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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not having read any of the other books in this series didn’t matter at all, it is a perfect standalone. Grace and Theo are about to be marries at St Luke’s church when they are interrupted by Colin, the mother of the groom’s dog depositing a skull at Grace’s feet. The police are called and the wedding is called off. The rivalry between the two villages and the alleged curse are seen to be the blame, it when the skull proves to belong to the body of a woman murdered twenty years previously the police are happy to close the case.
Grace’s grandmother is not so happy though and asks Ginny and her friends to try and find out how the skull got there. Their investigations uncover murky deeds and Ginny wonders if they are ever going to get the bottom of things.
A really good story that I enjoyed immensely, especially as it was full of twists and unexpected outcomes.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
Grace’s grandmother is not so happy though and asks Ginny and her friends to try and find out how the skull got there. Their investigations uncover murky deeds and Ginny wonders if they are ever going to get the bottom of things.
A really good story that I enjoyed immensely, especially as it was full of twists and unexpected outcomes.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.
After signing up for a guide to skulduggery, I received a mystery filed with humour, love for one’s community and the twists and turns of a Dan Brown thriller.
Whilst at a wedding appropriate for the Montague’s and Capulets, a dog unearths a human skull, and evidence in a decades old murder mystery, causing the wedding to be cancelled.
We then join Ginny, and her friends Tuppence, JM and Hen who are helped by an eclectic cast of supporting characters to try get the wedding back on, and find out the true facts behind the cause of the surprise skull intrusion.
Remarkably well written, you can feel the warmth and camaraderie the main cast feel for each other.
This book has me on the edge of my seat at times, and caused a wide eyed, slow jaw opening moment once or twice (but I implore you to read it yourself, to find out why!)
———
Thank you to Amanda Ashby for the ARC of this book!
———
For fans of: Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett, Dan Brown
Whilst at a wedding appropriate for the Montague’s and Capulets, a dog unearths a human skull, and evidence in a decades old murder mystery, causing the wedding to be cancelled.
We then join Ginny, and her friends Tuppence, JM and Hen who are helped by an eclectic cast of supporting characters to try get the wedding back on, and find out the true facts behind the cause of the surprise skull intrusion.
Remarkably well written, you can feel the warmth and camaraderie the main cast feel for each other.
This book has me on the edge of my seat at times, and caused a wide eyed, slow jaw opening moment once or twice (but I implore you to read it yourself, to find out why!)
———
Thank you to Amanda Ashby for the ARC of this book!
———
For fans of: Agatha Christie, Janice Hallett, Dan Brown
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The quad of lovable but rebellious amateur sleuths are back. You'd think a wedding in a small village would be a peaceful affair but village scandal, local politics and a detached skull are about to put the wedding in disarray!
Ginny, Tuppence, Hen, and JM really are a bunch of like minded individuals who have found their tribe. When they've come through some of the toughest times together, now they get to help a young village resident get the HEA she so deserves.
There were enough twists in the story to keep everything fresh and moving at a decent pace. Unravelling the threads of the story and gasping at the big reveal (did not see that one coming I'll admit). I've never seen a truer depiction of the bickering that can happen between the close villages in the countryside - you'd think the next village over would as well be on the moon to some, LOL.
It was nice to see more of the local police teams and a certain Scottish Transplant PC continues to be one of my favourite secondary characters. However, that new DI we met I can't stand her and I really hope we've seen the back of her! I did feel sorry for poor Wallace I'll admit. Only home for a few hours and still gets no peace and quiet!
Ginny, Tuppence, Hen, and JM really are a bunch of like minded individuals who have found their tribe. When they've come through some of the toughest times together, now they get to help a young village resident get the HEA she so deserves.
There were enough twists in the story to keep everything fresh and moving at a decent pace. Unravelling the threads of the story and gasping at the big reveal (did not see that one coming I'll admit). I've never seen a truer depiction of the bickering that can happen between the close villages in the countryside - you'd think the next village over would as well be on the moon to some, LOL.
