This is the fourth installment of the Julia Bird Mystery series and I enjoyed being a part of Julia and Jake's world once again. The plot is cleverly crafted, full of colorful characters and intrigue. There were parts that made me laugh and parts that had me on the edge of my seat. Each time I read a book from this series, it feels like I’m visiting old friends. This series is a a must-read for all cozy mystery fans. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.

The Berrywick village pub quiz takes a far deadlier turn than anyone had expected in the fourth title in Katie Gayle’s fantastic Julia Bird cozy mystery series: Murder at the Inn.

On the first Tuesday of every month, Julia and her fellow AgathaQuizteam teammates love nothing better than going to the local inn and taking part in the pub quiz. They all take quizzing very seriously and love nothing more than winning the night, however, trivia soon turns out to be the least of their worries when local police constable and general knowledge guru Lilian is found fatally stabbed after the evening’s final round. Who is responsible for this heinous crime? And why was Lilian targeted? With local DI Hayley Gibson stuck at home convalescing and an incompetent Superintendent brought in from the nearby town, Julia decides to find out who is behind Lilian’s murder.

The police might be positive that Lilian’s murderer is somebody she interacted with on a professional level, but Julia is not convinced. Determined to prove that Lilian’s killer is somebody far closer to home, Julia begins her investigation and is immediately on the right track when another quiz team member is attacked. With a dangerous murderer hiding in their midst, Julia has to work fast and find out whodunnit – before the killer claims another victim…

Katie Gayle’s Julia Bird mysteries are such a treat for cozy fans. Full of bucolic charm, red herrings, twists and turns and shocking and surprising revelations, they are ideal reading material for fans of Midsomer Murders and Richard Osman and in the fourth title in the series, Murder at the Inn, Katie Gayle has written another tension-filled, exciting and unpredictable cozy mystery readers will inhale in one sitting.

A struggle to put down and a joy from start to finish, Katie Gayle’s Murder at the Inn makes me very impatient for the next title in the series.

Murder at the Inn is the 4th book in the Julia Bird Mystery series, but the first I have read. It wasn't hard to jump into the series and I didn't feel lost. Set in a Cotswolds town, the mystery starts after some unusual attacks/deaths of members of the monthly pub quiz group. Julia's friend DI Hayley Gibson is hurt and needs Julia's help to uncover what is going on.
Her cute lab Jake gets up to no good with one of her chickens Henny Penny and here's some romantic moments to lighten the mood.
The was a lot of mystery surrounding motives and suspects that kept me guessing. A great cozy mystery and a enjoyable read.

The 4th book in the Julia Bird series, I had read the others before but they could be read not in order you wouldn't miss out too much but there are a few spoilers from previous cases.

A fun, cosy easy read.

Thank you for the arc.

Julia enjoys attending the pub quiz but is shocked when two members of her team are involved in a hit and run and then one is stabbed to death. The deceased, Lilian, was a police officer so could someone have borne a professional grudge or was there a more personal motive...?
Murder at the Inn is the 4th book in the Julia Bird cosy murder mystery series.
Julia needs to get sleuthing again when a police officer is stabbed. Lilian's colleague Hayley was badly injured in the prior hit and run incident so is bitterly frustrated that she cannot investigate the death of her friend. Lilian was investigating a series of arson attacks, an old adversary had been released from prison and Lilian had recently separated from her husband. Plenty of suspects and motive!
Julia's attempts at investigating are hampered by the lead police officer who is deliberately trying to exclude her and Hayley from the case. I liked the tension this created and the ensuing tenacity that Julia displays. The case isn't straightforward and more deadly deeds change the direction of the investigation.
There is a lightheartedness in the tone of the book despite the murderous content. Several personal subplots have been included to counterbalance the murder mystery. Julia's dog Jake forms an attachment with one of her hens, her ex husband announces he wants to remarry and her current boyfriend has another admirer.
Murder at the Inn is an enjyable cosy murder mystery.

This is the fourth book in the series of the Julia Bird Mysteries that I have been following since book one and its as delightful as the rest.

Julia a retired social worker returns to her amateur sleuthing after the local quiz league sees it's members targeted by a killer.

