A Cornish Seaside Murder is an excellent cosy mystery with a delightful amount of humour, a sprinkling of romance and an engaging plot. I've only read two books from the series but I already feel as though I've come home when I open these books. While there are tiny spoilers in the relationship between Jodie and Nathan, the author does a great job of world-building enough so that you can follow the story without giving too much away from previous books.

Jodie and her family are great characters, down-to-earth and so very relatable. I want the odd chapter from Nathan's pov as I still don't feel I know him, which means he comes across as very pleasant but also quite bland. This isn't enough to spoil the story and may result from my not having read the earlier books in the series.


If you enjoy the lighter side of mystery/suspense then I very much recommend this series.

A Cornish Seaside.Murder by Fiona Grace

As the tide goes out, secrets are revealed.

This was an enjoyable book. Just being art the seaside added a lot. Jodie Parker was a great main character. She had to juggle being with the police and running a bookstore at the same time. Loved the characters. Then, throw in. The legend of the mermaid

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

EXCERPT: 'I know it probably doesn't look good if you look at the evidence. But when Mel was murdered on my wedding day, and Cheryl disappeared, all the "evidence" pointed to me, didn't it? But you knew me. You knew I wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone someone I loved. Without you, I would have been banged up for murder. That's why you helping Nathan on all the other cases worked. You knew the people involved, or at least you knew that so-called "proof" doesn't always prove anything. Now, you're ready to condemn someone who, deep down, you know wouldn't be involved in anything bad enough to warrant a beating, because you're thinking like a police officer again. We don't need that. We've got Nathan for that. We need you to think like Jodie again.'

ABOUT 'A CORNISH SEASIDE MURDER': Former Met police officer Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is working a trial period as an auxiliary Detective Sergeant with the Penstowan police force. But living and working alongside DCI Nathan Withers – while still trying to grow her catering company – brings its own challenges, especially when Jodie’s attention is quickly taken up by the suspicious drowning of a local fisherman. While tourists and locals alike are falling under the spell of the annual mermaid festival with its captivating legends of Sirens luring fishermen to their deaths, Jodie and Nathan fear they may have found themselves in the middle of a very real – and very dangerous – turf war. As the casualties start to stack up, they must face the likelihood that something sinister has been going on under their noses for some time…

MY THOUGHTS: I didn't enjoy A Cornish Seaside Murder as much as I have others in the series, and the reason is right there in the excerpt. All the things I loved about Jodie's previous investigations went out the window once Jodie was 'back in uniform'. I didn't enjoy Jodie and Nathan working together at all.

I'm glad that the author highlighted the stress and time issues involved in trying to cope with two jobs, but I don't understand why Jodie hadn't thought about these issues before she accepted the job. It's not like you can just drop out of a murder investigation for a few days to go cater a wedding! Or vice-versa.

I didn't like the emphasis on the drug trafficking aspect of the story. Surely it was obvious (it was to me, and I am no sleuth) that there was another perfectly plausible explanation.

Despite these gripes, I still enjoyed this cosy mystery. I like the characters, but felt that Jodie's mother was more of a figure of fun in this book, which I didn't particularly enjoy. And, for once, I don't think Jodie was particularly nosey!

Although there is a separate mystery in each book, I don't really recommend that this be read as a stand-alone. It's an enjoyable series so my recommendation is that you read it from the beginning.

And a definite bonus: the recipe at the end of the book, and all the other dishes described within. If you enjoy cooking, don't miss this!

⭐⭐⭐.5

#ACornishSeasideMurder #NetGalley

I: @leitchfiona @onemorechapterhc

T: @fkleitch @OneMoreChapter

#contemporaryfiction #cookbook #cozymystery #detectivefiction #murdermystery #romance

THE AUTHOR: Fiona Leitch is a writer with a chequered past. She’s written for football and motoring magazines, DJ’ed at illegal raves and is a stalwart of the low budget TV commercial, even appearing as the Australasian face of a cleaning product called 'Sod Off'. After living in London and Cornwall she's finally settled in sunny New Zealand, where she enjoys scaring her cats by trying out dialogue on them. She spends her days dreaming of retiring to a crumbling Venetian palazzo, walking on the windswept beaches of West Auckland, and writing funny, flawed but awesome female characters.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Cornish Recipe for Murder by Fiona Leitch for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Am rather partial to the West Country and decided to try something a little different from my usual police fare. This was the first title by Fiona Leitch that I have read and am sure that it will appeal to many, just not me. I sadly found it rather lightweight.

