Death at the Gates is the third book in Katie Gayle's cozy mystery series featuring Epiphany Bloom. Released 2nd Aug 2021, it's 250 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Pip and Most (of a cat, her 3 legged sidekick), are back righting wrongs, doing good deeds, and generally sticking their oars in where the bad guys wish they'd refrain. After a disastrous museum opening night fiasco sees her sacked from her job (the scene left me laughing out loud), she is soon drawn into investigating an exam cheating scandal at an upscale girls' school. Skulduggery abounds and it's not long before she's up to her neck in chaos and danger.

This is an engaging madcap comedy of errors with a fundamentally good-hearted and intelligent heroine who's only trying to solve the mystery and make her rent to keep a roof over her (and her three-legged cat's) head(s). The plotting and pacing are breakneck and this is one which readers can devour in a sitting or two. The dialogue is occasionally a bit twee, but all in all it's a fun ride with a satisfying denouement.

The language is firmly PG (with "hell", "bloody", "shite", etc). There is no graphic on-page content. Spelling and vernacular are UK standard (bin, lorry, torch, kerb, etc). It shouldn't pose any problems in context for readers. This has become a very light cozy series favourite for me and I find myself looking forward to seeing what comes next for Pip & Most (of a cat). Real humour isn't easy to write and this author duo really has the timing and repartee down pat.

Four stars. Very fun.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Death At The Gates by Katie Gayle

Although this was a decent mystery, it was unrealistic. No one gets to come into a school, as a teacher, with no qualifications. Pip was out off her comfort zone on this one.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

This school dynamic may be too much for Epiphany to solve. But, she could be the right girl turned gym teacher. It is a cozy mystery, so not too much gore, but it keeps your attention and will keep you entertained with the easy reading. Definitely give it a chance this Fall.

This is the third book featuring Pip and it firmly cements the series as one of my all-time favorites.
I can’t speak highly enough about these books (you can read my reviews of the first two here and here). There is so much cleverness and attention to detail that it’s difficult to know where to start.
I like how Pip is fallible. She is not necessarily the sharpest tool in the box, but she gets things done – sometimes in spite of herself. She also finds herself in the most amusing situations…again, mostly of her own doing.
An ill-planned event at the museum from the last book causes her to lose her job. Again. I like how the authors have established this pattern. Pip is always on to the next thing. This time she inserts herself into the middle of a school cheating scandal.
Anyone who pays attention to pop culture even a little will find it reminiscent of the college cheating scandal that rocked Hollywood a couple of years ago. It doesn’t exactly parallel but there are similarities.
Until a dead body pops up. Or rather, face down? And then Detective Pip really has a dilemma on her hands. As has been the case in the other books, Pip is more a beneficiary of luck rather than actual skill, although she does have a knack for talking to the right person at the right time and recognizing important things when necessary.
Pip’s affinity for pop culture helps her along the way. However, she is woefully underprepared in some areas (her rabbit hole search for sports facts was particularly amusing). Flis also has an uncanny knowledge of pop culture. But hers often seems to be more luck of the draw due to her constant malapropisms.
Honestly, I think Flis is one of my favorite characters ever. I especially liked how her long-suffering husband has apparently figured out a way to get around her horrid attempts at new recipes
My absolute favorite part of these books, however, is the sheer intelligence of the authors. Their command of the language, wordplay, clever alliterations all make for a most enjoyable read. I almost feel like I have to read the books twice: once for the plot and a second time to just enjoy the love of words.
I hope Pip will be around for many books to come because I thoroughly enjoy reading about her escapades.

I was a little disappointed with this third book in the series. Pip is as bumbling and humorous as always, but the mystery was completely predictable. I thought the setting of a girls school provided a way to introduce characters, but I just didn’t care for this one. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Epiphany (Pip) Bloom finds herself without a job... yet again! Her stint as a buyer and curator for the Museum of Movie Memorabilia and Vintage Costumes comes to end when a fire breaks out at a museum's event as a result of Pip's hiring the fire dancers. Pip spends her days wallowing and sleeping (after all the 'incident' could have happened to anyone with all that polyester on display!) until her friend and roommate Tim asks for her help with a personal problem. His younger sister Claire, a student of the prestigious Hurlingham House school has been accused of cheating and leaking/tampering exam and test papers. Claire claims she is innocent but somebody from school is running this scam via a website. Epiphany meets the headmistress of the school and decides to go undercover as a P. E. teacher to investigate. Then a parent is murdered and with constant attempts on Pip's life as well, this very well could turn out to be her most dangerous case yet.

