a very long vacation, and been occupied by squatters, which annoyed many of the village's inhabitants. When one is killed in a hit-and-run incident, Sandy feels remorse because she had earlier refused him a job. When another young man working in her kitchen is also hit by a car, Sandy and handsome neighbour Tom try to work out what is happening.
Book Three: A Valentine's Kill.
With the shop doing well and romance in the air, Sandy finds her emotions stretched when Tom himse!f becomes a murder suspect and he suddenly becomes cold towards her.
The books, individually, are quick to read and not taxing. The writing style is direct and simple with uncomplicated snappy sentences. There is a lot of eating and drinking, mostly coffee and cake, with recipes liberally sprinkled throughout. Despite frequently detailed descriptions of the characters, they remain essentially two dimensional but become familiar as they reappear in the different bolks. It is a fun read with intriguing mysteries and having the first three books to read in sequence is a bonus as the background story builds as the cafe-bookshop develops. Interestingly, although Wendy's main love is books, their is a noticeable absence of any literary references along with the obsession with food.
Nano Nagle has a pleasant English voice, easy on the ear, clear and with good intonation.She modifies the emotion according to the text and voices each protagonist individually, even if some of the characters seem to have disproportionately rough accents. It is a good reading but one which, for this reader, did not quite fit the stories but nevertheless helped breathe life into some of the numerous characters.
An enjoyable, if rather flat, read in an interesting location - the cafe. The who-dun-it? aspect is also intriguing, allowing the reader to assess and guess at the perpetrator from clues dropped along the way. My thanks to the rights holder of this Waterfell Tweed box set who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Recommended for fans of non taxing cozy mysteries who enjoy the chance to work out the perpetrator in advance of the ending.
"Books, her closest friends and greatest teachers."
Set in the small, very windy, village of Waterfall Tweed, all three stories in this book centre around Books and Bakes, a cafe and bookshol, and it's owner, Sandy.
Book One: Once Upon a Crime.
Sandy's shop was struggling. Although the cafe with it's delicious came selection was reasonably successful, no one seemed interested in buying books. Then Sandy becomes prime suspect in the murder of a man who had announced his intention of opening a top of the range bookstore opposite her own shop. Sandy needs the help of her sister and her loyal customers to try to clear her name.
Book Two: A Tale of Two Books.
The major bouse, left empty when the owners left for a very long vacation, and been occupied by squatters, which annoyed many of the village's inhabitants. When one is killed in a hit-and-run incident, Sandy feels remorse because she had earlier refused him a job. When another young man working in her kitchen is also hit by a car, Sandy and handsome neighbour Tom try to work out what is happening.
Book Three: A Valentine's Kill.
With the shop doing well and romance in the air, Sandy finds her emotions stretched when Tom himse!f becomes a murder suspect and he suddenly becomes cold towards her.
The books, individually, are quick to read and not taxing. The writing style is direct and simple with uncomplicated snappy sentences. There is a lot of eating and drinking, mostly coffee and cake, with recipes liberally sprinkled throughout. Despite frequently detailed descriptions of the characters, they remain essentially two dimensional but become familiar as they reappear in the different bolks. It is a fun read with intriguing mysteries and having the first three books to read in sequence is a bonus as the background story builds as the cafe-bookshop develops. Interestingly, although Wendy's main love is books, their is a noticeable absence of any literary references along with the obsession with food.
Nano Nagle has a pleasant English voice, easy on the ear, clear and with good intonation.She modifies the emotion according to the text and voices each protagonist individually, even if some of the characters seem to have disproportionately rough accents. It is a good reading but one which, for this reader, did not quite fit the stories but nevertheless helped breathe life into some of the numerous characters.
An enjoyable, if rather flat, read in an interesting location - the cafe. The who-dun-it? aspect is also intriguing, allowing the reader to assess and guess at the perpetrator from clues dropped along the way. My thanks to the rights holder of this Waterfell Tweed box set who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Recommended for fans of non taxing cozy mysteries who enjoy the chance to work out the perpetrator in advance of the ending.
July 4, 2019
This is such a nice series! Highly recommend!
1. Once Upon a Crime - Light-hearted, fun, suspenseful, surprising!
Sandy owns a bookstore slash café in a small village where everyone knows each other. She’s really good at baking, but her passion is books. And then a murder… When she becomes a serious suspect, she decides to investigate herself. But can she do it? Can she solve the case and prove who the killer is? Most of the villagers have a secret or two… anyone could be the killer! A terrible thought.
