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Beaufort Scales Mystery #4
Game of Scones
Bribery. Corruption. Murder.
Who said local politics were boring?
Suspicious deaths on the Skipton city council don't sound as though they should have anything at all to do with the Toot Hansell Women's Institute, and DI Adams would rather like to keep it that way. But when the councillor for Toot Hansell becomes the latest victim, Alice Martin, chair of the W.I. and RAF Wing Commander (ret.), steps straight in to take his place.
Before DI Adams can so much as say lemon drizzle cake the ladies of the Women's Institute are lurking around farmyards in the company of dragons, farmers are vanishing, the invisible dog's developed a caffeine dependence, and Alice is already in as deep as she can get.
In deep, and facing a killer that seems to know far too much about her.
Enough, perhaps, to turn the tables ...
Murder, mayhem, and old secrets come to light in the Yorkshire Dales - with dragons, of course.
Game of Scones is book 4 in the Beaufort Scales cozy mystery with dragons series, perfect for anyone who likes their murders served off-page, British, and accompanied by lashings of tea, cake, and friendship. And dragons, of course.
For more dragonish crime-solving, check out Baking Bad to see where it all started!
Who said local politics were boring?
Suspicious deaths on the Skipton city council don't sound as though they should have anything at all to do with the Toot Hansell Women's Institute, and DI Adams would rather like to keep it that way. But when the councillor for Toot Hansell becomes the latest victim, Alice Martin, chair of the W.I. and RAF Wing Commander (ret.), steps straight in to take his place.
Before DI Adams can so much as say lemon drizzle cake the ladies of the Women's Institute are lurking around farmyards in the company of dragons, farmers are vanishing, the invisible dog's developed a caffeine dependence, and Alice is already in as deep as she can get.
In deep, and facing a killer that seems to know far too much about her.
Enough, perhaps, to turn the tables ...
Murder, mayhem, and old secrets come to light in the Yorkshire Dales - with dragons, of course.
Game of Scones is book 4 in the Beaufort Scales cozy mystery with dragons series, perfect for anyone who likes their murders served off-page, British, and accompanied by lashings of tea, cake, and friendship. And dragons, of course.
For more dragonish crime-solving, check out Baking Bad to see where it all started!
287 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2020
79 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Kim M. Watt
42 books328 followersHello lovely people!
I’m Kim (as you may have guessed, given that you're on the author page for Kim). I write funny fantasies and off-beat cosy (or cozy, depending where you're from) mysteries set in a world not so dissimilar to ours - and in fact sharing many locations.
And in this not-dissimilar world you'll find mystery-solving dragons with a strong affection for barbecues and scones, and snarky feline PIs with human sidekicks. You'll run across baking-obsessed reapers running petting cafes stocked with baby ghouls, Apocalyptic riders on Vespas, and women of a certain age Getting Things Done. There may even be the odd born-again troll redefining troll-ness for the modern age about the place.
You'll find myth and reality clashing in small and spectacular ways, and discover the healing magic of tea and a really good lemon drizzle cake.
But, most of all, there will be friendship, and loyalty, and people of all species looking out for one another. Because these, above all things, are magic.
And you can find me rambling on about all this (and more) over on my website, or join me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for bad puns and many, many cat memes. Many.
Come join me!
I’m Kim (as you may have guessed, given that you're on the author page for Kim). I write funny fantasies and off-beat cosy (or cozy, depending where you're from) mysteries set in a world not so dissimilar to ours - and in fact sharing many locations.
And in this not-dissimilar world you'll find mystery-solving dragons with a strong affection for barbecues and scones, and snarky feline PIs with human sidekicks. You'll run across baking-obsessed reapers running petting cafes stocked with baby ghouls, Apocalyptic riders on Vespas, and women of a certain age Getting Things Done. There may even be the odd born-again troll redefining troll-ness for the modern age about the place.
You'll find myth and reality clashing in small and spectacular ways, and discover the healing magic of tea and a really good lemon drizzle cake.
But, most of all, there will be friendship, and loyalty, and people of all species looking out for one another. Because these, above all things, are magic.
