Amateur sleuth Kate Palmer is used to solving murders – but her latest case hits far too close to home in the sixth gripping installment of Dee Macdonald’s cozy crime series, A Body at Lavender Cottage.

Kate Palmer loves her cozy clifftop cottage with spectacular views of the Cornish Sea – but she never imagined that the garden she tends so lovingly would end up being the final resting place for a dead body! Kate thinks that the discovery of a corpse in her garden is shocking enough – until her husband, retired detective inspector Woody Forrest, takes a closer look and recognises the victim: his old nemesis, Frank Ford, who has been found strangled with his old police tie!

Kate knows Woody and she knows that he’s not a murderer. Determined to prove his innocence, Kate beings doing some sleuthing of her own and quickly draws up a list of possible suspects. Could it be Frank’s youngest son, Jason? His angry father-in-law Sid? Or his troublesome daughter Sharon? When another member of the Ford family is found dead while Woody is tending his allotment, it becomes very clear that someone is trying to tarnish Woody’s reputation. With time not on her side, Kate must work fast in order to clear her husband’s name. Will she solve this case and keep Woody out of jail? Or is her husband about to go to prison for a crime he didn’t commit?

Cozy crime fiction does not get any more enjoyable than Dee Macdonald’s A Body at Lavender Cottage. Fun, fast-paced and fantastic, this addictive Cornish thriller delights with its blend of eccentric characters, bucolic shenanigans, red herrings and twists and turns that will keep readers gripped from beginning to end.

With an amateur sleuth who is more than a match for Miss Marple and Agatha Raisin and plenty of tension, suspense and intrigue, A Body at Lavender Cottage is another winner for Dee Macdonald!

Although I have not read any of the previous books in this series I was able to follow the characters and circumstances with ease. I thought the protagonist Kate takes matters into her own hands very quickly. The DI in charge of the case was rather too 'by-the-book' to be believable given that these are people who live and move around in the same village. There were also some elements which were rather obvious and I hate it when the answer is staring the protagonist in the face!

Anyone following this series will enjoy A Body at Lavender Cottage, and for those who are new, the author does a good job of quickly catching readers up.

Not a deep or twisty mystery series, but I love visiting Kate, Angie, and Woody. Unfortunately, the secondary storyline did not appear until a third of the way in, and once it emerged, the “who done it” part was apparent. There were no red herrings or misleading the reader since the overall story marched in a straight line.

The only downfall was the ending. Though the reader figured out early who the killer was, after the official reveal, the book was suddenly over. There was not the usual rehashing and putting on a final bow or even a tidbit that would entice the reader into eagerly anticipating the new book in the series.

Pour yourself a cup of tea as you head to Lower Tinworthy where Cornwall's Miss Marple is sleuthing once again. In this 6th book in the Kate Palmer Mystery series things are up close and personal for Kate. Her new husband and retired detective inspector Woody is a suspect in the body found in the garden at Lavender Cottage.Woody knows the victim from his detective past.
Lots of cups of tea, several gin and tonics, and the daily dog walks along the cliffs of Cornwall are in between looking for the murderer and Kates suspect list is long!
After I've finished every book in there series I say "Wow, that was the best one" and it is no different now.as I think this one is the best yet! The mystery is solid any keeps you guessing!
Many thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book to NetGalley, Book out it's and the author.

The Kate Palmer mysteries are are on the one hand a kind of feel-good books, cosy because of their settings in the lovely (though fictional) rural setting of the Tinworthy's while on the other hands they are riddled with murders and mayhem.
This time Kate finds the first body quite literally on her doorstep, that is to say in the back of her own garden at Lavender cottage. Right from the start her husband Woody becomes the prime suspect because the victim had sent him a letter to announce his intention to visit him.

As always Kate cannot refrain from sticking her nose into the investigation, even though sometimes it might be prudent to hold back. Extra motivated because she wants to clear her husbands name she is starting one of her famous lists. Like in the other books I love the interactions between Kate, her sister Angie and her Irish Lover Fergal, and all the visitors that pass by under the most blatantly false pretexts at her at the medical clinic where she works. Off-course Kate solves the riddle of who murdered the victims but not before she gets into a tight spot herself, as always.
I deducted a star because I sometimes find that Kate is a bit to eager and stops to think about what is sensible, making her do things that she shouldn't, I think the book would be better if her mistakes were not so obvious.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review..

