My second endeavor in a cozy mystery and I’m addicted! This was the perfect length (under 300 pages). Immediately I was immersed and captivated by the story.

Two women, Pippa and Jennifer, take it upon themselves to investigate a string of murders in their small commune, Louennec.

We follow a tight knit cast of characters in a lo al theatre group who are struck when one of their fellow thespians is found dead. It gets more intricate and complex as more people are murdered. My favorite parts of this novel have to be the dynamic relationships between all of these characters. I found myself wrapped up in the day to day of these characters and their humble, rural lives.

The use of French language and a French village as a setting made for such an interesting and cozy read. I enjoyed reading about the socio-political dynamics in this small village that operates much different from the US, and offers the question of what happened after Brexit.

Personally, I wish some scenes were more fleshed out and given more depth. The reveal could have used more set up and payoff, to give more of a punch, but I understand the choice to keep everything cozy and mysterious. I wanted more of the family dynamic with Jennifer, Jonathan, and their kids, and how things resolve for them. I’m hoping that since this is labeled as book one, that means there will be more exploration of these characters and their surroundings in future books!

Thank you to NetGalley for an electronic copy of The Brittany Murder Mystery in exchange for a review.

Book Review: "The Brittany Murders" by Anne Penketh

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars

If you're looking for a cozy mystery series that will transport you to the picturesque landscapes of Brittany, then "The Brittany Murders" by Anne Penketh is the perfect choice. This delightful novel introduces us to Jennifer and her family, who have recently moved to a small village in Brittany to start a new life. However, their idyllic existence takes a dark turn when a local estate agent is found dead, sending shockwaves through the community.

The story unfolds during Jennifer's first Christmas in Louennec, where she decides to organize a festive gathering for fellow expats. As the wine flows and homemade biscuits are enjoyed, the disappearance of estate agent Adam casts a shadow over the celebrations. When his lifeless body is discovered face down in a fish pond, Jennifer and her newfound friend Pippa decide to take matters into their own hands and investigate the murder.

Penketh's writing style is both warm and witty, effortlessly capturing the essence of cozy mystery storytelling. The pacing is spot-on, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. While the mystery aspect of the book may take a backseat at times, it serves as a compelling backdrop to the true highlight of the novel: the characters and their interactions.

Jennifer and Pippa make for delightful amateur sleuths. Jennifer's decision to leave the rat race and start afresh in Brittany adds depth to her character, while Pippa's transformation from City banker to baker adds an intriguing layer. Their friendship is genuine and heartwarming, and it's a pleasure to accompany them on their journey of uncovering the truth.

The setting of Louannec is beautifully portrayed, with Penketh's vivid descriptions bringing the rugged beauty of the Brittany countryside to life. From the sweeping hills to the stormy Atlantic coast, readers will feel transported to this enchanting corner of France.

One standout aspect of "The Brittany Murders" is its cover design. It perfectly captures the essence of the story within, drawing readers in with its charming and inviting imagery.

In conclusion, "The Brittany Murders" is a delightful cozy mystery that will captivate readers with its engaging plot, charming characters, and picturesque setting. While the mystery may the strong point of this book, it is more than compensated by the warmth and wit that permeates every page.

I eagerly await the next installment in this captivating series.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I am afraid this book just did not hit the mark for me. It had the makings of a good premise but did not deliver. It was very slow and disjointed in parts and felt too drawn out Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it. Sorry 2.5 stars from me.

The Brittany Murders was so hard to get through. It was boring and predictable. I wanted to like it so bad.

I went into this book blind, never having read a novel by Anne Penketh and not diving into the synopsis before opening to the first chapter. I decided to read "The Brittany Murders" for two main reasons: the gorgeous cover art and the simple fact that the title promises murder will be afoot.

About a third of the way into this novel, I found myself in a predicament that I had not been put in before: I started to care less about the murder and suspects and more about the hidden gem of this novel, the relationship conflicts. I was more drawn in by these human interactions than by the (at-times comical) murder that continued to occur in this small hamlet. The backdrop of this novel also revolves around class and ethnic disparities, which was always lightly hinted at, but never fully explored.

I wanted more from this book, chiefly to explore the character's viewpoints around the conflicts they found themselves in, including the underlying tone of class inequality that existed between the Bretons and other Europeans who had migrated and settled in Brittany.

One of the main characters who I thought deserved more time was Mariam. Being an orphaned refugee and adopted daughter, there were so many layers that could have been explored with this character. Instead, the author barely scratched the surface of these real-world issues.

The pros:
-Gorgeous cover
-Interesting characters that you want to know more about
-Comedic at times
-Real-world issues of social injustice

The cons:
-Just give me more about Mariam and Pippa

I received an ARC of this book and was not compensated in any way for a review.

This is a great start to a new modern day series about English families integrating into village life in rural France. I thought it very enjoyable with interesting characters and accounts of believable everyday village life. There is also a murder mystery to solve and I liked the chapter headings. I am looking forward to seeing how the series develops.

Jennifer and her family have moved to France and are looking forward to their first Christmas there. However, things take a turn for the worse when a local real estate agent is found murdered at their house. Jennifer feels like the police are moving too slow, so she and her friend Pippa decide to investigate.

I wanted to like this one as I love cozy mysteries. However, I feel like the pacing was really slow. I also didn't like the character narration shift if this is supposed to be a cozy mystery. I think that is one of the reasons that I never really got into it - we didn't have that clear protagonist to connect with like many cozy mysteries.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the idea of this cozy mystery, but it needed some work. It seemed a little disjointed and didn't flow great. I loved the setting and the Christmas vibes.

Sadly I had to give this book 2 stars. I think it has potential but the writing style feels awkward and almost robotic. In my head the narration sounds like an automated voice over and it made it hard to connect with the characters or sink into the plot. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, along with details that would pop up with little to no context which made the entire book feel disjointed and confusing. With some work I think this could be a good cozy mystery but it has a long way to go.