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The Nosey Parker Mysteries #4
A Cornish Christmas Murder
A PINCH OF PARANOIA
It’s three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is drafted in to cater a charity event run by a notorious millionaire at a 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moor.
A DASH OF DECEPTION
Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed…
A MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE
Secrets mull in every corner – can Jodie solve the crime before the killer strikes again?
A Cornish Christmas Murder is a must-read mystery full of heart and humour – perfect for fans of Richard Osman and The Appeal.
This title was previously published in the US as A Murder Under the Mistletoe.
It’s three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is drafted in to cater a charity event run by a notorious millionaire at a 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moor.
A DASH OF DECEPTION
Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed…
A MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE
Secrets mull in every corner – can Jodie solve the crime before the killer strikes again?
A Cornish Christmas Murder is a must-read mystery full of heart and humour – perfect for fans of Richard Osman and The Appeal.
This title was previously published in the US as A Murder Under the Mistletoe.
368 pages, Paperback
Published December 9, 2021
1913 people are currently reading
1166 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Leitch
26 books403 followersFiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She’s written for football and motoring magazines, DJ’ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called 'Sod Off'. After living in London and Cornwall she's finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters.
The first book in her 'Nosey Parker' series of cozy mysteries set in Cornwall will be published by One More Chapter in January 2021, with books 2 and 3 following in February and March.
Her debut novel 'Dead in Venice' was published by Audible in 2018 as one of their Crime Grant finalists. Fiona also writes screenplays and was a finalist in the Athena Film Festival Writers Lab, co-run by Meryl Streep's IRIS company.
Fiona is represented by Lina Langlee at the North Literary Agency.
The first book in her 'Nosey Parker' series of cozy mysteries set in Cornwall will be published by One More Chapter in January 2021, with books 2 and 3 following in February and March.
Her debut novel 'Dead in Venice' was published by Audible in 2018 as one of their Crime Grant finalists. Fiona also writes screenplays and was a finalist in the Athena Film Festival Writers Lab, co-run by Meryl Streep's IRIS company.
Fiona is represented by Lina Langlee at the North Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
December 24, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
When Jodie Parker's old school chum, Lily, invites her to cater a children's charity event hosted by a notorious millionaire, she graciously accepts.
It's just the type of job Jodie needs in order to get her new catering business off the ground.
The event is set to be held just three days before Christmas at an old abbey on Bodmin Moor. The location is remote, but the property is a real beauty, full of interesting history and details.
It is also currently being transformed by Lily and her employer, Trevor, into a boutique hotel.
As Jodie arrives on the night of the event, with her mother, daughter, best friend and dog in tow, the snow begins to fall in earnest.
Over the course of the night, with all the festivities going on, Jodie is too busy to notice that it never really stops. By the time things are wrapped up and Jodie and friends have cleaned and packed, it's too messy to leave.
Although communication with the outside world is spotty, they do receive word that the roads through the Moors are blocked. They have no choice but to stay the night.
There are plenty of rooms, heat and food to accommodate the group left over, which includes, in addition to the caterer and her staff, Lily, her employer, the millionaire, his son and assistant, a Santa impersonator, a small group of Japanese eco-tourists and a stranded couple trying to travel home from a dinner party.
Early the next morning, one of the guests is discovered dead in his room. From the looks of the scene, it wasn't a natural death.
Luckily, Jodie Parker, isn't your standard caterer. She's recently resigned from the Metropolitan Police and this isn't the first murder she's investigated.
Able to briefly contact her DCI boyfriend, Nathan, Jodie explains the situation and has Nathan call help for them.
Now she just has to keep the scene under control until the police force is able to arrive. Easier said than done.
I had so much fun reading this. It has a classic set-up and likable, hilarious characters.
Further, it featured some of my favorite Mystery tropes. This Cornish Cozy gave me exactly the vibe I was hoping for rolling into the holiday season.
I know the more books that I read in this series, the more attached I am going to get to these characters. Rest assured, I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
The investigation was a hoot. The dynamic between Jodie and her family had me giggling throughout. The narrative is wacky, wild and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Leitch has got quite a sense of humor.
Thank you so much to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I recommend picking this one up over the holiday season. Give yourself an escape for a bit. Sit back, put your feet up and have a laugh!
When Jodie Parker's old school chum, Lily, invites her to cater a children's charity event hosted by a notorious millionaire, she graciously accepts.
It's just the type of job Jodie needs in order to get her new catering business off the ground.
The event is set to be held just three days before Christmas at an old abbey on Bodmin Moor. The location is remote, but the property is a real beauty, full of interesting history and details.
It is also currently being transformed by Lily and her employer, Trevor, into a boutique hotel.
As Jodie arrives on the night of the event, with her mother, daughter, best friend and dog in tow, the snow begins to fall in earnest.
Over the course of the night, with all the festivities going on, Jodie is too busy to notice that it never really stops. By the time things are wrapped up and Jodie and friends have cleaned and packed, it's too messy to leave.
Although communication with the outside world is spotty, they do receive word that the roads through the Moors are blocked. They have no choice but to stay the night.
There are plenty of rooms, heat and food to accommodate the group left over, which includes, in addition to the caterer and her staff, Lily, her employer, the millionaire, his son and assistant, a Santa impersonator, a small group of Japanese eco-tourists and a stranded couple trying to travel home from a dinner party.
Early the next morning, one of the guests is discovered dead in his room. From the looks of the scene, it wasn't a natural death.
Luckily, Jodie Parker, isn't your standard caterer. She's recently resigned from the Metropolitan Police and this isn't the first murder she's investigated.
Able to briefly contact her DCI boyfriend, Nathan, Jodie explains the situation and has Nathan call help for them.
Now she just has to keep the scene under control until the police force is able to arrive. Easier said than done.
I had so much fun reading this. It has a classic set-up and likable, hilarious characters.
Further, it featured some of my favorite Mystery tropes. This Cornish Cozy gave me exactly the vibe I was hoping for rolling into the holiday season.
I know the more books that I read in this series, the more attached I am going to get to these characters. Rest assured, I will definitely be reading the other books in this series.
The investigation was a hoot. The dynamic between Jodie and her family had me giggling throughout. The narrative is wacky, wild and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Leitch has got quite a sense of humor.
Thank you so much to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I recommend picking this one up over the holiday season. Give yourself an escape for a bit. Sit back, put your feet up and have a laugh!
December 9, 2021
EXCERPT: The room had been built out of that thick grey stone, the doorway opening out onto a wide spacious room that nonetheless felt quite dark; instead of the large casement windows overlooking the grounds that the downstairs rooms had, the exterior wall here, in the older part of the house, had a row of small windows hung with thick tapestry curtains, which blocked out the weak sunlight. An internal wall had been added to partition off what I assumed was an en-suite bathroom or dressing room. It was painted a rich dark red - blood red, I thought. The floor was more of the grey stone, but covered in a thick rug that felt soft and warm underfoot. The overall effect was surprisingly warm and cosy, a perfect romantic winter retreat - but for the shape of the body on the beautifully carved wooden four poster bed.
