Jeanne Dams involves Dorothy Martin and her husband, the retired policeman, in the murder of a despised villager who destroyed anyone who did not see his self importance. Village Politics Can Be Murder indeed. The problem was to figure out who of a village of suspects did it. An excellent British police procedural manque.

Dorothy Martin, Anglophile to her core, is back in the 26th entry in Martin’s series that features the ex-pat of a certain age and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. This time the two are in the scenic Lake District where some very un-scenic events, including murder, have transpired. Readers can rest assured that the case will be solved in a fair play story that features multiple suspects (and some good meals) and a lot of sleuthing, both amateur and professional.

Those who enjoy traditional mysteries will enjoy this one. It can be read without having made one’s way through all of the other titles. That said, the backlist is one that can also be enjoyed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this title. All opinions are my own.

Dorothy Martin's mysteries are always a pleasant and entertaining read. I prefer those set in thier village but like them notheless.
A well plotted and solid plot the kept me guessing, I'm delighted to catch up with the pleasant and well-developed characters of this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book was an absolute delight to read as I have only read one other of her titles before it was simply amazing. As a British reader I found that her explanatory directions regarding such things as biscuits to her mainly American fan base hilarious!

Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, jump at the chance to holiday in the beautiful Lake District when Alan's old friend, Christopher Prideaux, invites them to visit him in Grasmere.

A party at Christopher's cottage is the perfect way to meet the locals, but one stands out - accountant Donald Atkinson, an egoist hoping to become a politician, clearly isn't popular among his fellow villagers. When he's found mysteriously dead during the Fell Race, could his demise be due to a sudden, fatal medical emergency, or was it murder? Dorothy and Alan find themselves catapulted into a disturbing case that will lead them back in time, and to a terrible, scandalous secret that someone is determined to keep hidden.

The story moves along very quickly but keeps getting interrupted by Dorothy's demands for food and drink in all sorts of places.
I really enjoyed reading this book and have ordered lots of her previous Kindle titles to keep me entertained until she publishes her next book in this series. Extremely well recommended!
My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the advance review copy.

This is the series that first got me interested in the British cozy mystery genre. Written by an American with a main character of a retired, widowed American woman living in England when the series begins. This is the 26th book in the series but can definitely be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. The characters and setting always have a major role in these mysteries. This one gives us a glimpse of the beautiful Lakes District in northern England. I like the perspective that she brings as an American (now UK citizen) living in England. There’s usually some humor involved, maybe a bit less in this one.
The mystery kept you guessing. Although I felt that they had made many judgements based on a limited meeting with the victim. The murder happens early on and the rest of the book is devoted to Dorothy and her husband, trying to help solve it. I felt that it perhaps concluded a bit abruptly after the extensive search for a killer and evidence. It was an enjoyable read and I plan to read the others that I have missed in this series. The series feels like a mini vacation to different parts of England and occasionally other parts of Europe. It’s a nice light read for the summer or to cozy up around the fire in the winter.
#villagepoliticscanbemurder #netgalley

Dorothy Martin and her husband DI Alan Nesbit, enjoying retirement and a second marriage, are invited by an old police friend of Alan’s to visit Grasmere and the Lake District. Looking forward to a mini vacation, Dorothy and Alan attend a cocktail party of Grasmere movers and shakers. Dorothy is a good judge of character and is quickly repelled by Donald Atkinson, a candidate for Parliament, and his self effacing wife Susan. The next day Donald dies during a sporting event and Dorothy and Alan become involved in the case. While whether he died naturally or was murdered are the focus of the investigation, there are almost as many suspects as there are residents in Grasmere. This complicated mystery is difficult to solve and Dorothy and Alan spend their vacation tracking down clues.

I really like Dorothy and Alan. She humorously points out the differences between her native “Americanisms” and Alan’s English. She is excellent at coaxing information from suspects and with Alan’s help, learns why Donald was targeted. The problem I have with Village Politics Can Be Murder is the ending. We know who Dorothy thinks is the killer. She’s right. From that point, I worked my way through several unnecessary chapters while she and Alan travel through the Lake District to find the murderer. Then he is captured and the mystery ends somewhat abruptly. It seems like the author decided to end the book so she wrote one last sentence and that was it. I do love the main characters and will read the next in the series. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and Jeanne M. Dams for this ARC.

This is number 26 in the series. Alan and Dorothy have been invited to spend time in the Lake District with a former police colleague of Alan's. At a drinks party they have a brief encounter with Donald Atkinson, who is aspiring to run for a political seat. Dorothy takes an immediate dislike to him and feels sorry for his meek wife. When Atkinson dies during race Dorothy and Alan "help" the local police solve the case. I think perhaps Dorothy needs to retire from crime solving. This case was uninteresting and a bit of a slog. There are endless meals and lots of bourbon drinking all leading to a rushed ending. Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC.

Jeanne Dams is the author of my go-to comfort reads, the Dorothy Martin cozy mysteries. In this 26th installment, she does not disappoint.

As is often the case, Dorothy and Alan, her retired police Chief Constable husband, venture off on a vacation, this time to visit Alan's old friend, Christopher Prideaux, who lives in the Lake District Home of William Wordsworth.

Also, as is always the case, when Dorothy and Alan travel, there's a murder and they both get involved in solving it. Here, the murder is of an annoying politician during a Fell race.

