Cause of Death is an easy cosy mystery that was entertaining to read but left no lasting impression.

With the opening scenes and cast of characters, this felt reminiscent of the Agatha Raisin novels but lacked their humour and deft lightness. More Midsommer Murders TV series, a bit clichéd,

Maybe it's a 'it's me, not you' situation. I do like cosy mysteries. I don't expect them to be amazing, just to do what they say on the tin. Light entertainment to snuggle up with, with a scone and a cup of tea. Nothing wrong with that. It's just that this one didn't grab me.

I'm grateful to the author and publishers for an opportunity to read and review this novel.

Book 3 and they keep getting better! I hope this series carries on for a long time as they are brilliant fun reads and i really enjoy them.

What a joy it is for mystery aficionados to return back to Bishops Well in Anna Legat’s third addictive new cosy thriller, Cause of Death.

Bishops Well prides itself on its beautiful meadows. For century upon century, these meadows have enriched the life of the village’s inhabitants with their majestic beauty and breath-taking vistas. But much to the shock of all the villagers, it looks like the meadows might be on borrowed time – thanks to a rich and reclusive author keen to give the land over to developers. The Bishops Well community is not going to stand for such an outrageous affront. Nobody is going to sell their local heritage from underneath them if they have anything to do with it. However, it looks like the battle the Bishops Well community is fighting has just taken a deadly turn when one of the protestors is found dead.

Everybody is shocked – including Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee who cannot resist doing a bit of digging of their own. It soon transpires that the developers’ plans were far more nefarious than they initially realised and their investigation uncovers old secrets, dangerous deceptions and personal vendettas that could have serious repercussions in Bishops Well today. Maggie and Sam will not rest until they get to the bottom of this case – even if their quest for the truth might end up revealing something that they certainly weren’t prepared for…

In Cause of Death, Anna Legat has delivered another superb mystery that is deftly plotted, cleverly written and so tense and suspenseful that readers will be on the edge of their seats desperate to find out whodunnit. As always, Anna Legat’s village-set mystery is a fun and enjoyable cosy crime tale where nothing is what it initially seems, but with Sam and Maggie at the helm, readers can rest assured that these two admirable sleuths will ensure that justice is served.

A fabulous mystery that has me counting down the days until the next Bishops Well crime novel, Cause of Death is another winner by Anna Legat.

This is the third in The Shire Mysteries series.

Bishops Well has become the target of land developers, the picturesque village is now threatened with new homes and noise. However the developers face an angry village who don’t take kindly to their plans.

Sam and Maggie are against the action but find themselves investigating when a body is found. It is not long before they find out that Bishops Well has many well buried secrets that some will go a long way to cover up.

A really well written cosy crime mystery.

It’s only fairly recently that I discovered Anna’s books. I haven’t caught up with everything that she has written to date but that is something that I hope to rectify fairly soon. I read the synopsis for ‘Cause Of Death’ which is the third book in the ‘Shires Mysteries’ series and it certainly sounded like just my kind of read. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my copy of the book and settled down for an afternoon of reading. I loved reading ‘Cause Of Death’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me next to no time to get into ‘Cause Of Death’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I knew that I was in for a treat and that I would find it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. I was right on both counts. I loved being reunited with the residents of Bishops Well. In fact I liked the characters so much that I began to think of some of them as friends and I cared about what happened to them. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen and of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down another path entirely. I became so wrapped up in the story, in the lives of the villagers and in the characters that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Cause Of Death’ an I had to say farewell to the village and to the quirky characters. I found ‘Cause Of Death’ to be a gripping cosy mystery that kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘Cause Of Death’ is extremely well written but then that is true of Anna’s books in general. Anna has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a steady pace throughout. Anna certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be an interesting and fun read. I love the way in which Anna comes up with such a varied set of characters and I especially love the fact that characters from her other series (the one featuring DI Gillian Marsh) have popped up in the Shires Mysteries. I love the way in which Anna makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Cause Of Death’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Anna’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a cosy mystery, it has been said before and this was definitely up there.

I really enjoyed this one, great as a standalone as everything you need to know is told to you. I wasn’t really a fan of the main character, Maggie, she did seem a bit too “in your face” for me but she did add to the story rather than distract from it.

I loved the writing style, some chapters from Maggie’s POV and some told in third person, which sounds confusing but worked really well. Plenty of twists and secrets revealed as the book went on, and I only guessed “whodunnit” just before the big reveal, then the story twisted again!

A good read, kept me entertained (especially the Mule) so I’m gonna check out the earlier books in the series.