Set in the Cotswold village of Berrywick we see the return of the delightful comical Jake and his new beau Penny.

A modern Miss Marple with a host of entertaining characters along the way An enjoyable read.

Sorry, due to college I missed getting to read this one. The story looks like one I would enjoy so I will look out for it.

I don't read many cozy mysteries but I loved this book. I like that Julia Bird is retirement age like me. I had some trouble remembering names in the book but I like that it wasn't silly like some cozies.

I have read the other books in this series and was glad to be accepted for the next instalment. Really fun reads

Murder at the Inn is the 4th book in the Julia Bird Mystery series and was another interesting mystery that kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed. The whole gang is back and this time they have put together a team to play in the monthly pub quiz. I loved being back in Berrywick with Julia and her mischevious Labrador, Jake, her beau Dr. Sean, her best friend, librarian Tabitha and of course DI Hayley Gibson. There is a lot of fun in this book even though it is a murder mystery. All I am going to say is the relationship Jake and Henny Penny develop had me laughing everytime they were together. There is even a bit of jealousy on Julia's part that has to get sorted. Julia's family are also in the background with her daughter soon visiting and her ex-husband getting remarried. Even the secondary characters played roles in this one both with the investigation and at the quiz. With murders to investigate, it is a bit different with Julia doing all the sleuthing with Hayley on the sidelines. There aren't a lot of suspects which made this one even harder to sort out. I did figure out the murderer before Hayley and Julia did, but it was because of the clues and evidence they uncovered. This was a great cozy mystery with interesting murders to solve, great characters, some humor and finally a wonderful conclusion. I am enjoying this series and look forward to seeing what Julia gets up to in the next book.

A big thank you to Sarah Hardy and the publishers for issuing me with my review copy of the book and for inviting me to take part on the tour. This is my own honest and unbiased review and hasn't been influenced in any way.

The Julia Bird series featuring her lovely but mischievous dog Jake are my go to books when I know I want to just get lost in a cosy mystery - I have read a bad one and the latest in the series is another wonderful addition to sink your teeth into.

In this new story, the action take place at the local pub during a quiz night that Julia has attended along with DI Hayley Gibson and the local police constable, Lilian. Although this is the fourth in the series, it is really nice to see Hayley becoming a bit more involved with village life - Julia's influence is definitely rubbing off on her! However, things don't stay like this for long when following a sucessful night at the quiz, Hayley and Lilian are involved in a hit and run which leaves them quite shaken and Hayley unfortunately with a broken leg. Regular readers will know that this is very bad news for Hayley - she is very much a get up and go character! Things are made even worse when Lilian is found murdered in her hotel room at the Inn a few nights later. 

Despite desperately wanting to investigate what happened to Lily, Hayley is unfortunately sidelined and another Detective is brought in to lead the investigation. Obviously Julia can't help but become involved and essentially becomes the eyes and ears for Hayley. The investigation ramps up a notch when another character is attacked which unsettles Julia and makes her even more determined to get to the bottom of the investigation. Whilst also dealing with this, there is also some light relief involving Jake, her lovely dog, and one of Julia's chickens, the bossy Henny! I won't spoil anything here but I loved this comical storyline!

Murder at the Inn is a fabulously paced cosy mystery that I couldn't put down with it's array of suspects and red herrings, I was kept guessing but did eventually have an inkling and was actually right for a change (this doesn't happen very often!).

I loved been back in Berrywick with it's community spirit and cast of characters that have been around since the beginning of the series and can't wait to go back!

Another great entry in the Julia Bird Mystery series! I love the characters and the way the author continues to develop them with each new book. Julia once again finds herself caught up in a mystery, with plenty of twists and turns to make for an interesting plot.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Murder At The Inn' by Katie Gayle.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Katie Gayle, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 3rd August 2023.

This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the fourth book in the 'Julia Bird Mysteries' series. I have also read the first book in the series 'An English Garden Murder' and third book in this series 'A Village Fete Murder' which I would highly recommend. All books in this series can be read as a standalone.


This novel consists of 32 chapters. The chapters are medium to long in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that leave you hearing the chickens clucking, Jake barking and it most definitely leaves you wanting to visit!!! The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.

