A review by lisibee815
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense 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

4.5

 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed this book! This lively story kept me guessing all the way to the end as to what was really going on. There were multiple POVs from almost every character, which in the beginning felt like it over-complicated things in trying to keep track of the sheer number of character stories going on (I admit to taking notes to keep everyone straight). And because of the info dump in the beginning, I was a little skeptical that I would really enjoy this book but darned if it didn't suck me in! I'm very glad I stuck with it. One thing I grew to appreciate was how well it was all laid out. I admit that I don't typically read whodunnits, largely because I want to sink into a story and let it carry me along rather than puzzling things out. And while this one had some very satisfying twists, I also really appreciated just how well everything was explained along the way. All the characters were written very distinctly, and the author did a fantastic job of bringing out the likable aspects in all of the main characters. There was a strong and enjoyable "found family" theme in the story, which is always a plus. (Mrs. B gathers lost souls around her like a cat lady hoarding cats.) And although there were very serious events in this book, there was also a nice thread of humor which lightened things up when needed. I have not read this author before but I definitely will again! Publishes August 19, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary ARC of the book, all opinions are my own. 
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