This is the fourth book in the series, and I am embarrassed to say that I haven't read the others before this one. But, if they are half as good as this one, I will be rectifying that soon! Our heroine lives in a small English village that puts the Q in quaint. It's adorable and absolutely the kind of place I would want to visit. As long as I am not the victim, that is.
She has inherited a love of birds from her father. I love the information the author gives us on our fine feathered friends. The author also has a gift for describing the scenery. For those of us who have never visited these cozy villages, it is wonderful to see what they are like. Marty Wingate has done a brilliant job bringing the world to life and making the characters real.

I read this one last year and forgot to come on here and mention that. I enjoyed this series. I pretty much like all of Marty Wingates cozy series! Wish there was more than four.

A wonderful cozy mystery that is set in England, in a little village where everyone knows everyone, except, of course, the mysterious victim. I enjoyed how the author built up the mystery, making multiple characters appear guilty until the very satisfying conclusion. This is definitely a fun book to read that will leave you craving some cake and a cuppa.

A cozy mystery set in England where everyone knows everyone, except the mysterious victim. I liked how the book built up the mystery, made multiple character appear guilty until the satisfying end. Overall a fun book to read that made me hungry for cake and a cuppa.

I am happy to say that with this fourth book in the Birds of a Feather series, Marty Wingate is back on top of what I have grown to love and expect from this series.

In this story, Julia is hoping that Michael will propose. It is difficult to do when his sister, Pamela (Pammy) shows up and moves in with the couple. I love how they refer to her as a cuckoo, a bird that moves into another bird's nest and eats its food and takes over. When a body turns up near the Abbey, Julia realizes it is the mysterious man who has been giving tourists information about the area. She does not know who he is and it appears no one else does either. As the story unfolds, once again Julia starts asking some questions. Her strongest characteristic is her ability to listen and observe. Once she gathers information, it doesn't take her long to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

I enjoyed the plot and development of this story. Once again, Alfie, the rook makes an appearance and drops hints and clues into Julia's pockets. Pammy, is actually a charming character. Once you get over the fact that she has barged in on Julia and Michael, she was easy to like. She was dealing with a lot of stuff in her life and she works things out well. There are the usual quirky characters we find in this small English Village and they assist without even knowing it. Julia and Pammy find themselves in a bit of a sticky situation, but with the help of Alfie and the loves of their lives, they are rescued and the culprit captured. In this story, I figured out who the murderer was about the same time as Julia, but whether or not he was going to get away with it and how the story would all come together in the end kept me reading. A good addition to the series. The publisher, Alibi. generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Marty Wingate is always a wonderful read! The characters are funny, sad, interesting and a bit weird...all at the same time! I never want these books to end as I have become part of the characters lives!

Oh, I have so fallen for this author and this series! This was a fantastic cozy mystery! Every book of Wingate's makes me smile with the British feel and influence. I'd have been cuckoo to have not read this book. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free will.

I love this cozy mystery, which is part of Wingate’s “Birds of a Feather” series.
Julia Lanchester and Michael Sedgwick are getting ideas about tying the knot after the recent wedding of their friends. But before Michael gets a chance to pop the question, his older sister, Pammy, comes along unannounced to stay with them (supposedly for a couple of nights). Seems she has broken up with her boyfriend.
Pammy is enough to drive anyone crazy, so Julia makes sure she stays busy at work and spends as little time as possible at home.
After a body is found on the estate, police find that Pammy was the last person to see the man alive. Julia, determined to get Pammy out of her house, is determined to get to the bottom of this case.

This is the fourth book in the Birds of a Feather series by Marty Wingate. I admit I have not read the first three, but that did not stop me from enjoying this book immensely. Julia and her boyfriend, Michael, have their lives interrupted by Julia's sister, Pammy. When a dead body is discovered, blame is placed on Pammy. Julia finds it necessary to solve the mystery, not just for Pammy, but for her own sanity as well!