ABOUT 'A CORNISH CHRISTMAS MURDER': A PINCH OF PARANOIA
It’s three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is drafted in to cater a charity event run by a notorious millionaire at a 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moor.
A DASH OF DECEPTION
Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed…
A MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE
Secrets mull like wine on the stove in every corner – can Jodie solve the crime before the killer strikes again?
MY THOUGHTS: Three nights before Christmas, and all through the house, nothing is stirring - except for a murderer.
Although I had not read any of the three previous books - something I intend to remedy immediately - I soon felt like I knew these characters well. Jodie just can't keep her nose out of other people's business, and it seems that it's a family trait thirteen year old Daisy has inherited. Jodie's mother Shirley is a menace; she has absolutely no filter and eats all the biscuits. Friend Debbie an ex-nurse, along to help with the catering, finds herself assisting in a murder enquiry. These four form an irascible bunch, and a formidable one. But wait! I'm forgetting Germaine, an adorable Pomeranian who completes the troupe. Yes, there are references to Enid Blyton's Famous Five made.
The story flows freely with a good cast of supporting characters, none of whom seem to have any sort of motive for killing the obese Santa impersonator. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader entertained, and the story is written with well judged humor and wit.
The setting is a magnificent and atmospheric old abbey in the throes of being converted into a luxury hotel. It boasts a ghost, secret rooms and passages, a wonderful library or two, and a whole heap of history.
This is a fun entertaining read, and I can't wait to read more in this series. And the bonus: a lovely Christmas recipe is provided at the end. I've never made my own Christmas mince pies, but I am tempted to give these a try.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.7
#ACornishChristmasMurder #NetGalley
I: @leitchfiona @onemorechapterhc
T: @fkleitch @OneMoreChapter
#christmasfiction #contemporaryfiction #cookbook #cozymystery #detectivefiction #domesticdrama #mystery #romance
THE AUTHOR: Fiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She’s written for football and motoring magazines, DJ’ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called 'Sod Off'. After living in London and Cornwall she's finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Cornish Christmas Murder by Fiona Leitch for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'A CORNISH CHRISTMAS MURDER': A PINCH OF PARANOIA
It’s three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is drafted in to cater a charity event run by a notorious millionaire at a 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moor.
A DASH OF DECEPTION
Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed…
A MURDER UNDER THE MISTLETOE
Secrets mull like wine on the stove in every corner – can Jodie solve the crime before the killer strikes again?
MY THOUGHTS: Three nights before Christmas, and all through the house, nothing is stirring - except for a murderer.
Although I had not read any of the three previous books - something I intend to remedy immediately - I soon felt like I knew these characters well. Jodie just can't keep her nose out of other people's business, and it seems that it's a family trait thirteen year old Daisy has inherited. Jodie's mother Shirley is a menace; she has absolutely no filter and eats all the biscuits. Friend Debbie an ex-nurse, along to help with the catering, finds herself assisting in a murder enquiry. These four form an irascible bunch, and a formidable one. But wait! I'm forgetting Germaine, an adorable Pomeranian who completes the troupe. Yes, there are references to Enid Blyton's Famous Five made.
The story flows freely with a good cast of supporting characters, none of whom seem to have any sort of motive for killing the obese Santa impersonator. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader entertained, and the story is written with well judged humor and wit.
The setting is a magnificent and atmospheric old abbey in the throes of being converted into a luxury hotel. It boasts a ghost, secret rooms and passages, a wonderful library or two, and a whole heap of history.
This is a fun entertaining read, and I can't wait to read more in this series. And the bonus: a lovely Christmas recipe is provided at the end. I've never made my own Christmas mince pies, but I am tempted to give these a try.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.7
#ACornishChristmasMurder #NetGalley
I: @leitchfiona @onemorechapterhc
T: @fkleitch @OneMoreChapter
#christmasfiction #contemporaryfiction #cookbook #cozymystery #detectivefiction #domesticdrama #mystery #romance
THE AUTHOR: Fiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She’s written for football and motoring magazines, DJ’ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called 'Sod Off'. After living in London and Cornwall she's finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Cornish Christmas Murder by Fiona Leitch for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 29, 2021
A Cornish Christmas Murder
by Fiona Leitch brings a death, but also some humor to the fourth book in the Nosey Parker cozy mystery series set in a 13th-century abbey on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England. Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker has moved back to her home town of Penstowan after leaving the London police force. She has retrained as a caterer and started Banquets and Bakes, her own catering company. With three days before Christmas, she’s been asked to cater a children’s Christmas party put together by Isaac Barnes. He’s a multi-millionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Jodie has enlisted the help of her mom Shirley, her daughter Daisy, and her friend Debbie. As they are cleaning up, things get complicated when roads are closed due to a snowstorm that strands them along with 8 others plus the owner and his two employees. When one of the guests is found dead, Jodie puts on her investigation hat.
With this fourth book, it now seemed like I was visiting with old friends. Jodie’s sense of humor and warmth continues to shine in this story. She was a likeable and friendly character with a need to investigate that I continued to connect with. The secondary characters continue to develop. In this case, we saw more growth in Daisy and Debbie, but I missed seeing Tony. While Nathan only showed up at the end of the novel, his and Jodie’s interactions continue to be varied and range from witty to serious. Instead of only quaint characters, this cozy has several realistic characters that add to the depth of the story. Pomeranian Germaine was along for the trip and added cuteness and stress relief at various times.
The writing style continues to flow well and take this reader to Cornwall. The author did a good job of transporting me to the ancient abbey with ‘showing’ versus ‘telling’ which made the novel more enjoyable. The story had several twists, a couple of surprises at the end and gives readers food for thought. A possible ghost, a priest hole, a sordid history, and a hidden library add ambience. Additionally, having a sleuth that was not an amateur continues to bring depth to the novel that is often lacking in cozy mysteries.
Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Jodie’s world. It was a fun, appealing and entertaining read with a solid mystery to unravel and a fresh take on the protagonist. All of the major plot points were resolved satisfactorily, the atmosphere was just right. Themes include friendship, parent-child relationships, alcoholism, grief, secrets, and death. Relationships continue to play a major role in this series.
I recommend the novel to those that enjoy the genre. It was a fun and relaxing read and I can’t wait for the next book featuring Jodie and her family and friends. For more enjoyment, the books are best read in order, but they can be read as a standalone.
HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Fiona Leitch provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Jodie has enlisted the help of her mom Shirley, her daughter Daisy, and her friend Debbie. As they are cleaning up, things get complicated when roads are closed due to a snowstorm that strands them along with 8 others plus the owner and his two employees. When one of the guests is found dead, Jodie puts on her investigation hat.
With this fourth book, it now seemed like I was visiting with old friends. Jodie’s sense of humor and warmth continues to shine in this story. She was a likeable and friendly character with a need to investigate that I continued to connect with. The secondary characters continue to develop. In this case, we saw more growth in Daisy and Debbie, but I missed seeing Tony. While Nathan only showed up at the end of the novel, his and Jodie’s interactions continue to be varied and range from witty to serious. Instead of only quaint characters, this cozy has several realistic characters that add to the depth of the story. Pomeranian Germaine was along for the trip and added cuteness and stress relief at various times.
The writing style continues to flow well and take this reader to Cornwall. The author did a good job of transporting me to the ancient abbey with ‘showing’ versus ‘telling’ which made the novel more enjoyable. The story had several twists, a couple of surprises at the end and gives readers food for thought. A possible ghost, a priest hole, a sordid history, and a hidden library add ambience. Additionally, having a sleuth that was not an amateur continues to bring depth to the novel that is often lacking in cozy mysteries.
Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Jodie’s world. It was a fun, appealing and entertaining read with a solid mystery to unravel and a fresh take on the protagonist. All of the major plot points were resolved satisfactorily, the atmosphere was just right. Themes include friendship, parent-child relationships, alcoholism, grief, secrets, and death. Relationships continue to play a major role in this series.
I recommend the novel to those that enjoy the genre. It was a fun and relaxing read and I can’t wait for the next book featuring Jodie and her family and friends. For more enjoyment, the books are best read in order, but they can be read as a standalone.
HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Fiona Leitch provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
November 29, 2021
3.5 rounded up.
A few days before Christmas Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker, ex-Met, now a caterer, plus her mum Shirley, daughter Daisy, friend Debbie and the Pomeranian Germaine (great name for a dog!) limp into Kingseat Abbey in the Gimpmobile which is on its last legs and struggling to find traction in the snow. Jodie’s pal from school Lily Swann works at Kingseat which is in the process of being transformed into a luxury hotel. Today’s event for which Jodie is catering is a large children’s party paid for by Isaac Barnes a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist. The party is success, the inevitable sugar rush causing huge excitement and a smidgeon of chaos. Unfortunately, post party the weather worsens, the roads are blocked and they’re stranded. The arrival of four young Japanese tourists whose hire car is languishing in a ditch and asking for shelter plus two others who raise Jodie’s suspicion filter up several notches makes twelve guests and of course - one dramatic murder. Ladies and gentlemen we have us a snowed in locked mansion mystery!
This is a fun series peppered with good humour, some of which is the chortling kind, some elicits a wry smile while other comments make you wince - that’ll be you Shirley. You’re a lovely woman but I’m sure glad you ain’t my ma! Jodie is a terrific character, she just can’t help poking her nosy Parker former police officer nose into investigations. In fact we have a sort of Famous Five reincarnation with Jodie at the helm, with Lily, Debbie and Daisy being useful while Shirley is probably hindering! Kingseat Abbey which dates from the thirteenth century adds tons of atmosphere and of course all the ubiquitous features of an ancient building with quite a history. A ghost maybe, a hidden library, secret passages and priest holes all of which are used effectively in the plot. Add in some colourful characters, a murder that gives rise to some vivid mental images in your mind, the cold weather, the inevitable dead phone lines and obviously, no mobile signal. There’s nothing hugely original here apart from the death but it is fun, well, obviously not for the victim. You can guess the whodunnit but you don’t guess the whydunnit and even the howdunnit which is very creative! My only negative is that the author takes a while to get to the main event, it builds slowly, there are some extraneous details but it’s an entertaining if circuitous (snowy) path to the murder.
Overall, this series is fun, light hearted cozy mysteries. I like the way they’re written as if Jodie is talking directly to the reader sharing jokes, secrets and asides.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated widget in return for an honest review.
A few days before Christmas Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker, ex-Met, now a caterer, plus her mum Shirley, daughter Daisy, friend Debbie and the Pomeranian Germaine (great name for a dog!) limp into Kingseat Abbey in the Gimpmobile which is on its last legs and struggling to find traction in the snow. Jodie’s pal from school Lily Swann works at Kingseat which is in the process of being transformed into a luxury hotel. Today’s event for which Jodie is catering is a large children’s party paid for by Isaac Barnes a wealthy entrepreneur and philanthropist. The party is success, the inevitable sugar rush causing huge excitement and a smidgeon of chaos. Unfortunately, post party the weather worsens, the roads are blocked and they’re stranded. The arrival of four young Japanese tourists whose hire car is languishing in a ditch and asking for shelter plus two others who raise Jodie’s suspicion filter up several notches makes twelve guests and of course - one dramatic murder. Ladies and gentlemen we have us a snowed in locked mansion mystery!
This is a fun series peppered with good humour, some of which is the chortling kind, some elicits a wry smile while other comments make you wince - that’ll be you Shirley. You’re a lovely woman but I’m sure glad you ain’t my ma! Jodie is a terrific character, she just can’t help poking her nosy Parker former police officer nose into investigations. In fact we have a sort of Famous Five reincarnation with Jodie at the helm, with Lily, Debbie and Daisy being useful while Shirley is probably hindering! Kingseat Abbey which dates from the thirteenth century adds tons of atmosphere and of course all the ubiquitous features of an ancient building with quite a history. A ghost maybe, a hidden library, secret passages and priest holes all of which are used effectively in the plot. Add in some colourful characters, a murder that gives rise to some vivid mental images in your mind, the cold weather, the inevitable dead phone lines and obviously, no mobile signal. There’s nothing hugely original here apart from the death but it is fun, well, obviously not for the victim. You can guess the whodunnit but you don’t guess the whydunnit and even the howdunnit which is very creative! My only negative is that the author takes a while to get to the main event, it builds slowly, there are some extraneous details but it’s an entertaining if circuitous (snowy) path to the murder.
Overall, this series is fun, light hearted cozy mysteries. I like the way they’re written as if Jodie is talking directly to the reader sharing jokes, secrets and asides.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated widget in return for an honest review.
November 20, 2021
I picked this book up because it is set in Cornwall and I am a sucker for all things Cornish. It must be nostalgia for all the holidays I spent there as a child. A Cornish Christmas Murder takes place in an old house on Bodmin Moor and it has all the atmosphere of the place that I could wish for.
The action takes place when a number of unrelated people become stranded in the house during a very heavy snow storm. The roads are impassable, the phones unreliable and of course someone is murdered! Jodie Parker and her team of caterers are there to attempt some sleuthing while they wait for the police to be able to arrive.
