Secrets in the Cotswolds: A classic British cosy crime mystery set in the idyllic Cotswold countryside

Thea Osborne #17

by Rebecca Tope

Thea Slocombe is tired of having to entertain Drew’s children through the long summer holiday while he works, so keenly accepts a commission to watch over a house in Barnsley. However, her return to house-sitting is far from relaxing as on her first night she finds a fugitive woman hiding among some bushes. The woman’s story is thin and incoherent, but Thea agrees to offer her sanctuary for the night.

When the woman is found dead the next morning Thea turns to the police for help, but their preoccupation with a major animal trafficking investigation means she is effectively on her own. As she digs deeper into the dead woman’s background, she discovers a tangled web of lies, secrets and at least three very likely suspects...

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Whodunit, Audiobook

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2019

About the author

Rebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.

She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.

She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.

Reviews

[Claire]

Enjoyed this one.

[Jane Shand]

This is more like a 3.5*. I stopped reading this series a number of years ago because they all got a bit samey and I wasn’t sure I liked Thea being married to Drew. Presumably the Tope did this so she could amalgamate two series. Anyway, this book has a decent plot and is well written but Thea seems to spend all her time being introspective about whether she is selfish and a bad wife. There is a lot of description of places and very little of Thea doing any detective work. Very little really seems to happen until Ben Harkness (from the Lake District Mysteries series) shows up right near the end. I will read the next one because I hope Thea will be herself again by then! And I have invested this much time in the series, I may as well continue.

[Vanessa Boyle]

I love these books and they are very special to me. My mum loved them and introduced me to them. She recently passed away quite suddenly. I miss her so much there are no word to describe my sadness. Reading this book over the past few days bought me a small amount of happiness as I thought of her. This story had great characters and an easy storyline and reminds us that you you can’t choose your family.

[Bronwyn Rykiert]

The story started out okay and I thought it would be an interesting murder mystery but I was very disappointed. I did finish it.

[Wendy McManus]

OK read but a weak storyline...

[Caroline Ingvaldsen]

Another pleasant, if bland, entry in the Cotswold house-sitting Mysteries series.

[Jo Donnelly]

I had high hopes, as this seemed well written. However, it was pretty dull for a murder book!

[Maria]

I enjoyed this one more than some of the other Thea Slocombe books - couldn't put it down. Definitely worth a read. You don't have to have read her other books although it does help to give a clearer picture of her background.

[JenniferB]

I marked this book down because I didn't enjoy it as much as previous books in this series. The plot is a bit ridiculous, and people seem to act out of character although the side plot between Thea and Clovis was quite interesting and there were some good emotional insights.

[Graham Jenkins]

Interesting story, but our leading lady seems to dither about getting nowhere until the last couple of chapters .. at which stage another person steps in and helps.

Did the author perhaps run out of ideas?

[Alison]

First one of these I’ve read. A bit disjointed in places and not sure I actually like Thea. Will try another, maybe she’ll grow on me. The story wasn’t bad although towards the end a new character popped up and half solved the mystery! Erm…

[Hayley R]

I’m guessing Ben is the main character in the Lake District series who had made a crossover into the Cotswolds books. Great story here and am tempted to look at the LD series when I’ve finished this one.

[Annemarie Farthing]

'Dogs are like doormat wives-they can't do enough to please their beloved master. They're pathetic.'

[Mrs. Angela Symes]

Another enjoyable Slocombe family tale

So glad Rebecca is keeping up the good work. After a long wait I really enjoyed this offering with a good unexpected twist at the end.

[Susan Rogers]

I have read most of Rebecca Topes books and really love them all. I like the way that this one had a link to the Lake District series.

[Renate Kita]

Didn't really like it. Finished it, but not going to look for others from this author.

[Dani Chaves]

Amazing! So captivating! Unputdownable :)

[Sarah Thomas]

Lovely, easy read. Though kept you guessing til the end. Would definitely read another by Rebecca Tope.

[Jean]

Dnf

[Janet Hunt]

Enjoyed this one bit if a slow burn.

[Charisse Brown]

Not my favourite read.