This is the second book that I have read in this series and just like the last time I found it an enjoyable cosy mystery with the amateur sleuthing of Kate.

I had parts of this figured out but didn't stop my eminent as I'm happy to be proven wrong.

The characters in the series are fab and I especially like the relationship of Kate and her sister.

Kate and her dog Barney find a body in their garden one morning. Her husband Woody automatically becomes the prime suspect as he knew the victim Frank. This was a man who served 20 years in prison for murdering his wife and Woody was the cop who caught him. But Woody always thought Frank was innocent...
A Body At Lavender Cottage is the 6th book to feature nurse Kate Palmer and her husband, former detective Woody Forrest.
This is a personal case for Kate as she strives to clear her husband's name. The victim wanted to connect with Woody to discuss the murder of his wife and possibly reveal the secret of who really killed her. Frank's family travelled to Cornwall but one could be a killer whilst another becomes another victim...
Kate once more infuriates the local police, her husband and her sister as she forges ahead and sometimes puts herself in danger. She investigates the various family members and we see her trying to interview them subtly. There is little violence or graphic forensic information and the focus is on the questioning of the suspects.
A Body At Lavender Cottage is an enjoyable cosy murder mystery and a good addition to the series.

The sixth outing in the series and to me the weakest. There are some glaring plot holes and a lot of repetition for a weak plot with the story not moving anywhere. Some editing is needed to keep the pace going.

The quaint cozy is filled with plenty of rural charm, quirky suspects, and clever twists. I loved Kate's character and the interplay between her and Woody. There are some great laugh-out-loud moments. The reasoning for the police being so focused on Woody as a suspect felt a little strained at times, but other than that, this was a smooth read, with lots to love.

Nurse Kate Palmer loves living at Lavender Cottage, surrounded by her beautiful gardens. She has spent the last year renovating her beautiful clifftop cottage with its amazing views of the stunning Cornish Sea. Imagine her surprise when she wakes up one morning and finds a dead man in her garden. Kate’s new husband, Woody Forrest has retired from the village’s detective inspector. He immediately jumps into action and begins to investigate and discovers that the victim is none other than Frank Ford. Woody is completely taken back when he sees that the victim is strangled with a blue police tie that belonged to Woody. Kate knows that it is a set-up, because there is no way the man she loves is murderer. Kate does her own investigation which immediately leads her directly to the victim’s family. She can’t waste any time finding the culprit and keeping her newlywed husband in the clear.

I always enjoy reading a new Kate Palmer Mystery story and this installment did not disappoint. I love the characters in this series. They are so enjoyable to follow along with, and all the things that happen in their lives. Kate Palmer is a nurse and she is also a super sleuth. This story is so much fun and Kate’s, new husband Woody, and also her sister Angie was such a wonderful addition to this story. This story held my complete attention and I found myself flying through the pages anxious to solve the mystery. What a delight this story was. I didn’t figure out whodunnit until the very end. This is such a lovely escape to Cornwall and the picturesque village and Lavender Cottage was a wonderful visit to the sea. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It can be read as a stand-alone novel but I recommend getting lost in the entire series. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you Dee MacDonald for such a fabulous continuation to the amazing Kate Palmer Mystery Series, I loved it.

EXCERPT: She wondered why Barney was barking so manically at the back of the garage. Laying down her basket, Kate went to investigate, expecting to find a dead squirrel, rabbit or even a fox.

Instead, the first things she saw were two upturned, dirty trainer-clad feet, just visible around the edge of the garage. Her blood ran cold. Why would anyone be lying there unless they'd been very drunk and forgotten how to get home from the pub down the lane?

ABOUT 'A BODY AT LAVENDER COTTAGE': Kate Palmer is stunned when she wakes up one morning to discover the body of a man in the beautiful garden of Lavender Cottage. She’s spent the last few years renovating her cozy, clifftop cottage with its gorgeous views of the sparkling Cornish sea. And a death right under her nose is more than a little unsettling…

When Woody Forrest, Kate’s new husband and the village’s retired detective inspector, takes a closer look he realises the victim is none other than Frank Ford – Woody’s old nemesis. Now, Frank is lying dead amongst the daisies… strangled with Woody’s blue police tie.

