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DCI Satterthwaite #4
Death at Rainbow Cottage
At the end of the rainbow, a man lies dead.
The apparently motiveless murder of a man outside the home of controversial equalities activist Claud Blackwell and his neurotic wife, Natalie, is shocking enough for a peaceful local community. When it’s followed by another apparently random killing immediately outside Claud’s office, DCI Jude Satterthwaite has his work cut out. Is Claud the killer, or the intended victim?
To add to Jude’s problems, the arrival of a hostile new boss causes complications at work, and when a threatening note arrives at the police headquarters, he has real cause to fear for the safety of his friends and colleagues…
A traditional British detective novel set in Cumbria.
The apparently motiveless murder of a man outside the home of controversial equalities activist Claud Blackwell and his neurotic wife, Natalie, is shocking enough for a peaceful local community. When it’s followed by another apparently random killing immediately outside Claud’s office, DCI Jude Satterthwaite has his work cut out. Is Claud the killer, or the intended victim?
To add to Jude’s problems, the arrival of a hostile new boss causes complications at work, and when a threatening note arrives at the police headquarters, he has real cause to fear for the safety of his friends and colleagues…
A traditional British detective novel set in Cumbria.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2020
About the author
Jo Allen
23 books30 followersJo Allen is the alter ego of Jennifer Young.
Jennifer Young is an Edinburgh-based author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Her books are rich in a sense of place -- visit Majorca for a romantic adventure, Italy for some new adult romance, or Edinburgh for dark deeds and romance in Scotland's capital.
https://www.facebook.com/JoAllenAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/jenniferyoun...
Jennifer Young is an Edinburgh-based author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Her books are rich in a sense of place -- visit Majorca for a romantic adventure, Italy for some new adult romance, or Edinburgh for dark deeds and romance in Scotland's capital.
https://www.facebook.com/JoAllenAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/jenniferyoun...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 28, 2021
My thoughts:
Death at Rainbow Cottage is the fourth book in the DCI Satterthwaite series written by British writer Jo Allen. A solid police procedural with complex characters and a clever plot, it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but you will probably want to go back and read the other books in the series as well.
The book starts with a bang. A middle-aged man dies of stabbed wounds in a remote place, a couple hundred meters away from Rainbow Cottage that belongs to Natalie and Claud Blackwell. Natalie suffers from anxiety and OCD and often goes on long runs. She was the one who tried to resuscitate the dying man and then horrified, ran home, leaving bloody footprints on the cottage path.
Jo Allen immediately pulls us into her fictional world set in Cumbria. We meet DI Jude Satterthwaite as he is taking Natalie's statement and immediately note his compassion and humanity as well as his observation skills. There is obviously a lot of character development, both within this book and in the series. Police procedurals often have to balance the investigation side of the story, the police work itself and the back story which shows how complex professional relationships get intertwined with the detective's personal life. Jude still has unresolved family issues, although he is in a relationship with one of his colleagues. There's also a new boss with her own policies and her own vision of what should be done to ensure greater equality and diversity in their workplace.
The book's main topic is diversity, representation, and tolerance. The issues raised in the book are relevant to any workplace. Jude is criticised for being promoted just because he fit the traditional idea of a DCI should be like, but then again his work and the fact that he is a capable police offcer and team leader isn't taken into consideration. The victims are gay and we see how deep homophobic attitudes run and how much sensitivity, consideration and determination changing them requires.
Jo Alen has a wonderful writing style. It is very easy to follow the story despite a fairly large set of characters. Although this was my first book in the series, at no time did I feel lost or missing 'the insider' knowledge. I still want to go back and read books 1-3, but more because I appreciate the author's writing and her ability to create a clever tight plot and complex. multi-layered characters.
I can highly recommend Death and Rainbow Cottage to all readers who enjoy gripping and thought-provoking police procedurals.
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources and the author for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own and were not biased in any way.
Death at Rainbow Cottage is the fourth book in the DCI Satterthwaite series written by British writer Jo Allen. A solid police procedural with complex characters and a clever plot, it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but you will probably want to go back and read the other books in the series as well.
The book starts with a bang. A middle-aged man dies of stabbed wounds in a remote place, a couple hundred meters away from Rainbow Cottage that belongs to Natalie and Claud Blackwell. Natalie suffers from anxiety and OCD and often goes on long runs. She was the one who tried to resuscitate the dying man and then horrified, ran home, leaving bloody footprints on the cottage path.
Jo Allen immediately pulls us into her fictional world set in Cumbria. We meet DI Jude Satterthwaite as he is taking Natalie's statement and immediately note his compassion and humanity as well as his observation skills. There is obviously a lot of character development, both within this book and in the series. Police procedurals often have to balance the investigation side of the story, the police work itself and the back story which shows how complex professional relationships get intertwined with the detective's personal life. Jude still has unresolved family issues, although he is in a relationship with one of his colleagues. There's also a new boss with her own policies and her own vision of what should be done to ensure greater equality and diversity in their workplace.
