Bells, Tails & Murder

Dickens & Christie #1

by Kathy Manos Penn

A Cotswolds village . . . a grieving heroine . . . two furry sidekicks . . . and a murder!

Do you like heroines who’ve lived a little? Who’ve suffered life’s ups and downs but kept on trucking? Then you’ll love Leta Parker and her new friends in the Cotswold village of Astonbury.

When tragedy strikes Leta Parker’s life, the successful banker and closet sleuth chases a lifelong dream to retire to England. Leaving her friends and neighbors in Atlanta, she settles into Astonbury with her talkative dog and cat, Dickens and Christie. 

Picture her driving a refurbished London taxi to the bookshop and the tearoom, enjoying leisurely walks with Dickens the dog, and sipping coffee in the garden with Christie, her sassy cat.

When Leta stumbles across the dead body of a new acquaintance, her inner Nancy Drew comes out. Before you know it, she’s enlisted the help of Wendy, a retired English teacher friend—and even Wendy’s elderly mum.

Two whipsmart retirees, one spunky senior citizen, and a feisty dog and cat are on the case!

Who better to unearth clues from their friends in the village? Even Dickens and Christie get in on the act gathering intelligence from their four-legged friends and pointing out the obvious to Leta.

What do authors A. A. Milne, Arthur Conan Doyle, and J. M. Barrie have to do with all this?

Is their connection with the Cotswolds merely an interesting bit of trivia, or is it more? Will Leta and Wendy let their literary noses lead them astray?

You’ll be captivated as this unlikely team chases clues and ferrets out a long-buried secret—a scenario that would make any BBC cozy mystery producer proud.  No matter the clues uncovered by Dickens and Christie, you’ll be hard-pressed to guess who the villain is unless, like Leta, you’re able to “talk to the animals.” 

Grab a copy of Bell, Book, and Murder today—book one of a new and finely crafted Cozy Animal Mystery Series by author Kathy Manos Penn.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Animals

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2020

About the author

Kathy Manos Penn lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia with her husband and her four-legged office assistants. When she dreamed of retiring from corporate America, she envisioned indulging in her favorite pastimes—reading, traveling, and writing columns for her local paper. Taking her bucket list trip to England was a top priority.

A second career as an author was never part of the plan—until someone uttered the fateful words, “You should write a cozy mystery.”

Ten books later, readers can’t get enough of the Dickens & Christie mystery series. Kathy adheres to the adage to write what you know and populates her mysteries with well-read, witty senior women, a loyal dog, and a sassy cat.

Her two four-legged office assistants inspire the personalities of Dickens & Christie. Why is Dickens a fiend for belly rubs? Because Kathy’s real-life dog is. The same goes for Christie’s finicky eating habits and penchant for lolling on top of the desk or in the file drawer. She gets it from the calico cat who rules the roost.

How does Kathy describe her life? “I’m living a dream I never knew I had.”

Book I in the series, Bells, Tails & Murder, won a 2020 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award, and Pets, Pens & Murder, Book VII, garnered a 2023 Georgia Author of the Year nomination.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bells, Tails & Murder by Kathy Manos Penn is a cute cozy mystery set in the Cotswolds. Leta Parker is an expat from America who now lives in Great Britain with her black cat, Christie, and her miniature white Pyrennes, Dickens. The village of Astonbury was a perfect backdrop for the mystery and with Leta's ability to talk and understand animals there was never a dull moment.

[📚 Alana (professional book nerd)]

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓚𝓪𝓽𝓱𝔂 𝓜𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓼 𝓟𝓮𝓷𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝓮!

