Another hit in the series of the 1920s English village and includes American Beryl who is staying with her Brit friend Edwina. Together they put together the pieces and solve murders in the cozy mystery series. Not sure if this is book 3 or 4, but you should be lost. I have read a few out of order but still enjoy the series. This one also gives more details about their gardener Simpkins and how he comes to live with them. Highly recommend.

Edwina and Beryl are hired by young Jack to prove his father isn’t the murderer of the man he was found passed out by. Simpkins receives a large inheritance from a man he doesn’t know. It’s never dull in this small village.
Goodreads

I’m loving these books! Highly recommend for any cozy mystery fans!! Will definitely continue this series.

This book was very entertaining and I can't wait to read more by Jessica Ellicott! Huge thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for this opportunity!

Oh my goodness but I love this series. LOVE! This is book three in this fun post-WW1 series featuring American adventuress Beryl Helliwell and proper Brit Edwina Davenport in the charming village of Walmsley Parva.

When Hector Lomax, brother-in-law of Edwina’s hapless hardener Simpkins, is found murdered, and Simpkins himself is the prime suspect, Beryl and Edwina set out to find the real culprit. I just loved the role Simpkins played in this one; he’s one of my favorite characters - rough and uncultured on the outside but with a really big heart. I also really love the insights into life in England after the Great War, when men returned home with wounds you couldn’t always see, and when the traditional societal hierarchies were upended and transformed. A really interesting time for sure.

This is a light, fun and funny and highly entertaining cozy mystery series that I can’t recommend enough for fans of the genre. Beryl and Edwina make the MOST perfect sleuthing duo. I can’t get enough of either of them. I love how they balance each other brilliantly. As different as they are, there is clearly so much love between them. And the supporting characters are just fantastic as well. Love!

The Twee Twosome.....
Book three in this delightful series set in quaint English village Walmsley Parva featuring Edwina and Beryl, the wonderfully twee twosome and sometime amateur sleuths. Another mystery comes their way and murder to solve. Hugely enjoyable with a colourful, eccentric cast and some quirky rapport. Perfect.

I enjoy historical mysteries so Beryl and Edwina adventures are right up my alley. I love a good cozy mystery series but the supporting characters are not quite as likable,or engaging as the lead charactersl.

In addition to the main murder mystery, there is a subplot dealing with an unexpected windfall that seems odd at first but plays out well in the end of the tale setting up a potential twist for future books. The pace is somewhat slow yet steady throughout. I did not figure out whodunit until close to the end.

Overall, MURDER CUTS THE MUSTARD is a charming, fun escapade. Recommended to fans of historical and cozy mysteries.

This is a solidly entertaining cozy mystery with an enjoyable cast of characters, a clever plot, and a fun mystery to solve. I enjoyed the twists, and think this is an excellent work in the genre.

Murder Cuts the Mustard is a cozy mystery. The characters are well developed and interesting. The storyline is entertaining.

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a rather whimsical historical mystery set not long after WWI. The war has brought many changes and life in the small villages of England will never be the same. Beryl and Edwina are an odd couple. Friends who met at finishing school, Beryl, the American and thoroughly modern woman and Ed the proper English rose form a detective agency they run out of their shared home.
When their gardener is implicated in the murder of his n’er do well brother in law, they feel obligated to search for the killer. Then they are hired by a child for whom they share affection to prove his father innocent. Now they have double reasons to investigate.
Things take an entirely unexpected turn when the gardener is informed that he is the beneficiary of a very wealthy man. His Estate includes a popular mustard company. No one can quite understand how this came to be but the widow and the nephew of the dead man are not going to admit defeat and swoop into the village. They will try almost anything to undermine the will. Thankfully the old gardener has the two ladies and a kindly local lawyer to shield him from the avaricious duo.
It is full of atmosphere and has the feel of a classic British mystery set in the years between the wars. Both ladies are remarkable characters and quite competent in their own ways. In fact, they are well matched as each has a different set of strengths but together they are impressive.
I did enjoy the mystery as well but it is the characters who make this delightful. I could see the BBC doing a film of this.
Four purrs and two paws up.

This is a very good series and I love the era it is set in. Edwina and Beryl make the perfect investigative duo. I was entertained from the very first page.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Edwina Davenport is struggling to make ends meet in a big house in a small town in England after the First World War, when her childhood friend Beryl comes to join her. Beryl, an American, has led a life of adventure, but she's getting tired of it. The two join forces and open a detective agency. In this book, a murder comes too close to home when Edwina's gardener is suspected.

The complex plot brings in plenty of interesting historical points as the traditional English village begins to cope with the changes of 20th century life and times. The characters are complex, the story is steadily paced, and the setting is convincing.