Maggie and Sam have a new murder to investigate amidst the furore caused by a proposed development on disputed common land. Community is at the heart of this cosy mystery. The story begins with painting a white horse on a hill that overlooks the village to aid in the campaign against a proposed housing development. For those new to The Shires, this interlude introduces the main characters and allows the reader to absorb the group dynamic and hierarchy.

Psychic Maggie and ex QC Sam have diverse skills and connections that make them effective amateur detectives. Sam keeps Maggie grounded, and she gives him the emotional support he needs. A good balance of investigation and personal developments for the two protagonists makes this an engaging story.

Multilayered and suspenseful the mystery keeps the reader guessing. The connections between past and present are clever. I enjoy reading this is a lovely English cosy mystery complete with dramatic crimes, quirky characters and an idyllic rural setting.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher.

As Maggie and her friends renovate the old hunting lodge left by her parents to Maggie, brother Will and sister Andrea, there’s a battle raging in Bishops Well over the area known as No Man’s Land, with ownership being claimed by three factions - the townspeople headed up the Archaeological Association, St John the Baptist Church and horror writer Daryl Luntz who is trying to sell it to property developers Cinnamon Rock claiming he bought it from James’ father Lord Weston-Jones. As Vicar Laurence sets out to prove the land was gifted by James’ grandfather to the Church, he is found murdered in a staged satanic setting straight out of one of Luntz’s novels. And of course, none other than Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee discover the body. Chief Supt Alec Scarfe is called to the scene accompanied by DI Gillian Marsh who is not happy that her two least favourite amateur sleuths are there first. Sam’s dead wife is still appearing at his side, seen only by Maggie with her amazing ability but what is Alice trying to tell Sam from beyond the grave? While Sam starts to investigate, Maggie sets her sights on helping with the murder enquiry and soon winds up on the wrong side of the law. At least she is able to help Sam as he looks for answers over Alice’s death, and between them they start digging up all sorts of evidence in both cases but little do they know how shocking the revelations will be.
I adored Maggie’s character and the great affection she and Sam have for each other, and also the crossover with Sexton’s Canning’s DI Marsh, a character already well introduced in a series of her own. The alternation with third party and narration by Maggie I thought worked very well, particularly as Maggie has an often very humorous view on life and sees things that no one else can, for example Alice in a pure rage with Sam’s mother. Altogether these two amateur sleuths make a great team combining his legal expertise and her local knowledge, and with the attractive and quirky rural location and the well-drawn array of very believable and slightly eccentric characters, this is an excellent murder mystery whodunit and another hit series. I am definitely looking forward to reading more. 5*

Although this is the third in the series, I have to say,
It works well as a standalone anyway!
There are references to events from earlier times
But this doesn't detract from this book's crimes.

It starts with graffiti on a huge community scale,
As they work together to make developers' plans fail.
At Parish meetings, the community and others, too
Are all brought to life as they share their view.

Sam Dee and Maggie Kaye accidentally discover
A murdered body, posed like a fictional other.
Why was he killed, is it a personal vendetta?
Maggie's determined to find out - if Sam will let her!

The story is told from their points of view
As they carry out investigations into events - not one but two.
With secrets from the past being revealed
Can they stop the perpetrators remaining concealed?

With a great sense of community and characters galore
This is a cosy mystery I was more than happy to explore.
It is very different with Maggie's special ability
Adding an unusual element of psychic capability.

This is the first book by this author that I've ever read
But I'll be looking out for more, that has to be said!
I enjoyed the quirks in this engaging story so
I hope to be giving other books in this series a go.

It is a fascinating story to escape into
With delightful characters, I recommend it to you.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
Such intriguing mysteries and this is my honest review.

Maggie, Sam, and the quirky cast of characters of this series slowly grew on me and I read this book as fast as I could as I wanted to know what was going to happen.
There’s a lot going on, there’s a few subplots. There’s a murder to solve, there’s a development that must be stopped, and the mystery of the supposed suicide of Anne, Sam’s wife.
And there’s some news on the romantic side.
This is another compelling and entertaining story, a solid mystery that kept me guessing. It’s fast paced, and it never drags or let the attention fall.
The quirky characters are as lovely as usual and the twists were surprising as the solution.
I had a lot of fun in reading this series and hope to read other stories featuring these characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Headline, Rachel's Random Resources, and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the first of The Shires Mysteries that I've read. It's intelligently written with good, strong protagonists. When one murder makes the police look at a previous 'natural' death, Maggie starts searching for the murderer. Sam, meanwhile is going through his deceased wife's documents and needs Maggie's help when he finds more than expected.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