I enjoyed Jodie's character very much and thought it was a good idea on the author's part to make her an ex police woman. This background made her more reliable in her investigations than the usual MC in this type of cosy, plus her boyfriend, Nathan, is a Detective Inspector who is happy to involve her in his cases.
Good characters, nicely written and an excellent recipe at the end for mince pies! This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The action takes place when a number of unrelated people become stranded in the house during a very heavy snow storm. The roads are impassable, the phones unreliable and of course someone is murdered! Jodie Parker and her team of caterers are there to attempt some sleuthing while they wait for the police to be able to arrive.
I enjoyed Jodie's character very much and thought it was a good idea on the author's part to make her an ex police woman. This background made her more reliable in her investigations than the usual MC in this type of cosy, plus her boyfriend, Nathan, is a Detective Inspector who is happy to involve her in his cases.
Good characters, nicely written and an excellent recipe at the end for mince pies! This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 2, 2025
Two friends and I wanted a Christmas buddy read and we settled on this. It’s a nice cozy mystery in the closed room style. I had not read the earlier books in the series but it didn’t matter. This works fine as a stand-alone.
Jodie walked away from her career as a policewoman and became a caterer. As a single mom, it was a better career choice for her and her teenage daughter. But apparently, she keeps finding herself on the scenes of murders and can’t help but be a “Nosy Parker”. She’s an engaging, realistic FMC and I also adored her family. Her mom provides large doses of comic relief.
Leitch does a great job of setting the scene. It was easy to envision each scene. That is, until the big denouement as I just couldn’t get my brain to envision how it all went down to really work. What should have been clever fell flat as it seemed impossible to have taken place as written. . Also, the one big twist was actually way too easy to envision, both the who and how, if not the why.
It was a lovely touch to have a recipe in the back for mince pies.
But despite a questionable ending, I look forward to the other Christmas murder book in the series. This, as with most other cozy mysteries, relies more on the characters than any great twists of plot.
Jodie walked away from her career as a policewoman and became a caterer. As a single mom, it was a better career choice for her and her teenage daughter. But apparently, she keeps finding herself on the scenes of murders and can’t help but be a “Nosy Parker”. She’s an engaging, realistic FMC and I also adored her family. Her mom provides large doses of comic relief.
Leitch does a great job of setting the scene. It was easy to envision each scene. That is, until the big denouement as I just couldn’t get my brain to envision how it all went down to really work. What should have been clever fell flat as it seemed impossible to have taken place as written. . Also, the one big twist was actually way too easy to envision, both the who and how, if not the why.
It was a lovely touch to have a recipe in the back for mince pies.
But despite a questionable ending, I look forward to the other Christmas murder book in the series. This, as with most other cozy mysteries, relies more on the characters than any great twists of plot.
November 10, 2021
A shabby van called the Gimpmobile with four quirky passengers and a dog arrive at a remote - and possibly haunted - manor. They cater for a Christmas kiddies feast, but after all the little ticks are gone, they unexpectedly have to spend the night as they get snowed in. Of course, during the night: a MURDER most horrid is committed!
Do you get Scooby Do vibes yet?
By chance, the caterers consist of one former detective and three amateur sleuths and they will do everything in their power to find the murderer. Unlucky for them, the evening before saw a whole array of lost passengers driving in, totaling the number to 17. Add a manor with lots of rooms and even more secret passages and they have a conundrum at hand. No surprise that the most read sentence is "I have no idea". Then the real police arrives and together, they manage to solve the mystery.
Scooby snacks anyone?
This was my first so called cozy mystery, but I think it is a genre that I will leave alone. I find it very hard to associate a brutal murder (are there any other?), with giddy characters that make jokes all the time. I didn't like it, but it has more to do with my not liking this genre, than with this particular book. So please, if you are into cozy, pick it up and give it a try!
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins and the author for an ARC, it is much appreciated.
Do you get Scooby Do vibes yet?
By chance, the caterers consist of one former detective and three amateur sleuths and they will do everything in their power to find the murderer. Unlucky for them, the evening before saw a whole array of lost passengers driving in, totaling the number to 17. Add a manor with lots of rooms and even more secret passages and they have a conundrum at hand. No surprise that the most read sentence is "I have no idea". Then the real police arrives and together, they manage to solve the mystery.
Scooby snacks anyone?
This was my first so called cozy mystery, but I think it is a genre that I will leave alone. I find it very hard to associate a brutal murder (are there any other?), with giddy characters that make jokes all the time. I didn't like it, but it has more to do with my not liking this genre, than with this particular book. So please, if you are into cozy, pick it up and give it a try!
A sincere thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins and the author for an ARC, it is much appreciated.
December 4, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
A Nosey Parker Cosy Mystery Book 4
It's three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie "Nosey" Parker is drafted in to cater for a charity event run by the notorious millionaire at a thirteenth century abbey on Bodmin Moor. Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed.
This is the first book in the series that I've read. With a snowstorm and the phones off, the guests at a charity dinner are stranded with a killer amongst them. This is a cosy, easy to read murder mystery. The characters are believable and well rounded. This book does read well as a standalone. It's filled with twists and surprises.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #FionaLeitch for my ARC of #ACornishChristmasMurder in exchange for an honest review.
A Nosey Parker Cosy Mystery Book 4
It's three days before Christmas, and detective-turned-chef Jodie "Nosey" Parker is drafted in to cater for a charity event run by the notorious millionaire at a thirteenth century abbey on Bodmin Moor. Things get more complicated when a snowstorm descends, stranding them all, and the next morning they find one of the guests has been gruesomely murdered in their bed.
This is the first book in the series that I've read. With a snowstorm and the phones off, the guests at a charity dinner are stranded with a killer amongst them. This is a cosy, easy to read murder mystery. The characters are believable and well rounded. This book does read well as a standalone. It's filled with twists and surprises.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #FionaLeitch for my ARC of #ACornishChristmasMurder in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2021
This was a sweet cozy mystery which I throughly enjoyed. The characters made me laugh and I enjoyed the setting in Cornwall. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
December 9, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, Fiona Leitch, and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this book! It releases tomorrow, December 9th, 2021!
So I am still trying to figure out my feelings about A Cornish Christmas Murder by Fiona Leitch. It falls into the “cozy mystery” genre. We meet Jodie “Nosey” Parker and her random catering crew. When I say random, I mean Nana, her daughter-Daisy, and their dog. They go to this billionaire’s hotel to cater a charity event for children. Yep. She brought her dog to a billionaire’s charity event. The event goes along just fine, but it is the snowstorm that keeps all of the workers at the hotel overnight. Then the next morning, there seems to have been a murder! Lo and Behold, Jodie used to be a police officer so naturally, she and her catering crew start investigating.
