Murder At The Summer Fete

'Fabulous cosy murder/mystery with an unforgettable crime-fighting trio. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.' Angela Marsons, author of Stolen Ones A fete worse than death... After finding the killer of Lucy Roth six months ago, life has settled back to normal for bookshop owner, Nancy Hunter, and her grandmother, Jane. The annual Dedley End village fete is just around the corner, and Nancy is delighted when bestselling author, Thomas Green, agrees to launch his first new novel in ten years there. But then a series of sinister events lead Nancy to realise someone is trying to sabotage their fete, so she, along with Jane and their journalist friend Jonathan, must turn detective to discover who isn’t at all thrilled about the return of Thomas Green. When a body is discovered at the summer fete, the death scene mirroring that in Thomas’ latest bestseller, they realise that there’s another killer in Dedley End, but can they outsmart someone who appears to have pulled off the perfect crime? The clues are right under Nancy and Jane’s noses, if only they can find them. Because the answers to life’s questions can always be found in a book...! A twisty, unputdownable cozy mystery that fans of Richard Osman, S.J. Bennett and The Marlow Murder Club will love. Readers can't get enough of Murder at the Summer Fete: 'A joy of a read... I was gripped!’ Melanie Blake, author of Ruthless Women 'Cleverly crafted cosy crime at its absolute best!' Heidi Swain, author of A Taste of Home 'A well crafted cosy mystery with warm characters and an excellent twist. I can't wait to visit Dedley End again!' Hannah Hendy, author of The Dinner Lady Detectives 'A team of likeable amateur detectives, a delightful bookshop setting and a cast of intriguing suspects. Tremendous fun.' Clare Chase, author of Mystery at the Church ‘A perfect read!...Will entice even the most seasoned mystery reader. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton, you can't miss this series.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘What a fun and cozy read!...A fantastic page-turner that made my winter night far warmer.’ Reader Review ‘This. Is. Brilliant. Could not put it down. I really hope there's more Dedley End adventures!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘Absolutely loved this book!...The characters were great and the story flowed along nicely. I read the book in a day, I couldn't put it down!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘Just as intricate, twisty, and fun as the first. It kept me guessing and I just love the small village settings.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘It was very engrossing and I read it within one day... I love this book...every new mystery by Victoria Walters is an auto-read for me’ Reader Review ‘The second entry in this cozy series is even better than the first...and the first was great! British cozies always have a special place in my reading list and heart and this one is right up there at the top.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review

It's 1922 and Jack Haldean, young crime writer and former Royal Flying Corps pilot, is enjoying the local fete on a beautiful summer's day in rural Sussex. But then Jack's fellow officer, Jeremy Boscombe, is found dead in the fortune teller's tent and later the same day Boscombe's shady friend, Reggie Morton, is murdered in the village pub. Jack's search for the truth will lead him back to the Battle of the Somme and an act of terrible betrayal.

Evelyn Christie, the new Lady Northmoor, is looking forward to hosting the local village fete in the grounds of Hessleham Hall. However, the last thing she expects to see on the morning of the fete is the local Member of Parliament face down in the stream at the edge of the lawn! Evelyn and her husband, Tommy, are again called into action to find the dastardly murderer before he strikes again!

