Reviews - Murder in an English Village

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153 reviews for:

Murder in an English Village

Jessica Ellicott

3.62 AVERAGE

bkdrgn303's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. First in a series that I will definitely continue. Post WWI cozy with a great pair of odd-couple ish sleuths.

db93's review against another edition

3.5

dark lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Started off well, lots of characters to try and remember and how they all link. Became a little bored but persistated as it was audible.

akalgesch's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

rebeccabadger's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

amyfeatonby's review against another edition

4.0

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

novelesque_life's review against another edition

4.0

When my library had Recorded Books (Audiobook App), I came across Jessica Ellicott's Beryl & Edwina Mysteries. Seeing that they had the first three books on audio, I listened to them back-to-back in fall of 2020. (Aaaaand, look at the covers! I am sucker for covers!) The Beryl & Edwina Mysteries are historical cozy mysteries, set in post-WWI, Britain. The two main characters, the "detectives", are a bit of an odd couple, but honestly what BFF team isn't?

RATING: 4 STARS

In the first book, Murder in an English Village, Beryl Helliwell, an American adventuress, decides to bail from the US and heads to a"humdrum hamlet of Walmsley Parva in the English countryside" where her childhood friend, Edwina Davenport resides. Edwina who has had a comfortable life but is going through some financial issues and happens to be looking for a lodger. The two have not seen each other for years, and while they are a bit night and day, they fall back into their friendship. If Beryl thought the countryside was going to boring, she soon learns that Walmsley Parva has many secrets. Even Edwina can't help herself and gets involved in solving a murder.

Murder in an English Village is a great first novel of a cozy mystery. As we are introduced to Beryl and Edwina and the secondary characters, it feels natural and not overwhelming. Life in the countryside village in the 1920s, and all the post WWI fallout (low finances being one of the bigger issues) provide great context, and again has a natural flow. If you are looking for a lighter mystery with heart and history, this is a great one to try.