So I have read cozy mysteries before and I enjoy them. They are not exactly known for their realistic nature when it comes to police procedures. But this one definitely didn’t come close to being realistic. I am still pretty distracted by the fact that she brought her dog to this event when she is the caterer. I love dogs! I prefer them over people…but should the dog be there? No. It wasn’t like he is Scooby-Doo and helping solve the mystery.
Moving on. I loved the banter! I even chuckled out loud a few times. Nana was a hoot. I wish she were the main character. I could take or leave Jodie, she didn’t really interest me. But let me tell you, the murder doesn’t happen until a third of the way into the book. I can’t tell you how close I was to putting the book down because the murder took so long. So, the murder is pretty gruesome. But it was like the murder didn’t even matter! I get that some of the people weren’t close to the victim, but how could you be that…jolly at a murder scene. It reminded me of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove.
I was more concerned about the murder than the characters. Then there is the fact that I predicted the ending. I also wasn’t a fan that three Japanese characters were brought in, but they couldn’t speak English and they weren’t even given names! If you aren’t going to have a murder take place until one-third of the way into the book, then you have time to introduce all the characters. I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
So I am still trying to figure out my feelings about A Cornish Christmas Murder by Fiona Leitch. It falls into the “cozy mystery” genre. We meet Jodie “Nosey” Parker and her random catering crew. When I say random, I mean Nana, her daughter-Daisy, and their dog. They go to this billionaire’s hotel to cater a charity event for children. Yep. She brought her dog to a billionaire’s charity event. The event goes along just fine, but it is the snowstorm that keeps all of the workers at the hotel overnight. Then the next morning, there seems to have been a murder! Lo and Behold, Jodie used to be a police officer so naturally, she and her catering crew start investigating.
So I have read cozy mysteries before and I enjoy them. They are not exactly known for their realistic nature when it comes to police procedures. But this one definitely didn’t come close to being realistic. I am still pretty distracted by the fact that she brought her dog to this event when she is the caterer. I love dogs! I prefer them over people…but should the dog be there? No. It wasn’t like he is Scooby-Doo and helping solve the mystery.
Moving on. I loved the banter! I even chuckled out loud a few times. Nana was a hoot. I wish she were the main character. I could take or leave Jodie, she didn’t really interest me. But let me tell you, the murder doesn’t happen until a third of the way into the book. I can’t tell you how close I was to putting the book down because the murder took so long. So, the murder is pretty gruesome. But it was like the murder didn’t even matter! I get that some of the people weren’t close to the victim, but how could you be that…jolly at a murder scene. It reminded me of Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove.
I was more concerned about the murder than the characters. Then there is the fact that I predicted the ending. I also wasn’t a fan that three Japanese characters were brought in, but they couldn’t speak English and they weren’t even given names! If you aren’t going to have a murder take place until one-third of the way into the book, then you have time to introduce all the characters. I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
December 23, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a super fun cozy! Well written. Stood up well as a standalone. Well paced. Humourous. Loved the setting. Likable characters. A satisfying ending, plus a bonus yummy sounding recipe for mincemeat tarts (a personal fave of mine).
The only niggle I had with this one was I didn't find it particularly "festive". Yes, it takes place around Christmas, yes there was a fake Santa, but I didn't feel the Christmas vibe throughout most of the book. Not a deal breaker for me, as I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just enjoy holiday cozies to be festive on steroids. 🤷🏻♀️😂
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This was a super fun cozy! Well written. Stood up well as a standalone. Well paced. Humourous. Loved the setting. Likable characters. A satisfying ending, plus a bonus yummy sounding recipe for mincemeat tarts (a personal fave of mine).
The only niggle I had with this one was I didn't find it particularly "festive". Yes, it takes place around Christmas, yes there was a fake Santa, but I didn't feel the Christmas vibe throughout most of the book. Not a deal breaker for me, as I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just enjoy holiday cozies to be festive on steroids. 🤷🏻♀️😂
**ARC Via NetGalley**
December 12, 2021
You know when children have done something wrong and they try to hide it by trying to put exaggerated focus on other things while avoiding any mention of what happened so you will not notice their naughty act, but the only thing they achieve (apart from priceless cute moments) is for you to actually realise it faster because of that behavior?
That is A Cornish Christmas Murder in a nutshell.
It is a very cozy book with likable characters and enough information to relate to most that matter, BUT the author tries to put under the radar everyone except 1 person. And they try to excuse that person and avoid giving them more attention, but it only raises more suspicion, given that they should know a lot about the place. Which in turn, it makes a lot of the scenes a bit too much considering.
Despite this being a great flaw, the book is still very fun to read. The way it approaches the whole detective work is more casual, with more amateur people being involved and not dark. It is almost like a game or an escape room, but it still holds that idea of danger in the corner. I always appreciate a story that knows how to make you feel welcome one way or another. This book chose to have a more relaxed environment and it really worked.
That is A Cornish Christmas Murder in a nutshell.
It is a very cozy book with likable characters and enough information to relate to most that matter, BUT the author tries to put under the radar everyone except 1 person. And they try to excuse that person and avoid giving them more attention, but it only raises more suspicion, given that they should know a lot about the place. Which in turn, it makes a lot of the scenes a bit too much considering.
Despite this being a great flaw, the book is still very fun to read. The way it approaches the whole detective work is more casual, with more amateur people being involved and not dark. It is almost like a game or an escape room, but it still holds that idea of danger in the corner. I always appreciate a story that knows how to make you feel welcome one way or another. This book chose to have a more relaxed environment and it really worked.
November 5, 2021
Merry Christmas to Nosey Parker (Jodie) and her friends. Well it will be once the small matter of a dead body appearing the morning after a charity event in a large abbey on Bodmin Moor, where Jodie had been catering the night before and ended up staying the night due to snow, turns up.
And so within this cosy mystery series we have the sort of mystery that I always really enjoy when I come across one - a locked room mystery. It is clear that the killer is amongst those at the manor that night, and due to snow related delays it takes a while for the police to arrive, by which stage well Jodie just can't help herself.
It was great to be able to catch up with old friends, and I felt right at home within the pages of this book within the first few pages. I was intrigued by the setting and what we learn about the building, while also rather hoping that just one of Jodie's catering jobs wouldn't involve a dead body - they do seem to follow her around!
Although this time even her daughter, Daisy seems to want to get in on the action, and together with their dog, a friend, and Jodie's mum we have a "crack team" of amateur sleuths trying work out just who did what and when.
As there were assorted people not quite acting normally, there are all manner of secrets to be revealed.
Another excellent addition to this series, which I whizzed through as I was enjoying the story so much. A great Christmas cozy mystery and I am already looking forward to seeing what the the next book in the series will bring.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
And so within this cosy mystery series we have the sort of mystery that I always really enjoy when I come across one - a locked room mystery. It is clear that the killer is amongst those at the manor that night, and due to snow related delays it takes a while for the police to arrive, by which stage well Jodie just can't help herself.