The book's main topic is diversity, representation, and tolerance. The issues raised in the book are relevant to any workplace. Jude is criticised for being promoted just because he fit the traditional idea of a DCI should be like, but then again his work and the fact that he is a capable police offcer and team leader isn't taken into consideration. The victims are gay and we see how deep homophobic attitudes run and how much sensitivity, consideration and determination changing them requires.
Jo Alen has a wonderful writing style. It is very easy to follow the story despite a fairly large set of characters. Although this was my first book in the series, at no time did I feel lost or missing 'the insider' knowledge. I still want to go back and read books 1-3, but more because I appreciate the author's writing and her ability to create a clever tight plot and complex. multi-layered characters.
I can highly recommend Death and Rainbow Cottage to all readers who enjoy gripping and thought-provoking police procedurals.
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random resources and the author for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own and were not biased in any way.
February 23, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
The woman must think she buttoned up the back.
At the end of the short affair, she’d come out of it with her soul stained with self-loathing and the knowledge that sometimes the open ocean was better than the wrong port in a storm.
Tolerance and diversity extend to the little things in life. It isn’t just about colour or gender or sexuality or religion. It’s about everyone being allowed to do things their way. If we can’t be tolerant of other people’s choices, how can we be expected to be tolerant of the things they have no choice over?
He had the gift of saying everything while he said nothing, sharing a secret while keeping it safe.
My Review:
Jo Allen has conjured another twisty and clever conundrum that taunted and teased my curious and cynical nature. She has strong word voodoo and a massive top-shelf vocabulary that keeps the little pea in my brain purring. Her latest missive was a busy and absorbing police procedural with multiple storylines involving family drama, romance, workplace tension, unresolved ex-issues, and a confounding killing spree in a Cumbrian village that kept the detectives hopping. There were no shortages of relationship and homophobic issues or suspects, although the exact cause for the odd selection of victims remained elusive.
I had devised several creative and elaborate theories and while I had it narrowed down to the correct suspect and method, I erred in their motivation. So, not a total win, but more than a partial victory. I still scored an entertaining read that also taught me a new Scottish phrase for my word list with “buttoned up the back,” which Mr. Google tells me means being thought a fool.
The woman must think she buttoned up the back.
At the end of the short affair, she’d come out of it with her soul stained with self-loathing and the knowledge that sometimes the open ocean was better than the wrong port in a storm.
Tolerance and diversity extend to the little things in life. It isn’t just about colour or gender or sexuality or religion. It’s about everyone being allowed to do things their way. If we can’t be tolerant of other people’s choices, how can we be expected to be tolerant of the things they have no choice over?
He had the gift of saying everything while he said nothing, sharing a secret while keeping it safe.
My Review:
Jo Allen has conjured another twisty and clever conundrum that taunted and teased my curious and cynical nature. She has strong word voodoo and a massive top-shelf vocabulary that keeps the little pea in my brain purring. Her latest missive was a busy and absorbing police procedural with multiple storylines involving family drama, romance, workplace tension, unresolved ex-issues, and a confounding killing spree in a Cumbrian village that kept the detectives hopping. There were no shortages of relationship and homophobic issues or suspects, although the exact cause for the odd selection of victims remained elusive.
I had devised several creative and elaborate theories and while I had it narrowed down to the correct suspect and method, I erred in their motivation. So, not a total win, but more than a partial victory. I still scored an entertaining read that also taught me a new Scottish phrase for my word list with “buttoned up the back,” which Mr. Google tells me means being thought a fool.
February 22, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Within minutes of starting Death at Rainbow Cottage, I knew I was in good hands and could just relax and enjoy the read.
This is a well-written and cleverly plotted British detective story, with a cast of characters that are interesting, but not too intrusive to the main plotline. The balance between the personal lives of the investigating team and their professional lives is spot on and, while I am not familiar with the real-life workings of a police station, I certainly recognise office life and feel Jo Allen perfectly captures the unique blend of bureaucracy, collegial camaraderie, mundane duties, constant meetings and sudden pressurised deadlines!
The story is the fourth in Allen’s DCI Satterthwaite series, but while there is some reference to previous relationships, this book stands alone perfectly well. Everything you need to know is woven into the storyline as the case progresses, with no sense of missing out on anything important. That said, I would still go back and read books 1-3, or better still, read them first. Do you need to? No. But if you enjoy a good police procedural murder mystery, you will definitely want to!
DCI Satterthwaite here investigates a series of local murders with no clear motive, but that seem to have ties to homophobia in some way. At the same time, he has to deal with new romance, old romance, a bitter brother, and a prickly new boss who is hot on diversity in the workplace in theory, but not so great when it comes to anti-bullying initiatives or treating her employees fairly in practice. Or does she have a more personal grudge against some of her new staff? Either way, there is a definite underlying theme of representation, equality and where to draw the line between personal and professional in the workplace.