The book is also well written. Fully developed characters and plenty of detail about life in the village make this a satisfying series.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

This charming third mystery featuring adventuress Beryl and her old school friend Edwina find the odd-couple sleuths in the midst of yet another murder investigation when Edwina’s gardener’s deadbeat brother-in-law is killed and Simkins is a suspect. When the village drunk is arrested, Beryl and Edwina hone their investigative skills to unearth the real killer.

I think Beryl and Edwina make a great sleuthing team. They could not be any more different from each other, but each woman’s strengths balance out the other’s weaknesses. The English village setting is perfect for the cozy mystery genre, and though the story takes place in the uncertain years following World War I, the tone is lighthearted and the book easy to read. It can be read as a standalone, but readers do get a better understanding of the characters and their circumstances if they begin reading the series with book one.

The murder mystery is well thought out, and there is a subplot, also concerning Simkins, that initially seems odd but plays out to set up some potential changes for Beryl and Edwina in future books. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and a few red herrings to keep readers guessing. I did not figure out the killer’s identity until very late in the tale. The story does lag a bit in the middle but quickly regains its footing.

Murder Cuts the Mustard is entertaining and endearing. It hits all of the cozy mystery high points. Recommended to any historical or cozy mystery reader.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

“Murder Cuts the Mustard” by Jessica Ellicott is the latest in the Beryl and Edwina series, set in in the quaint English village of Walmsley Parva, where you can’t help but stumble over the occasional body, it seems. Our heroines are front and center, as always. Beryl Helliwell – quite the adventuress. Edwina Davenport – just the opposite. Together they have solved mysteries and caught some bad ‘uns in two earlier books.
This entry involves the death of their gardener’s brother-in-law, an obnoxious character that nobody liked. Simpkins the gardener is a suspect, and quickly most of the men and half of the women in the village are looking pretty good for the crime, too. As it’s just a short while past the end of WWI, it’s very difficult to get good help, and Edwina doesn’t want to loss her gardener, as gin-soaked as he is. They must solve the mystery and find the real culprit. Then the police (well, grumpy Constable Gibbs) turns to another likely murderer, and it becomes even more imperative to find the real killer.

This is another of those cozy mysteries for which the plot is secondary. It’s the characters and setting that matters most. Beryl is a brash American, Edwina, a timid English spinster. Together, they make a wonderful pair. Of course, they have to keep out of the way of Constable Gibbs. Of course, Edwina has to ensure that her reputation doesn’t suffer as they poke and prod into places where the villagers of WP would prefer they didn’t. And of course, Beryl must run roughshod over everything and everybody. The subplot involves her writing a book, for which she needs a typewriter and typing lessons. This does not go well, as you’ll find out as you read. These are not psychological dramas that will not keep you up at night. Rather, they will no doubt leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. This is not a bad thing. In fact, it is almost a reflection of the times, when it was hoped that life would return to the way it was before the war. This was not to be, of course, and “Murder Cuts the Mustard” really does reflect that, if you think about it. How else do we explain “lady private enquiry agents.” Changes from the war in all aspects of village life really do loom large. Even in style and appearance, as you will see.

There’s a subplot here – Simpkins inherits all kinds of money from someone he says he doesn’t know. The man owned a very successful condiment company – hence the title, clever cogs. He’s suddenly a very rich man. The family isn’t likely to be happy. Since bodies do like to pile up in Walmsley Parva, it’s up to B&E to protect their friend.

There are mentions of “shell shock” here, from WWI. It remains a factor in English society for so many people after the war, and it plays a part in “Murder Cuts the Mustard.” The principal suspect in Hector’s murder is lost to alcoholism, and where did that come from but the war?

Everything seems very cut and dried. There’s nothing to point to anyone else, unfortunately, and it’s looking bad for the jailed suspect. Then suddenly things start to get a lot darker. Someone else is killed. And secrets – lots of secrets, begin to emerge. And some of these secrets these ladies are engaged in would curl your hair, as Beryl soon finds out. It's these little, crazy touches that the author excels at. And it's the little touches that will get you arrested for murder most foul, as our murderer soon finds out.

The author plays fair with her readers. It’s a straightforward story, no angst or anguish, just visits to the scene of the crime, checking on witnesses and therefore possible suspects, and piecing together clues. The reader is invited along, of course.

In amongst all this you’ll find out what our ladies think about themselves. Especially in Edwina’s case. A lot of out with the old, in with the new. Quite refreshing. There’s plenty to work with, for forthcoming books.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.

5 Stars
Women Sleuths Post WWI Britain
This is the third book in a wonderful cozy mystery series set in post-WWI England. The time period is very important as women and the 'lesser classes' had just gotten a small taste of freedom during the war and were not going to hand it back. The mystery is very good and has the reader following the clues as the investigation proceeds. It is a very nice period piece that doesn't dress up the times or stand on any political soapbox. Nicely done!