It was great to be able to catch up with old friends, and I felt right at home within the pages of this book within the first few pages. I was intrigued by the setting and what we learn about the building, while also rather hoping that just one of Jodie's catering jobs wouldn't involve a dead body - they do seem to follow her around!
Although this time even her daughter, Daisy seems to want to get in on the action, and together with their dog, a friend, and Jodie's mum we have a "crack team" of amateur sleuths trying work out just who did what and when.
As there were assorted people not quite acting normally, there are all manner of secrets to be revealed.
Another excellent addition to this series, which I whizzed through as I was enjoying the story so much. A great Christmas cozy mystery and I am already looking forward to seeing what the the next book in the series will bring.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
November 4, 2021
Hear that? It's the sound of an unpopular opinion coming!
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for review, unfortunately I cannot say I'm very impressed. I read a third of this before throwing my hands up and reaching for something else.
I came for cozy locked-room mystery ambience and was instead disappointed and off-put before the murder even happened. I mean, in the first few sentences the main character calls their old van the gimpmobile? Seriously? Is that less a derogatory term in the U.K. than here, because as a disabled reader I was offended.
The depiction of the asian characters in this book was horrendous. I am not sure what artistic liberty was being taken or why they were even included, unless it was a very misguided attempt at diversity. They were referred to as one cohesive unit, "the Japanese girls". The ones who can't speak much English aren't even given names? Awful.
Our POV narration took bizarre turns. A weirdly defensive few lines about "being British OK" when she wanted a cup of tea past midnight. Okay? I know I'm reading an English story? There were also a lot of very random anecdotes about cooking class, which...Must be a characteristic of this series? I thought this was a standalone book when I requested it, and I certainly won't be trying the rest.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy for review, unfortunately I cannot say I'm very impressed. I read a third of this before throwing my hands up and reaching for something else.
I came for cozy locked-room mystery ambience and was instead disappointed and off-put before the murder even happened. I mean, in the first few sentences the main character calls their old van the gimpmobile? Seriously? Is that less a derogatory term in the U.K. than here, because as a disabled reader I was offended.
The depiction of the asian characters in this book was horrendous. I am not sure what artistic liberty was being taken or why they were even included, unless it was a very misguided attempt at diversity. They were referred to as one cohesive unit, "the Japanese girls". The ones who can't speak much English aren't even given names? Awful.
Our POV narration took bizarre turns. A weirdly defensive few lines about "being British OK" when she wanted a cup of tea past midnight. Okay? I know I'm reading an English story? There were also a lot of very random anecdotes about cooking class, which...Must be a characteristic of this series? I thought this was a standalone book when I requested it, and I certainly won't be trying the rest.
December 27, 2021
1.5 rounded up to 2, because it's Christmas time and why not.
It's not a terrible book but it's also not great either. I'm a huge fan of cosy mysteries, but even I draw the line at being giddy and cheery over a corpse.
Also who brings a dog to a catering job? WHO?
When it comes to characters the only good thing I can say is that I enjoyed the relationship between the MC and her partner Whatshisname. It was cute.
But besides that, nothing good is happening here.
Three Japanese Girls, who apparently are a collective since they did not even deserved names, have literally no reason to be in this story. Like, they do not advance plot in any way beside randomly showing that one of the characters speaks Japanese (random fact, not important to the plot whatsoever).
Male characters weren't particulary well written/described. I was often confused who's who. But that might have been because I found myself skimming the books at times.
The "plot twist" was very very meh and also a stretch.
I received this book from the Publisher in an exchange for an honest review
It's not a terrible book but it's also not great either. I'm a huge fan of cosy mysteries, but even I draw the line at being giddy and cheery over a corpse.
Also who brings a dog to a catering job? WHO?
When it comes to characters the only good thing I can say is that I enjoyed the relationship between the MC and her partner Whatshisname. It was cute.
But besides that, nothing good is happening here.
Three Japanese Girls, who apparently are a collective since they did not even deserved names, have literally no reason to be in this story. Like, they do not advance plot in any way beside randomly showing that one of the characters speaks Japanese (random fact, not important to the plot whatsoever).
Male characters weren't particulary well written/described. I was often confused who's who. But that might have been because I found myself skimming the books at times.
The "plot twist" was very very meh and also a stretch.
I received this book from the Publisher in an exchange for an honest review
July 21, 2025
I adore anything written by Fiona. I have been a HUGE fan since Dead in Venice. So I am so pleased that the Nosey Parker series is going strong.
This is the 4th book, and the first time I didn't think Jodie would solve the crime!! I loved that everyone was locked in, on a snowy night with new people turning up at the mansion. When wham, someone dies...but where they the intended victim?!
I flew through this book! I was driving back from Harrogate, and I listened to most of it in the car. I was sleuthing with Jodie, as the cold settled in around us and had us in a locked room murder mystery.
One of the best things I have always LOVED about Fiona's writing...is her writing! The way her characters speak is just how I speak. Plainly, with all the phrases, "snitches get stitches" had me cracking up as I use that to my mini me. It was things like this that had me cracking up as I was driving. I am always entertained. I do wish Jodie could get through one dinner service with a little less...death!
This was a great book in the series. Jodie, her mum, Daisy and Debbie make the best team, and we can't forget the newest addition, Jermaine the dog from the previous book. They are the best crackpot detective team you want to help solve a murder. Each with their own quirks and "helpful" suggestions to keep you entertained! Plus, the eye candy was back...I mean Nathan!!!
Roll on the next one!!!
This is the 4th book, and the first time I didn't think Jodie would solve the crime!! I loved that everyone was locked in, on a snowy night with new people turning up at the mansion. When wham, someone dies...but where they the intended victim?!
I flew through this book! I was driving back from Harrogate, and I listened to most of it in the car. I was sleuthing with Jodie, as the cold settled in around us and had us in a locked room murder mystery.
One of the best things I have always LOVED about Fiona's writing...is her writing! The way her characters speak is just how I speak. Plainly, with all the phrases, "snitches get stitches" had me cracking up as I use that to my mini me. It was things like this that had me cracking up as I was driving. I am always entertained. I do wish Jodie could get through one dinner service with a little less...death!
This was a great book in the series. Jodie, her mum, Daisy and Debbie make the best team, and we can't forget the newest addition, Jermaine the dog from the previous book. They are the best crackpot detective team you want to help solve a murder. Each with their own quirks and "helpful" suggestions to keep you entertained! Plus, the eye candy was back...I mean Nathan!!!
Roll on the next one!!!