Featuring an extremely clever method of murder and the interactions of Dorothy and Alan with the locals, this is another outstanding installment in this long-running cozy series.

Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans!!

The latest in a very long running series that can be read as a standalone. Dororthy, an American, and her husband Alan, a retired DI, are meant to be having a relaxing visit with one of his pals in the Lake District but then there's a murder! These two have solved crimes all over the UK, always with a cheery outlook and a bit of cross cultural amusement. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A classic British village cozy.

Dorothy and Alan have been invited to visit Grasmere in the Lake district by Alan's former police friend Christopher. They decide to drive there and book a room at the Inn at Grasmere. The first full day they do a local tour and attend a party at Christopher's home. Dorothy meets an American woman, Ruth, who has recently moved to Grasmere. When Donald and Sarah arrive, no one seems to want to talk with Donald, a politician, and seems to be disliked by everyone, but Ruth says Sarah is her best friend.

On Sunday after church they go to sports day. The final activity is a race for seniors. They see Donald take off at the front of a large group of runners, but when everyone else has returned, Donald has not. Alan and Christopher go to gather a search group, and finally find him fallen on his face dead and off the track. After the autopsy, they find that there was nitroglycerine in the sun ointment Donald had applied which had seriously lowered his blood pressure. Now Dorothy and Alan with Christopher's help have a murder case to solve. It appears that Donald had very few friends, and was very controlling with his wife Sarah, although she appears to be the only person who loved him.

The book is very well written, and keeps the interest of the reader. I thank Netgally and Severn House for an ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

Dorothy and her retired police husband Alan are visiting Alan’s old friend in the Lake District. Invited to a party, they find everyone is friendly, except for one man whom it was obvious that no one liked. He is arrogant, conceited, and verbally and emotionally abusive to his wife. His death at a running event is originally considered a natural death, but it soon becomes clear that he was murdered. The problem is that there are so many suspects. He also was skimming money from his clients. Was he killed for his abuse, for money, or some other reason?
This is a fun cozy mystery and I like Dorothy and Alan’s characters. They may be older and not able to physically do as much as when they were younger, but they cope and are quite capable. The Lake District was a beautiful setting. I enjoyed this story and continue to enjoy Dorothy’s exploits.
Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.

A book clearly written for the American market where the Anglophile American author clearly explains the British way of life and demonstrates as Winston Churchill said two nations divided by a common language . This is a pleasant cosy mystery and shows the Lake District off to its best. The author has done her research about the party politics of the victim which is impressive. I feel a moderate book can become a good book with an excellent ending but a good book can be ruined by a poor ending and sadly this is the case here. The author appeared bored with her own book and desperate to finish it. Would I read another, probably, would I purchase another definitely not

Dorothy and Alan are visiting an old police friend of Alan's when they get roped into helping solve a murder. Fortunately the victim was universally despised so there are a lot of suspects. This is a classic cozy set in a British village with a lot of charm. The plot got a bit bogged down with little progress for several chapters, but justice is suitably provided at the end. This is the 26th in a series but can be read as a standalone. Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers, Severn House, for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This is the 26th novel featuring Dorothy Martin and her husband, former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. Dorothy is a retired American schoolteacher living in the UK with her British husband Alan. Alan is recently retired from his position as Chief Constable and has many friends and connections retired and still serving in the UK police services. One of those, Christopher Prideaux, lives in the Lake District and has invited Dorothy and Alan for a weekend. But no weekend away for Dorothy is complete without a murder. It just so happens the victim was introduced to Dorothy and Alan at a drinks party held by Christopher. The victim was arrogant, egotistical, a womanizer, and held political ambitions. There are more than a few suspects.

These are such well written cozies. Dorothy and Alan are my kind of people, and I'd just love to meet them at a drinks party. Dorothy susses out the inner workings of village life using a mix of schoolmarm firmness and American directness. Alan approaches the puzzles through his connections and his reliance on traditional police work. The entire series is very good. While I really enjoyed this book I found the ending rushed and I'm not sure I'm entirely on board with who the murderer was. For that reason I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 stars, however I really do recommend the series and you should start as early on in it as possible.

Village Politics Can Be Murder is the 26th book in this cozy mystery series set in a various locations in England, this time the Lake District home to William Wordsworth. I enjoy reading this series when I’m in the mood for an Agatha Christie style mystery featuring an American woman and her ex-policeman British husband. This book checks all the boxes of a classic cozy mystery including a murder that takes place “off page”, well developed characters, and descriptions of British life.

Beguiling Backdrop..
The hugely anticipated twenty sixth outing in the Dorothy Martin series of mysteries finds Dorothy and Alan taking a holiday in the Lake District. Anyone who has enjoyed this series already will know that whenever this pair attempt to enjoy a holiday things usually turn deadly. This occasion is no different when a rather odious would-be politician drops dead during a Fell race. As Dorothy and Alan dig deep into the mystery and join forces with local police, scandal and secrets may well emerge. An enjoyable entry to this long running series with a deftly drawn cast of eclectic characters, a beguiling backdrop, a solid mystery at its very heart and a pair of likeable protagonists - although it must be said that Dorothy herself becomes ever more sanctimonious with every new mystery!