Murder Cuts the Mustard is the third adventure featuring Beryl and Edwina, best friends and co-owners of Walmsley Parva's only inquiry agency, and it's just as charming as the first two! When Hector, Simpkins' brother-in-law, is found murdered in the church graveyard the ladies are on the case to discover who killed him. And when Simpkins discovers he's inherited a fortune from a recently deceased mustard tycoon and Walmsely Parva is invaded by the aforementioned tycoon's gold digging widow and her solicitor, Edwina and Beryl must step in and help the elderly gardener before something nefarious happens to him, too! The Beryl and Edwina mysteries are such a pleasure to read, and Ms. Ellicott always includes very interesting historical tidbits - many of which I'd hadn't previously know! A+++

MURDE CUTS THE MUSTARD is the entertaining third book in the post-World War I era series featuring former adventuress Beryl and her finishing school chum Edwina. This time around Edwina’s gardener becomes the prime suspect in his ne’er do well brother-in-law’s murder. Beryl and Edwina put on their investigative thinking caps to clear his and another villager’s names and unmask the real killer, all while the body count continues to rise.

I enjoy historical mysteries so Beryl and Edwina adventures are right up my alley. The 1921 setting highlights the changing British society still dealing with the ramifications of WWI. Don’t get me wrong, though, it sticks to the light hearted cozy standard with a quaint village setting, endearing characters, and “off screen” violence. Beryl and Edwina could not be more different from one another, and they balance each other well. The supporting characters are not quite as likable, but that is intentional. After all, murder suspects need not be nice.

In addition to the main murder mystery, there is a subplot dealing with an unexpected windfall that seems odd at first but plays out well in the end of the tale setting up a potential twist for future books. The pace is somewhat slow yet steady throughout. I did not figure out whodunit until close to the end.

Overall, MURDER CUTS THE MUSTARD is a charming, fun escapade. Recommended to fans of historical and cozy mysteries.

I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley from Kensington Publishers and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

3.5 stars

Beryl and Edwina return for another charming adventure. This odd couple, an adventurous American and a somewhat proper Brit, were students together and have become roommates and business partners in an investigative agency. The post World War 1 setting is well done and the affectionate but sometimes exasperated relationship between the two women is appealing.

Edwina's elderly gardener has been accused of murder so the two are motivated to solve this case. As always, they must mesh their very different styles: Beryl is intelligent, daring, intuitive and impulsive. Edwina is also intelligent, but logical and organized. Somehow they manage to make it work and are surprisingly effective sleuths.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Murder Cuts The Mustard is the third book in the Beryl and Edwina Mystery series.

This is one of my favorite series set shortly after WWI in the quaint little village of Walmsley Parva. Beryl and Edwina have known each other since childhood and have recently met again with Beryl stopping in Walmsley Parva and meets up once again with Edwina. After solving their first murder, Beryl suggests that they start a private inquiry agency. Edwina being a private person has her doubts, but Beryl is finally able to convince her. At first glance, Beryl and Edwina might seem an unlikely duo, Beryl being a free-spirit and Edwina is one to follow the life most women followed during the years following the war. But they end up being a very effective duo.

The story begins with Edwina’s, less than energetic gardener, Simpkins, engaged in an argument with his brother-in-law, Hector Lomax. The disagreement is over Simpkins late wife’s wedding ring that Simpkins claims Lomax has stolen. The next morning the body of Lomax is found in the graveyard next to the church. Simpkins becomes the prime suspect until Constable Gibbs learns that Frank Prentice was found, intoxicated, near where the Lomax body was discovered and who had also had an argument with Lomax the previous evening. Jack Prentice, Frank’s boy, comes to Beryl and Edwina asks to hire them to find evidence to clear his father’s name. Jack is their newspaper boy and runs errands for Edwina and Beryl and they agree to try and find Lomax’s killer.

A subplot to the story centers on Simpkins. Edwina and Beryl become concerned when a solicitor from London arrives in town wanting to speak with Simpkins. Their fears are put to rest when they learn that Simpkins has received a rather large inheritance and is now a man of means. Simpkins has been left the controlling interest in Colonel Kimberly’s Condiment Company by Colonel Kimberly. Simpkins is aware of the company’s product but has no idea as to Colonel Kimberly is.

Ms. Ellicott once again provides us with a well-written and plotted story with enough red herring to have kept me guessing until the end. She also provides us with an interesting cast of supporting characters, in addition to the wonderful Edwina and Beryl.

I very much looking forward to the next book in this very enjoyable series.

This is becoming one of my favorite historical cozy mystery series.
I love Edwina and Beryl and I love the well researched historical background and their mysteries.
It's a gripping, humorous and entertaining read that kept me hooked and made me turn pages as fast as I could.
The mystery is fast paced, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
I was more than happy to meet again the quirky cast of characters and the character development is excellent as they're all well written and interesting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.