Thank you so much to NetGalley and Marty Wingate for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for A Body on the Doorstep coming out January 11, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love cozy historical English mysteries, so I was excited to receive this book. I love the 1920s era. Mabel was a fun, energetic character. I loved that she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and get things done. I loved she teamed up with Park and his dog. They had great chemistry together. It was definitely a fun story. The narrator was really great. I’ve already received the second book in the series, so I’m excited to read that one as well!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy historical mysteries!

A Body on the Doorstep
Written by Marty Wingate
Read as an audiobook performed by Naomi Frederick
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction

Mabel Canning moves to London to make her way as an independent, modern woman, only to almost immediately become entangled in a murder investigation.

This book was a delight. The characters are smart, unique, and charming while still being realistic. The narrator of the audiobook does a good job of giving them their own unique voices and cadence, which made it easy to understand who was speaking. The writing is descriptive and flows well, with enough detail to know where you are without dragging it out.

I really enjoyed the post World War I setting of the novel, as well as the main character’s adjustments to life in the big city. The mystery was complex enough to not be obvious or too unpredictable. The hints that were left throughout the book helped me to guess who was behind the murder before getting to the big reveal, though several of the smaller reveals took me by surprise.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ARC. This is my honest review.

A mystery that hits the perfect balance between cozy and gripping. 5/5

After moving to London and determined to become and remain an independent woman, mabel begins working for a company who provide the services of 'really useful women'. Need a dog washed, invitations written or just a bit of a helping hand? Then Mabel's your gal, and when her first job ends up with a dead body, just the person you want at hand.

Completely charming, with an eclectic cast of characters, an intriguing mystery, and some light-hearted humour to boot. this is a cracking introduction to Mabel, and long may her adventures continue.

I loved this cozy historical mystery, and am so happy the author has more in the pipeline! Mabel and her friends were well drawn and fully formed as characters. The mystery was interesting and knit together a past and current mystery which worked really well. The setting of London in the early 1920's was vividly drawn and I felt like great care was taken to portray historical accuracy. The narrator of this audiobook was great and I would listen to more of her audiobooks. Overall, I look forward to the next in the series and would recommend this to lovers of cozy mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Intriguing this wasn't intriguing mystery and had many different turns and twists story all through it it was well organized and kept me engaged during the whole book that was a mystery and it kept me and engaged Claire to the end I would recommend this book for anyone who likes a mystery and I feel like they would really enjoy this book

2.5 * A good plot focused cosy murder club book. Mabel is a very likeable character if that is a necessity for any future readers that pick up this book. As someone who usually reads physical copies, the audiobook was a pleasant surprise and the narrator had a clear engaging tone. I would recommend ‘A Body on the Doorstep’ for anyone who enjoys a steady paced, slow burning mystery. I don’t think I would carry on with the Ladies’ Murder Club series but a solid murder mystery comparable to the Charity Shop Detective.

Much thanks to Marty Wingate, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great! Mabel was a wonderful protagonist. Very admirable and sympathetic.

I loved the Useful Women aspect; it's all kinds of patronizing but at the time it was a huge step forward for women. Some readers may feel that more of the book was about UW jobs than investigating, particularly in the beginning; I felt some imbalance, but I was enjoying the story too much to care.

I like Park as a character and love interest. I don't have a clear picture of him in my head but that's my fault; when he was described I was distracted by a murder lol.

My only complaint is that it was too easy to guess whodunit. I mean, it was the one character everyone liked and admired and no one suspected. Signs of self-interest and resenting the world. Might as well have named them Guilty.

Overall a great read and I can't wait for the series to continue.

Book Title: Body on the Doorstep
Series: London Ladies’ Murder Club Book #1
Author: Marty Wingate
Narrator: Naomi Frederick
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: January 11, 2024
My Rating: 3.4
Pages: 310

Awww this new series is not exactly like the “Women’s Murder Club” that I have been following for many years, however the “London Ladies’ Murder Club’ was an enjoyable cozy murder mystery read.
I will read next in the series. Love this cover
Audiobook narrator Naomi Frederick did a great job in performing the 'ladies' as well as the other characters!
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Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for granting me this early audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Date scheduled for January 11, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the audio!

I actually really enjoyed this book more that I thought I would. The protagonist was great and all of the side characters worked so well together. Such a great storyline and plot twist. Can’t wait to read the next book.

What a delightful beginning to a new historical cozy mystery series from Marty Wingate. In 1921 London, Mabel Canning has followed her dream to move to London where she is newly employed by the Useful W0men's Agency. The position as a "Useful Woman" seems to be the post-war society's answer to the growing number of "modern young women" seeking to make their own way in a changing world, and it has shown up in other historical mysteries set in the same era. I particularly enjoyed the way it is handled here, not as a single woman setting herself up in business, but as a female owned agency that provides both opportunities to multiple women and a variety of services to the gentlewomen of London. Of course, solving murders was not part of the service menu. Mabel is a near perfect main character with the mixture of a level head and sense of adventure, and the supporting characters, including the nice looking ex-detective, Park Winstone and his adorable dog, Gladys, add to this entertaining tale. I cannot wait for the next book in the series..

This narration by Naomi Frederick was excellent.

4.25★

YES. I completely inhaled this audiobook in one day. It was so gripping and interesting that I had a mental corkboard mapped out in my head, string and all. The story is an upbeat and cozy murder mystery with a charming main character, Mabel. Wingate’s writing allowed for each character to have a motive and it definitely kept me guessing - however I did have my suspicions (they were correct!!!!!) This is the first book in the London Ladies’ Murder Club and I am definitely going to add the rest to my tbr when the audiobooks become available.

Mabel: FMC - cunning, observant, and joyful. She is such a fun and modern character in an old fashioned world.

I only knocked the book down a few points because I felt like there were unnecessary tidbits about side quests that did not really pertain to the main story. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for allowing me access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The first in a new historical cozy series centered around Mabel, who has just moved to London to be an independent woman in the early 1920s. She finds employment at the Useful Women's Agency, performing random tasks. One task finds her being a companion at a wake. When a body turns up at the door of the wake, murdered, Mabel finds herself drawn into the mystery.

I loved this first book! I found Mabel to be a great protagonist, and loved all the side characters we got introduced to (especially Gladys). I think Wingate did a great job laying the foundation for the Murder Club (in the series name) - it wasn't just randomly thrown together, but rather a result of the actions of this book. I did think the culprit was a bit obvious - but I read a lot of cozies, so it could just be me! And I didn't mind that I figured out the whodunnit because I thought the rest of this one was so fun.

I also enjoyed the narrator a lot here. I think she did a great job with each character and gave them life.

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

In this first installment of the London Ladies' Murder Club books, we are introduced to Mabel, recently arrived in London and working for the Useful Women's Agency. One of her first jobs finds her assisting a widow on the day of her husband's wake, seven years after his disappearance. A body appears on the doorstep during the wake, and Mabel is drawn in to the mystery of the body and the disappearance seven years earlier. Along the way we meet a cast of characters from law enforcement to people from Mabel's apartment building and the women that she does odd jobs for through the agency.

I really liked this historical cozy mystery. It has the same feel as a lot of cozy mysteries, but the plot line is a little different than most that I've read, which I enjoyed. The characters are engaging, and the story sets the stage well for a continued series. I particularly appreciated Mabel's female friendships in the story. I will definitely continue reading the London Ladies' Murder Club series when available. The narration was good as well.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture Audio for a free copy of #ABodyontheDoorstep by Marty Wingate. All opinions are my own.