October 26, 2021
It’s great being back with Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker and her family again. This time we’ve a locked room style mystery to solve with some bad weather, and a ghostly Manor House thrown in to add plenty of twists and turns. Fiona Leitch always writes about such great characters and this one has them all including of course Jodie’s madcap mother. This is another fun read in the series.
December 9, 2021
A nail-biting mystery set in a centuries old abbey with suspects galore. Jodie leaves the big city and law enforcement for a new career in catering in the small English village where she grew up. She ends up dating a local DCI who hopes she doesn't go all Jodie-ish when someone ends up murdered after her current catering job. However, Jodie cannot help herself and soon begins her own investigation.
I have been hooked on this series since book 1. It is smart and funny with great characters that keep me wanting more. Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
I have been hooked on this series since book 1. It is smart and funny with great characters that keep me wanting more. Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced copy. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 12, 2021
This was a fine, fun cozy Christmas mystery to pass the December time with! It wasn’t until I started reading that I realized I was a few books into a series, but this held up perfectly fine on its own, and I wasn’t lost for details. The reveal was a little anticlimactic - it made me realize that while I enjoy not absolutely knowing the murderer in my reads til close to the end, I want at least a few chances to guess. There wasn’t a single connection between the murdered and anyone else til the end, and it slowed the book down for me a bit. Otherwise, I did find myself wanting to read it and enjoying it (the main characters were great!) and I think if you go in with the expectation that it’ll be a fun, cozy (murdery?) way to pass the time leading to Christmas, you’ll enjoy it!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an ARC.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read an ARC.
December 24, 2021
Yes, I know I’m usually a romance reader – but if all cosy mysteries were this good, I might just be inclined to change my allegiance. And I really must start by dispelling any reservations you might have about this being the fourth in a series – it really doesn’t matter one jot, although it might make you (like me) want to download and enjoy the other three as soon as you can possibly manage it. This book has all the freshness and originality I so hoped I’d find – along with that thread of wonderful humour I rather expected, well-developed characters, and a great story I really loved.
Jodie Parker used to work for the Met, but she’s now living in Cornwall, running her own business called Banquets and Bakes – and she’s been lucky enough, through former school friend Lily, to get a pre-Christmas booking to cater a children’s party at Kingseat Abbey, out on the wilds of Bodmin Moor, in the throes of being converted into a luxury hotel. And she’s accompanied by her team – eccentric mum Shirley (what a wonderful character!), friend and Mancunian ex-nurse Debbie, her thirteen-year-old daughter Daisy and their Pomeranian Germaine. The snow comes down, and they have no option but to stay the night – along with the owner, the permanent staff, millionaire Isaac along with his assistant and young son, a rather grumpy Father Christmas, plus four Japanese tourists who’ve crashed their van and a mysterious couple seeking refuge from the worsening weather. And when, the following morning, one of the group is found rather gruesomely murdered, it soon becomes clear that it’s going to take a while for the police to arrive, and Jodie (showing why she’s also become known as “Nosey”) and her team decide to conduct their own investigation – it’s clear that one of the guests is the murderer, but none of them has an obvious motive.
What follows is the most wonderful story – a quite glorious mixture of classic Agatha Christie and every locked door mystery you’ve ever read, combined with more than a touch of Scooby Doo and the Famous Five, with a few Colombo moments along the way. The setting is just perfect – the abbey full of secret passages, priest holes, a tower with a hidden library (and that’s the only place to find a phone signal) – and it’s all used to wonderful effect. The humour simply sparkles, frequently laugh-out-loud – and all the characters are quite wonderfully drawn, as all the secrets of their pasts are slowly uncovered. The police do finally arrive – first Jodie’s DCI boyfriend Nathan, now well-used to Jodie’s inability to stand back and let him do his job, and then the rather more inept team from the nearest police station – and the mystery finally finds a very satisfying resolution, more the result of the amateur sleuthing than the more traditional approach. You really don’t need to be a crime or mystery reader to enjoy this one, although I’m sure you’d find plenty to intrigue you – much of its exceptional appeal is in the characters and the relationships between them, all those moments of perfectly judged humour, and there’s even a nice touch of romance.
I really loved every moment of this one – a Christmassy read unlike any other I’ve ever read, and absolute confirmation that Fiona Leitch belongs on my list of favourite authors. Go on, give it a try – you might just love it as much as I did…
Jodie Parker used to work for the Met, but she’s now living in Cornwall, running her own business called Banquets and Bakes – and she’s been lucky enough, through former school friend Lily, to get a pre-Christmas booking to cater a children’s party at Kingseat Abbey, out on the wilds of Bodmin Moor, in the throes of being converted into a luxury hotel. And she’s accompanied by her team – eccentric mum Shirley (what a wonderful character!), friend and Mancunian ex-nurse Debbie, her thirteen-year-old daughter Daisy and their Pomeranian Germaine. The snow comes down, and they have no option but to stay the night – along with the owner, the permanent staff, millionaire Isaac along with his assistant and young son, a rather grumpy Father Christmas, plus four Japanese tourists who’ve crashed their van and a mysterious couple seeking refuge from the worsening weather. And when, the following morning, one of the group is found rather gruesomely murdered, it soon becomes clear that it’s going to take a while for the police to arrive, and Jodie (showing why she’s also become known as “Nosey”) and her team decide to conduct their own investigation – it’s clear that one of the guests is the murderer, but none of them has an obvious motive.
What follows is the most wonderful story – a quite glorious mixture of classic Agatha Christie and every locked door mystery you’ve ever read, combined with more than a touch of Scooby Doo and the Famous Five, with a few Colombo moments along the way. The setting is just perfect – the abbey full of secret passages, priest holes, a tower with a hidden library (and that’s the only place to find a phone signal) – and it’s all used to wonderful effect. The humour simply sparkles, frequently laugh-out-loud – and all the characters are quite wonderfully drawn, as all the secrets of their pasts are slowly uncovered. The police do finally arrive – first Jodie’s DCI boyfriend Nathan, now well-used to Jodie’s inability to stand back and let him do his job, and then the rather more inept team from the nearest police station – and the mystery finally finds a very satisfying resolution, more the result of the amateur sleuthing than the more traditional approach. You really don’t need to be a crime or mystery reader to enjoy this one, although I’m sure you’d find plenty to intrigue you – much of its exceptional appeal is in the characters and the relationships between them, all those moments of perfectly judged humour, and there’s even a nice touch of romance.
I really loved every moment of this one – a Christmassy read unlike any other I’ve ever read, and absolute confirmation that Fiona Leitch belongs on my list of favourite authors. Go on, give it a try – you might just love it as much as I did…
Read
January 8, 2023I thought this would be a perfect Christmas read, but, although I stuck with it for a month (far too long for a 368-page book), I couldn't get through it.
