THE MURDERS IN GREAT DIDDLING is a relatively recent mystery novel by Katarina Bivald (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend). Berit Gardner is an author with writer's block who decides to move to a cozy English village where, per its name, but unbeknownst to her at first, some swindling is afoot. There is resentment and desperation in the air, too, especially at a tea party held reluctantly at Tawny Hall. The elderly owner's generally disliked nephew is killed in an explosion and Berit offers her observation skills to help the police, even acknowledging, "The people in Great Diddling have an impressively long tradition of lying." Those villagers band together to build on the notoriety of the murder by holding a book festival – complete with appearances by locals impersonating famous authors. This book is full of humor and surprises. THE MURDERS IN GREAT DIDDLING received a starred review from Library Journal: "Those who escape to Louise Penny's Three Pines might want to check out Great Diddling" A Reading Group Guide is included and the author says, "I hope it [the story] carries you away for a little while. Transports you from whatever problems or bothers exist in your life, gives you a break, makes you smile a little as you move amongst the murderous people in Great Diddling." Well, it did for me - Enjoy!

First I must say the cover is delightful and this is what drew me in to start with. But the story was even better than the cover and I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. The small, rundown village of Great Diddling comes to life in this book and author Berit Gardner is the perfect character to help bring this town back from the brink.

Love the murder mystery, the humour, the quirky townsfolk and the book and murder festival which is dreamed up to bring tourists to this once forgotten town. This is a book that is fun, funny, quirky, charming and will make you feel good. I enjoyed it, cosied up with it and I highly recommend it. A great read!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

At the center of this story is a deep love and appreciation for books, which I always love to read about! I thought it was entertaining and humorous. It wasn't as cozy of a mystery as I was expecting, more like "The Thursday Murder Club," less like "The Marlow Murder Club." I really loved the setting and the atmosphere. I fell in love with the characters in the village, and I will definitely pick up the sequel! 4/5 stars!

Enjoyed this one very much, another great cozy suspense from author Katarina Bivald. Never disappoints, highly recommend!

This was a fun and enjoyable read. It had all of the components that make up a cute cozy mystery: a charming little village, a quirky cast of characters, multiple suspects, an amateur sleuth, and interesting clues and red herrings.

There are also a couple of other storylines that are threaded throughout the story, including Berit’s writer’s block, questions about who some of the characters really are, and a plan by the villagers to hold a murder mystery book festival designed to bring tourists to Great Diddling. Many shenanigans ensue, adding some laughs to the story.

The book is a little long and slow in some places, but I chalk that up to it being the first in the series. There was a lot of background to lay and many characters to introduce.

I enjoyed this one a lot, and look forward to reading more in the series.

Thanks NetGally and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy.

Murder in Great Diddling is a slow burn mystery with deceptive and quirky characters. The main character is an author who moves to a small town hoping to discover some inspiration. However, she is suddenly and totally occupied by a murder investigation after an explosion in a grand country manor's library. The victim is not well-liked by anyone in the small town.

Thank you to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen press for letting me read this in advance!

Berit Gardner has set up shop in the small, rundown village of Great Diddling. She hopes to write another novel. Unfortunately, she's stuck, so her literary agent sends Sally to help assist Berit. But the women soon find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery. No one in the village is safe from suspicion. Can Berit solve the mystery before someone else dies?
I like the literary theme. Old books and old women are the stars of the story!
The book is a bit slow though. It plods along and doesn't move very fast.
Also, I didn't connect with any of the characters except one of the main suspects Eleanor. I want to read a book about her!

**My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**

2.5 stars

An ode to books and booklovers disguised as a small-town English murder mystery, this book failed to grip me despite the many things it has going for it. I simply failed to care much about any of the characters, from our novelist-turned-detective to the murder victim to the various suspects about town, with one exception. A pair of elderly ladies running a café caught my interest about halfway through the novel, and their scenes and backstory were genuinely interesting.

I feel a little guilty about how little I cared about every other part of this book, because on paper there’s nothing wrong with it. The writing was competent, detailed without being pedantic or overly flowery, and the cast was a varied mix of personalities. The crime itself was cleverly done and difficult to figure out, and the ultimate culprit a satisfying reveal. But something about it—most probably the narrative voice—just failed to click with me, and I found it hard to recall details from the story even a week after reading it. Maybe it was just the wrong time, or maybe it really did lack narrative character.