This book, like the previous two, was a lot of fun to read! I love Pip! She is funny, goofy, lovable, original, creative and even though she bumbles her way through her sleuthing, she still gets the job done! Although, I did feel that Pip did not goof up as much in this book as she is prone too (the bingo card incident could happen to anyone) and displayed a level headedness and courage which was refreshing to see. On the romantic front we are still not sure (like Pip herself) who Pip will lean towards, Tim or Jimmy.

The llamas make an appearance too and what an appearance it is! Sally Llama in particular steals the show!

Oh and I also learned a new word... 'malapropism'!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Katie Gayle for the e-Arc of the book.

Hapless amateur sleuth Pip Bloom is called upon to go undercover at a private school to investigate exam cheats. But the situation deteriorates when a death occurs at the school fair which is discovered to be murder. Pip finds herself in danger as well...
Death at the Gates is the third book to feature the escapades of Pip (I have previously reviewed The Kensington Kidnap and The Museum Murder)
Pip's character continues to be delightfully madcap. She bumbles through life despite her best attempts at sensible behaviour. In this book she helps her flatmate Tim's sister who has been accused of cheating in an exam. She takes on the role of PE teacher despite having no experience and knowing nothing about sport!
This book falls firmly into the category of cosy murder mystery. The tone of the whole book is light hearted and warm in spite of the danger faced by Pip as she investigates. The murder does not occur until halfway through the book and is not described in graphic detail. I guessed the murderer quite early on but this did not spoil my enjoyment at all.
Threads from the previous books continue to feature heavily. The throwaway hints about  tumultuous disasters from Pip's past. The potential romantic interest of Pip with Jimmy and Tim. The llama business of Pip's mother. The hilarious misquotes of Flis (seriously how does she manage to write a blog?!)
Death at the Gates is a light hearted cosy mystery. It is easy to enjoy the book without reading the previous books in the series but I would recommend reading them all!

I have reviewed the previous two books in the series and have been critical of why I liked certain parts of it and of the other elements that I found annoying. I decided to stick with the series and give it another shot and was rewarded. This is probably the best book of the series to date.
It is the mystery aspect of the plotline that brings a new shine to the tale. Pip has lost yet another job at the beginning. This time also, she refuses to see any mistake on her part to the reason behind her ousting. She finds it unfair. Luckily for her, the next job comes literally knocking at her door in the form of her roommate's sister. The result of which has Pip going undercover as a physical education teacher at an elite girls school. Before she gets there, it is just a question of cheating, but once Pip starts digging, someone ends up dead.
Somewhere around this point that I was very sure who the culprit(s) was (rightly so), but the red herrings were fun to watch from the cosy perch of knowing the right villain(s) after all. I usually am restless if I uncover the plot beforehand, but the supporting cast kept the tone entertaining (her sister continues to be the best for laughs) and had me enjoying the randomness of the investigation. Despite all the new books to take notes in and the notes that she takes, Pip is not exactly the best sleuth. She finds the criminal(s) at just about the time they show their hand. I had not expected to like the book as much as I did, and I have rethought my stand on continuing on with the series if I get the chance!
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I just love the Epiphany “Pip” Bloom series. It’s a cozy series set in England and Pip is always getting herself into tight spots. Do you watch The Modern Miss Fisher on Acorn TV? Pip reminds me of Peregrine (though Peregrine is in Australia) and I picture her like her. Thoroughly enjoyable!

This installment (all are stand alones, too) takes place in a girls’ private school. If you know me, you know I’ve worked in private schools for over 30 years and I love them for book settings! This was a run read. Highly recommended if you enjoy cozies like Her Royal Spyness or Modern Miss Fisher!