And you can find me rambling on about all this (and more) over on my website, or join me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for bad puns and many, many cat memes. Many.
Come join me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 9, 2023
Kim Watt gets a tad serious with this mystery. Mysteries upon mysteries. Whimsical of course with an array of "Folk." Folk, not as in Joan Baez or Judy Collins or even Peter, Paul and Mary. Folk, as in a dandy (invisible dog), pixies, water sprites, an intellectual cat (who understandably does not care for the dandy) and of course the dragons.
Unexplained deaths. The Women's Institute (WI) certainly do bake a lot. Beware what may have been added to cupcake icing. Never by the WI.
Fun, light reading.
Unexplained deaths. The Women's Institute (WI) certainly do bake a lot. Beware what may have been added to cupcake icing. Never by the WI.
Fun, light reading.
August 15, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
'Game Of Scones' renewed my interest in the Toot Hansell stories. I liked that the story was a bit grittier than the last book. I enjoyed seeing the central cast of characters continue to develop. I'll be back for more.
The third Beaufort Scales book, ‘Manor Of Life And Death‘(2020) was a bit of a disappointment in comparison to the first two offerings, ‘Baking Bad’ and ‘Yule Be Sorry‘. I thought the plot was too chaotic. There was too much going on and no clear point of focus for viewing them through. There were funny lines, tense moments and surprises, but they didn’t hang together, so I've been focusing on the DI Adams series.
I decided it was time to go back to Toot Hansell and see if things had improved. Happily, they had. I had a good time.
'Game Of Scones' has a decent mystery at its heart. It was also a little grittier than the first three books. It was closer in spirit to the DI Adams books. I like that the Beaufort Scale books are cosy in the sense that you know nothing truly terrible is going to happen, but I need a little more fibre in my reading diet. This time, Alice Martin was the main fibre provider, with DI Adams struggling to keep up.
I liked that all of the main characters, including the dragons, continue to develop, and their relationships with each other are becoming more complex. I particularly enjoyed seeing Mirriam accidentally becoming the leader of a rescue attempt and surprising herself by being good at it.
The main thing that keeps me coming back to these books is Kim Watt's perfectly timed humour. She manages witty dialogue, absurdly comic action, and sharp insights into characters with admirable skill.
I've already added the next book, 'Coming Up Roses' to my TBR.
'Game Of Scones' renewed my interest in the Toot Hansell stories. I liked that the story was a bit grittier than the last book. I enjoyed seeing the central cast of characters continue to develop. I'll be back for more.
The third Beaufort Scales book, ‘Manor Of Life And Death‘(2020) was a bit of a disappointment in comparison to the first two offerings, ‘Baking Bad’ and ‘Yule Be Sorry‘. I thought the plot was too chaotic. There was too much going on and no clear point of focus for viewing them through. There were funny lines, tense moments and surprises, but they didn’t hang together, so I've been focusing on the DI Adams series.
I decided it was time to go back to Toot Hansell and see if things had improved. Happily, they had. I had a good time.
'Game Of Scones' has a decent mystery at its heart. It was also a little grittier than the first three books. It was closer in spirit to the DI Adams books. I like that the Beaufort Scale books are cosy in the sense that you know nothing truly terrible is going to happen, but I need a little more fibre in my reading diet. This time, Alice Martin was the main fibre provider, with DI Adams struggling to keep up.
I liked that all of the main characters, including the dragons, continue to develop, and their relationships with each other are becoming more complex. I particularly enjoyed seeing Mirriam accidentally becoming the leader of a rescue attempt and surprising herself by being good at it.
The main thing that keeps me coming back to these books is Kim Watt's perfectly timed humour. She manages witty dialogue, absurdly comic action, and sharp insights into characters with admirable skill.
I've already added the next book, 'Coming Up Roses' to my TBR.
March 24, 2025
The relationships among all the characters just get more fun to follow.
January 6, 2022
It’s just fun with great characters and a solid story that romps along.
May 8, 2025
This was the most suspenseful and the most witty of the series so far. I definitely think that the first half had the best one-liners of the series.
December 7, 2019
What a wonderful mystery story. Suspenseful but light hearted as well to delight everyone.