Kate is certain the man she loves is not a murderer and is determined to prove his innocence. But who would want to kill Frank and frame Woody? As Kate investigates, Frank’s family seem to be the obvious suspects. Could it be Jason Ford, the youngest son, who has an odd obsession with birdwatching? Sid Kinsella, the angry father-in-law? Or Sharon Mason, the troublesome daughter?

When another member of the Ford family bites the dust while Woody is tending his allotment, it’s clear the killer is determined to bury Woody’s reputation. But when a chance conversation on Bluebell Road provides Kate with a clue, she must find a woman named Rose, who could hold the answers Kate is looking for.

But Kate needs to dig up the truth – and fast! – before poor Woody is thrown behind bars. Can she solve the case and save her husband before it’s too late?

MY THOUGHTS: I've loved this series with its brilliant cast of characters, and plots with plenty of red herrings. This case hits a little closer to home for Kate, as her beloved Woody has past history with the victim and is the main suspect. Perhaps that's why Kate does the absolutely stupid thing she does - putting her own life in danger - that completely took the shine off what otherwise was a great story.

Not only is there a murderer on the loose - Kate is having to deal with her sister's relationship difficulties, and the possibility that both her sister and a workmate are being targeted by conmen.

I love Kate's character. She's sensible, sharp and witty, and I love that she's a woman in her sixties; which made what she did seem all the more out of character. Angie, Kate's sister, is another great character. Angie and Kate are polar opposites, but are very loyal to one another.

This is probably my least favourite book in the series so far, but I still enjoyed this entertaining, quick, easy read although I didn't become as invested in it as I have in the previous books.

While it's not necessary to have read the previous books in the series as each one is an complete mystery, it does help to understand the relationships and dynamics between the core characters.

⭐⭐⭐.5

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THE AUTHOR: Dee MacDonald wrote her very first book – at around seven years of age! This was a love story which she duly illustrated before sewing all the pages together up one side. Writing was what she ‘was good at’ in school and she won several essay competitions, but then life got in the way and she didn’t pick up a pen again until after retirement.

Dee left Scotland and headed for London at the beginning of the swinging sixties. After typing her way round the West End she became an air stewardess on long haul routes with BA (then BOAC) for eight years. After that she did market research at Heathrow for both the government statistics and for BA, she became a sales rep and was the receptionist at the Thames Television Studios in Teddington when they had the franchise.

She then ran a small B&B for ten years in Cornwall, where she lives with her husband. Dee has one son and two grandsons who live locally.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Body at Lavender Cottage for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

I thought this looked at sounded like my sort of book. I thought the cover design was eye-catching and pretty, and it looked like something that would get my attention if I saw it in a bookshop or library. I was pleased to be approved to read and review this.

It was a lovely modern cosy mystery set in Cornwall. I hadn't read any of the previous books, but I quickly warmed to Kate and Woody, and I felt that the author provided sufficient background information. It was an entertaining murder mystery with some humorous moments. From time to time, I was reminded slightly of M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin.

I would probably be interested in reading some more books from this series, and may recommend to my fellow book club members who enjoy cosy mysteries. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a free copy to review.

This is the sixth book in the cozy series "Kate Palmer:. I have not read this series before and was easily able to follow along and understand the charcters and premisis of the series. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the ARC. My review opinion is my own.

We are introduced to Nurse Kate Palmer the protagnist who lives in a charming cottage she has been renovating . Kate has a reputation for solving murders in her small village. She finds a body in her garden of someone who has a contentious history of being the nemisis of her husband Woody. The body is found with his tie around the neck. Kate is determined to solve this case and save her husband's reputation as the police inspector.

The sleuth was well defined. i enjoyed the process Kate goes through seeking clues and red herrings. The charcters and the village is a delight and charming throughout. I look forward to exploring this series in the future.

Another great entry in the Kate Palmer series by Dee Macdonald. It’s impossible for Kate not to get involved in solving another murder when the body is found in her back yard, and her husband Woody is the prime suspect. Watch out for a great laugh out loud moment at the mention of the “great escape”.

“Nurse Kate Palmer is Cornwall’s answer to Miss Marple! But when a body turns up in her own garden can Kate solve the crime?”

..