You may like this book if you enjoy: Scandinavian murder mysteries, British murder mysteries, small town shenanigans, unpleasant rich people getting their just desserts, the book as fetish object, or bookish culture overall.

The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald is great entertainment for so many reasons. This is a book with cozy mystery vibes – i.e. an English village, a myriad of unusual characters, and minimal gore. But, that’s where the similarities end. It’s much more fleshed out than a standard cozy mystery. It’s more descriptive, there’s more character development, and it has a much more involved story and plot(s).

This is a well-written and humorous mystery with good characters. They’re a bit quirky but not over the top (it’s easy to imagine that they could really exist). And don’t overlook the setting! A comfortable and quaint village in inland Cornwall that’s just a bit rundown and desperately in need of tourists to bolster their economy.

Now, toss in the main characters – Berit, an author struggling to write her next mystery book, Sally, Berit’s new assistant who has been foisted on Berit by her agent, and Ian Ahmed, a Detective Inspector trying to make sense of the murder that has occurred during the village tea party held at the grand manor owned by Daphne, an elderly and wealthy book aficionado. Then there are the more unsavory characters, including, but not limited to, Reginald Trent, Daphne’s nephew.

There’s so much going on in this book, including a book festival designed to bring positive attention to Great Diddling. How the residents managed to organize and make it happen in two weeks is just one of the highlights of this book.

My only complaint (and it’s a minor one) is that the book ran a bit too long and there was some redundancy. But, this is forgivable, because it is such an enjoyable book. Now my fingers are crossed that this is the start of a series. If so, I’m all in! NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

If you’re into cozy mysteries with a quirky twist, The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald is definitely worth checking out! The story centers around Berit Gardner, a best-selling mystery writer who moves to the quaint, rundown village of Great Diddling to find some inspiration for her next book. What she doesn’t expect is to get caught up in a real-life murder mystery! The village is full of eccentric characters who are harboring their own secrets and stories. When an explosion at a tea party in Tawny Hall kills a local man, Berit teams up with DCI Ian Ahmed to uncover the truth. The dynamic between Berit and Ian is so fun to watch as they try to solve the case in a town FULL of secrets.

Bivald does a great job of creating a charming, atmospheric setting that feels like a character in itself. The plot is a bit of a slow burn, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It’s not just about the murder mystery, though. The book also celebrates the love of books and the power of storytelling, which adds a nice touch.

Overall, The Murders in Great Diddling is a delightful read that’s perfect for a cozy afternoon! (What better time than fall time!) It’s got humor, mystery, and a cast of characters that will keep you entertained from start to finish! If you love a good cozy mystery with a bit of charm and wit, this one’s for you!

Berit Gardner, a Swedish novelist, is experiencing a case of writer's block and moves to the small village of Great Diddling. With a book deadline looming, her frustrated editor sends out her daughter to help out as an assistant. Disaster strikes the village tea party as an explosion rocks the library of the manor hosting the event, killing a local man. The police are brought in on the case, but Berit feels that solving this mystery is just the thing she needs to get her writing back on track. I have enjoyed Katarina Bivald's other novels and felt that this one was a treat as well. Just keep in mind that these aren't especially speedy reads but they are worth your time.

There’s a certain charm that comes with books set in England… old estates with sprawling gardens, tea time with crumpets and clotted cream, it’s the stuff of dreams.

The characters and plot line are interesting, and I can’t imagine any of them could be the murderer.

You can’t help but be obsessed with Bernie, an author with writer’s block, and DCI Ahmed, who is in charge of the investigation. Both are incredibly observant and just good people.

I loved this book from beginning to end. It was the perfect thing to wind down with each evening, and the townspeople of Great Diddling started feeling like friends and acquaintances of my own.

So many great bookish quotes too, such as… “To count as a plot things have to happen for a reason; one thing has to lead to another. When things just happen here and there, the whole thing is disjointed, episodic. Incomprehensible. Not dissimilar to life itself.”

Time to add Katarina Bivald’s books to my “read all these books” list ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When a murder mystery is set in a small village where the characters are wonderfully quirky, they all have secrets and love books, I'm in!

Berit Gardner has come to Great Diddling looking for inspiration for her next book. But when a death occurs at Tawny Hall (Daphne Trent's home) and Daphne's nephew Reginald Trent was killed, everything changed. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ahmed is on the case and so it begins.

I truly hope that Berit Gardner and Inspector Ahmed will be reunited for book two and beyond--it would make a great series!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this copy of The Murders in Great Diddling. It was a joy to read and I highly recommend it!