January 26, 2023
This was a great story, despite some of the same grumbles I’ve had. And it still took me far longer than I anticipated, partly due to other factors (like some inane need for people to get back to working in the office, ugh), but partly because it just took a while to hook me. I definitely would like to continue with the series, but I think these books may benefit from a little bit of a rest in between so it doesn’t feel like I’m getting fatigued by all of the screaming and chaos and carrying on and some highly repetitive poor decisions on the part of some of our mains. But I really do love them! The endings of each of the first four volumes have been some of the sweetest, most wonderful passages I’ve had the pleasure to read. They make me want to hug all of my friends and family and loved ones and bask in the simple joys of life
February 1, 2025
Another exciting story starring the WI and the Cloverly dragons and other Folk! The women of the WI, and especially Alice, never seize to amaze. They become braver with every story. I like that other dragons besides Beaufort and Mortimer are starting to get a more prominent role in the storyline! Looking forward to reading the next book. Even though that is another Christmas story, I’m just going to read it now anyway, because once you start this series, you just want to keep immersing yourself in the world of Beaufort Scales.
October 13, 2021
2021 bk 309. My new favorite of the city. Crooked real estate deals, dead council members, and DI Adams has managed to acquire a new invisible dog. The fun ensues as Alice puts her life at risk as a new council member and Adams coed to a realization about where she really needs to be. Loved it.
June 28, 2021
The ladies of the Women's Institute and their dragon friends are investigating again, with more magical creatures getting into the act. Watt definitely has a gift for writing scenes that come across as total chaos and yet every crazy bit works and adds to the story. The tension builds and keeps you reading but it's tempered with humor. A fun read as always.
January 23, 2024
What a twist! I was shooketh to my core finishing this on my lunch break, a bit of a slow start but the reveal and a little more insight into the backstory of Alice was worth it, 3.5.
November 23, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this series.
If you know any ladies of the W.I. then you will probably either love this series or take a sharp intake of breath and stop reading it with cries of ' it is nothing like that'. In which case perhaps you should loosen up a bit and look for the dragons in the room. You can tell they are there by the disappearance of cake and empty tea cups with no known culprit in sight.
Beaufort and Mortimer have decided, well Beaufort has and Mortimer just went along with him, to come out of their caves and see what the humans are up to, they discover the ladies, tea, cakes and scones and decided they rather like them, although not necessarily in that order.
Read the series in order, everything will make more sense that way, even the talking cat and invisible dog!
If you know any ladies of the W.I. then you will probably either love this series or take a sharp intake of breath and stop reading it with cries of ' it is nothing like that'. In which case perhaps you should loosen up a bit and look for the dragons in the room. You can tell they are there by the disappearance of cake and empty tea cups with no known culprit in sight.
Beaufort and Mortimer have decided, well Beaufort has and Mortimer just went along with him, to come out of their caves and see what the humans are up to, they discover the ladies, tea, cakes and scones and decided they rather like them, although not necessarily in that order.
Read the series in order, everything will make more sense that way, even the talking cat and invisible dog!
February 8, 2023
Game of Scones is another zany adventure from the world of Toots Hansell, with the usual assortment of characters - the WI Ladies, DI Adams and Darcy, her invisible dog, Thompson the talking cat, and, of course, the dragons. This time, Alice sets out to investigate the strange activities and deaths occuring on the town council, and the dragons try to figure out why farms are suddenly empty. It all starts our interestingly, but gets very chaotic at the climax with stupid superfluous action and the plot twist at the end is just plain weird. I think this is probably the last of this series I will chose to read.
December 23, 2024
Next on my reading list was the fourth book in the Beaufort Scales mystery series. This one returns to the traditional murder mystery style. After everything that has been happening so far, how did this book fare?