‘This book was absolutely tremendous!...this mystery is definitely a five-star read!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review A murder in a locked room... can Nancy and Jane find the key to the case? Nancy Hunter is on a mission to find her mother. Samantha Hunter walked out on her family and left the village of Dedley End over twenty years ago. For two decades, Nancy has thought her mother was dead...until she discovered she was spotted at a party at a country estate five months ago. As Nancy delves into the mystery in her own family, the village of Dedley End is rocked by the appearance of Sebastian Holmes, recently released from a long stretch in prison for his part in a jewellery robbery in London. And when someone is found murdered in the local church, it seems that there may be more danger hiding in their sleepy Cotswold village... Nancy and her grandmother Jane, Dedley End’s resident amateur sleuths and owners of a crime fiction bookshop, set about trying to solve the mystery of just who could be the killer, and how they managed a murder in a locked room – but what they don’t know is that finding the murderer might just bring them closer to finding Samantha. But does she want to be found? And what made her hide away for so many years? A twisty and unputdownable cozy mystery featuring a grandmother and granddaughter detective duo – if you’re a fan of The Bingo Hall Detectives, Robert Thorogood or The Thursday Murder Club, you’ll love this! Readers are loving Murder at the Village Church: ‘Brilliantly written and many twists and turns right to the end. Loved this series and the characters.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘What a read! Just enough romance and a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘This grandmother/granddaughter duo is absolutely everything you want! Filled with so much love, joy, heartache, and truth, you won’t want to put this book down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘A cozy mystery that was a fun read... I enjoyed the quirky characters.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘Heartwarming but cosy crime... Really kept you guessing. I was totally gripped.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘There were some really good twists in this novel. A truly fun cozy mystery series.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘Will keep you guessing until the very end.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘A page-turner of a book that keeps you hooked.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review Praise for the Dedley Ends Mystery series: ‘Superb sleuthing! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Dedley End and can’t wait to go back!’ Heidi Swain ‘I loved this brilliant cozy read...it felt very Christie-esque. Nancy and Jane were fab, I loved their relationship. And I can’t wait for more.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘Fabulous cosy murder/mystery with an unforgettable crime-fighting trio. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.’ Angela Marsons ‘A perfect read!...Will entice even the most seasoned mystery reader. If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton, you can’t miss this series.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘This. Is. Brilliant. Could not put it down. I really hope there’s more Dedley End adventures!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘Absolutely loved this book!...The characters were great and the story flowed along nicely. I read the book in a day, I couldn’t put it down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review ‘If you are a fan of cosy crime then I 100% recommend this series. You will not be disappointed!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Amelia Massey attends a summer fete and sets up her stall at Clifton Manor. It is there that she meets a clairvoyant, and although the meeting is premature, the clear message is that some events are likely to occur. A murder at the Manor ensures that she is now considered a potential witness to the crime and as the investigation grows deeper, so does Amelia's fascination with the leading inspector. With the message that romance looms close as well as acts of a sinister nature, her thoughts of her meeting with the clairvoyant come to the forefront of her mind. A Summer Murder is a fast-paced story with twists and turns until the final page. As the police continue their investigations, the mystery of the Manor deepens in their search for an elusive killer.

‘Superb sleuthing! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Dedley End and can’t wait to go back!’ Heidi Swain, author of The Cherry Tree Café Once Upon a Crime... Nancy Hunter and her grandmother Jane Hunter run the Dedley Endings Bookshop, selling crime, thriller and mystery books, in a small, quiet Cotswold village where nothing ever happens... That is, until the wealthy and reclusive Roth family open up their mansion for the first time in thirty years, inviting the people of Dedley End to a lavish engagement party. While everyone is thrilled to finally look around the mansion on the hill, the festivities are quickly cut short when beautiful Lucy, recently married to young Harry Roth, is found dead after being pushed over the first-floor balustrade. But who among the guests could have been capable of her murder – and why? Nancy and Jane decide to investigate – after all, not only do they own a crime themed bookshop, they were also both named after famous literary detectives – but soon wonder if they’ve taken on more than they can handle. Especially when it seems the killer has worked out that they’re hot on their heels... Can they catch the murderer before the murderer catches up with them? Or will there be a deadly ending to this story? Praise for Murder at the House on the Hill: ‘Such a fab book - really puts the cosy in cosy crime!’ M. A. Kuzniar, author of Midnight in Everwood ‘This is a brilliant ‘whodunnit’ which gave me some serious Miss Marple feels...it’s absolutely brilliant and a pleasure to read’ Head in a Book18 ‘I loved this brilliant cozy read...it felt very Christie-esque. Nancy and Jane were fab, I loved their relationship. And I can’t wait for more.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review ‘Even gave me some Murder, she wrote vibes... I truly enjoyed reading this funny, cosy mystery’ Tizi’s Book Review ‘A cosy crime story with lovable characters and a gripping storyline, perfect for curling up with’ Kelly T’s Space ‘I really enjoyed this cosy crime, I was hooked with the storyline but also charmed by the characters’ Kraftireader ‘A very well written story with a crime to solve but also with characters that the reader really starts to care about.’ Reader Review ‘What an absolute delight this was to read... I was still guessing whodunnit until the end.’ Wrong Side of Forty UK ‘I loved the characters of Nancy and Jane...a gripping read, which certainly held my attention and kept me guessing.’ Ginger Book Geek ‘A delightful detective duo, a charming and clever cosy mystery.’ Diane Jeffrey, author of The Silent Friend ‘A cosy, satisfying and enjoyable murder mystery full of intrigue...and even better, with a bookshop too!’ Ella Allbright, author of The Last Charm ‘A well-executed murder mystery...I loved every second of it.’ Reader Review ‘A blast! It’s fast paced, fun and it keeps you guessing till the end!...The story is filled with lots of characters and unusual twists.’ Reader Review