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bells, Tails, and Murder by Kathy Penn is a TREAT for all readers !! This is the first book in her Dickens & Christie Mystery series and it will knock your socks off !!!
I will warn readers that you will be sad for a quick minute when you start reading this book. When you begin you are with Leta and her husband, Henry, while they are enjoying a bike ride unfortunately Henry is in an accident and dies. Fast forward, or in this case, turn the page, and you are with Leta who has moved from the States to the village of Astonbury in the Cotswolds in England. She has purchased an old schoolhouse turned into a quaint cottage, made a bunch of friends and is getting ready to pick up her dog, Dickens and cat Christie from the airport....and boy do they have a lot to say !!
The Dickens & Christie Mystery series has a unique twist in that Leta can understand and talk to animals !! As you read Bells, Tails, & Murder you will love the conversations Leta has with the two pets as well as other animals in the story.
After you get use to Dickens and Christie carrying on conversations with Leta, you are heading to a cocktail party at The Olde Mill Inn with Leta and Dickens. Dickens, you will see, gets to tag along with Leta as a lot of places welcome dogs in the village....some even accommodating with dog beds throughout them. Anyway Dickens is a big hit at the party with everyone and we get to meet a lot of Leta's friends.
The morning after the cocktail party Leta decides to take Dickens for a walk by the cricket pavalion but as soon as they get out of the car, Dickens takes off behind the building and won't stop barking !! When Leta finally catches up to him, he is beside a person laying head down on the ground. Leta determines that the person is dead and also the identity. It is Alice who is a friend of practically everyone in the village as well as housekeeper, baker and maid for Leta and others in the village including The Olde Mill Inn.
Leta teams up with Wendy and her mother Belle to try to find out who killed Alice and why. When the three go to Alice's place to check on her cat, they find the place has been ramshacked and Leta sees some of her knick knacks there. They come to find out that other people have things missing when they look. When Wendy's brother Peter is involved in an accident and Leta finds an old book of Bella's on a bookshelf in the Inn, things get dicey for Leta.
Readers will love digging into this book. And you will have no trouble keeping track of the main characters in the story because Penn has provided you a list of characters with descriptions in the front of the book....sorry she doesn't tell you who the murderer is.....you have to work with Leta and crew to figure that out.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy struck Leta Parker's life when her husband was killed in a biking accident in their home of Atlanta. Two years later, she's retired to a village in Cotswolds England. Living in Astonbury, Leta has made friends and settled into her life with her animal companions, Dickens the dog and Christie the cat.

While on a walk with Dickens one morning, Leta comes upon a body which turns out to be that if Alice, a woman who cleans and bakes for some of the residents. When it turns out that Alice was murdered, Leta is soon looking for clues along with help from her friend, Wendy, and Wendy's mother, Belle, along with Dickens and Christie.

I absolutely loved this book! I laughed out loud in places and was kept on the edge of my seat in others. Well-written with well-rounded characters, this book had me hooked from beginning to end. I was really drawn into the story which led me through a gamut of emotions and I'm very eager for the next book to come out. I highly recommend this book, it's a wonderful read.

[Anita Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I needed while staying inside during the pandemic! I love Leta and her posse of sleuths (her brilliant dog and cat) and her neighbors. The narrator moves from Atlanta to a charming English village where she becomes involved in very un-charming incidents. It is suspenseful and humorous, my favorite kind of mystery. Take a break from worrying and enjoy this delightful who-done-it.

[Leonor Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertainment

A good story for those who enjoy a crime mystery set in England. It is a happy kind of Agatha Christie inspired which included some of my favorites like libraries, book stores, good food.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this first book in the series so much, I've already started the next book. I can't believe I hadn't started this series sooner, but I guess it just took reading the prequel to nudge me on. It's no secret that now Leta's a widow and dealing with her new life in the Cotswolds. I really enjoy all her new friends especially Wendy and Belle. That Belle cracks me up! She definitely uses her little old lady status to the max when she needs to. I could see she was getting the sleuthing bug too!

I was definitely going down the same road for whodunit as Leta was and was surprised at the showdown too. But having Dickens and Christie as pets sure saved the day! I loved what they did to that perp! Sometimes I can hear Sassy's voice from Homeward Bound when Christie talks, lol. She's definitely got that same attitude. The party at the end explaining everything was so awesome with a very cool costume theme!

