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Marple: Twelve New Stories

Val McDermid, Leigh Bardugo, Kate Mosse, Alyssa Cole, Ruth Ware, Dreda Say Mitchell, Natalie Haynes, Elly Griffiths, Naomi Alderman, Lucy Foley, Jean Kwok and Karen M McManus

7.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

This collection of twelve original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the...

Short Stories Anthologies Historical Fiction Cosy Mystery

The Case of the Canterfell Codicil

P.J. Fitzsimmons

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

There's a literary niche for all tastes including those who think that either Dorothy L Sayers...

Clues to You (Love in the Comptons #3)

Claire Huston

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths. They’re looking for answers. But will they find...

Contemporary Romance

Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Death On The Coast in Books

Jun 5, 2019

I thoroughly enjoyed this “West Country Crime Mystery” Death on the Coast by Bernie Steadman, even though it was book 3 and I’d not read the previous two books in this series.

Set in Devon, DCI Dan Hellier and DS Sally Ellis’ crew make a gruesome discovery; someone is burning body parts in a very ritualistic way. Could a cult be responsible for this? What are their motivations? Can his team work out what is happening before another death hits their shores?

I whizzed through this well written story and although the title suggests cosy mystery to me, this is a much darker and more realistic police procedural. It’s got everything I love in a good murder mystery; a great cast of people with their own issues to contend with, interesting plot twists (despite knowing who is responsible all the way through the book) and enough intriguing goings on to keep me reading long well into the night until I finished it. Bernie Steadman is on fire with this book! I must keep up with this series from now on!

Thank you to Bloodhound Books, and #NetGalley for my ARC copy. This is my own opinion and not biased in any way.

Kudos

ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Affacombe Affair (Pollard and Toyne #2) in Books

Nov 21, 2018

A great, old-fashioned, cosy mystery!

I have really enjoyed the first two books in this republished series - I honestly didn’t expect to. It’s such a nice, comfortable read though. The storyline nicely plays out (well, as nicely as a murder can!), the characters are all very likeable (especially Pollard and Toyne), and the way they go about their investigations is really rather interesting. This is not a story set in modern time - it’s set in the 1960s, so before DNA testing and all of the technology that we have today. So the story hangs on old fashioned humans using their brains and experience to work it out. I like these stories a lot, and I’m very glad that Sapere books sent me a copy to read and honestly review!

Kudos

Morgan Sheppard (1037 KP) created a post

Sep 6, 2026

The September issue of my monthly newsletter is out now, and it's very much a month of turning points.

This issue covers the cover reveal for my upcoming contemporary romance, Only in Fairy Tales (due December 2026), the opening of the ARC list, early news of a new novel in progress, and a round-up of Welsh cultural dates including Gŵyl Canol Hydref and the Abergavenny Food Festival.

There are also four free book giveaways for anyone looking to discover new authors in romantic fantasy, cosy mystery, mythology-inspired fiction, and sweet romance.

If you write, read, or simply love stories rooted in place and folklore, I'd love to have you along for the journey.

https://morgan-sheppard-author.kit.com/posts/where-the-mist-begins-september-2026
#WelshFolklore #FolkloreFantasy #MythAndMoonlight #TalesFromWales #IndieAuthor #Bookish

Kudos Comment

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Cat Who Caught a Killer in Books

Oct 30, 2022

I love cats and I love reading about murder (strange I know!) so even though this book is quite different to what I normally read, I thought I'd give it a go and, overall, it was pretty good.

This is definitely what is called a 'cosy mystery'; it is not offensive or violent. Emily's mother in law dies suddenly and unexpectedly and whilst her death is put down to natural causes, Emily, an ex Police Officer, is not convinced and so sets off to get to the truth along with a talking cat that has adopted her.

I thought I would struggle with the talking cat angle but whilst it was a little absurd at the beginning, it worked really well and, I think, it symbolised Emily's inner voice.

With great characters and a good story line, this is an easy to read mystery. There are twists and turns but, unfortunately, they weren't too much of a surprise so this let it down a little and although the pace was steady, there was a little bit too much description at times which slowed the story down somewhat.

Overall though, I would recommend to those who enjoy a simple, easy to read and inoffensive mystery and my thanks must go to PanMacmillan, Macmillan and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Cat Who Caught a Killer.