Being honest, this book confuses me. I don't even know where to begin, because sometimes a lot happens, but sometimes also very little happens. It certainly took a while for it to get going, to the point where it got close to boring a couple of times, though somehow it always managed to pull itself back into not being boring, thank goodness. If there's something this series has not been so far, it's boring, and I never want it to get there. But overall, the book feels very like one step forward and two steps back regarding certain things, namely with Alice, who after she had been mellowing down a bit for the past couple of books, returns to full-force being a self-important, nosy nuisance control freak in this book, once again thinking she can do the best job ever at finding the killer and solving the case, refusing to get the police involved, and dragging Miriam and the dragons along. To my delight, she gets a huge dose of humble pie at one point that hits her hard, and she does stick with that for a while; but much to my dismay, she goes right back to her usual self by the end, at some points even going behind the police' backs and keeping the in the dark about information eve after they had actually decided to bring her into the case to help them. So, yeah, that frustrated me.
The rest of the character are, for the most part, in fine form. Miriam and Mortimer seemed to have regressed earlier in the book, to the point that Mortimer actually still seemed mistrustful of DI Adams. Thankfully they bounced back to where their character development has gotten them so far, especially Miriam, barring a moment here or there. DI Adams is still as likable as ever, I love how well she has developed over the books, and the addition of Dandy by her side was a surprise, as while he seemed to be coming along as barely useful, by the end, he's proven himself a highly valuable ally with a moment that surprised me in a positive way. It was also great to have much more of Colin in this book, he and DI Adams have a great rapport. Beaufort is still the same mellow, scatterbrained old geezer as usual, but he shows some moments of emotional strength and firmness, showing why he's still the leader of his clan. It was also nice to see other dragons again, beyond just Amelia and Gilbert (Lord Walter is still rather hilarious and I wish he could have larger roles in the books).
The mystery took much longer to get going in this book despite being present from the very start. It did get exciting at the end with the possibilities of who or what could be involved, and things get rather chaotic yet again, especially as the ladies of the WI and even the protesters of the last book join in. I was worried when the protesters popped up, considering how much I hated them in the previous book, but thankfully Miriam and Gert kept them in check, so that was a relief. The identity of the culprit was a surprise, and while it was a good callback to previous books, the way Alice figured out the culprit's identity was a reach and a stretch of gargantuan proportions, it just did not make any sense. At least the final confrontation got pretty chaotic and a good bit of fun. Granted, it's getting to the point that I wish they'd let a few more people in on the existence of the Folk, since it's giving vibes that it's becoming more of a hassle keeping them secret in that area.
I was going to rank this book 3 stars, maybe 4. but then we got the final chapter, where we learn that the culprit has not been found, seemingly having evaded capture, much to the dismay of Di Adams. The thing is that Beaufort and Alice know exactly what happened to him, because it was their doing, but they refuse to say it. They throw hints that they let him go after giving him a huge scare to teach him a lesson, but also hints that they took him to Folk to keep him imprisoned, but then, to top if off, also hints that Beaufort actually killed the guy with Alice's approval! Making things worse is how Alice outright taunts DI Adams about it, blatantly dangling the carrot in front of her and then putting on her extremely and blatanly fake act of ignoring the questiions and not knowing anything when it's beyod obvious to everyone that she does know and is just being a total jerk to DI Adams about it. I mean, I'm baffled at Beaufort doing this, for starters; he's obviously very protective of his friends, but never to such lengths. As for Alice, being honest, I've never liked her since book 1, but I've learned to tolerate her; however, this book's last chapter made me go into actually full-on hating her. Like, wow. way to get down to the villain's level.
The final chapter alone made the rating for this book drop down to a 2 out of 5. It would have been a 1, but it still had good moments in it and some characters I still very much like. I'm now rather hesitant to continue the series, considering how my thoughts on Alice have ended up as with the four books I've read. It's always so frustrating when one single character can ruin a book, more so a whole series, and I don't want it t happen to this series I had been very much enjoying so far.
And on a final little note, it's not "Jammy" Dodgers, it's "Jammie" Dodgers. I know it's nitpicky, but I just needed to say that.