While the murders do keep coming as the plot unfolds, I liked the lack of graphic violence and gore in the descriptions. There is no attempt to shock with the gratuitous and unnecessary, but instead a gentle, persistent focus on following the leads, asking the questions, collating the evidence and completing the jigsaw of clues to reveal the identity of the murderer.
Fans of P.D. James’ Adam Dagliesh, Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley, and similar classic detective fiction will enjoy Death at Rainbow Cottage as much as I did. And I enjoyed it so much that I have immediately added Death by Dark Waters, Death at Eden’s End and Death on Coffin Lane to my TBR tower too!
'From a distance of a dozen yards, outside the line of blue and white tape that marked the inner ring of a crime scene, Detective Chief Inspector Jude Satterthwaite stood with his hands plunged deep in the pockets of his Barbour jacket and a customary frown of deep thought upon his face. Around him the police swung into the action that always accompanied the discovery of a body – uniformed officers steering away the odd interested onlooker whose curiosity impelled them to approach although they knew they shouldn’t’ white-suited forensic investigators photographing the scene from every angle before beginning a fingertip search; a van bearing the white tent that would protect the scene from both the weather and the prying eyes of the public – but Jude, having issued his instructions, remained still at the edge of its frantic activity.'
– Jo Allen, Death at Rainbow Cottage
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Within minutes of starting Death at Rainbow Cottage, I knew I was in good hands and could just relax and enjoy the read.
This is a well-written and cleverly plotted British detective story, with a cast of characters that are interesting, but not too intrusive to the main plotline. The balance between the personal lives of the investigating team and their professional lives is spot on and, while I am not familiar with the real-life workings of a police station, I certainly recognise office life and feel Jo Allen perfectly captures the unique blend of bureaucracy, collegial camaraderie, mundane duties, constant meetings and sudden pressurised deadlines!
The story is the fourth in Allen’s DCI Satterthwaite series, but while there is some reference to previous relationships, this book stands alone perfectly well. Everything you need to know is woven into the storyline as the case progresses, with no sense of missing out on anything important. That said, I would still go back and read books 1-3, or better still, read them first. Do you need to? No. But if you enjoy a good police procedural murder mystery, you will definitely want to!
DCI Satterthwaite here investigates a series of local murders with no clear motive, but that seem to have ties to homophobia in some way. At the same time, he has to deal with new romance, old romance, a bitter brother, and a prickly new boss who is hot on diversity in the workplace in theory, but not so great when it comes to anti-bullying initiatives or treating her employees fairly in practice. Or does she have a more personal grudge against some of her new staff? Either way, there is a definite underlying theme of representation, equality and where to draw the line between personal and professional in the workplace.
While the murders do keep coming as the plot unfolds, I liked the lack of graphic violence and gore in the descriptions. There is no attempt to shock with the gratuitous and unnecessary, but instead a gentle, persistent focus on following the leads, asking the questions, collating the evidence and completing the jigsaw of clues to reveal the identity of the murderer.
Fans of P.D. James’ Adam Dagliesh, Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley, and similar classic detective fiction will enjoy Death at Rainbow Cottage as much as I did. And I enjoyed it so much that I have immediately added Death by Dark Waters, Death at Eden’s End and Death on Coffin Lane to my TBR tower too!
'From a distance of a dozen yards, outside the line of blue and white tape that marked the inner ring of a crime scene, Detective Chief Inspector Jude Satterthwaite stood with his hands plunged deep in the pockets of his Barbour jacket and a customary frown of deep thought upon his face. Around him the police swung into the action that always accompanied the discovery of a body – uniformed officers steering away the odd interested onlooker whose curiosity impelled them to approach although they knew they shouldn’t’ white-suited forensic investigators photographing the scene from every angle before beginning a fingertip search; a van bearing the white tent that would protect the scene from both the weather and the prying eyes of the public – but Jude, having issued his instructions, remained still at the edge of its frantic activity.'
– Jo Allen, Death at Rainbow Cottage
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
February 23, 2021
The latest crime mystery set in the Lake District - and it's a cracker!
Yet again, Jude and his squad of detectives are dealing with a dead body; this one was found stabbed in the heart in a country lane outside the home of Claud Blackwell and his nervous wife Natalie. When a second murder occurs outside Claud's office, Jude considers whether Claud could be involved - in any capacity. Alongside their latest case, the force has a new boss who is causing ripples of hostility throughout the team; and on top of everything else one of the team receives a threatening letter. Just another thing to add to Jude's list of concerns . . .
From the very beginning, I've relished this series. The setting, characters and each case beautifully crafted, bringing stresses and strains which, inevitably, take their toll on each member of the team. I love the mix of personalities and Jo Allen is bang up to date with her stories and the issues which affect a modern police force. This is a thought-provoking mystery, I suspected quite a few of committing the crimes except the actual perpetrator. Great writing and a terrific read which kept my focus all the way through and a fabulous addition to this series. I can hardly bear to wait for the next one! Definitely worth all five stars and my recommendation to all lovers of a darn good crime mystery!