I am still toying with the notion that Kate Palmer might in fact be an amalgamation of Agatha Christie’s inimitable Miss Marple and UK television’s Hetty Wainthropp, as there are distinct physical and personality traits of both those redoubtable ladies in her character makeup. However, I would really rather remember Kate Palmer as herself, a recently remarried, semi-retired district nurse, with the knack of always being in the right place at the wrong time, when somebody screams “murder”! Although perhaps intentionally, Kate decided not to take her husband’s name on marriage, well would you, when your surname is already a very fitting anagram of ‘Marple’.

We could really do with a new detective series on mainstream television and this series would definitely transition well between the written word and the small screen. Each book seems to ‘up the ante’ for Kate and now that her ex-detective husband, Woody Forrester, appears more than happy to have become her partner in more ways than one, their joint powers of detection surely know no bounds!

Kate had two separate investigations on her hands this time, one of which should in theory, have been much easier to solve than the other. But little did she think that the cases were linked in any way, which is why I was so pleased to consider myself to have been way ahead of her, as I thought I had this case all sewn up quite early on and I was simply waiting for Kate to ‘dot the i’s and cross the t’s’, so to speak. Well! How was I to know that there would be such a deviously fiendish twist in the tail so late in the day, meaning the endgame would play out quite differently to my predictions? But then I guess that’s why Kate is so good at what she does, whilst I am just an armchair critic.

Okay! so what’s this story all about…

..

Like any other self-respecting amateur sleuths, Kate and Woody have a four-legged friend who insists on being front and centre of any action, so it is springer spaniel Barney who instinctively knows that something is wrong around the place and when finally let outside to take the early morning air, sniffs out body #1. Kate is completely discombobulated by Barney’s discovery, as not only has she still not recovered from her last frightening brush with a dead body and a desperate killer, but she has only just finished trying to reassure Woody that she is going to hang up her sleuthing gloves for good and retire gracefully. Just to top it all off nicely, it seems by Woody’s emotional reaction that he knows the victim and to make matters even worse, the man has Woody’s old police tie, which was hung on the washing line, wrapped around his neck.

Charlotte Martin, the local DI is already fed up to the back teeth with what she sees as Kate’s meddling ways in police affairs, despite the fact that Kate has solved cases which her own professional force has failed to make headway with, but she feels she must put up with her for the sake of her relationship with Woody, who until recently was her peer in rank. For her part, Kate has always been slightly body image jealous of Charlotte and is concerned that Woody might be comparing the two of them when they are in a room together and finding her wanting. Understandably the atmosphere is more than a little tense when Charlotte comes over in person to oversee the investigation of the body and promptly makes Woody her number one suspect, which is red rag to a bull for Kate, who resolves to clear her husband’s name, even though he is specifically restricted from helping her.

The mystery man is identified as Frank Ford, a convicted murderer who has recently been released from prison and who has written to Woody asking if he might come down to Cornwall to chat with him. Woody was working with the Met in London at the time of the man’s arrest and trial and was never totally convinced by his confession to the murder. It might seem that perhaps Woody was right and now, having served his sentence, Frank wanted to reveal the true identity of the felon, although his motive at this late stage in the day, is unclear. It transpires that the entire Ford family, all of whom have felt the long arm of the law on more than one occasion, have massed at a local caravan park, apart from the daughter who married a Cornishman and already lives locally.

From Kate’s perspective, it seems an obvious assumption that someone in the family knows exactly what Frank wanted to discuss with Woody, so when she gets just a little too nosy and hears moments of lucid truth from a dementia sufferer, panic sets in for the perpetrator and soon a second body is found. Unfortunately, it is Kate and Woody who make this discovery too, which definitely doesn’t help Woody’s case at all, especially when Kate makes her regular mistake of confiding in her sister Angie, as this is akin to shouting it out from the rooftops to the entire world, thus unwittingly placing both Kate and Woody in even more danger. A surprise visit to Kate and Woody’s cottage, from a rather unconventional, London based Roman Catholic priest, throws Woody something of a lifeline, however as he has been expressly forbidden to leave the village, Kate must travel to the capitol alone to try and unravel the rather mixed messages the Father expressed. Back in Tinworthy and armed with a much clearer sense of Frank’s motives for wanting to make contact with Woody, Kate makes a rather reckless decision without first confiding in Woody, so by the time the joined-up truth about three unsolved murders and one miscarriage of justice is firmly placed on the police radar, it appears that time might have run out for Kate!

