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.
1994, Jennie waits for her best friend to arrive so they can escape their unhappy homes and make a fresh start in London. But Hannah never shows up at the station as planned, and actually disappears completely. Present day, Jennie is a police detective and is called to her former school when a body is unearthed in the basement. Has Hannah been found at last…?
The Reunion is a police procedural and murder mystery with a very powerful emotional thread.
Jennie is haunted by her lost friend and finally she has the chance to investigate and find out the truth. She is reunited with childhood friends but they are now suspects in the murder case and she has to maintain a profesional distance. I enjoyed the police interviews and the way the secrets gradually get revealed as the case progresses. The police characters felt authentic and I thought they acted realistically in the investigation process.
Jennie faces huge emotional upheaval as she discovers secrets about Hannah that make her question just how well she really knew her. Jennie’s career is at risk due to her personal connection with the victim which she is trying to downplay. This puts her at odds with her colleagues and superiors which adds an extra dimension to the plot and her character.
I LOVED this book! Great plot, characters and twists. Jennie is a great lead character. Her emotional involvement in the case means that she is totally focussed on finding the killer. I suspected everyone as their lies and alibis are revealed so I was kept guessing until the end. The tension and dark atmosphere of the book are maintained well while the style of writing is easy to read and engaging.
The Reunion is a gripping murder mystery with a fab lead female detective.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A skull looks up at Jennie from the trench, but it’s not the chalk-white bone and grimacing teeth that send her reeling. It’s the heart-shaped gold pendant, its delicate chain snapped in two. The necklace Hannah never took off. It can’t be Hannah. But it is.
When Jennie Whitmore arrives at her school reunion, she immediately regrets her decision. Why would she choose to surround herself with people who were never nice to her? Who still aren’t, even now she’s a police officer? The only person who truly looked out for her all those years ago was charming, beautiful Hannah. Until the day she disappeared.
Jennie is ready to finally put White Cross Academy behind her, the old school building demolished the morning after the party. But with the demolition comes a call: a teenage girl’s remains have been found on the grounds.
The instant drop in Jennie’s gut tells her that the remains might be Hannah’s, but when she’s called in to examine them, the truth becomes undeniable. Hannah didn’t run away and abandon Jenny thirty years ago; in fact, she never left White Cross at all.
Suddenly, Jennie has a murder to solve. The murder of her best friend. But can she do so before her colleagues discover just how closely connected she is to the victim? Before a mystery stalker makes good on his threats to silence her for good?
The Reunion is a gripping mystery perfect for fans of THE SANATORIUM, Lucy Foley, and Ruth Kelly.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
MJ. Arlidge has worked in television for the last twenty years, specialising in high-end drama production, including prime-time crime serials Silent Witness, Torn, The Little House and, most recently, the hit ITV show Innocent. In 2015 his audiobook exclusive Six Degrees of Assassination was a number-one bestseller. His debut thriller, Eeny Meeny, was the UK’s bestselling crime debut of 2014 and has been followed by ten more DI Helen Grace thrillers – all Sunday Times bestsellers.
Steph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire. Most of her working life has been spent between the UK and USA. As her alter ego – Crime Thriller Girl – she indulges her love of all things crime fiction by blogging at www.crimethrillergirl.com . Steph is an alumni of the MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at City University London, and she trained as a bounty hunter in California. She lives in Buckinghamshire surrounded by horses, cows and chickens.
Just me and the kids! Due to the high temperatures, we decided that Chris would stay home with the dogs to keep them cool. This meant that me and the kids could pick somewhere that didn’t welcome dogs and the kids wanted the zoo.
We had booked tickets in advance so entry was quick and easy. Despite the heat, we saw all animals except the wolves and penguins. Most of the enclosures are outside but there is also a tropical house and farm barn (got my guinea pig fix, like being at home!)
Our highlight were the tigers who played in the pool. Just like kittens but a LOT bigger! The other big cats were also stunning.
After lunch in the main restaurant, the kids has more energy and enjoyed playing on the playground equipment.
We finished off our visit with one last trip round the zoo on the land train and an ice lolly.
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?