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bells, Tails & Murder (Dickens & Christie #1)" by Kathy Manos Penn has Leta moving to a Cotswold English town after the death of her husband and retirement from her bank job. She's now writing a couple columns and getting to know her new life in England. She's also can speak to animals, at least cats and dogs haven't heard any other animals talk to her yet.

Her secret ability comes in handy when she and her dog Dickens come across the body of woman who had been her cleaner. One thing leads to another, and multiple book references later, Leta and her pets are helping their cop friend investigate. This one wrapped up about how I expected too but I don't this it was overly obvious either. I do have a lot of cozy mysteries I've read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little more than a year after her husband's tragic bicycle accident, Leta needs a change of scenery. She and her husband have always liked the Cotswolds - so retiring there with her furry family would certainly find his approval.

With "Bells, Tails & Murder", Kathy Manos Penn has created a nicely woven plot, an intriguing story of Leta, Dickens, Christie, and their new-found friends who need to deal with a murder in their midst. "Bells, Tails & Murder" comprises authentic main characters with sufficient depth, nice turns, and room for 'sleuthing along'. I had a great time reading - this is a very entertaining compelling read; I was drawn into the story right away, close to Leta and her canine and feline friends. I liked Leta's stubbornness, the teamwork, the warm-hearted characters, and the knowledge that there are more books in this series. I consider "Bells, Tails & Murder" a highly enjoyable read of the 'feel-good' category.

This is for you if you like cosy mysteries, real communication between humans and animals, and authentic characters.

Highly recommended.

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book

A lovely murder mystery with a dog called Sickens and a cat called Christie that can both talk to their owner. They help solve a murder and catch the person who committed it. This is a clean mystery, no swearing. Just the type of book for reading at bedtime.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm on my way to the Cotswolds to see Leta, Dickens and Christie!

What a wonderful start to a series! The book has everything I enjoy in a cozy - a keep you reading mystery, supporting characters who are interesting and well-written, humor, cozy descriptions of the Cotswolds and it's charming villages, a bit of romance and two of the most unique "sleuthing" partners I've met - Dickens and Christie.

Leta, a retired American banker who relocated to England after a tragic accident left her widowed, finds herself embroiled in mystery and murder in her cozy village. What makes this book so much fun is that Dickens (a mini Pyrenees) and Christie (a sleek black cat) ... no - I can't reveal the twist but I guarantee you'll enjoy the crime solving trio!

I'm getting the second book and can't wait to settle in for a cup of tea and go back to the Cotswolds!

[Kathy Penn]

If you enjoy this book half as much as I enjoyed writing it, you're in for a treat.
Find out how octogenarian Belle Davies is connected to author JM Barrie. Meet her grown twins Wendy & Peter, and best of all meet their new friend Leta Petkas Parker, who's relocated to their village from the States. Of course, if you're an animal lover, your favorite characters may be Dickens the dog and Christie the cat!
Treat yourself to a copy now and let me know what you think. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084X6546S

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Paranormal Cozy Mystery, and This is the first book in the Dickens & Christie series. I read this book by listening to the audiobook for this book, and I liked the narrator. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Dickens (Is a dog) and Christie (is a cat) that are great characters, and I loved both of them so much. I wanted more for Christie. The mystery in this book was so much fun to figure out. I found the mystery interesting and the book so much fun to read. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Jeannie Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like to read a good cozy mystery, you should give Bells, Tails, and Murder a try! For fans of Murder She Wrote, Dr. Doolittle and the game Clue, this book combines elements from all three, as unlikely sleuths Leta, Christie, and Dickens help solve a murder in The Cotswold. Penn has a knack of weaving book history into contemporary situations while adding a touch of whimsical what-ifs to her cozy mysteries. I'm a fan.