In a seemingly unrelated incident, two newcomers to the village give Kate cause for concern, although one of them meets an untimely end at the hands of a hit and run driver, before she can ascertain his reason for choosing to settle in this quiet neck of the woods, as he is a definite city dweller. The second is a rather suave, smooth-talking individual who seems to be taking advantage of susceptible females, including Kate’s sister Angie and Denise, one of her c0-workers at the surgery, and is busy trying to get them to part with their hard-earned cash to fund his many scam schemes. It isn’t until Kate works out the man’s true identity, that his link to the Ford family is established and she realises the extent of the danger Angie and Denise have unwittingly become embroiled in.

..

As an avid follower of this series, I feel as though I have got to know the resident characters of fictional Tinworthy quite well, so reading a new chapter about life (and death) in the village always feels like ‘going home’ to Cornwall, one of my most favourite parts of the country, even if there does seem to be a disproportionately high number of murders for such an intimate location. Although the featured village of Tinworthy is, as I noted, fictional, in this book author Dee MacDonald referenced some very real places nearby, which was great for a Cornish loving, map nerdy, armchair traveller like myself, as I was able to pinpoint the storyline location quite accurately, which is always very satisfying. Also, whilst the physical footprint of the story was confined to a relatively small geographic area, some excellent descriptive narrative and dialogue, made the overall reader experience immersive and interesting, as did Kate’s short but eventful trip to London.

Also, you don’t need to have read all the books from the beginning of the series to know your way around, because all the episodes work great as stand-alone stories, with author Dee MacDonald having perfected the technique of bringing any new readers up to date with necessary back-story details, in just a few cleverly placed sentences as a seamless part of the current storyline, all without ever making her regular followers feel short-changed, or appearing repetitive.

Despite the much slower pace of village life, the action actually moved along at quite a speed and there was never a dull moment in this well-structured, multi-layered and highly textured storyline, which was fluently written in short, easy to navigate chapters, keeping the pace of the story fluid and ever evolving. Like myself, Kate is also a great list maker, although hers do tend to concentrate on the identities of murder suspects, rather than my own work and shopping kind. This time that list is very complex and lengthy, and it seems as though as fast as one name is discarded or has a potential alibi, another immediately takes its place. There are always plenty of red herrings and twists in the tail of any case with which Kate is involved and this one proved to be particularly tricky, with the final act of a particularly ruthless and cold-blooded murderer, potentially silencing Kate forever.

Dee has created a multi-faceted, well drawn and defined cast of characters, who I could clearly visualise in my mind’s eye, especially now that after all this time, I am almost thinking of them as friends, rather than passing acquaintances. Kate and Woody are a down to earth couple, who you could always stop for a chat with and know they would have something interesting to say, so attracting murder suspects in the way they do actually seems quite out of character, although much of that is down to Kate’s rather nosy streak, which all we ladies have if the truth be told! As soon as you meet Kate’s elder sister Angie, the queen of gossip, and her garrulous often womanising partner, Irishman Fergal, you will see what I mean about them being memorable and always able to raise a smile or two from anyone who crosses their paths. They are either at each other’s throats or the life and soul of the party, there really is no middle ground with these two.

Together with the large local cast of extras, more like old acquaintances, such are the dynamics between them, who are all are authentically realistic and genuinely believable in the individual roles which have been created for them, I almost feel that I could knock on the door of any Tinworthy house or visit any of the businesses and receive a warm welcome, so long as Kate or Woody were with me to break the ice a little first and I came ready to share any snippets of information which might satisfy their curiosity and make me ‘one of them’. Each episode also generally features a couple of ‘outsiders’, who really don’t fit into village life at all and seldom tend to stick around, especially if they end up dead or in custody!

After her closest shave with death yet, Kate seems quite determined to give up all the ‘Miss Marple stuff’ for good and take up a new, more sedate hobby. I can only hope, that like so many times before, she has a complete change of heart when push comes to shove and the next murder investigation rears its ugly head, especially as it appears that the object of her body image jealousy, Charlotte Martin, has had enough of her stint as local DI and is ready to move on.