Being honest, this book confuses me. I don't even know where to begin, because sometimes a lot happens, but sometimes also very little happens. It certainly took a while for it to get going, to the point where it got close to boring a couple of times, though somehow it always managed to pull itself back into not being boring, thank goodness. If there's something this series has not been so far, it's boring, and I never want it to get there. But overall, the book feels very like one step forward and two steps back regarding certain things, namely with Alice, who after she had been mellowing down a bit for the past couple of books, returns to full-force being a self-important, nosy nuisance control freak in this book, once again thinking she can do the best job ever at finding the killer and solving the case, refusing to get the police involved, and dragging Miriam and the dragons along. To my delight, she gets a huge dose of humble pie at one point that hits her hard, and she does stick with that for a while; but much to my dismay, she goes right back to her usual self by the end, at some points even going behind the police' backs and keeping the in the dark about information eve after they had actually decided to bring her into the case to help them. So, yeah, that frustrated me.
The rest of the character are, for the most part, in fine form. Miriam and Mortimer seemed to have regressed earlier in the book, to the point that Mortimer actually still seemed mistrustful of DI Adams. Thankfully they bounced back to where their character development has gotten them so far, especially Miriam, barring a moment here or there. DI Adams is still as likable as ever, I love how well she has developed over the books, and the addition of Dandy by her side was a surprise, as while he seemed to be coming along as barely useful, by the end, he's proven himself a highly valuable ally with a moment that surprised me in a positive way. It was also great to have much more of Colin in this book, he and DI Adams have a great rapport. Beaufort is still the same mellow, scatterbrained old geezer as usual, but he shows some moments of emotional strength and firmness, showing why he's still the leader of his clan. It was also nice to see other dragons again, beyond just Amelia and Gilbert (Lord Walter is still rather hilarious and I wish he could have larger roles in the books).
The mystery took much longer to get going in this book despite being present from the very start. It did get exciting at the end with the possibilities of who or what could be involved, and things get rather chaotic yet again, especially as the ladies of the WI and even the protesters of the last book join in. I was worried when the protesters popped up, considering how much I hated them in the previous book, but thankfully Miriam and Gert kept them in check, so that was a relief. The identity of the culprit was a surprise, and while it was a good callback to previous books, the way Alice figured out the culprit's identity was a reach and a stretch of gargantuan proportions, it just did not make any sense. At least the final confrontation got pretty chaotic and a good bit of fun. Granted, it's getting to the point that I wish they'd let a few more people in on the existence of the Folk, since it's giving vibes that it's becoming more of a hassle keeping them secret in that area.
I was going to rank this book 3 stars, maybe 4. but then we got the final chapter, where we learn that the culprit has not been found, seemingly having evaded capture, much to the dismay of Di Adams. The thing is that Beaufort and Alice know exactly what happened to him, because it was their doing, but they refuse to say it. They throw hints that they let him go after giving him a huge scare to teach him a lesson, but also hints that they took him to Folk to keep him imprisoned, but then, to top if off, also hints that Beaufort actually killed the guy with Alice's approval! Making things worse is how Alice outright taunts DI Adams about it, blatantly dangling the carrot in front of her and then putting on her extremely and blatanly fake act of ignoring the questiions and not knowing anything when it's beyod obvious to everyone that she does know and is just being a total jerk to DI Adams about it. I mean, I'm baffled at Beaufort doing this, for starters; he's obviously very protective of his friends, but never to such lengths. As for Alice, being honest, I've never liked her since book 1, but I've learned to tolerate her; however, this book's last chapter made me go into actually full-on hating her. Like, wow. way to get down to the villain's level.
The final chapter alone made the rating for this book drop down to a 2 out of 5. It would have been a 1, but it still had good moments in it and some characters I still very much like. I'm now rather hesitant to continue the series, considering how my thoughts on Alice have ended up as with the four books I've read. It's always so frustrating when one single character can ruin a book, more so a whole series, and I don't want it t happen to this series I had been very much enjoying so far.
And on a final little note, it's not "Jammy" Dodgers, it's "Jammie" Dodgers. I know it's nitpicky, but I just needed to say that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2024
I just living visiting toot hansell where there are dragons, cake and other magical things oh and murder! What more could you want. Such a delightful series all about friendship in all its forms with some magic and fun thrown in too. I really do think i want to live here and I’m sure D I adams is going to feel the same soon too!