Thank you for my e-copy and for making me part of the tour!

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!
You can find my review on my blog: https://www.healthybodymindandsoul.net/healthy-mind-blog/death-at-the-gates-katie-gayle-bookouture-blog-tour

This is the third in the series of the Epiphany Bloom series.

Epiphany Bloom is something of a catastrophe when it comes to jobs and finds herself being sacked very quickly. So when another job falls through for her she finds herself at a lose end.

When she becomes aware of an exam scam at a school she gets employed as a PE teacher so she can investigate. Much hilarity ensues as she looks into the case.

I really enjoyed this book and the character of Pip and her quirky ways. The story was gripping and the other characters really added to the overall feel of the book.

This series is a great addition to the cosy crime genre.

Death at the Gates by by Katie Gayle is the 3rd book in the Epiphany Bloom mystery series, and another fun addition. Epiphany, Pip, Bloom agrees to go with her best friend's sister, Clare, to talk to her headteacher. Claire's school is very competitive, and tests were stolen. Once again Pip is on the case determined to find who is stealing tests. This book is funny, with twists and turns that keep you reading and guessing. I read this book in one day, because I could not put it down. I highly recommended this book and series for cozy mystery book fans.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Death at the Gates by Katie Gayle is another Epiphany Bloom mystery. Epiphany, known as Pip, is a mystery. She can't hold down a job to save her life, but she does seem to be pretty good a solving mysteries. She has her roommate, Tim, a computer, hacker as her right-hand man, which definitely helps. There is also her sister, Flis, who is a successful blogger-homemaking and lifestyle, who is the queen of the malapropism, but quite successful, and her mother and Henry, the llama farmers. The situation here is that Tim's sister, Claire, has been caught cheating at school, and the goal is to keep her parents from finding out, especially as it is untrue. In the investigation, Pip discovers a plot emanating from the school and solves a murder, as an offshoot of the cheating scandal. It is a funny exploration, culminating with Pip solving both mysteries.

This is a funny series. Pip is not exactly a bumbling detective, although she is a bumbling everything-else. Her jobs have been epic, or rather, losing her job has been epic. The latest one is having an act using a flaming torch at an exhibit featuring all highly flammable materials from the 1980s. Anyone could have made that mistake. She is loved by all who know her (except most of her ex-employers) and is really q whimsical and amusing young woman. This is a convoluted mystery; people do murder for the oddest reasons, and took some finagling to untangle the various roles of the participants. It was a fun and engaging read. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Death at the Gates by Bookouture, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #bookouture #deathatthegates

This is the third book in this fun series
Featuring Epiphany Bloom in mysteries.
She’s better known as Pip and when she’s on the case
Anything can happen to anyone or in any place!

This time she’s coerced into helping her friend Tim
Prove his sister, Claire, didn’t cheat in tests - she’s not that dim!
The school’s one for girls where high results are a must
And the Head believes Pip can uncover who she can no longer trust.

Becoming a PE teacher isn’t what Pip had planned yet
Undercover like this is probably her best bet.
The plot has plenty of twists and turns
As how to be a teacher Pip starts to learn.

It has fantastic characters, including Pip’s sister Flis
Whose malapropisms you really don’t want to miss!
When the body of a suspect is found by Pip and a runaway llama
You just know this story will continue with plenty of fun and drama!

With murder, plots and secret plans, too
This is a series I highly recommend to you
For my copy I thank Bookouture and NetGalley, too.
I hope you enjoy this, my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun Epiphany Bloom story! I have read and enjoyed the previous books and this didn't disappoint either!
Fun and amusing with some really hilarious moments, this book makes a perfect light read.

Sorry Pip and the writing team of Katie Gayle, but this is where we part ways. The first book was an enjoyable introduction to Epiphany Bloom, book two was a major letdown, and book three was a chore to get through.

Pip is too illogical, immature, and redundant for me. By the middle of the book, which is where the dead body finally shows up, and the reader had already put all the other parts of the book together, Pip’s antics finally grated on my last nerve.