The setting is in Cornwall where a older coup[e are trying to enjoy their retirement. Their life should be easy with the slower pace of retirement but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Each of the characters are delightful in their own way. There are lots of humorous moments throughout the story.
I have to say that I have not read the previous book in the series and I do feel that I should. Can this be read as a standalone? Yes, I believe it can. But, I really would like to know more of the backstory to the characters.
Overall, a well written British mystery that I enjoyed reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kate Palmer has proven more than effective when it came to solving murders. This time the murder victim was right in her own garden. Not only does Woody Forrest, former DI and Kate’s new husband, recognize the victim, something found on the body just might tie Woody to the murder. More than that, the victim was Frank Ford, someone from Woody’s past. As it turns out, Woody had received correspondence from Frank and Charlotte, the current detective inspector, is forced to view Woody as a suspect.

Bound and determined to prove Woody’s innocence, Kate must learn who Frank was and how he ended up dead in their garden. She starts asking about and suspicion quickly falls on Frank’s family. It seems clear that Frank had a problem with several members of his family, making it very likely that one of them was indeed the killer. However, there is soon another victim, and this points the attention back to Woody as the possible murderer. Working harder than ever, Kate is even more determined to find answers.

A Body at Lavender Cottage is the wonderful sixth installment in this delightful cozy mystery series. Kate Palmer’s age does not slow her down a bit, and she will definitely remind readers of Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. When you factor in Kate’s sharp skills and the intriguing plot, one that took on a few surprise turns, it is easy to see why this book will appeal to many readers. Also, not only do we have Kate and Woody, we also have Angie, Kate’s sister. Her inclusion in these stories adds an extra layer of enjoyment. The conclusion was riveting and has me more than eager for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/iXEmzCKZL_Y

Now Kate Palmer and Woody Forrest have wed
They're hoping not to find anyone else who is dead
But the shock is when Kate discovers a man
Whose body is in their garden - they need a new plan!

The victim seems to have been strangled by Woody's tie
Which had been left on the washing line to dry.
What makes it worse is Woody knows the victim, too,
But someone killed him in their garden - but who?

A story filled with family drama, mayhem and mischief
With Woody a suspect, finding the killer would be a relief!
Kate is determined to find the killer somehow
And to keep her husband with her now.

A fascinating story full of twists and turns
A dysfunctional family who honesty spurns
However, looking into just what they might do
Puts Kate into further danger and peril, too!

A great read filled with brilliant characters who
Keep you guessing, all the way through.
Another addition to this series that's great
So for even more I just can't wait!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
It's a brilliant cosy murder mystery and this is my honest review.

This is the 6th instalment in the Kate Palmer Mystery series by Dee MacDonald and features experienced practice nurse Kate who relocated from West London to Cornwall along with her sister, Angie a few years ago. The sisters live in the picturesque village of Lower Tinworthy, Kate, in the lovely Lavender Cottage, with Angie at The Old Locker Bistro with her Irish beau, Fergal.

In this instalment, Kate wakes early one Sunday morning to fetch her husband's blue tie she washed the evening before from the washing line. She expects the garment to still be blowing about on the line but finds instead a man lying dead in a bed of nettles, wearing trainers and said navy tie.
Kate, sixty-one is questioned by Detective Inspector Charlotte Martin. Kate's husband, retired DI Woody Forrest, is arrested but there's no way intrepid Kate's prepared to let Woody do time for murdering the victim, Frank Ford.

This is a superb cosy mystery with plenty of substance but still maintaining that cosy edge, with an alluring locale. Kate is a caring character, and her love for sexagenarian Woody is charming to read about. Kate kept her own name on marriage. (who wouldn't if you're a sleuth and your name is an anagram of Marple?) The tale is a comfortably paced read with a hugely enjoyable plot, and the other characters are great too, including Angie who likes a tipple or two. It boasts a fair number of suspects with plausible motives, red herrings and disclosures. A quality, well-plotted cosy with stacks of riveting conversational dialogue and a fulfilling conclusion, A Body at Lavender Cottage is the perfect novel to curl up with on a dark autumn evening. A delightful read and very highly recommended I am agog to pick up book #7 in the delightful Kate (Marple) Palmer series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is a lovely cosy murder mystery, set in beautiful Cornwall. The story unfolds at a steady pace, and the characters are a good group of heros and villains. I do enjoy reading books with mature lead characters! This is the 8th book in a series but I hadn’t read the previous books so can verify that it easily works as a stand alone book. I am now going to go and read the other books in the series.