This was a great story, where the author was able to transport the reader into the lives of Julia and others in this small English village.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This is the first book in the series and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the characters, the setup and solving of the mystery. I will enjoy visiting this series again. I did wonder if Julia & Micheal were ever going to get rid of Pammy.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Farewell, My Cuckoo, the fourth installment in the Birds of a Feather series by Marty Wingate is an absolutely terrific book that I hated to see end. I was transported to the Suffolk village of Smeaton-Under-Lyme, a lovely close-knit town where Julia Lanchester runs the Tourist Information Center and basically knows everything about Smeaton and its environs, as well as its residents. When the body of an unidentified man is found in the churchyard, Julia is determined to discover not only his identity but also why "that poor man" was killed.

I love mysteries set in small, quaint British villages, and this book perfectly fit the bill. In addition to the mystery, there is a lot more happening in Julia's life and at the Tourist Information Center. I loved all the bird and bird-watching references, especially that of the cuckoo. This book is the first Marty Wingate novel I have read, and it certainly will not be the last. I can't wait to dive into the series from the very beginning and once again be drawn into Julia's wonderful world of Smeaton-Under-Lyme.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

Farewell, My Cuckoo is the fourth book in the Birds of a Feather Mystery series. This can be read as a standalone. If you are looking for a cozy mystery to read, this is a good book for you. This takes place is a small village in England so be prepared for small village life.And of course there is plenty of talk about birds.

This series is filled with interesting characters and location.
The cuckoo metaphor is perfect. Their home and life are taken over by his sister.
The question of who the murdered man is and how he came to be murder is fascinating, albeit, sad.
Well done all around.

I enjoy reading Marty Wingate's cozy books. This is book 4 in the Birds of a Feather Series. Julia and Michael are seriously considering marriage but his sister Pam has moved in and is cramping their life. I love the small English village life and the cast of characters is always in rare form. When a local man, Bob is found murdered the entire village helps Julia and Pammy find the murderer. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

To start this book has some beautiful cover art. Those colors are amazing together. The story does not disappoint either making this a great addition to this cute cozy mystery series. Things are really getting series between Julia and Michael by this point with the book starting as someone else's wedding but their special plans are interrupted by an unexpected family member on the door step. Of course she is one of those free loading woe is me people that completely upheaves your whole life and never wants to leave. As if that is not bad enough a mystery man is found dead and of course Julia has to start asking questions until the killer is revealed. Set in the English countryside on an estate this book features as many kinds of birds as the series would suggest which provides a nice balance point to the story while also being informative. The characters are well developed and easy to love/hate as required really giving life to the story. If you enjoy cozy mysteries and birds then you really should give this book/series a chance. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Who knew bird watching and watchers could be so entertaining? Great characters and a nifty mystery with a touch of romance abd a bit of light family drama. Really enjoyed the characters and their interactions in this excellent cozy.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Alibi for providing this book for an honest review. Review posted on Amazon and Good Reads.

This is a delightful British cozy mystery series and next in the Marty Wingate Birds of a Feathers Mysteries. I have read the previous books three books in the series and do highly recommend the series for all who enjoy a great mystery. This next in series does not disappoint and is equally exciting and a fun read. This series is interesting, fun and well crafted with a fast paced writing style. The author has written this in such a way that it can be read as a stand alone .
I love the author’s descriptions of the variety of birds, butterflies, and vegetation in England. Her love for the land is evident, enthralling the reader with the breathtaking beauty of the area around Suffolk, England. It strikes me first in each of these books how detailed the descriptions are of the area. The author has a magical way of placing the reader in the lovely area . You can almost breath the fresh air, hear the birds and see the rolling hills.
Julia is manager of the Tourist Information Center, at the fabulous Fotheringham Estate in Smeaton-Under-Lyme. Linus, Lord Fotheringham, is owner of the village estate which includes ancient abbey ruins, St. Swithun’s, and many shops and farms. The estate is open to the public.
Julia is daughter to Rupert Lanchester, acclaimed ornithologist, best known for A Bird in the Hand, a beloved TV show. She has a great knowledge of birds herself and enjoys the activity of bird watching with her boyfriend.
Michael is her boyfriend and Rupert’s personal assistant and producer. He and Julia are looking forward to an evening together after attending a wedding. They headed toward her tiny home and saw someone at the entry!. It turns out to be Pammy, Michael’s sister, who has come for a visit after leaving her boyfriend. Their lives change as she takes up residence and will not leave. Soon her visit is impacting their relationship. She had been sure he would propose but their feelings are put on hold to deal with the sister. The sister brings humor to the story and is as annoying as any visiting relative.
Julia is at St. Swithun’s when a school teacher finds a dead man at the pond. He has no ID. Julia, who promised to not get involved in any more investigations wants to investigate . The search is on to determine not only who he is and find the killer as Julia once again picks up the responsibility of finding the truth of the crime.
Julia is intelligent, and well-liked . The town jumps right in to help her as best they can. The shop owners are also very likable. She is a able and good sleuth. This is the perfect blend of a likable protagonist, a great little British village and a fun sleuth.
I was very satisfied with the well crafted sleuth to the conclusion. I highly recommend this series to those who love the beauty of birds and mysteries set in the English countryside .