It was nice to see more of the local police teams and a certain Scottish Transplant PC continues to be one of my favourite secondary characters. However, that new DI we met I can't stand her and I really hope we've seen the back of her! I did feel sorry for poor Wallace I'll admit. Only home for a few hours and still gets no peace and quiet!
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Recently widowed Ginny Cole moved to the village of Little Shaw, started working as assistant in the local library, and has been included in a group of other widowed friends. Her next neighbor is also the grumpy local DI who mumbles a lot about the investigative efforts of the group while giving them information and encouragement. So when a naked skull is brought to a local bride by the dog who dug it up the friends do their best to get involved despite the usual DI being on vacation away and the interim DI's disdain for the "biddies". Of course, that doesn't stop them from snooping nor the reader from enjoying the story while snickering at the sneaky humor. Loved it!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected egalley from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Pub Date Jun 30, 2025 **** #review @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial #NetGalley @the.storygraph @amandaashby #thewidowsguidetoskulduggery #WidowsDetectiveClubBk3 @stormbooks_co #cozymysteryseries @barnesandnoble #olderwidows #bookshop_org #twisty #bookshop_org_uk #librarian #England #MurderInvestigations #seniorsnoops #curses #villagelibrary #grieving #womensleuths #feudingvillages #slyhumor #friendship
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected egalley from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Pub Date Jun 30, 2025 **** #review @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial #NetGalley @the.storygraph @amandaashby #thewidowsguidetoskulduggery #WidowsDetectiveClubBk3 @stormbooks_co #cozymysteryseries @barnesandnoble #olderwidows #bookshop_org #twisty #bookshop_org_uk #librarian #England #MurderInvestigations #seniorsnoops #curses #villagelibrary #grieving #womensleuths #feudingvillages #slyhumor #friendship
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.
This is book 3 in The Widows' Detective Club series and I would really recommend to read them in order though you don't have to.
Ginny Cole, 60, recently widowed, has moved to Middle Cottage, Little Shaw for a fresh start, and got herself a part-time job in the local library. She is on good terms with her 19 year old colleague Connor West so when his sister Grace is getting married to Theo Faulkner from a neighbouring rival village, she is happy to accept an invitation.
However, at the church, dog Colin digs up a skull and drops it in front of the blushing bride, reigniting talks of a curse when village lines are not respected. The skull is found to belong to teacher Lesley Charlton who was apparently murdered by her husband twenty years ago. Together with Hen, JM and Tuppence, the unofficial Widows Detective Club starts sleuthing, safe in the knowledge that the police has closed the case. But then a fresh murder happens.
The cast is enormous but most of them are just there in the background to round out the community. I felt extremely entertained by this motley crew of community characters, and I love feisty, elderly women just doing what they want, although unfortunately the other widows felt somewhat underdeveloped. The plot was also really interesting, and full of female friendship and village life. Recommended as this incredibly warmhearted cosy mystery with great characters is cracking good fun.
This is book 3 in The Widows' Detective Club series and I would really recommend to read them in order though you don't have to.
Ginny Cole, 60, recently widowed, has moved to Middle Cottage, Little Shaw for a fresh start, and got herself a part-time job in the local library. She is on good terms with her 19 year old colleague Connor West so when his sister Grace is getting married to Theo Faulkner from a neighbouring rival village, she is happy to accept an invitation.
However, at the church, dog Colin digs up a skull and drops it in front of the blushing bride, reigniting talks of a curse when village lines are not respected. The skull is found to belong to teacher Lesley Charlton who was apparently murdered by her husband twenty years ago. Together with Hen, JM and Tuppence, the unofficial Widows Detective Club starts sleuthing, safe in the knowledge that the police has closed the case. But then a fresh murder happens.
The cast is enormous but most of them are just there in the background to round out the community. I felt extremely entertained by this motley crew of community characters, and I love feisty, elderly women just doing what they want, although unfortunately the other widows felt somewhat underdeveloped. The plot was also really interesting, and full of female friendship and village life. Recommended as this incredibly warmhearted cosy mystery with great characters is cracking good fun.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder
Ginny, Hen, Tuppence and JM are back as the detective club (“We’re not a detective club!”…) after a human skull is dug up in the grounds of a friend’s wedding and dropped at the bride’s feet by the groom’s mother’s dog.