[Donna Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very pleasant, enjoyable cozy mystery, a good start to a new series. The main character was intelligent and likable, and the other characters had enough depth to make them interesting. I should say, the main human character, because Christie the cat and Dickens the dog, more than held their own and were delightful. All the literary references made the story fun.

[Sarka B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It is engaging and well written. I like main character Leta and the topic of rare and collectible books interested me a lot. Lela's cat Christie and dog Dickens were lovely but their talking with MC was unusual. Looking forward to reading next one in the serie.

[Mareli Thalwitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally!! A human that can hear and understand cats and dogs speak. Hallelujah! Oh what fun this was! I guess we are a bit late to the party as Bells, Tails & Murder is the first in a series that by now has 9 books out for your reading pleasure. You see, my human isn't as clever as Leta Parker and although she really does try her best, she just doesn't comprehend what I'm trying to tell her most of the time. If she did, we would have read this book and the rest of the series years ago. Thank heavens the lovely author, Kathy Manos Penn, saw my stunning Instagram profile and immediately knew that I am a cat that will have a lot to say about Dickens and Christie, especially Christie of course.

When tragedy strikes, recently widowed Leta Parker leaves the hustle and bustle of Atlanta and moves to her life-long dream destination, The Cotswolds, England. I also had to look it up and I have to say, I can move there too. Her two talkative housemates, Dickens - a white, dwarf Great Pyrenees and Christie - a sassy and opinionated black cat, soon joins our amateur sleuth in her new surroundings.

No sooner has she settled in and made new friends, when she and Dickens stumble (quite literally) upon the body of one of her new acquaintances. In a setting like that - did you honestly think a dead body won't pop up somewhere?

Taking the naming of her two beloved pets into account, Leta's inner Nancy Drew springs to life and a murder needs to be solved. Throw in dealing and scamming in rare books and some not so trivial tidbits on classic authors like J.M. Barrie and A.A. Milne, and the tone is set for a brilliant cozy mystery.

I can't wait for my Mommy to read the rest of the series and if you are just as eager as me to read more about Dickens & Christie's adventures, Kathy would love it if you visit her.

This review was first published @ Elza Reads

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leta Parker’s life changed irrevocably when her husband was killed in an accident while they were out biking. Eighteen months later she had fulfilled her dream of retiring to England and has a pretty, restored and cosy cottage in the Cotswolds. All she needs now is to pick up Dickens, a dwarf Pyrenees and Christie the black cat, from the airport. They both have a moan (literally) and Christie particularly has plenty to say about being crated for the journey. Leta is a female Dr Doolittle and can actually communicate with animals. It’s a fun twist, I’ve often thought it would be perfect I could understand ‘dog speak’. I’m glad, however, that the animals were portrayed and treated as pets and not given human traits (apart from the obvious)

'How life has changed for the three of us. A new home, a new country … and a new life … without Henry. I wondered whether the animals missed him as much as I did.'

Leta has settled into her new life and made some good friends, including fellow ex-pat, Wendy. One morning, on a walk with Dickens, she is shocked and distressed to discover a body in suspicious circumstances. After speaking to the police, Leta feels the need for Wendy’s company and the discussion makes them, and Wendy’s mum Belle, aware they don’t really know the victim, although most people in the village see her in one capacity or another.

'After Wendy helped her mum into the kitchen, she asked me to tell the story again. Every time I repeated it, I found the telling got a bit easier. I almost made it through this time without tears. Belle braced herself on her cane and leaned over to give me a hug.'

Leta and Wendy discover there are multiple potential suspects, even as they shy away from the awful thought of one of their friends being the culprit.

A steady initial build up allows the reader to get acquainted with the characters and form mental images. I enjoyed how J.M. Barrie and his works were written into the story, with a plot line that wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility. And, as always, I love being familiar with the places mentioned in the story. They brought back lots of lovely memories. A quirky and enjoyable cosy mystery.

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times, I love a good, solid, cozy mystery and this one did not disappoint. I received this book free from FreeBooksy.