Light-hearted and fun. It got very suspenseful and the outcome was surprising! Very pleasant to read. With a good plot and a good pace. And a lot about village life. Charming! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can’t wait to go back to Waterfell Tweed!
2. A Tale of Two Bodies - A great story!
Sandy has such a big heart. She loves having her sister Coral working in the cafe, and Coral’s great with customers, but useless with the more hands-on elements of working in a cafe. I love Sandy. She has a sweet naivety about her, but make no mistake; she’s as clever as they come! So when there’s a hit and run, and the police suspect the wrong person, Sandy has no choice but to investigate.
A great story! Waterfell Tweed feels like home. It has a welcoming, friendly feel. Sandy could very well be a good friend of mine in real life! The story is full of small-town charm. And the mystery was clever. I enjoyed it immensely!
3. A Valentine’s Kill - Highly recommend!
When Dick Jacobs, the Health and Safety Officer, returns to Waterfell Tweed, he immediately starts closing businesses for minor offenses. When he is found dead, there are people who are very relieved. Who killed him?
Such a pleasant few hours, I had while reading this! Waterfell Tweed has started to feel like home. Sandy has become my (book)friend, and this is the book where The Cat gets introduced! This is such a nice series! Highly recommend!
1. Once Upon a Crime - Light-hearted, fun, suspenseful, surprising!
Sandy owns a bookstore slash café in a small village where everyone knows each other. She’s really good at baking, but her passion is books. And then a murder… When she becomes a serious suspect, she decides to investigate herself. But can she do it? Can she solve the case and prove who the killer is? Most of the villagers have a secret or two… anyone could be the killer! A terrible thought.
Light-hearted and fun. It got very suspenseful and the outcome was surprising! Very pleasant to read. With a good plot and a good pace. And a lot about village life. Charming! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can’t wait to go back to Waterfell Tweed!
2. A Tale of Two Bodies - A great story!
Sandy has such a big heart. She loves having her sister Coral working in the cafe, and Coral’s great with customers, but useless with the more hands-on elements of working in a cafe. I love Sandy. She has a sweet naivety about her, but make no mistake; she’s as clever as they come! So when there’s a hit and run, and the police suspect the wrong person, Sandy has no choice but to investigate.
A great story! Waterfell Tweed feels like home. It has a welcoming, friendly feel. Sandy could very well be a good friend of mine in real life! The story is full of small-town charm. And the mystery was clever. I enjoyed it immensely!
3. A Valentine’s Kill - Highly recommend!
When Dick Jacobs, the Health and Safety Officer, returns to Waterfell Tweed, he immediately starts closing businesses for minor offenses. When he is found dead, there are people who are very relieved. Who killed him?
Such a pleasant few hours, I had while reading this! Waterfell Tweed has started to feel like home. Sandy has become my (book)friend, and this is the book where The Cat gets introduced! This is such a nice series! Highly recommend!
May 4, 2019
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
It's 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for the story, really...
This is a very enjoyable, relaxing and addictive box set of cozy mysteries set in an English village of Waterfell Tweed... And - which for me is a big thumb up - while listening I had a feeling of stepping into the worlds of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders - though with a bit less violence than those two usually contained:)
The first book in the series introduces us to a whole set of colourful individuals, and though each of the books is a standalone when it comes to the criminal plot, they should, I feel, be read/listened to in order for there is continuation when it comes to the personal lives of the characters - and these small bits and pieces make for an interesting part of the story, too:)
All the books are equally good, with crimes of passion rather than cold-blooded murders and solutions that surprise the reader... That's the only small fault of the books, really; I feel there are too few clues on the way to the end and the fact that Sandy kind of solves the crimes out of the blue... or maybe it's that I just concentrated too much on the personal forgetting to pay attention to the criminal...:) But all in all, it's a fantastic set for all cozy mystery lovers:)
Narration by Ms Nagle is very good, too. She's a new narrator for me, but I like her interpretation a lot. She does vary voices enough for me to easily follow the dialogues but she doesn't overdo them, especially the male ones. She reads at a good pace and conveys the emotions and the personalities of the characters very well. All in all, a great interpretation of the series.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
It's 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for the story, really...
