Choo choo! It was originally meant to be a wet day so we had planned to go on a heritage railway so that we could keep the dogs (and us) dry. But the sun was shining once again so we stayed with the railway plan but added some extra English Heritage places too.
We arrived at Holt station to join the North Norfolk Railway. Dogs are welcome on the whole railway and there were plenty of furry visitors. Chas and Wurzel were a bit bewildered by the train experience and I wish they’d been allowed on the seats or our laps to look out of the window.
There are two model railways; one is labelled as a children’s one as it features all of the classic Thomas and Friends engines (very pleased I could remember them all after so long!) There is also a small museum about the railway and a cottage made out of an old carriage.
1918, Fiona Figg is all set to marry her beau Archie but she still doesn’t fully trust him. Her suspicions are further raised when her ‘niece’ Kitty is attacked and Archie could be responsible…
Poison in Piccadilly is the 6th book to feature secret agents Fiona and Kitty as they strive to support the war effort but become embroiled in murders as well.
The mistrust that Fiona feels towards Archie and Kitty is exacerbated in this book. Kitty is attacked early on and suffers from amnesia. In her confusion she reveals some secrets which prove she has previously been economic with the truth. Archie is photographed with another woman and is never where he claims to be. The wedding seems like a big mistake…
There is also a murder to investigate although the police are baffled. Ellen dies at a dinner party, apparently from a heart attack but with Fiona’s hatpin stabbed in her. I was waiting to see where the poison in the title comes from and it doesn’t feature until the second half of the book.
As usual for this series of books, there is great attention to the historical and geographical detail which underpins the plot. This book features suffragettes and characters based on real life people from the era.
I liked seeing a more vulnerable side to Kitty as well as more information about her hidden past. Added to wedding woes, worries about Kitty’s memory and the murder investigation, Fiona is also reunited with the notorious German spy Fredrick Fredricks. I love their ‘will they, won’t they’ relationship and the ending was a real cliffhanger so I can’t wait for the next book.
Poison in Piccadilly is a very enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.
Poison in Piccadilly
London 1918: Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil?
Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing captain, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club.
When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady’s luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona’s wedding plans.
To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona’s journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona’s wedding vows? Or will she finally say “I don’t” to the charming devil?
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Julia Bird is walking her dog when she finds the body of her vet Eve at the bottom of the cliffs. Did Eve fall by accident, suicidal intent or was she murdered?
Murder on a Country Walk is the 6th book in the Julia Bird series of cosy murder mysteries. There are mentions of events from earlier books and Julia’s relationship with Sean has developed over the series, but there are no spoilers about the crimes.
Eve was a popular vet and her death is upsetting for the whole village. Julia is convinced that it was not accidental and is determined to persuade the police to investigate so starts looking for clues and motives. Eve was passionate about her work and protecting nature, whilst also competitive at the game padel (I’d never heard of this but is sounds fab!) There is plenty of mystery as the suspects begin to emerge. I was kept guessing and thought the conclusion wrapped up the plot nicely.
I really like Julia’s character. She always acts with the best intentions even if she is a bit nosy. She has a really good relationship with the police which is quite refreshing, but she does tend to push the limits. Her relationship with Sean is still simmering and the pair are negotiating towards using the ‘love’ word (nospoilers if they manage this by the end of the book!) Both are in their sixties so it is good to see that age group represented in this way.
Murder on a Country Walk is an enjoyable murder mystery with a likeable and relatable lead character.
Book Description:
Julia Bird loves a walk in the countryside. There’s nothing quite like the fresh air and green rolling hills of the Cotswolds to clear your head. Unless you come across a dead body, that is…
When the local Berrywick vet, Dr Eve Davies, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the police believe it’s nothing more than a tragic accident, but Julia isn’t so sure. Just a few days earlier when she took her dog, Jake, to the vets, Dr Eve said she believed something awful was about to happen. It turns out she was right…
But who would want the beloved village vet dead? Was it her mother Kay, a down-and-out gambler who stands to inherit her unwedded daughter’s home? Was it her assistant Olga, who was close to getting fired? Or was it her cut-throat tennis partner Will, with whom Dr Eve had an argument shortly before she took a tumble? And who is the stranger skulking around Berrywick peering into people’s windows?
When a second body appears in the exact spot where Dr Eve was found, Julia knows it can’t be a coincidence. Both victims were pushed off the cliff, but why? Should Julia let sleeping dogs lie, or will she be like a dog with a bone to find the murderer?
A totally gripping and charming cosy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries.
Author Bio:
Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats.
And a new academic year kicks off! Big changes as Anya starts secondary school and Matthew starts his GCSEs. The kids had to endure 3 mornings of photos as the first day Zach had inset, then he had PE so it wasn’t until day 3 that they were all in uniform!
Happy 45th wedding anniversary to Mum and Dad this weekend. I am incredibly proud to be your daughter and thank you for everything you have done for me and our family.
Kitty heads to the local farm shop to buy some cider but finds the farmer dead, crushed in the apple press. A terrible accident or murder…?
Murder in the Countryside is the 17th book in the Miss Kitty Underhay (now Mrs Bryant as she married the lovely Matt a few books ago) series of cosy historical murder mysteries.
Titus Blake certainly had plenty of enemies. But who hated him enough to want him dead? His family seem the obvious choice but who? His estranged brother who married the woman Titus loved and his three sons who all clashed with him are all suspects. But he was universally disliked among the whole village community.
Kitty and Matt have their work cut out for them when they are asked by Titus’ sister in law to prove the family’s innocence by finding the real killer. They have a solid friendship with one police officer but a tense relationship with another. Halfway through the book there are mentions of sexual violence which adds a darkness which is unusual for this series, however I felt this was handled sensitively.
Kitty and Matt always seem to be in the thick of the action, stumbling upon bodies left, right and centre, and this book is no different! There are lots of twists as the investigation progresses and I had no idea who was the culprit. The writing style is easy to read, the characters are vividly portrayed and the ending is quite dramatic.
Murder in the Countryside is an enjoyable addition to the series.
Book Description:
A meandering drive on a beautiful day, a visit to a local apple orchard, a chance for Bertie the dog to stretch his legs but… has Kitty Underhay just found a dead farmer?
England, 1936. On a clear autumn day, Kitty and her mischievous spaniel Bertie take a drive to a nearby village. After a long walk in the rolling country hills and lunch in a pretty tearoom, what could be nicer than to buy a couple of bottles of local cider for her husband – and partner-in-crime solving – Matt? Instead, she finds a body in the orchard…
Kitty is shocked to discover Titus Blake dead, crushed by his own cider press. The new local detective arrives swiftly, making it clear he has no time for amateur sleuths, especially a woman. Hearing his words, Kitty and Matt are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery before the sour inspector. Titus’s estranged brother, reclusive housekeeper and even his long-suffering son soon make their suspect list.
But when the police get wind of Kitty and Matt’s snooping, the inspector firmly tells them to keep their noses out. Now in a race to find the killer, the inquisitive pair are stopped in their tracks when their chief suspect is also found dead in the barn. Can Kitty find the rotten apple before it’s too late, or will the killer feed her a poisoned fruit first?
If you love Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Lee Strauss, you will be utterly gripped by this totally charming cozy murder mystery!
Author Bio:
Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and
lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a
cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and
housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010
as Nell Dixon.