As I am lucky enough to live in Cornwall, I am always drawn to books based there. As I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries, reading this was a no-brainer!

This is book 6 in the Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker series. I have read book 5 which worked perfectly well as a standalone book, as will this one.

The location is perfect (obviously!), the characters are well written and Jodie and Nathan are particularly likeable, (provided you don’t take the fact that this is a police investigation too seriously!).

Lots of twists and turns make this a very enjoyable cozy mystery, and I look forward to the next instalment of the Nosey Parker series. 4*

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Jodie Parker had promised her daughter and her mother that once she left the Met she was done with serious and dangerous policing working. However, working as an auxiliary DS with the Penstowan police means that she’s been called to help her boyfriend, DCI Nathan Withers, on a few cases, while also growing her own catering service. When, dressed as a mermaid for the annual local festival, she stumbles upon a body, she has no choice but to get involved in the investigation. The murdered man is a local fisherman who seemed to be involved in something suspicious and possibly illegal. When another local is found unconscious and tortured it is clear that the two cases are linked and Jodie and Nathan need to find out the truth before someone else gets hurt.

Jodie Parker is an interesting and well-developed character. She is trying to juggle two jobs, and trying not to disappoint her teenage daughter, her widowed mother, and her charming boyfriend. For twenty years she worked in the London Metropolitan Police, which she left to return to her place of birth, promising her daughter and mother that she was done with that life. However, that is easier said than done, especially when she is really good at her job (except for the boring paperwork side of the job) and she keeps finding herself involved in investigations.

The case she is now working is surrounded by the local legend of the mermaid which adds a spooky atmosphere to the event. The reality, however, is much more complex, practical, and full of twists.

A Cornish Seaside Murder is the sixth book in the Nosey Parker series, but it’s the first one I read so I can’t honestly tell you that it can be easily read as a stand-alone. It is entertaining, suspenseful, and engrossing, and I enjoyed it so much that I plan to read the other books in the series.

Absolutely loved it! There is just something wonderful about Fiona’s writing. It’s so friendly and draws you in. Her stories flow well and the characters are likeable. I definitely recommend this for any fans of cosy mysteries. Thank you #netgalley

I liked this cozy mystery, it's my first in this series, and I found it entertaining, it is witty, with enough history of the Cornwall area to make it interesting. Jodie Parker, a former Met Police Officer is living with her boyfriend DCI Nathan Withers, while trying to run her catering business, this isn't enough for her, especially when Mermaid Week is in full swing and a local fisherman's body is discovered, back into uniform she wants to get, after all, her boyfriend is going to need help. I enjoyed the story, the characters, and look forward to the next episode.
I highly recommend it. Thank you #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUK
carolintallahassee

Jodie “ Nosey” Parker is back she is now a member of the local police force as an auxiliary member .
Her relationship with Nathan is still going strong and everything seems ok in Jodie’s world even if she’s got to dress up as a mermaid for the annual mermaid festival .
A body is found during the festival and Jodie and Nathan are in a race to find the culprit.
The characters are amiable and have developed well throughout the series and there are a few red herrings thrown in to make this book a perfect cosy mystery read.
Each new book in the series improves on the last one and I look forward to reading Jodie’s next case .
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Collins UK, One More Chapter.

A delightfully cozy mystery, Leitch provides a twisty whodunnit that makes the perfect beach read for this summer. Well plotted and well paced, this is an engaging mystery from start to finish.

Oh, I do love a mystery!

Jodie Parker left the Met and moved back to her family home in Penstowan in Cornwall, where she lives with her mother, her daughter and her partner, local Detective Chief Inspector Nathan Withers. Jodie has a new career running her own catering company, but didn't manage to stay out of the investigation business for long as she has joined the local station as an auxiliary Detective Sergeant. In the midst of a local celebration as part of Merrymaid Week, Jade discovers a body which plunges both her and Nathan into a new case.