September 17, 2021
Another adventure with the dragons! I really enjoyed this story as it featured Alice, one of my favorite characters, and her past. Once again Ms Watt delivers a 'grown up' fantasy world that most of us would love to live in, or at least visit for a cuppa and cake.
July 16, 2023
Still fun and engaging. It took me a little while to be in the right mood, but once I was it only took a couple of hours to get through. Small town murder mysteries with dragons have never been so good, everyone is getting into the groove of their role. It’s lovely.
December 24, 2019
Another fab addition to the series. Love the twist near the end when a particular person turns up! You can't go wrong with dragons and cake.
August 11, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The fourth installment of the Beautfort Scales mysteries is another delight! Once again the village of Toot Hansell is beset by mysterious deaths and disappearances, and the dragons and ladies of the local W.I. see it as their duty to get involved, and drive the long-suffering DI Adams to distraction!
When the local counselor for Toot Hansel dies, it is of course the formidable Alice that steps in as his temporary replacement to get to the root of the matter. Fully supported by the irrepressible Beaufort and the stress-shedding Mortimer, and of course Miriam who is still nervous but far more capable than she lets on.
As it is the fourth, but hopefully not last installment of the Beaufort Scales mysteries, I want to go a bit more in-depth. The progression from the first book to the fourth is really excellent when one looks back on it. How the friendships grow, the characters develop and more side-characters and histories are revealed. All of that is just done so well and smoothly, with humour and style.
So to conclude, once again we get some great fun, lots of humour and some definitive character development while Thompson the snarky cat, Dandy the invisible dog and DI Collins offer support, and the ladies of the W.I. offer their combat skills, lots of tea, cake, and blue potato salad (don’t ask!).
Already looking forward to the next installment!
The fourth installment of the Beautfort Scales mysteries is another delight! Once again the village of Toot Hansell is beset by mysterious deaths and disappearances, and the dragons and ladies of the local W.I. see it as their duty to get involved, and drive the long-suffering DI Adams to distraction!
When the local counselor for Toot Hansel dies, it is of course the formidable Alice that steps in as his temporary replacement to get to the root of the matter. Fully supported by the irrepressible Beaufort and the stress-shedding Mortimer, and of course Miriam who is still nervous but far more capable than she lets on.
As it is the fourth, but hopefully not last installment of the Beaufort Scales mysteries, I want to go a bit more in-depth. The progression from the first book to the fourth is really excellent when one looks back on it. How the friendships grow, the characters develop and more side-characters and histories are revealed. All of that is just done so well and smoothly, with humour and style.
So to conclude, once again we get some great fun, lots of humour and some definitive character development while Thompson the snarky cat, Dandy the invisible dog and DI Collins offer support, and the ladies of the W.I. offer their combat skills, lots of tea, cake, and blue potato salad (don’t ask!).
Already looking forward to the next installment!
February 3, 2021
Each installment of the Beaufort Scales series just gets better and better. Kim M. Watt is one of my favorite authors, and I eagerly devour each of her books in turn.
Game of Scones feels just a tad darker than earlier books in the series. Perhaps because the bad guys are a bit closer to home, and threatening both the dragons of Cloverly and the WI in general and Alice in particular. This alteration in tone doesn’t mean I loved the book any less than its predecessors; it’s merely an observation. Actually I think it’s more a function of Ms. Watt finding herself and her voice, relying less on laughs and more on character and story and stakes.
That being said, there were enough light (read: chuckle out loud) moments through the earlier sections to keep me happy. And the last third of the book I read at a gallop, guffawing all the way. And I finally got the answer to a question I’ve had throughout the entire series (no spoilers, but it has to do with the identity of the most odious villain…)
Game of Scones is yet another outstanding entry in Kim M. Watt’s catalog of draconic mayhem, and should be read with tea and cakes close to hand. Highly recommend.
Game of Scones feels just a tad darker than earlier books in the series. Perhaps because the bad guys are a bit closer to home, and threatening both the dragons of Cloverly and the WI in general and Alice in particular. This alteration in tone doesn’t mean I loved the book any less than its predecessors; it’s merely an observation. Actually I think it’s more a function of Ms. Watt finding herself and her voice, relying less on laughs and more on character and story and stakes.