This is a very enjoyable, relaxing and addictive box set of cozy mysteries set in an English village of Waterfell Tweed... And - which for me is a big thumb up - while listening I had a feeling of stepping into the worlds of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders - though with a bit less violence than those two usually contained:)
The first book in the series introduces us to a whole set of colourful individuals, and though each of the books is a standalone when it comes to the criminal plot, they should, I feel, be read/listened to in order for there is continuation when it comes to the personal lives of the characters - and these small bits and pieces make for an interesting part of the story, too:)
All the books are equally good, with crimes of passion rather than cold-blooded murders and solutions that surprise the reader... That's the only small fault of the books, really; I feel there are too few clues on the way to the end and the fact that Sandy kind of solves the crimes out of the blue... or maybe it's that I just concentrated too much on the personal forgetting to pay attention to the criminal...:) But all in all, it's a fantastic set for all cozy mystery lovers:)
Narration by Ms Nagle is very good, too. She's a new narrator for me, but I like her interpretation a lot. She does vary voices enough for me to easily follow the dialogues but she doesn't overdo them, especially the male ones. She reads at a good pace and conveys the emotions and the personalities of the characters very well. All in all, a great interpretation of the series.
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 13, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
Here, the first three titles of this series are presented together. Each one is a quick read and a standalone story.
Book 1: Once Upon a Crime
Sandy owns a bookshop/cafe in town. Reginald announces that he is opening a bookshop right near Sandy's store. Soon thereafter, Reginald is found murdered and Sandy is implicated. Sandy starts to investigate to get herself out of this mess.
Book 2: Tale of Two Bodies
A homeless man is killed in what appears to be a hit and run. Soon thereafter, one of Sandy's employees is severely hurt in the same manner and the police appear to be blaming the wrong suspect. Sandy gets involved to clear her landlord's name.
Book 3: A Valentine's Kill
Dick Jacobs, the health inspector, has come to town and he has a reputation for shutting down businesses for violations. He's already shut down one business and has his sights set on Sandy's Cafe. But, before he can begin the inspeion, he is found murdered. Sandy begins to investigate and begins to suspect Tom, her possible romantic interest.
Each of these cozies is very clean - no swearing and no sex.
I enjoyed the characters in these cozies - Sandy, her sister Cassie and her BF. There's lots of small village gossip, running the shop and you kind of feel like your part of the small town life. The mysteries, to me, seemed a little thin and Sandy seemed to solve them out of the blue - suddenly she'd say, "I know who did it." But, that didn't really bother me as I enjoyed the characters and the small town feel.
I listened to this book - the narrator did a very good job. She was clear, held a good pace and conveyed the personalities of each of the characters very well.
Here, the first three titles of this series are presented together. Each one is a quick read and a standalone story.
Book 1: Once Upon a Crime
Sandy owns a bookshop/cafe in town. Reginald announces that he is opening a bookshop right near Sandy's store. Soon thereafter, Reginald is found murdered and Sandy is implicated. Sandy starts to investigate to get herself out of this mess.
Book 2: Tale of Two Bodies
A homeless man is killed in what appears to be a hit and run. Soon thereafter, one of Sandy's employees is severely hurt in the same manner and the police appear to be blaming the wrong suspect. Sandy gets involved to clear her landlord's name.
Book 3: A Valentine's Kill
Dick Jacobs, the health inspector, has come to town and he has a reputation for shutting down businesses for violations. He's already shut down one business and has his sights set on Sandy's Cafe. But, before he can begin the inspeion, he is found murdered. Sandy begins to investigate and begins to suspect Tom, her possible romantic interest.
Each of these cozies is very clean - no swearing and no sex.
I enjoyed the characters in these cozies - Sandy, her sister Cassie and her BF. There's lots of small village gossip, running the shop and you kind of feel like your part of the small town life. The mysteries, to me, seemed a little thin and Sandy seemed to solve them out of the blue - suddenly she'd say, "I know who did it." But, that didn't really bother me as I enjoyed the characters and the small town feel.
I listened to this book - the narrator did a very good job. She was clear, held a good pace and conveyed the personalities of each of the characters very well.
August 1, 2020
Love this 3 book set of Cozy Mysteries to curl up with!
What a great set of Cozy Mysteries books set in a wonderful small town. It reminds me of my small home town I grew up in that people knew everyone and that you rarely find these days but we didn't have the murders. Lol. The characters are all developed wonderfully and you just can't wait to find out what is going to happen next for owner of the Books & Bake along with the Tweed Barkeep or her sister. Will the once journalist turned, waitress/coffee matron move on to seek her dream job of writing for a newspaper in London and living there? What will happen between Jim the local police officer and Elaine, especially with him and his mother Dorie now at her house? Will Dorie finally find her own new love interest in new comer /resident the charming gentleman Felix? I just can't wait for the next book in the series and if you read these 3 I'm sure you will have to agree!!