All is not well in the village. The local meadows have been the pride of Bishops Well for hundreds of years, but now they are facing the sharp blades of developers. The landowner is a rich and reclusive author who is happy to see them destroyed, but the villagers - including Sam Dee and Maggie Kaye - are fighting back. Until, that is, someone decides to silence one of their number permanently. As Maggie and Sam soon discover, there is more than a quick buck to be made in the developers' plans. There are age-old secrets and personal vendettas that could have deadly repercussions in Bishops Well today. With Sam's legal expertise and Maggie's... well, Maggie-ness, they delve into the past, determined to unearth the truth. And, as sparks begin to fly
This is the third book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own I’m thoroughly enjoying how Maggie & Sam relationship is developing. I also enjoyed the twists & turns as well as red herrings & I was surprised at the outcome. Sam’s investigation into his wife's death had me reaching for a hankie. A well written book which I devoured in a sitting. I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Cause of Death is the third book in The Shires Mysteries, but the first one I'd read. I think this left me at a little bit of a disadvantage to begin with as Maggie has a quirk, that I didn't know about, and it took me a while to work out what it was. Also, and this is a very personal complaint, so I apologise - this book has two points of view, but one is told first-person, one third person and then there is also an omnipresent narrator - I really struggle with books that don't stick to one tense and writing style.

That said, the story is intriguing, and I did want to know who the murderer was, so I continued reading, despite all my misgivings about tenses. Maggie is an intriguing character, but rather pushy and overbearing. Sam is a milder character, and more likely to apply reason to his conclusions. The story is quite twisty and there's a touch of humour to it in places. The author has no qualms about making the resolutions quite complex and employing a large and diverse set of characters.

Overwhelmingly, this was an enjoyable and satisfying read, and I might just go back and read books 1 and 2:)

I will be sharing my review as part of the new release blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources on 8th May 2022.

Neighbors Sam Dee and Maggie Kaye return with the Bishops Well Archeological Association in Cause of Death, the third in this excellent cozy mystery series. The AA has painted a traditional white horse design on a hillside that is slated for a housing development. However, ownership of the land is contested and at a lively village meeting, a secret that may stop the project is revealed. Within days, however, a key witness is horrifically and ritually murdered, and Sam and Maggie are part of the frantic search to solve the murder before the developers take control of the land. That investigation becomes linked to an earlier death and Maggie’s psychic skills draw her to a case that Sam’s late wife was examining before her suicide. A surprising and unexpected conclusion weaves these seemingly unrelated cases together.

The Shires Mysteries are well written with interesting, well described characters and a charming, atmospheric location. Maggie’s psychic powers make the plots unique. This series just keeps getting better. I’m looking forward to what comes next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Accent and Anna Legat for this ARC.

Tensions Are High…
The third outing in The Shires Mysteries in which the reader is transported to the enchanting Wiltshire village of Bishops Well where Sam Dee has moved fully expecting a more peaceful and serene existence. It’s fair to say that events have transpired to make sure that this is not the case for Sam. Developers now have the local meadows of the village in their sights and tensions are high. When someone is permanently silenced it becomes clear that delving into the past is necessary to make sense of the present. A wholly engaging whodunnit with a colourful cast of characters, an entertaining narrative and a beautiful location. A worthy addition to the series.

The vicar of St John's church in Bishops Well is a saintly figure. An ex-military chaplain, he runs charitable groups helping the orphans of wars and he is also a committed member of the local community as he fights arm-in-arm with his parishioners to save the village green from the intrusion of property developers. He is brutally murdered in a strange ritualistic way. A wave of shock ripples through the village, fingers of accusation pointing to the developers. Maggie Kaye and Sam Dee begin to investigate.
As in the previous two books, the plot branches and diverts into various avenues and links slowly emerge to yet another suspicious death at a residential home a few years back - a death that has never been solved.
The final revelation is eye opening and very topical. It may send a chill down your spine.
Apart from the main murder case, the relationship between Maggie and Sam develops and matures as Sam looks into the circumstances of his wife's death. It was dismissed as suicide, but truth begins to emerge and it points towards a sinister murder. The final scenes as Sam's personal investigation concludes brought tears to my eyes.
All in all, a thrilling, fast-paced and unpredictable murder mystery and a tear-jerking personal journey for Sam.

This is the third book in the Shires Mysteries series featuring ex lawyer Sam Dee and his neighbour Maggie Kaye. As previously, the action centres around the actions of the local archeological society who are trying to prevent development of a local site. When it begins to look as though they have succeeded in their efforts, everything is turned upside by a gruesome murder.
I’ve read the previous two books in this series which seemed be a promising start for a new series however, this latest instalment didn’t live up to that promise. Cosy mysteries is a very crowded market and this one just doesn’t stand out for me. The main characters aren’t really interesting enough to make me want to read more in this series. It’s an entertaining read for an evening but nothing special