That being said, there were enough light (read: chuckle out loud) moments through the earlier sections to keep me happy. And the last third of the book I read at a gallop, guffawing all the way. And I finally got the answer to a question I’ve had throughout the entire series (no spoilers, but it has to do with the identity of the most odious villain…)
Game of Scones is yet another outstanding entry in Kim M. Watt’s catalog of draconic mayhem, and should be read with tea and cakes close to hand. Highly recommend.
May 20, 2024
Oh, my! The WI are delving into the world of politics! :O
Usually when I say 'support our farmers' I'd mean buying their produce at reasonable rates, wonky or not. However, in this case, it's more stop them being chased off entirely!
I'm happy to report that the mayhem is a little less raucous than the last instalment. However, it is a lot more dangerous as members of the local council are getting bumped off. Is this a challenge too far even for our intrepid Alice?
I love all these characters. They're who I turn to when I need a cosy mystery which makes me chuckle. Each WI lady is unique, as are the dragons, but they all have a cake obsession. But with all their running around, they need it. DI Adams is maybe slightly less cynical - could the countryside be growing on her?
The hilariously inept protestors make a welcome return in this one too.
Oh, and can I just say how much I love these covers? There are little hints when you look at them. Delightful!
Gentle, funny, dangerous mayhem!
Usually when I say 'support our farmers' I'd mean buying their produce at reasonable rates, wonky or not. However, in this case, it's more stop them being chased off entirely!
I'm happy to report that the mayhem is a little less raucous than the last instalment. However, it is a lot more dangerous as members of the local council are getting bumped off. Is this a challenge too far even for our intrepid Alice?
I love all these characters. They're who I turn to when I need a cosy mystery which makes me chuckle. Each WI lady is unique, as are the dragons, but they all have a cake obsession. But with all their running around, they need it. DI Adams is maybe slightly less cynical - could the countryside be growing on her?
The hilariously inept protestors make a welcome return in this one too.
Oh, and can I just say how much I love these covers? There are little hints when you look at them. Delightful!
Gentle, funny, dangerous mayhem!
September 9, 2021
Fire & Scones
I'm so happy to be back in Toot Hansell, one of my favourite places to be. Being from the US, I don't know if we have an equivalent to the British W. I. But we should. What would be even better is if we had dragons! Beaufort & Mortimer are joined by Gilbert & his sister, Amelia, also part of the Cloverly Dragons. When members of the Skipton Council start dying, Alice as head of the Toot Hansell W.I. gets suspicious. Those deaths prompt DI Collins to request the help of DI Adams. Both are aware of the magical Folk.Volunteering to be a temporary council member, Alice discovers a nefarious plot to force farmers to sell & then build a development community. Not only are the humans up in arms but so are the Folk who will lose their homes. It will take both humans & Folk plus a snarky cat to scupper the developer's plans.
I'm so happy to be back in Toot Hansell, one of my favourite places to be. Being from the US, I don't know if we have an equivalent to the British W. I. But we should. What would be even better is if we had dragons! Beaufort & Mortimer are joined by Gilbert & his sister, Amelia, also part of the Cloverly Dragons. When members of the Skipton Council start dying, Alice as head of the Toot Hansell W.I. gets suspicious. Those deaths prompt DI Collins to request the help of DI Adams. Both are aware of the magical Folk.Volunteering to be a temporary council member, Alice discovers a nefarious plot to force farmers to sell & then build a development community. Not only are the humans up in arms but so are the Folk who will lose their homes. It will take both humans & Folk plus a snarky cat to scupper the developer's plans.
November 10, 2024
We’re moving beyond the standard rather light cozy mystery here. The core plot (no spoilers) could have been treated in a frothy, no-real-consequences, hand-wavy magic way … and that would have been a far less enjoyable book. Here, we keep the trappings of cozy (a lot of tea is drunk, many cakes are shared, as well as the titular scones, and the lead characters are women of a certain age living in a pretty Dales village) and we hang them on the bones of a real thriller. The characters are very real, and they (in particular Alice, Miriam and Adams) have real responses and emotions and histories. And the stakes are high (although at an individual level). The payoff is satisfying.