What a great set of Cozy Mysteries books set in a wonderful small town. It reminds me of my small home town I grew up in that people knew everyone and that you rarely find these days but we didn't have the murders. Lol. The characters are all developed wonderfully and you just can't wait to find out what is going to happen next for owner of the Books & Bake along with the Tweed Barkeep or her sister. Will the once journalist turned, waitress/coffee matron move on to seek her dream job of writing for a newspaper in London and living there? What will happen between Jim the local police officer and Elaine, especially with him and his mother Dorie now at her house? Will Dorie finally find her own new love interest in new comer /resident the charming gentleman Felix? I just can't wait for the next book in the series and if you read these 3 I'm sure you will have to agree!!
October 23, 2018
Sandy in the middle
Mona Marple sure knows how to put a cozey mystery together a great cast of caracters so diverse in nature but bonded in the way most villages can be. Sandy just need walk out her cozey book and bake shop door to find herself in the middle of a murder case and the only way to keep safe and out of jail is to discover what really happened. Books one through three have been a joy to read, so please join the Mona Marple readers now and find your own slice of joy. Kat
Mona Marple sure knows how to put a cozey mystery together a great cast of caracters so diverse in nature but bonded in the way most villages can be. Sandy just need walk out her cozey book and bake shop door to find herself in the middle of a murder case and the only way to keep safe and out of jail is to discover what really happened. Books one through three have been a joy to read, so please join the Mona Marple readers now and find your own slice of joy. Kat
April 9, 2019
This is the first time I have read anything by Mona Marple but I really enjoyed listening to this 3 book set. Nano Nagle is the narrator for this set and she is new to me too. Nano does a wonderful job of narrating this 3 book set. Her voice is perfect for setting the tone of the books.
Waterfell Tweed is an interesting little town and I love the idea of a bookstore slash bakery. The series have all the great elements of a good cozy mystery. I was gifted this set with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.
Waterfell Tweed is an interesting little town and I love the idea of a bookstore slash bakery. The series have all the great elements of a good cozy mystery. I was gifted this set with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.
May 13, 2019
I listened to the audiobook version of this book.
The authors writing in and of itself was good, but the story just wasn't intriguing to me. I found Sally and other characters hard to relate to and it just wasn't very captivating. I think it had potential to be really cute, just was missing something.
I really liked the narrator and thought they gave a really good crisp and clear performance. I would be interested in listening to another audiobook they narrate.
I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
The authors writing in and of itself was good, but the story just wasn't intriguing to me. I found Sally and other characters hard to relate to and it just wasn't very captivating. I think it had potential to be really cute, just was missing something.
I really liked the narrator and thought they gave a really good crisp and clear performance. I would be interested in listening to another audiobook they narrate.
I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
February 21, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed book one in this collection. Once Upon a Crime is a very entertaining and great mystery. The first book introduces us to Sandy Shaw and the village of Waterfell Tweed. Sandy has set up a wonderful book and bakery that you will make you wish you were there. The villagers are an interesting and colorful bunch. But as in all quiet English villages, someone is found murdered. Sandy seems to be a suspect and the local police seem anxious to pin it on her and be done with it. So it looks like it is up to her to discover "who dunnit". Surprise ending.
On to book two!
On to book two!
April 12, 2019
Waterfell Tweed Cozy Mystery Series: Box Set One (Waterfell Tweed #1-3) was a good read by Mona Marple. Sandy has enjoyed life running the cafe and bookstore in the village. Unfortunately there is a spike in murders that lead Sandy to start investigating them. This box set consisted of Once Upon a Crime, A Tale of Two Bodies, and A Valentine's Kill. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by Mona Marple.
July 29, 2019
Mona Marple is one of my favourite authors. I absolutely love this box set! It's filled with intrigue as Sandy Shaw is immersed in solving crimes. Each book is a fairly quick read and holds your attention keeping you turning the pages to find out who the killer is. I also love that it's a clean read...no sex or swearing and I'm very happy with that. Enjoy! I loved all 3 of them and can't wait to read the next set!
March 14, 2019
Good mysteries
I read the first three books and they’re all quite good mysteries. The characters are interesting and unique the setting is nice and The cases themselves are interesting and unlike some writers whose cases are rather predictable This book kept me guessing a few times. Overall it was an enjoyable read so if you like cozy mysteries this is a good set to read.
I read the first three books and they’re all quite good mysteries. The characters are interesting and unique the setting is nice and The cases themselves are interesting and unlike some writers whose cases are rather predictable This book kept me guessing a few times. Overall it was an enjoyable read so if you like cozy mysteries this is a good set to read.
