Happily retired and living in Berrywick, Julia is looking forward to the village fete. She's even baked a cake for the Women's Institute cake competition. When the day arrives Julia and Sean, the handsome doctor she's in a relationship with, head to the Spring Fair. After dropping off the cake at the WI booth, the couple wander the grounds of the venue and find themselves in a garden maze. They're pleased when they find the center of the maze but not so happy to discover a dead body. The dead woman is Ursula Benjamin, a maths teacher at a local school. Police are called and what was initially thought to be death by heart attack turns out to be murder by strangulation. When it's revealed that while Ursula was an outstanding teacher, she was also a bully who harassed students the investigation focuses on the school.
When the school's Headmaster is also murdered DI Hayley's investigation zeros in on current and former students. She's ably assisted by busybody Julia who follows her own leads.
The series features fun characters such as elderly Edna, who wanders the lanes muttering odd sayings to those she encounters, Nicky, the non-stop chatterbox, and Tabitha, the local librarian. The village setting is charming and the developing romance between Julia and Sean adds a bit of romance to the pot.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

A Village Fete Murder sees us joining Julia again and somehow she seems to have stumbled on yet another body! Like the previous books, Julia can't help but try and find out who is behind this latest murdering spree. There are plenty of suspects, for the first murder at least and she wastes no time in trying to find out what happened.
Books like this do amuse me, who anyone could be so unlucky to find so many murder victims I don't know, but Julia seems to take it in her stride. It was nice this time to find out a little more about Julia herself. We learn about her life as a social worker and what came before her retirement. We also learn a little more about her daughter Jess.
I didn't manage to solve this one before it was revealed, but I still enjoyed the book and giving it a go. I don't think that Julia was any further ahead though and her friend in the police wasn't either. In fact, the police don't seem to be able to spot anything without Julia's help!
This is a great fun series, if murder can be fun that is! I can't wait to see more from Julia soon.

This is Book 3 in this series and I haven't read the earlier books or in fact any of Katie Gayles books. I didn't find this a problem at all getting right into the story from the start. This is a feel good clean easy read, the story held my attention and I very much enjoyed it. I liked that the character was older for a change. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Regular readers of my book reviews will know that I enjoyed reading the first two books about Julia and her chocolate Labrador, Jake and you can read my last review here : http://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2022/09/10/murder-in-the-library-by-katie-gayle/

After a busy few months 'helping' local police solve some murder cases, Julia is looking forward to a quiet time with her new friends at the village fete. Finding a dead body at the fete scuppers her plans. Especially when it is discovered that the woman didn't die of natural causes.

This is another enjoyable read where Julia finds herself unable to stop asking questions and helping the local police

The Julia Bird Mysteries is an enjoyable and pleasant adventure series for a sixty something year old Julia. She is a retired social services worker, newly divorced and has moved to the village of Berrywick from the city. She is enjoying her new home, her pup, Jake, her chickens, learning to make great scones, and her new friend, Sean. But she does seem to have a way of finding dead bodies. This time she and Sean were at a fair and right in the middle of a maze, they discovered the body of a woman sitting on the bench. This is another interesting mystery for Julia to help DI Hayley figure out. I am enjoying reading about Julia, her adventures, her friends and new life. Great for cozy (cosy) mystery lovers. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review from Bookouture and NetGalley. All thoughts are mine only.

This was the first book in the series that I read but I don't think that was a problem. There were enough references to events from previous books that I felt like I understood the relationships between characters and Julia's uncanny ability to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The mystery part of the story was well done and I enjoyed trying to guess who the murderer was. I probably would have been more annoyed with Julia's nosiness, but the fact that she was very self-aware made it amusing. She definitely just can't help from getting involved in things she knows she shouldn't. Some of the tips she gives to police made me wonder how good this police force was because it seemed like things they should have discovered or noticed themselves. But other than that I did really enjoy following along with her investigation. The discussions about bullying (especially that done by teachers) I thought were really well done and a good overall message to remind adults that the things they say to kids are things that those kids carry with them into adulthood. As someone who used to work in a middle school in the US I can atest that there are teachers out there who seem to enjoy embarrassing students and ultimately engage in bullying behaviors themselves. I will definitely be checking out more books from this series.

I continue to really enjoy this series; definitely an updated Agatha Christie type book that’s easy to read, has excellent pacing, plus fun characters and zippy mysteries and clever red herrings.

This is the third book in the series of the Julia Bird Mysteries that I have followed since book one and its was just as enjoyable.

Set in the Cotswold village of Berrywick this book sees Julia retired social worker return to her sleuthing after the body of a local cake baker extraordinaire is discovered in the centre the of a maze at the local village fete.

We see the return of the delightful comical Jake and the growing feelings of Julia and Sean's relationship.

A modern Miss Marple with a host of entertaining characters along the way an delightful read.

This is a relaxing, quiet mystery: perhaps not to the same level as a Miss Marple mystery, but a solid "cozy" mystery. Perhaps a bit slow moving at certain points, but I would definitely keep an eye out for more in this series.