Not for the first time, I'm late in coming to a series but I have read other works by this author. This is an enticing mystery with lots of possibilities as to what was going on and I didn't work out whodunnit before it was shown to me. A great array of character and plenty of other things going on, however I'm not sure that Jodie and Nathan would get away with working together in today's police force, but this is fiction so I'm happy to go with the flow. An entertaining cosy mystery and one which I thoroughly enjoyed. For me, 4*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I love this series! This was like a visit with old friends. The mystery was intriguing and incorporated history of the Cornish coast with present day issues. I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series. Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Fiona Leitch’s latest cozy mystery is A Cornish Seaside Murder. With a twisty plot, plenty of mermaids for the summer festival, fishermen’s tales, a death, and humor, this sixth book in the Nosey Parker series delivers a well-written mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker has moved back to her home town of Penstowan after leaving the London metropolitan police force. She has retrained as a caterer. However, she is also working a trial period as an auxiliary Detective Sergeant with the Penstowan police force in Cornwall while still growing her catering business. That becomes challenging when a local fisherman drowns under suspicious conditions and she has a birthday party to cater. Additionally, working for as well as living with her boyfriend Detective Chief Inspector Nathan Withers presents its own challenges. Balancing of commitments becomes a vital consideration and problem for Jodie.

Once again, I enjoyed visiting with old friends. Jodie’s sense of humor and warmth continues to shine in this story. She is a likeable and friendly character with a need to investigate that I continued to connect with. The secondary characters continue to develop. In this case, we saw more growth in Nathan, mom Shirley, and daughter Daisy. The chemistry between Nathan and Jodie creates a fun dynamic. Instead of only quaint characters, this cozy has several realistic characters that add to the depth of the story. Spotlighting their individual traits made it easy to connect with them. Their Pomeranian Germaine continues to add cuteness and stress relief at various times.

This well-plotted story has characters that feel emotionally rich. It draws readers in and doesn’t let go until the final word in the book. The story had several twists, a few red herrings, a couple of surprises at the end, and gives readers something to consider on a couple of important issues. As always, having a sleuth that isn’t an amateur continues to bring depth to the novel that can be lacking in some cozy mysteries. However, this one seemed more of a police procedural than prior books in the series.

Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Jodie’s world. It was a fun, appealing and entertaining read with a solid mystery to unravel. Themes include friendship, family relationships, family, romance, death, and much more. Relationships continue to play a major role in this series. A recipe is included at the end of the book.

I recommend the novel to those that enjoy the genre. It was a fun and relaxing read and I can’t wait for the next book featuring Jodie and her family and friends. For more enjoyment, the books are best read in order, but this can be read as a standalone.

HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Fiona Leitch provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 08, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Jodie "Nosey" Parker is a former Met police officer who left to become a caterer in a small Cornish village to give her daughter a different life. It did not stop her from getting involved in murder investigations in her new town. Now, she is in a trial period as an auxiliary Detective Sergeant, living and working alongside her partner, DCI Nathan Withers. The town is celebrating the local mermaid festival, complete with siren lore, when a fisherman drowns under suspicious circumstances. Jodie and Nathan track down a killer and discover something sinister just under the surface of their little community.

I love Leitch's witty and engaging writing, and always look forward to my annual visit to Cornwall to catch up with Jodie and her family! It did not disappoint! With Jodie working as an auxiliary DS this time, the book was a nice crossover between cozy mystery and procedural, with some fun mermaid and siren lore woven in. The humor and lovable, quirky characters are as charming as ever, and Jodie is one of the most relatable amateur sleuths around. Operating in a more professional investigative capacity, we see how Jodie's new role affects the dynamic with her family and Nathan and her struggles as a single mom juggling two jobs. No spoilers, but I enjoyed the times Jodie contemplates what a return to law enforcement looks and feels like to her. Well-plotted and quickly paced with a slightly darker tone from previous books in the series, this one is twisty, and I did not guess what was happening until it was revealed! I highly recommend this excellent addition to a series that cozy mystery lovers should definitely check out!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK One More Chapter, and the author for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Former Met police officer Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is working a trial period as an auxiliary Detective Sergeant with the Penstowan police force. But living and working alongside DCI Nathan Withers – while still trying to grow her catering company – brings its own challenges. While tourists and locals alike are falling under the spell of the annual mermaid festival with its captivating legends of Sirens luring fishermen to their deaths, Jodie and Nathan are investigating the murder of a fisherman, then a student is beaten & they fear something sinister is happening.
The sixth outing for Jodie & whilst it could easily be read on its own the characters & relationships have grown throughout the series. I love Jodie & Nathan’s relationship with their banter & how they feed off each other. I also love Jodie's mum who is a treasure. Jodie is feeling the strain of having two jobs & is more down beat in this book as she feels she’s failing everyone. The murder mystery is a gripping one, there are red herrings, of course as well as twists & turns I wasn’t expecting, plus it’s a more serious crime when all is revealed. I loved the ending, which once again has Jodie sitting on the garden wall & I look forward to the next book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A Cornish Seaside Murder was very cozy and atmospheric and transported me right to the Cornish coast (a dream of mine to visit one day!) I loved reading about the mermaid myths and the festival. It also kept me guessing whodunnit. It is the perfect summer read if you’re looking for something a little more cozy! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the 6th in the series, but I've only read one of the previous ones so it can easily be read as a standalone. A fun, easy to read mystery. Enjoyable.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
A Cornish Seaside Murder by Fiona Leitch is the sixth book in the Jodie' Nosey' Parker cozy mystery series that focuses on a murder at the beginning of the annual mermaid festival. It can be read as a stand-alone, but the reading experience would be better to read this series in order so the reader can follow the personal story as intended.