Yet another fantastic success Katie Gayle congratulations!! Such an easy, fun and addictive cosy mystery that had me hook, line and sinker!!!

I absolutely loved reading this book which took place in such a stunning environment I felt like I had disappeared on holiday for the day. It was a shame it was only a day but that's how long it took me to zoom through the pages after not being able to put it down. I genuinely felt like I was in the storyline and I was devastated to come to the end and have to "unpack my suitcase". This series is one of the best ones I have ever read and I love getting stuck into the mysteries with Julia and Jack each and every time .The storyline is multilayered with mystery upon mystery to keep the reader completely absorbed throughout without a moment to get bored. It was filled with murder, animals, mayhem, mystery, tension, twists, romance, friendship, quizzes, books, twists and absolutely everything you could ever ask for in a cosy mystery. The fact that it was filled with animals, chickens and one Jake to be precise and included a book club was right down my street being a huge book and animal lover myself. It is one of those immense books that each and every time I told myself just one more chapter I just had to read yet one more to know what was going to happen next, and then another until before I know it I had devoured the whole book in just a few hours. I must say I absolutely adored the growing friendship between the cute and mischievous Labrador Jake and the not to be messed with bossy chicken Henny Penny!!!! Grab your copy and join Julia on her murder mystery, pub quizzes, charity shop volunteering and animal antics where there's a mix of romance, jealousy, heartbreak, anger, amazing characters, deception, mayhem and so much more mixed in!! You genuinely couldn't ask for anything else in a fantastic cosy crime!!! This is yet another fantastic addition to this addictive series! ! I was not expecting the killer twist so a huge congratulations there!!! I have read so many books it seems to be getting harder and harder to shock me but you definitely managed it after leading me down the garden path several times!! This is an absolutely fantastic, page turning and fun cozy crime series that can be read in any order. I would love to see them all turned into movies and I cannot wait to get into Katie's next fantastic success!!!

Do not pick this up until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!

Although this is the fourth book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely LOVED meeting Julia, Jake, Sean, Hayley, Henny Penny and everyone else who makes this cosy mystery series perfect the way it was again. I became completely invested in each of the characters and Katie and Gail portray village life and characters into the first book in this series 'An English Garden Murder' and they all, well almost all, quickly became friends that I miss each and every time I finish the book. I really clicked with Julia immediately who was a perfect choice for this cosy mystery. Julia has a habit of coming across bodies and then getting involved with trying to solve the mystery to the annoyance of her friend (for now 😂) and DI Hayley Gibson. I love the fact that Julia refuses to back down on her digging even though she know she will get in trouble!! She is such a strong female role model. I also loved meeting Sean (007) again and find him to be such a true gentleman. I have loved watching his and Julie's relationship develop and I'm looking forward to watching it continuing to do so. DI Helen can be very grumpy at times especially when she has to tell Julia off but it's nice to see her soft side come out too and watching the friendship develop between them even more so in this book with Hayley injured and unable to do her usual investigating. I am looking forward to meeting them all again in the next book in this fantastic series and seeing how all the friendship and relationships with the characters develop especially with the naughty but lovable Jake (definitely my favourite!!), Henny Penny, Tabitha and many, many more!!! An amazing group of string and realistic characters that jump out of the pages and I look forward to meeting time and time again. A fantastic group of unique and strong personalities!!

Congratulations Kate and Gail on an yet another absolutely addictive book in this absolutely page turning series!!! Here's to a fantastic and many more successes 🥂

Overall an addictive cosy mystery set in a stunning area that you won't be able to put down!!