I’ve immediately bought the next in the series. These are good.
I’ve immediately bought the next in the series. These are good.
October 18, 2025
Game of Scones is everything I adore about the Beaufort Scales series clever mysteries, delightful humor, and of course, dragons who never fail to steal the spotlight. Kim M. Watt once again delivers a perfectly balanced blend of charm, wit, and a bit of chaos in the most British way possible.
The ladies of the Toot Hansell Women’s Institute are as sharp and lovable as ever, and Beaufort and Mortimer’s dragonish antics add just the right dose of mischief. Between the political intrigue, missing farmers, and invisible dogs with caffeine habits, this book is pure cozy magic.
If you enjoy your mysteries light on gore but heavy on heart, friendship, and tea, Game of Scones is a must-read.
The ladies of the Toot Hansell Women’s Institute are as sharp and lovable as ever, and Beaufort and Mortimer’s dragonish antics add just the right dose of mischief. Between the political intrigue, missing farmers, and invisible dogs with caffeine habits, this book is pure cozy magic.
If you enjoy your mysteries light on gore but heavy on heart, friendship, and tea, Game of Scones is a must-read.
December 29, 2021
I LOVE this dragon series! This series has everything a dragon lover could want: dragons that only the DIs and the Women’s Institute can see, tea, scones, feisty “ladies of a certain age” (the Toot Hansell WI), a talking cat, a “Dandy Devil Dog” who can only be seen by the cat and DI Adams, evil doers doing evil deeds, recipes, humor, good friends, and witty dialogue…..what more could you ask of a dragon book. The coziest of cozy mysteries. Get the whole series, make a pot of tea, get some tasty snacks, curl up in a comfy chair, and enjoy!
December 21, 2024
This was, arguably, somewhat less cozy but, arguably, very enjoyable. There's much more serious and realistic danger in this than in the other stories, but it's still written in a way that keeps the reader feeling very warmly toward the characters.
February 12, 2021
The Skipton councilor for Toot Hansell dies shortly after leaving a meeting with the W.I., which, of course, means that they should investigate. Mystery and mayhem, dragons galore, a talking cat and an invisible dog, and even more cake and jammy dodgers (such a wonderful name for a wonderful cookie). There are big belly laughs and a not-very-funny surprise for Alice, the W.I. chairperson and leader. And my favorite - lovely recipes at the end. I do wish there were more books in the series!
May 1, 2024
These books continue to be a lot of cozy fun goodness. I love how much more of the dragons we see--all the critters, actually--but especially the older dragons dealing with the shenanigans of the younger had me giggling constantly.
The mystery was also very satisfying--and the tension was ratcheted up even higher than normal. The final confrontation scene had my blood boiling and the end result was all the more satisfying for it.
The mystery was also very satisfying--and the tension was ratcheted up even higher than normal. The final confrontation scene had my blood boiling and the end result was all the more satisfying for it.
March 25, 2021
Dastardly deeds!
Oh how I adore these characters, dragons and human alike. Okay and cats, talking cat lol.
Things seem to be going wrong for the council, folks are going on extended holidays, others retiring, quickly, and then they start dying 😮😮
Of course the W.I. get mixed up.
One even gets kidnapped by a nasty thing from her past.
Adore 💖💖
Oh how I adore these characters, dragons and human alike. Okay and cats, talking cat lol.
Things seem to be going wrong for the council, folks are going on extended holidays, others retiring, quickly, and then they start dying 😮😮
Of course the W.I. get mixed up.
One even gets kidnapped by a nasty thing from her past.
Adore 💖💖
July 21, 2021
5 Stars
These are the most fun books to read! I did read these books in order so the world building was more nuanced and relatable as the characters grew in personality with each book. The series is a delightful read with the whimsy of the dragons set against the cosy mystery genre - for a wonderful afternoon read this is the series you want to read!
These are the most fun books to read! I did read these books in order so the world building was more nuanced and relatable as the characters grew in personality with each book. The series is a delightful read with the whimsy of the dragons set against the cosy mystery genre - for a wonderful afternoon read this is the series you want to read!
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