Great for those who like to read amateur sleuth mysteries where the protagonist is older/retired.
Julia Bird is a nosy (she calls herself that) retired social worker who can't keep out of murder investigations. The murderer wasn't obvious and the story was well plotted in that sense. I also liked the small town feel, with keeping your own chickens and neighbourly visits. Jake (the dog) was adorable!
What annoyed me was that the police force was so inept that Julia had to basically do everything for them - not very believable, sorry!

This is the third Julia Bird series , however this is the first in the series I’ve read but there is enough back story to follow it easily .
Julia Bird is a retired social worker with a penchant for finding dead bodies .
Julia is attending the village fete and has made a “foolproof” chocolate cake to enter into the baking competition, but things don’t go to plan and whilst visiting the maze in the grounds of Berrywick House she discovers a body .
The story that ensues is an easy to read cosy mystery the characters are amiable .
An enjoyable cosy mystery and I look forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture.

This series is like a much nicer Agatha Raisin. Julia is kind and smart as a whip. I didn't see the identity of the killer coming at all.

Coming into this series at Book 3, and having never read any of Katie Gayles books before I was hoping I could follow the story without the need to have read previous books.

This is a feel good easy read, the story holds your attention and it is easy to read as a standalone without knowing the background to Julia Bird.

Julia is a 60+ busy body, who really as connotations to be modern day Miss Marple. Her trusty partner and likeable local doctor Sean keeps her grounded and offers logical reasons why she shouldn't interfere, these often fall on deaf ears.

Heavily involved in local activities Julia is a blundering baker who is often distracted by her puppy Jake's antics which results in burnt offerings. But she is determined to produce a cake for the local fete.
During the village fete Sean and Julia deliver her cake to the stall and decide to take a walk through a maze, successfully getting lost. Jake takes matters into his own hands and take off turning left and right with Julia and Sean hot on its heels until they reach the centre where they discover a body.

DI Hayley Gibson is brought into investigate but her patience is tested to the limit when Julia decides to help solve the village mystery often with Julia implying she is in the area when she questions people, this leaves DI Gibson with information that whilst useful could also comprise her investigation. But Katie as implied successfully in her writing, the two have a good friendship whilst maintaining a manageable distance to avoid over familiarity.

Julia, Sean and Jake are a likeable trio and I look forward to reading more of Katie Gayles books.

I received a free copy of, A Village Fete Murder (Julia Bird Mysteries Book 3), by Katie Gayle. from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Another murder mystery for Julia Bird to solve. Mr. Schofield has been murdered, a headteacher in the local school. Marcus is the prime suspect, did he murder his teacher? Such a fun murder mystery, but its not fun to be accused, or to listen to gossip.

While attending the village fete, retired social worker Julia Bird and her boyfriend discover a dead woman sitting on a bench in the center of a garden maze. The murdered woman turns out to be a local schoolteacher who had a difficult personality and a less-than-stellar reputation as a teacher. As DI Hayley begins her investigation, Julie takes it upon herself to do a little digging of her own.

This cozy mystery series features likable lead characters, a sweet British setting, and a story that moves along at a steady pace. Recommended for cozy mystery fans & readers who enjoy main characters of a certain age.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.

Julia Bird has baked a cake for the WI table at the Village Spring Fair. She go to the fair with her friend, Sean, and their two dogs. Wandering around the beautiful grounds of the mansion house where the fair is being held, they enter the maze, and at the very centre find a woman dead. Sean confirms that she is dead, and they call the police and ambulance. They later learn she was a math teacher at the local school. Julia is determined not to get involved in the investigation, at the request of DI Hayley, but she can't help herself. She finds clues and figures out who was involved, keeping Hayley apprised. But it's not until a man has been arrested that they find out who the real killer is.

I really like the character of Julia Bird - she a spry older woman, wanting to be involved in village life, and having fun with Sean and her friend Tabitha. I will continue to look for more in this series.

This is a fun, fast paced cozy mystery. Julia Bird is a wonderful character along with the others in the book. This time Julia finds the body of a math teacher, who as it turns out was not a very kind woman. There is a few suspects, most with the same motive, and of course Julia needs to do her own sleuthing to figure things out.
As always the plot is captivating and enjoyable, and the mystery unravels at a steady pace. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The third installment in the Julia Bird Mysteries series is just as delightful as its predecessors; with retired social-worker-turned-sleuth Julia and her precocious dog Jake once again finding themselves drawn into a local mystery. This time, Julia stumbles across a body in the hedge maze of the village fete, and though DI Hayley Gibson tells her to at least try and stay away from the investigation, when there is a second death, Julia can't leave a stone unturned.

This book is a real cozy read, sprinkled with intrigue, murder, and a healthy dose of jam making. We get to know more about Julia herself, and the fateful case that haunts her conscience, as well as the development of her blossoming relationship with local doctor Sean.

A fun read with a solid mystery. Julia seems to be adept at finding dead bodies. She's a great character and I really am liking her. Love the village setting. One of those settings where you would love to visit for real! Can just taste those cakes and the tea! Thanks #netgalley and #Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I enjoy this series so much and this third book continues the fun cozy aspects. In a small English town, a newly retired social worker who is making a total transition in life. Just a lovely cozy! So looking forward to the next in this series!