266 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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3.8 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining

Julia Bird and her friends from Berrywick decide to take part in the local quiz competition. The Agatha Quizteam soon starts to win, thanks to the team members with diverse talents. Local DI Hayley Gibson and Constable Lillian Carson are in another team with equally talented members.
However, an accident puts Hayley in bed with a broken leg, and Lillian is stabbed to death a week later. Superintendent Grave from the regional office takes over the investigation, focusing on Lillian’s professional life. There seem to be a few suspects, even if none of them might be the killer. With a few strange events occurring in the village, Julia wonders if they got it all wrong.
It’s time for Julia and Hayley (with some help) to connect the dots and find the killer before more lives are at risk.
The story comes from Julia’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Though this is book #4 in the series, it can be read as a standalone, as there is enough backstory for the subplots. The book balanced between mystery and subplots to set the stage for the next one.
Jake, the adorable chocolate lab, is now an adolescent pup but just as naughty and excited for food. He becomes friends with Julia’s bossiest chicken, Henny Penny, which leads to some funny moments in her house.
There’s a little more of Hayley in this book, though she is on leave due to a broken leg. We see a bit of her personal life too. I love Hayley’s energy and how her restlessness and helplessness are portrayed when she is not in a position to solve Lillian’s death. Lillian is her friend and colleague, which makes it even harder for her to sit and do nothing.
Jim, the journalist, makes an appearance, too, and does his bit with Julia in digging up certain information. Sean has a relatively lesser presence, but he wasn’t necessary anyway, so it works well for the plot.
The book artfully tackles the topic of older women and relationships. Societal expectations, assumptions, and how Julia, despite being a smart and good-looking woman, is almost invisible to the common public due to her age (she is around 60).
We also see how Julia’s character changes from being a city person to a villager with a kitchen garden, chicken coop, part-time job, and countless activities. Her journey from someone who disliked cooking to someone who enjoys trying new recipes occurs steadily.
The mystery has a couple of tracks. One is the arsonist Lillian is trying to nab. The other is Lillian’s murder. Then there seem to be break-ins in a couple of houses. There could possibly be an ex-convict out for revenge. Are all these events related? What’s happening in Berrywick?
I could, as usual, connect the dots. But then Julia and others have lives to lead (how annoying), which delayed the mystery (not really, the book is fast-paced). Finally, they do what they should do and solve the case. Tada! There’s a wee bit of action, though the focus is more on introspection of the crimes and the reasons behind them.
The personal tracks have some interesting developments. Julia sure has a few occasions to look forward to in the coming book. I’m curious to see how that will go (coz there’s bound to be another murder).

To summarize, Murder at the Inn is a solid continuation of the series and a good entertainer. I enjoyed the mystery and Jake’s antics. Pick it up if you want a lighthearted read with the right touch of emotions and introspection.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
*****
Links updated.

I love the Julia Bird mysteries, set in the Cotswolds with intelligent and thoughtful retiree Julia solving murders that happen on her doorstep. This one was fun as it centered on a trivia contest at a local pub. It kept me guessing! I do love these characters, including Julia’s cumbersome Black lab!

Thanks for my copy and for including me on the tour!

Book Description:

Julia Bird loves the village pub quiz, but it seems one of her team won’t make it to the next round alive…

On the first Tuesday of each month, Julia Bird and her Agatha Quizteam teammates take part in Berrywick’s village pub quiz. They take it seriously – what’s the point of playing, after all, if you aren’t in it to win it? But it seems someone connected with the quiz night has taken the competition to a whole new level when Lilian, the local police constable and all-round general knowledge expert, is found fatally stabbed after the evening’s final round.

With local DI Hayley Gibson stuck home with a broken leg and an incompetent Superintendent brought in from the nearby town, it’s up to Julia to make sure the investigation stays focussed – whether they like it or not! While the police are convinced that the murderer is linked to Lilian’s professional life, Julia turns her amateur sleuthing eye to suspects much closer to home. Perhaps Lilian’s personal life could have something to do with the dreadful crime?

When another quiz team member is attacked, Julia is finally put on the right track. But what could possibly be important – or dangerous – enough for two attendees of the pub quiz night to meet such foul ends over? Could the culprit really be among them on that busy Tuesday night? As Julia’s race to identify the killer ramps up to desperate heights, she wonders, where will the murderous spree end?

Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands, Murder at the Inn is a brilliantly compelling English cosy mystery.

Murder at the Inn is the 4th book in the Julia Bird Mysteries series. It is another cosy mystery set in the delightful Berrywick and this time the village pub quiz becomes a deadly affair. Again it is up to Julia to solve the crime and save the day. I love this series, it is light, fun but still has plenty of twists to keep the reader on their toes. I can't wait for the next instalment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Julia Bird goes to the local village Inn
Her team hope the pub quiz to win.
However, the rivalry is great
But someone is deciding to tempt fate.