Part of the problem was the pace. I was at the 47% mark before the investigation started, That's 173 pages of scene-setting which, in my opinion, was at least 100 pages too many.
I assumed that things would pick up once the hunt for the killer began. This is a locked room mystery in an English Country House at Christmas, so it could have been a tantalising puzzle to solve under pressure. That's not where Fiona Leith went with it though. Her story was stronger on cute than mystery, the pace was leisurely and there is no sense of threat. The tone felt more Scooby-Doo than Poirot. The appeal of the book depends on the reader liking the main character and her family. This is book four in a series with the same ensemble cast, so maybe there's more to stand on if you've read the first three books, but I hadn't.
I persisted with it for another fifty pages or so because it had been keeping me entertained in an 'Afternoon TV' way. I finally set it aside at the 60% mark when I realised I didn't know who the murderer was or what their motive was or how they'd done the locked room trick and I didn't care.
It wasn't a badly written book. There was nothing that made me throw it down in disgust or anger or frustration. I just found it too dull to spend the time getting the end of.
Part of the problem was the pace. I was at the 47% mark before the investigation started, That's 173 pages of scene-setting which, in my opinion, was at least 100 pages too many.
I assumed that things would pick up once the hunt for the killer began. This is a locked room mystery in an English Country House at Christmas, so it could have been a tantalising puzzle to solve under pressure. That's not where Fiona Leith went with it though. Her story was stronger on cute than mystery, the pace was leisurely and there is no sense of threat. The tone felt more Scooby-Doo than Poirot. The appeal of the book depends on the reader liking the main character and her family. This is book four in a series with the same ensemble cast, so maybe there's more to stand on if you've read the first three books, but I hadn't.
I persisted with it for another fifty pages or so because it had been keeping me entertained in an 'Afternoon TV' way. I finally set it aside at the 60% mark when I realised I didn't know who the murderer was or what their motive was or how they'd done the locked room trick and I didn't care.
It wasn't a badly written book. There was nothing that made me throw it down in disgust or anger or frustration. I just found it too dull to spend the time getting the end of.
December 15, 2021
This is the fourth instalment in Fiona Leitch's Nosey Parker Mysteries series. Set in a Cornish coastal town, Jodie 'Nosey' Parker has moved back to her small hometown; she has served in the Metropolitan Police force for longer than she cares to remember and is in Penstowan after her retirement along with her daughter Daisy, now aged 13. Passionate about baking, she wanted to own and run her own catering company so she has retrained as a caterer, setting up Banquets and Bakes.
This is a fun series smothered in good humour, some of it witty and some the belly laugh kind. Jodie is a terrific character; I continued to warm her extremely down-to-earth manner and her no-nonsense attitude. Kingseat Abbey on Bodmin Moor adds loads of atmosphere along with a hidden library, rumours of a ghost, secret passages and priest holes, all of which are used to good effect within the plot. Stir some colourful characters into the melting pot and you have a great mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from One More Chapter via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
This is a fun series smothered in good humour, some of it witty and some the belly laugh kind. Jodie is a terrific character; I continued to warm her extremely down-to-earth manner and her no-nonsense attitude. Kingseat Abbey on Bodmin Moor adds loads of atmosphere along with a hidden library, rumours of a ghost, secret passages and priest holes, all of which are used to good effect within the plot. Stir some colourful characters into the melting pot and you have a great mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from One More Chapter via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 29, 2021
A Cornish Christmas Murder tells the latest adventure of Jodie Nosey Parker.
Few days before Christmas Jodie is catering for a children charity event that takes place in an historical house, but after the event she, her colourful crew, and some other guests stay stuck at the villa because of a snowstorm. The morning after the snowstorm has passed but when the house awakes the dead body of the poor Santa impersonator is found in his bed chamber, the murderer is in the house and the police can't easily reach them so Jodie takes the liberty to start to investigating.
I am really enjoying this series, and even if in this particular story the murderer is not too hard to guess, it's indeed complicated to find the how and the why.
The setting and the characters are awesome, I can't stress enough how sweet is Jodie and Nathan relationship, and the historical bits appealed my curiosity.
The always engaging and practical writing of this author made this a good story, I highly recommend to read it if you like this genre.
December 20, 2024
Faintly amusing and a few good characters, but ultimately just not my cup of tea.
This was chosen as our read for my village book club, and while there were definitely parts I appreciated (it was occasionally funny and the general set up was good), it all just felt fairly predictable and lacking any grit. The characters are intensely jolly throughout, and because of this the atmosphere of the book definitely errs more on cosy than crime.
Worth picking up if you want something quick and easy.
This was chosen as our read for my village book club, and while there were definitely parts I appreciated (it was occasionally funny and the general set up was good), it all just felt fairly predictable and lacking any grit. The characters are intensely jolly throughout, and because of this the atmosphere of the book definitely errs more on cosy than crime.
Worth picking up if you want something quick and easy.
December 21, 2023
2.5🌟 Was a bit boring and random but still a fun, lighthearted murder mystery
December 25, 2022
Not bad...but not enough murder 😆
August 2, 2025
Easy read - predictable
April 1, 2024
A very fitting read for 44 degree heat in Vietnam in April.
October 10, 2021
Christmas is coming, it's snowed heavily, Josie Parker has a catering job at a 13th century decommissioned abbey on Bodmin Moor and life is good. Unfortunately, new love DCI Nathan Withers is still in Penstowan but she's determined not to let that ruin her day.
When the weather takes even more of a turn for the worse and it becomes apparent no one is going home, Josie, daughter Daisy, her mum, and best friend Debbie, resign themselves to a night out In the middle of nowhere. Things go reasonably smoothly until, with phone reception sketchy at best and Nathan unable to help, they find a dead body.
This is the fourth in the Nosy Parker cosy mystery series and I loved every single word. The atmosphere and country house location are spot on, with a satisfying number of stereotypical characters and festive occurrences alongside surprises and a brilliant sense of laugh out loud humour throughout this is a joy. The icing on the Josie cake is the promise of book five in the early spring.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is such a fun Christmas novel, my favourite of 2021 by far, and I would happily read it at any time of year.
When the weather takes even more of a turn for the worse and it becomes apparent no one is going home, Josie, daughter Daisy, her mum, and best friend Debbie, resign themselves to a night out In the middle of nowhere. Things go reasonably smoothly until, with phone reception sketchy at best and Nathan unable to help, they find a dead body.
This is the fourth in the Nosy Parker cosy mystery series and I loved every single word. The atmosphere and country house location are spot on, with a satisfying number of stereotypical characters and festive occurrences alongside surprises and a brilliant sense of laugh out loud humour throughout this is a joy. The icing on the Josie cake is the promise of book five in the early spring.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is such a fun Christmas novel, my favourite of 2021 by far, and I would happily read it at any time of year.
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