Yet again, Jude and his squad of detectives are dealing with a dead body; this one was found stabbed in the heart in a country lane outside the home of Claud Blackwell and his nervous wife Natalie. When a second murder occurs outside Claud's office, Jude considers whether Claud could be involved - in any capacity. Alongside their latest case, the force has a new boss who is causing ripples of hostility throughout the team; and on top of everything else one of the team receives a threatening letter. Just another thing to add to Jude's list of concerns . . .
From the very beginning, I've relished this series. The setting, characters and each case beautifully crafted, bringing stresses and strains which, inevitably, take their toll on each member of the team. I love the mix of personalities and Jo Allen is bang up to date with her stories and the issues which affect a modern police force. This is a thought-provoking mystery, I suspected quite a few of committing the crimes except the actual perpetrator. Great writing and a terrific read which kept my focus all the way through and a fabulous addition to this series. I can hardly bear to wait for the next one! Definitely worth all five stars and my recommendation to all lovers of a darn good crime mystery!
February 24, 2021
DCI Jude Satterthwaite in based in Cumbria's Eden Valley assisted by close friend and colleague DI Chris Dodd. On a Sunday afternoon he is called out to the body of a middle aged man on a rutted dead end track that leads off the A66 from Penrith. His car is next to him. The man is swiftly identified as Len Pierce, a local baker and café proprietor and has been found by Natalie Blackwell while out running. She found him alive but he died before she could get help. Suffering from anxiety and OCD, and obsessed with running huge distances, she ran home to nearby Rainbow Cottage to her husband Claud and raised the alarm. The following day DS Ashleigh O’Hallaoran, Jude's recently acquired girlfriend, returns from holiday in Sri Lanka and the first person the jet lagged detective walks into is ex-lover Supt Faye Scanlon who has been posted to their station from Cheshire during her three week absence. This could be tricky but the senior office chooses to ignore Ashleigh. Jude will have to be told and there may be some fallout yet to come. Also at the briefing are newly promoted DS Chris Marshall and CSI Tammy Garner. Tammy was acting very unfriendly to Jude at the crime scene yesterday and seems to be in the same frame of mind today. We’ll soon find out what has upset her. The post mortem shows Len had died from a single stab wound to the heart. His narrow-minded sister blames his death on the fact he was gay and by implication, promiscuous, mixing with the wrong types. Meanwhile the new supt is very keen on promoting equality and has organised diversity workshops run by Claud Blackwell, the man also trying to organise a Rainbow Festival with the local church. After a scared conversation with a friend, Len’s boyfriend comes forward, although he is desperate to keep the relationship quiet from his family. Could this be a suspect at last? But then another body is found and some familiar faces seem to be around the murder scene. Can it really be a coincidence that these same people are involved? Could the murders be hate crimes, random killings or some other as yet unknown motive? Without much to go on, the detectives have their work cut out delving into the lives of the victims and hoping no more bodies will turn up as they seek to catch a clever killer who has escaped by only minutes.
This might sound like a cosy crime title but it is in fact a good solid police procedural. The story is very modern feeling in terms of diversity which is a strong theme throughout the story and well represented in the officers mentioned with gay and bi characters. Jude runs a very easily identifiable and likeable small team of detectives and the reader gets to learn about their personal as well as working lives. They are all very insightful and dedicated officers who form a great team but their interactions do seem to lack the banter and humour often seen in detective stories which make the characters more human. Fourth in the series, it was the first story I have read and worked fine as a standalone, although I am now eager to read all the previous books and look forward to more in the series. 5*
This might sound like a cosy crime title but it is in fact a good solid police procedural. The story is very modern feeling in terms of diversity which is a strong theme throughout the story and well represented in the officers mentioned with gay and bi characters. Jude runs a very easily identifiable and likeable small team of detectives and the reader gets to learn about their personal as well as working lives. They are all very insightful and dedicated officers who form a great team but their interactions do seem to lack the banter and humour often seen in detective stories which make the characters more human. Fourth in the series, it was the first story I have read and worked fine as a standalone, although I am now eager to read all the previous books and look forward to more in the series. 5*
February 20, 2021
‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ is the fourth book in the bestselling series featuring DCI Jude Satterthwaite. I have read and loved each book in the series. As soon as I finish reading the previous book in the series, I immediately start to look forward to the next book in the series. Well ladies and gents the wait for the fourth book is over as ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ was released on 7th December 2020. It’s another flipping fantastic addition to the series. I loved reading ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me no time at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the synopsis, I was addicted to the story. As soon as I started to read the story that was it- I just knew that I wouldn’t be able to put this book down and that nothing else would get done for the rest of the day. For me, ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ was simply unputdownable. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the investigation or miss a vital bit of gossip. I turned the pages over quite quickly for me. This was one of those books that I was desperate to finish because I needed to know how the story concluded but I didn’t want to finish it because it meant that I would have to bid farewell to DCI Jude Satterthwaite and his team. I found ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ to be a brilliant addition to the series and the true definition of an unputdownable page turner. This was one of those books that kept my attention throughout, kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing.
‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ is superbly written but then I think that to be true of all of the books in the series to date. The author has one of those writing styles that makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves. That’s how I felt at any rate. For me, the story started with a bang and then maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ felt like being on an unpredictable and an at times scary rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I also love the fact that this series is set in Cumbria, which isn’t too far away from where I live and I have family that used to live in the area. At the moment, reading books such as this one are the nearest I am going to get to being able to visit the area myself.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jo’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
It took me no time at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the synopsis, I was addicted to the story. As soon as I started to read the story that was it- I just knew that I wouldn’t be able to put this book down and that nothing else would get done for the rest of the day. For me, ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ was simply unputdownable. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the investigation or miss a vital bit of gossip. I turned the pages over quite quickly for me. This was one of those books that I was desperate to finish because I needed to know how the story concluded but I didn’t want to finish it because it meant that I would have to bid farewell to DCI Jude Satterthwaite and his team. I found ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ to be a brilliant addition to the series and the true definition of an unputdownable page turner. This was one of those books that kept my attention throughout, kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing.
‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ is superbly written but then I think that to be true of all of the books in the series to date. The author has one of those writing styles that makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves. That’s how I felt at any rate. For me, the story started with a bang and then maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ felt like being on an unpredictable and an at times scary rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I also love the fact that this series is set in Cumbria, which isn’t too far away from where I live and I have family that used to live in the area. At the moment, reading books such as this one are the nearest I am going to get to being able to visit the area myself.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Death At Rainbow Cottage’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jo’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
March 10, 2021
Joy Ellis fans will not want to miss fast-rising star Jo Allen’s latest Cumbrian set mystery featuring DCI Jude Sattherthwaite: Death at Rainbow Cottage
DCI Sattherthwaite is plunged into yet another puzzling case when a man is founded murdered outside the home of controversial activist Claud Blackwell and his neurotic wife, Natalie. The entire community is shocked to its very core that such a savage murder had taken place on their doorstep and what is even more troubling is that this killing seemed to be completely and utterly pointless and motiveless. Was the victim placed in front of Claud Blackwell’s house randomly? Is somebody trying to implicate the activist in this murder? Or is there something even more sinister and twisted going on here that is really going to put the DCI through his paces?
This case gets even more complicated when another victim is found right outside Claud’s office in yet another random killing. Just what is really going on here? Is Claud the killer? Or is he the victim? Is somebody so desperate to implicate Claud in these murders that they will go to any lengths to achieve their criminal objections? Or is Claud not as innocent as he pretends to be? With Jude having a double homicide on his hands, trouble at the police headquarters is the last thing he needs right now, but with a new boss causing a stir and more and more complications – not to mention the arrival of a threatening note putting him and his colleagues in acute danger – will Jude manage to get to the bottom of this case… before it’s too late?
A well-written and brilliantly plotted traditional British mystery, Death at Rainbow Cottage is a sharp, tense and deftly-told thriller with plenty of action, surprises and twists and turns to keep readers completely and utterly riveted to the page. DCI Jude Sattherthwaite is on top form again solving a seemingly baffling case with intelligence, forensic attention to detail and incisive wit.
Village mystery fans looking for a pacy and gripping thriller to get their teeth into won’t want to miss Jo Allen’s latest, Death at Rainbow Cottage.
DCI Sattherthwaite is plunged into yet another puzzling case when a man is founded murdered outside the home of controversial activist Claud Blackwell and his neurotic wife, Natalie. The entire community is shocked to its very core that such a savage murder had taken place on their doorstep and what is even more troubling is that this killing seemed to be completely and utterly pointless and motiveless. Was the victim placed in front of Claud Blackwell’s house randomly? Is somebody trying to implicate the activist in this murder? Or is there something even more sinister and twisted going on here that is really going to put the DCI through his paces?
This case gets even more complicated when another victim is found right outside Claud’s office in yet another random killing. Just what is really going on here? Is Claud the killer? Or is he the victim? Is somebody so desperate to implicate Claud in these murders that they will go to any lengths to achieve their criminal objections? Or is Claud not as innocent as he pretends to be? With Jude having a double homicide on his hands, trouble at the police headquarters is the last thing he needs right now, but with a new boss causing a stir and more and more complications – not to mention the arrival of a threatening note putting him and his colleagues in acute danger – will Jude manage to get to the bottom of this case… before it’s too late?
A well-written and brilliantly plotted traditional British mystery, Death at Rainbow Cottage is a sharp, tense and deftly-told thriller with plenty of action, surprises and twists and turns to keep readers completely and utterly riveted to the page. DCI Jude Sattherthwaite is on top form again solving a seemingly baffling case with intelligence, forensic attention to detail and incisive wit.