Whilst walking home from that night
Hayley and Lillian are given a terrible fright.
Haley is seriously injured, Lillian just slight
But who hit and ran after the quiz night?

Next quiz night Lillian decides in the Inn to stay
And there Julia discovers her body next day.
Who would commit such a dreadful crime?
And will there be another victim next time?

With quizzers, questions, murder and mystery
This is a story with roots in history.
Can Julia discover who the perpetrator might be?
You need to read it yourself to see!

I really enjoyed this enthralling case,
With so many clues to try to place.
A brilliant community and great plot, too,
Keeping you guessing the perpetrator is who?

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Julia Bird is happy to join her teammates at the Berrywick’s village pub to participate in the pub quiz. It is always the first Tuesday of every month and has turned out to be one of Julie’s favorite events that she looks forward to. But when Lilian, a quiz participant and a police constable is found stabbed to death the competition takes a turn for the worse. The fun and games quickly end. Detective Investigator Hayley Gibson is unable to respond because she is at home recovering from breaking her leg. So a Superintendent arrives from a nearby town to investigate the murder. The police are sure that the murder has to do with the fact that Hayley is a police officer, Julia is not completely convinced. She begins her own investigation and starts to question the pub goers. When another quiz team member is attacked, Julie knows for certain that she is on the culprit’s tail. But will she discover whodunnit before another team member is found dead?

Murder at the Inn written by author Katie Gayle was a wonderful English cozy mystery. I was hooked from the very first page to the last. This fabulous story was entertaining and the wonderful description of living life in the village was heart-warming. I enjoy Julia’s character so much. She sounds like a close friend that I would love to spend my days with, sleuthing around here and there. This is the fourth installment in the Julia Bird Mysteries Series and it is just as good as the first book. If you haven’t read this fantastic series I suggest you do, it is absolutely fabulous.

Katie Gayle’s Murder at the Inn is the fourth book to feature her series detective, Julia Bird. Julia and her friend, Dr Sean O’Connor, have agreed to join a pub quiz team to keep DI Hayley Gibson company. One member of DI Gibson’s team died two weeks beforehand; and Hayley has joined the team (spontaneously called Agatha Quizteam when the quiz master demands a name) alongside her colleague, DC Lilian Carson. By the next morning, DI Gibson is in hospital following a hit-and-run; by the next week, DC Carson is dead – and that’s not the end of the rampage. Surely the murderer isn’t targeting members of the quiz team? In addition to that, a blond woman is making eyes at Sean and Julia realises that it’s making her jealous, even though she’s a sixty-something retired woman, not a lovestruck teenager.

I love this series. Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel write the Katie Gayle books together and I am lost in admiration of how their writing captures the characters and the environment perfectly. Their Epiphany Bloom series of three books (so far) features a scatty young woman: her vocabulary; her actions; and the action are “tots believable”. The Julia Bird series, with the retired social worker; the gentle romance with Sean; the varied inhabitants of a Cotswold village; and, indeed, the village itself with its golden stone glowing in the sun – these are all so believable. The author’s vocabulary, pace and characters are so different to the Pip Bloom series, yet so in keeping with the subject matter, I am awestruck by how well the books are written – and I am someone who reads around a hundred books a year. The romance, for example, is much more about companionship and friendship, although Sean does occasionally stop for a sleepover, than about lust.

If you like murder mysteries with a hint of romance, I’m sure you will enjoy this book.
#MurderattheInn #NetGalley.

Murder at the Inn

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ On the first Tuesday of each month, Julia Bird and her Agatha Quizteam teammates take part in Berrywick’s village pub quiz. They take it seriously – what’s the point of playing, after all, if you aren’t in it to win it? But it seems someone connected with the quiz night has taken the competition to a whole new level when Lilian, the local police constable and all-round general knowledge expert, is found fatally stabbed after the evening’s final round.”

The writing on this one was good. The characters were well thought out. And the overall mystery was a good one. Overall this was a great cozy mystery.