Reading Experience:

Since this is a cozy mystery, I must talk about the mystery! I loved that the mystery includes some village lore surrounding mermaids in this series installment. That paranormal element is so fun, and I always love mythology. I only figured it out after the reveal, as plenty of red herrings and shenanigans kept my mind in puzzle mode from beginning to end.

I have absolutely loved and enjoyed watching the characters grow, change, and develop so amazingly authentically, especially Daisy (Jodie's daughter). She is at an age where there are so many changes she will go through, and to see it as a part of each story in the series makes the characters closer to my heart.
The story skirts the boundaries between a police procedural and a cozy mystery. I liked the change for one story but wouldn't want to see it in more stories. When the main character is a former policeman, that crossover is inevitable. Still, I do enjoy the boundaries of the cozy sub-genre.

This book in the series is not quite as humorous as others, though it begins with some fun scenes. I can't say too much (to avoid spoilers), but I believe the next book will see more of the humor I've come to know and love.

I love that Leitch includes a recipe at the end of the story. There's nothing more annoying than a story that gets your tummy grumbling and mouth-watering but does not include any recipes for the reader to try. And I try the recipes I find in stories though I must convert them to gluten-free, which has its own challenges.

Jodie "Nosey" Parker is the mom of Daisy, who is just entering her teen years, and she is a former police officer. She has moved back to her hometown and opened a catering business after promising her daughter she will no longer put herself in danger daily. Being back home is difficult for her, but her mom and daughter benefit from it in ways Jodie never expects. And she has met a man, Nathan Winters, who quickly became her significant other and allowed her to keep her ties with the police force since he is the local DCI.

The narration is done in the first person, which helps with the pacing consistency. Jodie Parker tells us her tale, and she is a great character to do so.

The pacing of A Cornish Seaside Murder is medium. Still, it is consistent, so the reading speed never feels cumbersome or mired down.

The story is set in a village, Penstowan, on the Cornish seaside (hence the title) during the annual Mermaid Festival. An excellent setting for a cozy is a village festival because that brings in new people and allows for naturally fun and humorous situations.

Moods
Adventurous
Emotional
Funny
Inspiring
Mysterious

Read, if you like
Cozy mysterious that skirt the boundaries of the sub-genre
Family themes
A main character that is well-developed and relatable

An easy, comfortable read but with nothing to grip the imagination or raise it above average I'm afraid.
However, my thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for my personal and honest opinion.

Great fun!! Loved this latest from Fiona Leitch!! Light hearted yet down to earth sleuthing!!
Jodie Parker has come home to Cornwall with her daughter after years working in the Metropolitan Police in London, she has set up a catering business but has been lured back to the local branch to help out as a detective. It’s the Mermaid festival in the village which involves a lot of strange traditions and questionable outfits when a body is found …… Jodie and her boss and boyfriend Nathan are called to action!
Lovable characters, great Cornish traditions, this is great fun and had me guessing to the end! Great twists! Great holiday reading!
Thank you NetGalley and Onemore Chapter books for the early read!