June 2, 2019
Audible:I really enjoyed this 3 book set! Sandy owns a bookstore/bakery.When a man is found dead,one who said he was going to be her competition,she must prove she did not kill him. This sets her up for seeking out the true culprits in future murders in her little town. Nona Nagle was a fine narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
June 11, 2018
Short and sweet mystery that contains a big dose of murder and mayhem.
Charming English village setting, cleverly plotted, and well written book that mystery lover will enjoy. I like the suspense, and lovable characters.
Charming English village setting, cleverly plotted, and well written book that mystery lover will enjoy. I like the suspense, and lovable characters.
August 13, 2018
Awesome Read
I chose this box set because I'm addicted ti Cozy Mystery. I loved the character's(relateable) and setting (village) along with there being a handful of suspects. Definitely a page turner.
I chose this box set because I'm addicted ti Cozy Mystery. I loved the character's(relateable) and setting (village) along with there being a handful of suspects. Definitely a page turner.
September 3, 2018
Really good
I love the idea of a bookstore and café, I also love a lot of the personalities in the small town. The mysteries are super interesting and I definitely like the romance, I look forward to reading more from the series
I love the idea of a bookstore and café, I also love a lot of the personalities in the small town. The mysteries are super interesting and I definitely like the romance, I look forward to reading more from the series
May 16, 2019
All three of the stories in the box set are good mysteries. In each of the stories, Sandy has been thrown into a situation where she has to solve the mystery. She has help from her friends. Love the characters.
September 29, 2019
These were a great read. The characters were life like and loveable( or unlikeable-not too much but you could feel the pain when they walked into the room).All were short enough to be read in one setting but exciting enough you couldn't stop had they been longer.
October 13, 2019
Enjoyable series
I’ve just finished the 1st three books in this series and can’t wait to read the next one. The characters really drew me in and there’s just enough mystery and suspense to keep them interesting.
I’ve just finished the 1st three books in this series and can’t wait to read the next one. The characters really drew me in and there’s just enough mystery and suspense to keep them interesting.
October 22, 2019
Excellent story time reading!!!!
I truly enjoyed Sandy and all the characters in the series. It makes you wonder who did it and what's next, not to mention the wonderful friendships and gatherings that come from solving crimes💕
I truly enjoyed Sandy and all the characters in the series. It makes you wonder who did it and what's next, not to mention the wonderful friendships and gatherings that come from solving crimes💕
December 3, 2019
I was reading one of Ms. Marple's other books and stumbled on this collection after I finished, and I ended up reading the entire series in a couple of days. While they aren't prefect, and have some minor inconsistencies I loved them anyway!
February 5, 2021
Great stories!
I was not into the cozy mystery myself. A fan of the serious mysteries with all the technical jargon. MS Marple has made me a fan. Each of her books surpasses the last one. They're like potato chips and I can't have just one!!
I was not into the cozy mystery myself. A fan of the serious mysteries with all the technical jargon. MS Marple has made me a fan. Each of her books surpasses the last one. They're like potato chips and I can't have just one!!
September 8, 2025
Entertaining mysteries
Sandy Shaw is the owner of a book store/cafe. She is able to figure out who the killer is by being nosy. Cute cozy mysteries. You can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.
Sandy Shaw is the owner of a book store/cafe. She is able to figure out who the killer is by being nosy. Cute cozy mysteries. You can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.
April 20, 2018
Books 1-3
I thoroughly enjoyed having a hero who isn't glamorous, but is smart. The character was easy to relate to and understand. She's an everywoman.
I thoroughly enjoyed having a hero who isn't glamorous, but is smart. The character was easy to relate to and understand. She's an everywoman.
May 21, 2018
Brilliant
I loved this box set , absolutely fell in love with crazy goings on in Waterfall Tweed! This is a series that is well written and draws you in. A must read series!
I loved this box set , absolutely fell in love with crazy goings on in Waterfall Tweed! This is a series that is well written and draws you in. A must read series!
May 29, 2018
Fun series
Sandy owns a bookstore/cafe. The trouble is that she keeps finding bodies. This is a fun book to read. I plan to read more by this author.
Sandy owns a bookstore/cafe. The trouble is that she keeps finding bodies. This is a fun book to read. I plan to read more by this author.
May 30, 2018
An English Favorite!
Read every one available. Perfectly paced. Great characters & beautiful Peak District background. Can hardly wait for the next one!!
Read every one available. Perfectly paced. Great characters & beautiful Peak District background. Can hardly wait for the next one!!
June 3, 2018
Enjoyed these books. As seems to be the case, a lot with multiple books in a series, each successive book seems to be less edited.
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