Julia Bird can't wait to attend the annual village party at the local stately home, with its tea tents, cake stalls, and... dead body in the maze? The annual village celebration at Berrywick House is underway, complete with over-decorated cake stalls, fiercely contested flower competitions, and even a maze for the disappointed losers to hide in. Julia Bird, now a well-known - even notorious - member of the community, with her trusty Labrador Jake, has thrown herself headlong into the festivities. But her reputation for adding drama to any event stands up yet again when she discovers a dead body in the maze... It seems Ursula Benjamin, village know-it-all and prickly baking competition participant, has been strangled - and the killer has to be someone at the fete. As Julia grapples with finding yet another murder in Berrywick, she starts to wonder, could one of the competitive cake-bakers have taken the contest to deadly new heights? Or is there something darker in Ursula's life that led to her untimely demise? Embroiled once again in a murder enquiry, Julia isn't about to leave the investigation to the police. Like it or not, she's involved, and she's going to help them solve the mystery. But when there's another death, and it's clear the murders aren't isolated incidents, the stakes become even higher. Can Julia figure out the identity of the killer, and prevent any further dastardly deeds, before the wholesome spirit of the village is ruined forever? If you like utterly gripping English mysteries, then you'll love A Village Fete Murder. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands. Readers are loving the Julia Bird mysteries: 'There just aren't enough stars for this one, so I can only give it FIVE!! I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series!!' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I absolutely LOVED this... Julia Bird was an amazing and lovable character... Once I started it, I couldn't stop.' Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I loved this very English murder mystery, so reminiscent of Agatha Christie... I loved everything about this book.' NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fabulous... addictive... a witty and delightful crime novel full of delicious red herrings, rural mischief and bucolic charm that is impossible to put down.' Bookish Jottings 'Oh my, I loved Julia Bird... she is a delight! I can't wait for the next one! Please don't let it be long!' MoongloTexas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Really entertaining... I simply couldn't put the book down... Julia's life in the countryside with her newly adopted dog Jake was too enjoyable... I cannot wait to read for Julia Bird's next adventure!... Five stars!' Tropical Girl Reads Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brilliant!... I really warmed to Julia and especially Jake, her errant puppy, and loved the village life.' Broadbean's Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Fifth Dodie Fanshaw Mystery A suspicious death, a newcomer who becomes involved in village affairs, and Dodie Fanshaw on the trail of the truth, create a delicious cosy crime novel. Catherine, widowed, returns to her home in the Lancashire hills. She and Ian Hanson, a retired newcomer, quickly become involved in village activities. She goes to work for Martin, whose wife died in a tragic accident for which he was blamed, but exonerated, until the rumours start up again and Martin's mother, a former dancer with Dodie, asks Dodie to help.