Shared on Amazon. Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review. I appreciate receiving this book for review.

When a Cuckoo comes to roost how do you protect your nest?  Smeaton-under-Lyme is celebrating. Julia’s assistant is getting married and it looks like Michael may soon propose.  Unfortunately his sister Pammy shows up, taking over the small cottage Julia and Michael share. Her presence doesn’t lend to romantic interludes leaving Julia and Michael both exhausted and frustrated.  Then, a man’s body is discovered, killed by an unknown blunt object - and Pammy may have been the last to see him alive. Add in a rude businessman showing far too much interest in Nuala and her cakes, and a local farmer behaving oddly, you have an intriguing story.


Smeaton-under-Lyme is a charming village, filled with character.  Marty Wingate has a talent for breathing life into her settings and characters.  Quirky and complex, they are easily liked, even Pammy. The novel is well plotted, with plenty of twists that make it believable and interesting.  Unlike many series where each book follows a repeating formula, the Birds of a Feather novels flow smoothly and believably from one another. Farewell, My Cuckoo is an excellent cozy that has just the right mixture of charm, suspense and humor.  I highly recommend Marty Wingate’s newest novel.


5 / 5


I received a copy of Farewell, My Cuckoo from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


— Crittermom

Princess Fuzzypants here: I do like this series. I like the characters. I like the setting. I like the mysteries. This one is particularly poignant.
A man who seems to have nothing and no one is kind to a family visiting the Estate. The mother is so overwhelmed by his attitude, she tells Julie who considers starting a new award for helpful locals. It is all the sadder when Bob, the man, is murdered. No one knows who he is at first but he has a tragic and involved back story which only increases the number of possible candidates for murder.
Julia, as usual, feels compelled to help the local police uncover the murderer which puts her in harms way. As if that was not enough trouble for one woman, she must also deal with her boyfriend’s sister, Pammy, who arrives on their doorstep, uninvited and unannounced. Much like the cuckoo of the title, it seems they may have difficulty in dislodging her from their nest. To make matters even worse, Michael was just about to propose to Julia, but Pammy manages to thwart his best efforts to become engaged.
Loyalty and love are put to the test. There is an undercurrent of how fate can conspire: the differences that can occur when someone follows his or her heart or not.
While I did suspect the ultimate villain, there were enough moments when I thought it might be someone else. I never suspected the reason for the murder. It is always good when a story takes you over and under and around and about.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.

After participating in the wedding of her friends, Julia Lancaster is certain her boyfriend Michael will soon be proposing. However, an unexpected visit from Michael's sister Pammy puts a damper on romance. Then a murder victim is found with no identification near the village church. The only thing the man has is a tin containing pieces of a bird's egg. Julia is intrigued and becomes invested in finding the murderer of the stranger.

I've read all of the books in the "Birds of a Feather" mystery series, and "Farewell, My Cuckoo" is one of my favorites. Julia and Michael are wonderful characters individually and even better as a couple. There aren't as many detailed bird-watching scenes as in some of the other books which keeps the story moving faster, but there is enough bird-related information to be true to the theme of the series. The book's title cleverly fits in with a couple different subplots and will become clear after reading the book.

There are several possible suspects in the murder that keeps Julia, as well as the reader, guessing. I like that Michael supports Julia in her sleuthing and also like that Julia grows to be supportive of Pammy, even though her extended stay is interfering in her and Michael's plans. The charming characters, entertaining situations, and interesting plot make this a delightful book for anyone who enjoys a British cozy with original characters and well-written dialogue and descriptions. 4.5 stars

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Alibi. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.