The bride and groom are from two very different families from two neighbouring villages who really do not mix. Because the skull is found out to be from solved case the police of Walton-on-Marsh are not interested that it’s ruined the wedding and cemented the fact that any mixing of the villages are cursed.
It’s up to the widows to work out who planted the skull in an attempt to break up the wedding and how it relates to a 20 year old murder.
I thoroughly enjoyed this 3rd book in this cozy crime series. Full of humour, twists and turns but beneath the mystery were threads of grief, aging, and widowhood—handled with heart and subtlety. The widows’ bond, their determination, and the small-village secrets made this both a page-turner and a feel-good read.
With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I requested this from NetGalley before realizing it was book three in a series—but how could I resist a title with the word skulduggery in it?
Set in a mythical English village that could almost pass for rural Ireland with its endless cups of tea, this cosy mystery was a delight. From the moment a human skull crashes a wedding, Ginny and her fellow widowed amateur sleuths—JM, Tuppence, and Hen—get drawn into a mystery laced with old grudges, family feuds, and charming village drama.
Even though I hadn’t read the previous books, I still enjoyed getting to know Ginny, (I will grab any book featuring a library or a librarian) with a wry sense of humour and a job that “literally requires her to read the latest Lisa Jewell” (who is an auto-buy author for me!). I loved her relatable quirks—like preferring bikini shopping over certain encounters (no spoilers), and attending a “shake and shuffle” fitness class—and her friendship circle, complete with duck-egg blue dinner invitations and relatable introvert Connor, who declares “that was way too much peopling for this time of day.” – these characters are my people!
There were only a handful of moments where I felt I’d have known the characters more deeply had I read books one and two, but it certainly didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. The mystery had depth and a little twist, but it was the tone—that warm, witty, tea-and-biscuits energy—that really won me over.
Beneath the mystery were threads of grief, aging, and widowhood—handled with heart and subtlety. The widows’ bond, their determination, and the small-village secrets made this both a page-turner and a feel-good read.
I can’t wait to recommend my book club try this series.
Perfect for fans of: Richard Osman and anyone who loves their mysteries with heart, humour, and a whole lot of tea.
Releasing June 30, 2025 - thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Amanda Ashby for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
Set in a mythical English village that could almost pass for rural Ireland with its endless cups of tea, this cosy mystery was a delight. From the moment a human skull crashes a wedding, Ginny and her fellow widowed amateur sleuths—JM, Tuppence, and Hen—get drawn into a mystery laced with old grudges, family feuds, and charming village drama.
Even though I hadn’t read the previous books, I still enjoyed getting to know Ginny, (I will grab any book featuring a library or a librarian) with a wry sense of humour and a job that “literally requires her to read the latest Lisa Jewell” (who is an auto-buy author for me!). I loved her relatable quirks—like preferring bikini shopping over certain encounters (no spoilers), and attending a “shake and shuffle” fitness class—and her friendship circle, complete with duck-egg blue dinner invitations and relatable introvert Connor, who declares “that was way too much peopling for this time of day.” – these characters are my people!
There were only a handful of moments where I felt I’d have known the characters more deeply had I read books one and two, but it certainly didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. The mystery had depth and a little twist, but it was the tone—that warm, witty, tea-and-biscuits energy—that really won me over.
Beneath the mystery were threads of grief, aging, and widowhood—handled with heart and subtlety. The widows’ bond, their determination, and the small-village secrets made this both a page-turner and a feel-good read.
I can’t wait to recommend my book club try this series.
Perfect for fans of: Richard Osman and anyone who loves their mysteries with heart, humour, and a whole lot of tea.
Releasing June 30, 2025 - thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Amanda Ashby for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I haven’t read the first two books in this series but I had no trouble getting right into the feel of the town and our main character. The mystery gets going right from the beginning and I was hooked from the first chapter. It’s a cozy small town British mystery, which is always a yes for me. This book is written well and keeps your attention. I love the dynamic of the group of sweet and sassy older women solving crime together. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in this series and anticipating the next!