Village mystery fans looking for a pacy and gripping thriller to get their teeth into won’t want to miss Jo Allen’s latest, Death at Rainbow Cottage.
February 27, 2021
DCI Jude Satterthwaite is assigned to investigate a seemingly motiveless murder outside the home of activist Claud Blawell. When a second murder occurs outside of Claud’s office, Jude starts to wonder what Claud’s involvement in these cases is, victim or perpetrator? On top of all this, Jude is dealing with a new relationship, a hostile ex, family drama with his brother and father, and a new boss who is very hostile, making solving these crimes more difficult.
This is book four in the series, while I was able to read this out of order (this is my first by the author), I think it would have given me much better insight into the backstory of the characters to have read the others, so I advise that any new readers start with book one. Jude is a very complex and flawed character and we see this in his relationships with others. For those who aren't partial to graphic violence, this is one you can enjoy. It was a decently paced story although there is heavy focus on ongoing character development, which is another reason I suggest starting at the beginning as I plan on going back and doing. The detective aspect of the story (trying to guess the subject and motive) weren’t blatantly obvious which is nice also, I want to be working the crime out with the detective over being told upfront the who and why and waiting for them to catch up.
This was an enjoyable police procedural (although I will give a content warning for homophobia) and I give it 3.75 of 5 stars. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Jo Allen for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is book four in the series, while I was able to read this out of order (this is my first by the author), I think it would have given me much better insight into the backstory of the characters to have read the others, so I advise that any new readers start with book one. Jude is a very complex and flawed character and we see this in his relationships with others. For those who aren't partial to graphic violence, this is one you can enjoy. It was a decently paced story although there is heavy focus on ongoing character development, which is another reason I suggest starting at the beginning as I plan on going back and doing. The detective aspect of the story (trying to guess the subject and motive) weren’t blatantly obvious which is nice also, I want to be working the crime out with the detective over being told upfront the who and why and waiting for them to catch up.
This was an enjoyable police procedural (although I will give a content warning for homophobia) and I give it 3.75 of 5 stars. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Jo Allen for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 27, 2021
Death at Rainbow Cottage is your typical police procedural as we follow DCI Jude Sattherwaite and his team through a murder investigation. Having jumped in at book four, I still found myself able to sort through most of the main cast of characters. The jumps to bystander perspectives were a little harder to follow, but at least there's a search function for when I was wondering where I'd seen a character before.
What seems like an overabundance of focus on the personal lives of the police suddenly becomes relevant as the lines between friend, colleague, and potential suspect begin to blur. There is a new Superintendent after the old one left under a cloud of scandal, and she is completing her mandate of equality and inclusion with a series of workshops facilitated by the residents of the titular Rainbow Cottage. The main character is dating one of his detectives but both of them have complications from past relationships coming up to haunt them. It all fits quite nicely into a theme of acceptance - not simply of differences, but also of oneself.
On the mystery side, I found the book well plotted though would have appreciated some maps. While I did see the murderer coming, I wasn't certain until the end, but looking back it made perfect sense. Overall, a solidly enjoyable murder mystery with an interesting cast of characters.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
What seems like an overabundance of focus on the personal lives of the police suddenly becomes relevant as the lines between friend, colleague, and potential suspect begin to blur. There is a new Superintendent after the old one left under a cloud of scandal, and she is completing her mandate of equality and inclusion with a series of workshops facilitated by the residents of the titular Rainbow Cottage. The main character is dating one of his detectives but both of them have complications from past relationships coming up to haunt them. It all fits quite nicely into a theme of acceptance - not simply of differences, but also of oneself.
On the mystery side, I found the book well plotted though would have appreciated some maps. While I did see the murderer coming, I wasn't certain until the end, but looking back it made perfect sense. Overall, a solidly enjoyable murder mystery with an interesting cast of characters.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
February 26, 2021
What a great read this is - and a great addition to the series featuring DCI Jude Satterthwaite. You really don't need to have read any of the other stories in the series to appreciate this one - I haven't but will certainly be looking out for them in future. It is a fascinating police procedural, sharing the interactions and relationships between members of the investigation team and the evidence they uncover in an attempt to solve a series of murders.
This story has it all - along with the murder mystery, there are several romances, several ex-romances, an ex turning up as the new boss and not acknowledging they even know each other, secrets, family drama . . . . well, you get the idea! It is a real page turner with great characters, especially the team working with Jude. Even Jude has a current relationship and his ex involved in this story, and I'm still unsure who he'll end up with - if either! There are plenty of issues and red herrings to keep you guessing, secrets being revealed, threats to members of the police team, deadly danger and plenty of possible suspects. It is an intriguing and fascinating read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'll definitely be looking out for the earlier books in this series and future stories by this talented author.
Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
This story has it all - along with the murder mystery, there are several romances, several ex-romances, an ex turning up as the new boss and not acknowledging they even know each other, secrets, family drama . . . . well, you get the idea! It is a real page turner with great characters, especially the team working with Jude. Even Jude has a current relationship and his ex involved in this story, and I'm still unsure who he'll end up with - if either! There are plenty of issues and red herrings to keep you guessing, secrets being revealed, threats to members of the police team, deadly danger and plenty of possible suspects. It is an intriguing and fascinating read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'll definitely be looking out for the earlier books in this series and future stories by this talented author.
Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
February 21, 2021
This is the first book in this series that I have read, and despite the fact it can be read as a stand alone novel I did feel at a slight disadvantage with the characters and relationships. I felt that I probably would have enjoyed the book more if I had read the first three books. But that is how I like to read books in order as you see the characters grow.
Set in Cumbria DCI Jude Satterthwaite is called out to a Murder a CV local man has been stabbed near Rainbow cottage home of Claud and Natalie Blackwell, it just happened to be Natalie that found the body as she returned from her run. Later another killing happens with the same MO near Claud’s office! Could Claud have been the intended victim? Or is he the killer?
The only thing the victims have in common is the fact they are gay, but Claud runs a company that promotes and goes around business’s etc promoting acceptance of sexual preferences, promoting diversity, trying to stop people judging each other because of sexual preferences.
Not everyone agrees with his thoughts some are still against homosexuality. To make things even more complicated Jude has a new boss who seems to be causing even more complications. Not only for Jude but also for his colleague and partner Ashleigh. What is the bosses problem with Ashleigh?
The story was at times a little slow paced for me, a lot of the book is concentrated more on the relationships going on with colleagues, than it is on solving the murders. As well as Jude’s messed up relationship with his younger brother Mikey, his ex partner Becca’s, his father, it seems no matter how hard he tries Jude is always in the wrong. Mainly because his work interferes with all his other relationships. This is where I felt it would have been better to have read the previous books in the series before this one as I may have understood more about the characters lives outside of the workplace as well as inside.
I would like to thank the author for an ARC of this book and will be leaving a review on my blog tour post on my blog.
Set in Cumbria DCI Jude Satterthwaite is called out to a Murder a CV local man has been stabbed near Rainbow cottage home of Claud and Natalie Blackwell, it just happened to be Natalie that found the body as she returned from her run. Later another killing happens with the same MO near Claud’s office! Could Claud have been the intended victim? Or is he the killer?
The only thing the victims have in common is the fact they are gay, but Claud runs a company that promotes and goes around business’s etc promoting acceptance of sexual preferences, promoting diversity, trying to stop people judging each other because of sexual preferences.
Not everyone agrees with his thoughts some are still against homosexuality. To make things even more complicated Jude has a new boss who seems to be causing even more complications. Not only for Jude but also for his colleague and partner Ashleigh. What is the bosses problem with Ashleigh?
The story was at times a little slow paced for me, a lot of the book is concentrated more on the relationships going on with colleagues, than it is on solving the murders. As well as Jude’s messed up relationship with his younger brother Mikey, his ex partner Becca’s, his father, it seems no matter how hard he tries Jude is always in the wrong. Mainly because his work interferes with all his other relationships. This is where I felt it would have been better to have read the previous books in the series before this one as I may have understood more about the characters lives outside of the workplace as well as inside.
I would like to thank the author for an ARC of this book and will be leaving a review on my blog tour post on my blog.
March 1, 2021
r/suggestmeabook: I want a well-crafted murder problem nestled into a tight-knit community of well-developed characters.
This is the fifth of Jo Allen’s DCI Satterthwaite Mysteries, and as a first-time reader of her work, I can say I’m immensely pleased that this works as a standalone. I generally don’t review books that are several down a series unless I’m going to read the preceding books, but I apparently missed the part of the memo that this was number five, and I’m glad I did, or I’d have passed on this delightful mystery.
Allen does a marvelous job of the key ingredient that makes mysteries fun to me: she creates a deft puzzle, and I had different suspects pegged throughout the book, changing my mind with new information, but never guessed the actual killer until scant pages before the reveal. All the clues were there, and seem glaring in retrospect, but were laid with such skill that it didn’t click.
This is the fifth of Jo Allen’s DCI Satterthwaite Mysteries, and as a first-time reader of her work, I can say I’m immensely pleased that this works as a standalone. I generally don’t review books that are several down a series unless I’m going to read the preceding books, but I apparently missed the part of the memo that this was number five, and I’m glad I did, or I’d have passed on this delightful mystery.
Allen does a marvelous job of the key ingredient that makes mysteries fun to me: she creates a deft puzzle, and I had different suspects pegged throughout the book, changing my mind with new information, but never guessed the actual killer until scant pages before the reveal. All the clues were there, and seem glaring in retrospect, but were laid with such skill that it didn’t click.
March 23, 2021
I am so glad I got to be part of this blog tour, and I am really surprised I haven’t read any of this series before. I shall be rectifying this!