Leta Parkers life was turned upside down when her husband was tragically killed in a biking accident near their home in Atlanta. Two years have passed and she has retired to the Cotswolds in England. She moves in to a converted old school house in Astonbury and sets out to rebuild her life. Along with her dog, Dickens and her cat, Christie, she is finding life in Astonbury perfect. That is until she stumbles upon the body of a local woman named Alice. Alice cleans and cooks for several members of the tight community and everyone is shocked by her death, even more so, when it is determined that she has in fact been murdered. Why would someone murder such a helpful and kind person?

Leta has a special gift, she can talk with and understand animals. I really liked this aspect of the story and I thought it was really cute. I also loved the premise, I consider myself quite the anglophile and in another life probably could have lived in England and loved every minute of it. The book mentions all my favorites, Dickens, Christie, Poirot, Holmes and even Midsomer Murders. I really felt all the characters were fleshed out well and the story kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to find out who the murderer was and was surprised once again that it was not who I suspected. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read more stories involving Dickens and Christie.

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leta Parker has long been an Anglophile, so after the tragic death of her husband she decides to leave Atlanta, taking her dog and cat to start a new life in a Cotswold village. It’s the perfect setting for a cosy mystery and Leta’s inquiring mind and interest in people make her an ideal detective. But when Leta finds a body in suspicious circumstances, she has trouble convincing local policewoman, Gemma, that she is not just an interfering American with too much time on her hands.

There are many possible villagers who have motives for the murder but they are Leta’s friends so she searches for clues. In an added twist Leta discusses her investigation with dog, Dickens, and cat, Christie. Not only do they understand her, but she can also interpret everything they say. Suspension of disbelief is necessary, but it adds to the fun! At times I had problems remembering who was who, so the list of characters at the beginning of the book was really helpful.

Readers on both sides of the pond will appreciate the descriptions of a visit to Oxford and of the charming imaginary Cotswold village. The setting reminded me of the adventures of Agatha Raisin with a little bit of Midsummer Murder and it is a good choice appealing to both a British and an American audience. If you fancy a light read with a mystery to solve its great escapism.

[Samantha Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this as a joke because the cover was so cute and silly. Well, it turns out it’s actually a great cozy mystery, with a plot that’s relevant to my interests: rare books and manuscripts.

Also on more than one occasion, the main character sets up a slideshow of crime scene photos for her cat to review and look for clues. Which is just outstanding to me.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery full of charm and bookish references. Leta Parker, with the help of her witty animal companions, unravels the mystery of a dead woman and a valuable book. Lighthearted, clever, and heartwarming—perfect for readers who love puzzles, pets, and village life. I especially loved the literary nods and the sweet friendship between Leta and her pets.

[Deborah Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books and letters

A talking dog and cat with their owner make for a interesting read with murder, old books and valuable letters

[Susan Aceto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting

This is a very good cozy mystery. The characters are well fleshed out and true. The four legged sleuths are vocal and loyal. Enjoyable to the end.

[Cherrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!!

[hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mes amis, if happiness is to be found in an evening with good friends and good food, we are fortunate, non? Cheers!”

Awesome read. Wonderful characters, both human and animals.
Loved the mystery.
Can't wait to read the next book

[Mary Barnett]

delightful light reading-hope to read some more of her books

[Naticia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this lovely cozy in one sitting. The talking animals were handled well (don't you wish your cat could talk?), the mystery was intricate without being complicated, and the setting was lovely. Would read others in the series.

[Ann Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, Dickens the protective dog and Christie the smart cat, always there for their owner

An early retirement to a small town in England was not really the plan but after her husband died and she realized she had the money to do it, that's where she went. Being a former English major and an avid book reader, the small town she once visited with her husband where some famous writers had vacationed for years seemed the place to start her next chapter in life. She never expected to find a dead body and someone she knew, but becoming an amateur detective with her new friends, well what else is a mystery book reader to do.

Read it beginning to end in one day. An enjoyable good read.