I also listened to the audio book. It was narrated by Helen Lloyd and she did a terrific job.

The small, rundown village of Great Diddling is full of stories―author Berit Gardner can feel it. The way the villagers avoid outsiders, the furtive stares and whispers in the presence of newcomers… Berit can sense the edge of a story waiting to be unraveled, and she's just the person to do it. In fact, with a book deadline looming over her and no manuscript (not even the idea for a manuscript, truth be told), Berit doesn't just want this story. She needs it.

Then, while attending a village tea party, Berit becomes part of the action herself. An explosion in the library of the village's grand manor kills a local man, and the resulting investigation and influx of outsiders sends the quiet, rundown community into chaos. The residents of Great Diddling, each one more eccentric and interesting than any character Berit could have invented, rewrite their own narrative and transform the death of one of their own from a tragedy into a new beginning. Taking advantage of Great Diddling's new notoriety, the villagers band together to start a book and murder festival designed to bring desperately-needed tourists to their town. What they couldn't have predicted is how the new story they've begun to tell will change all their lives forever.

i honestly did not like this book, i really tried to dont get me wrong but it felt like it was going on and on for years and years, also theres way too much details on things i dont find that important and then not enough details for things that should have been explained better

I really enjoyed this book. I always love a mystery in a small town with a great cast of quirky characters. It's really well paced, and the mystery is engrossing, but not overly complicated or convoluted. The author did a great job of introducing each character and letting you get to know them, without slowing down or dragging out the action.

I have read this author before and therefore knew she could write a great tale, but had no idea how that would translate into mysteries; thankfully, she does an excellent job [I was silly for worrying] with this genre and this was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me.

Berit Gardner is my new spirit animal, and while I don't really want to solve murders [EEK!!], except as the armchair detective I am, and I don't want to write books [I have tried and am complete rubbish at it], I do strive [and am committed to] to be as curmudgeonly as possible [LOL], I would love an assistant [as does Berit once she gets over the "intrusion"], and books REALLY are everything to me [with about 5-6 people ;-) ] and I see the importance of sharing [hoarding is great, but sharing is even better, especially if they are completely taking over your quality of life] and reading them [READ BANNED BOOKS!!!!!!!!!].

The mystery [for me] was very good [I honestly never saw this person coming {I was really fixated on someone else - they SO could have been the killer} and was an excellent red herring; even thinking about it later and knowing what I missed, I had a hard time seeing it. SO excellent], it was a very well-written and had a very satisfying [and slightly ambiguous] ending, which is all us mystery-readers can hope for. It was also really sad in parts; what people will do...smh.

I really enjoyed most of the side characters [there will always be those who rub you the wrong way, even if they are not supposed to LOL] as well and am looking forward to them being fleshed out more should there 1. be a book two and 2. they stay in Great Diddling [crossing ALL MY FINGERS AND TOES there is one!!].

Berit is my new favorite character [I honestly want to be her when I grow up], I love how everything wasn't repeated a billion times [what a glorious thing to read a book by an author who realizes her readers aren't 5 and don't need beat over the head with the same information over and over again - just fantastic], and I finished this book and just sighed because 1. it was over [I didn't have full-blown book hangover, but it was close and I was sad I had to leave that world] and 2. just how satisfying reading it had been [for me].

I am not sure I have listened to Helen Lloyd before, but I sure hope to again - what an absolute treat her narration was. She reads exceptionally well [especially considering there is a rather large cast in this book] and the way she reads really adds to the overall book and made it even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this audiobook [as well as the book].

Thank you to NetGalley, Katarina Bivald, Poisoned Pen Press, and Dreamscape Media for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I liked the idea of this cozy murder mystery. However, I do feel like the story was just weighed down too much with description. It felt like the murder was in the background when it should have been the main focus. The story just felt too slow for me and I just didn't enjoy it.

I hope others love this one.

Katarina Bivald's "The Murders in Great Diddling" is a delightful mystery that combines wit and whimsy with a touch of suspense. Set in a quaint English village, the novel follows an amateur sleuth as she unravels a series of enigmatic murders. Bivald's writing is sharp and engaging, creating a charming atmosphere that brings the small-town setting to life. The characters are endearing and the plot is cleverly constructed, making for an entertaining and satisfying read. Fans of cozy mysteries will find this book a delightful addition to the genre.