A body has been found in a secluded lane by a jogger and DCI Satterthwaite has got the case. It soon becomes apparent that the victim has been having a clandestine relationship. Could this be the reason for their death?
Jude Satterthwaite and his team have their hands full with this case as well as Jude having a new boss. Who seems to have a problem not only with him but with his partner Ashleigh too. A few relationships are tested throughout the book and this adds to the story.
The book is really well written with lots of twists and turns that keep bringing up potential culprits but the author successfully fools you until the very last minute.
I really recommend this book, it is easily read as a standalone but I encourage people to read the series. which is what I’ll be doing.
A body has been found in a secluded lane by a jogger and DCI Satterthwaite has got the case. It soon becomes apparent that the victim has been having a clandestine relationship. Could this be the reason for their death?
Jude Satterthwaite and his team have their hands full with this case as well as Jude having a new boss. Who seems to have a problem not only with him but with his partner Ashleigh too. A few relationships are tested throughout the book and this adds to the story.
The book is really well written with lots of twists and turns that keep bringing up potential culprits but the author successfully fools you until the very last minute.
I really recommend this book, it is easily read as a standalone but I encourage people to read the series. which is what I’ll be doing.
February 25, 2021
This police procedural set in Cumbria has relatable characters, explores contemporary issues using clever plotting and features an immersive writing style. It's worth reading the entire series.
This story has multiple murders with no discernible motive. The investigation team are diverse, and they have a believable team dynamic. The author creates a fictional world with a realistic balance of personal and professional relationships. The investigation process is relatable and allows the reader their interpretation of the evidence too.
This is classic detecting, with a twenty-first-century edge that makes it addictive and absorbing read.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
This story has multiple murders with no discernible motive. The investigation team are diverse, and they have a believable team dynamic. The author creates a fictional world with a realistic balance of personal and professional relationships. The investigation process is relatable and allows the reader their interpretation of the evidence too.
This is classic detecting, with a twenty-first-century edge that makes it addictive and absorbing read.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
April 11, 2022
I quit reading…
I have enjoyed this series, but the progressive moralizing in this book turned me off early on. When Satterthwaite recognizes the “prejudice” of the sister who disagreed with the gay life style, I had enough. The author poured it on heavy in the first chapters that diversity and equity would be taught at the precinct. It amazes and saddens me that people who hold to traditional values are “prejudiced,” and yet the author cannot see her own intolerance and prejudice against others. I will skip to the next book and hold my breath that a good plot will be more important than moralizing.
I have enjoyed this series, but the progressive moralizing in this book turned me off early on. When Satterthwaite recognizes the “prejudice” of the sister who disagreed with the gay life style, I had enough. The author poured it on heavy in the first chapters that diversity and equity would be taught at the precinct. It amazes and saddens me that people who hold to traditional values are “prejudiced,” and yet the author cannot see her own intolerance and prejudice against others. I will skip to the next book and hold my breath that a good plot will be more important than moralizing.
February 10, 2022
I enjoyed this mystery, despite figuring out “who done it” early on. The characters are compelling, the police procedural enjoyable. But I almost did not read it after the first sentence which felt like a competitor in the worst first line contest:
Natalie Blackwell stood stock-still in the pool of blood, her eyes as wide as those of the stranger sprawled like a doll on the ground in front of her, her jaw as slck as his, but with stupefaction rather than mortality.
If your reaction is like mine, I strongly recommend that you read on, it is much better than that.
Natalie Blackwell stood stock-still in the pool of blood, her eyes as wide as those of the stranger sprawled like a doll on the ground in front of her, her jaw as slck as his, but with stupefaction rather than mortality.
If your reaction is like mine, I strongly recommend that you read on, it is much better than that.
February 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I love reading detective crime books as I always feel like I'm there in the moment when the detective is trying to solve the crime. I love reading the suspect interrogations and gets my hear rate pumping when there is conflict and confrontations between the detective and suspect. Its a roller coaster ride but well worth it when the suspect gets found out at the end.
June 4, 2023
Oh my gosh!!! What a twisted tale of vengeance, revenge and meanness!! The most self-centered and self-serving set of people. Sometimes it's hard to wade through what some of these people do. I sure am glad none of them are my family or friends. The story was very hard hitting on very specific topics of intolerance and misunderstanding. I can't wait to read the next book!!
February 23, 2021
I loved this book - such well-drawn characters and a plot that pulled me in after just a few pages. I did not realise it was one of a series as it works beautifully as a standalone. I will definitely be reading the others now.
November 16, 2022
A fairly average book
April 30, 2023
Good read with interesting characters
The author does an excellent job of bringing in diverse characters. There is a real sense of place. The suspense is well done.
The author does an excellent job of bringing in diverse characters. There is a real sense of place. The suspense is well done.
August 23, 2025
A man lies dying, comforted by one of the occupants of Rainbow cottage. He will only be the first to die. But why are they being killed. DCI Jude Satterthwaite and his team investigate.
An enjoyable modern mystery
An enjoyable modern mystery
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