I’m still trying to figure out if this series is a romance with murder on the side, a wrong place at the right time murder investigation with a bit of romance, or a wanna-be woman detective with two men lazing about hoping for something more. Either way, I am done.

Death at the Gates is the third book in the Epiphany Bloom mystery series by writing team Katie Gayle. I have read the previous two books, but it can totally be read on its own.

Pip is a twenty-something that hasn't quite found her place in life. Though she is kind of good at figuring out little mysteries - missing person, missing dress. So when her roommate's younger sister is accused of cheating Tim knows that she can figure out who is behind the exam leak at the elite prep school. However, when the step-father of another student turns up dead (of course, Pip is the one to discover the body) can she stay focused on the exam leak? Or has she gotten in over her head this time when attempts on her own life are made?

I was a little disappointed that Pip didn't keep her job at the museum from the last book, and I still wonder about the staying power of changing jobs with every book. However, the stories are quick reads - I started this on Friday night and then was able to finish it up by Saturday night (I didn't spend the whole day reading either).

I'm starting to like Pip more but I wish we got to know the other "regular" characters. The only characters that carry over from one book to the next are her roommate Tim, her sister Flis, her boxing coach Jimmy, and her mother. They actually have very small roles, particularly in this book, and have not had much character development over the course of the three books. Seriously, they are pretty flat characters. They could be cardboard stand-ins.

The story is definitely light-hearted fun. Pip who is probably the least athletic person you know (except she has recently taken up boxing) fills in for the "sports" teacher (for the Americans in the audience it's just a P.E. class she is teaching, she's not coaching any sports). So there are some silly moments where the girls play musical chairs and set up an obstacle course. There's also the school's fun day where Pip is put in charge of Bingo. How hard can that be? Can you really mess it up? Well if Pip is in charge of producing the Bingo cards, then yes there is every chance of it going wrong.

The mystery is good - I like that the mysteries in this series aren't just about a murdered person. However, I knew exactly who was responsible as soon as the character was introduced. So I was a little annoyed that it took Pip so long to figure it out. But then again, she isn't really a crack detective.

Overall, if you are looking for escapism reading and don't want to read romance, then this book would make a good choice.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday, August 10 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/08/a-couple-of-crazy-fun-cozy-mysteries.html

Pip is back and I couldn't be more excited! Unfortunately for her, everything is a disaster yet again. After setting fire to the museum and many of the priceless exhibits therein, Pip finds herself once again without a job. Thankfully, she has the greatest roommate in the world who picks her up, makes her pancakes, and a new mystery to solve. I absolutely adore the Epiphany Bloom Mysteries and how clever Pip is!

5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have a bizarre relationship with Epiphany Bloom series: I enjoy the story, have fun but Pip somehow grates on my nerves.
This is a good mystery, solid and well written.
There's plenty of humour, the plot is fast paced and engrossing.
I think that the characters are fleshed out but I'm a not a fan of Pip even if I find her funny
There's plenty to love and it's entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have found each installment of this series more enjoyable than the last. Despite being a series, each of the books has all the elements of an excellent standalone cosy mystery and can be read on its own. So if you’re only now discovering that is Katie Gayle and Epiphany Bloom, that’s okay! Though I do challenge you to read this one and not want to go back and read the others.

Epiphany, or Pip as she is known mostly in the stories, is what makes these books for me. She is a lively, bubbly, funny character and her energy, enthusiasm and determination for what she does just jumps off the page. She is certainly not your run of the mill investigator! I could see her character being the focus of a TV series, and I think that would be brilliant.

Once again, Pip finds herself in the midst of a mystery. Partly because she forces herself there, but partly also accidentally. I have loved reading how Pip resolves this one – the clues, the interviews and the mishaps that get her to the conclusion. It was definitely a conclusion that I wasn’t expecting!

The structure of these stories make them easy and fun reads but also really gripping and page turning. You somehow become invested in the mystery or mysteries because Pip cares so much, and as she is such a likeable character, you end up caring too.

Overall, this is another wonderful cosy mystery from a series that just gets better and better by my current favourite writer in this genre. Fans of Verity Bright and Fiona Lietch will love this book and series!