Apparently a debut and the first in a new series, I was intrigued at the idea of a USian librarian moving to a small Yorkshire village and becoming embroiled in a murder investigation; unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

Beware: homophobia; bullying; HP quote as a chapter epigraph; copaganda; equating mental health issues with evil.

The book starts with a brief prologue in first person, set a couple of years prior, with the novel proper narrated exclusively from Vivian’s point of view, and starting with a bit of reminiscing on her and Geoffrey’s meet cute, which was very funny indeed. And this being a cozy mystery, it was a relief to see that theirs is a happy marriage.

I was a lot less thrilled with the language gimmick; I would certainly expect that someone who, as we are told, had dreamed of moving to the UK for decades, watches all sorts of Brit tv, and has visited the country on multiple occasions prior to actually moving there, should know to call a zucchini a courgette, and probably wouldn’t need to remind herself (in parenthesis and italicized), every time she grabs a cookie, that Brits call that a biscuit.

Perhaps it would have bothered me less if the author hadn’t continued to use it to define Vivien’s personality all the way to the last chapter; of if her inner dialogue wasn’t as peppered with pop culture references, to the point there’s a reference list included at the end of the book.

The characterizations are generally shallow; there’s a deaf character, also in a happy and loving marriage, and the Southeast Asian immigrant; the half Spanish kid, the drunken bully, and so on.

The author takes pains to indicate Vivien’s acceptance of queer people, even as she also acknowledges that rural enclaves can often be set in their ways and socially conservative and exclusionary of anything that strays from the norm. The scenes at the library speak to the author’s personal experience, and I enjoyed them quite a bit.

The mystery is interesting enough, even if Vivian gets distracted easily with other things, her arriving at the solution to the murder depends heavily on Deus ex Machina, and the climactic scene is rather humdrum.

My main problem with the book is that the murderer’s justification is boiled down to “and they are crazy”; even then, given the premeditation, it moves into cartoon villain territory. It feels lazy and irresponsible to used mental health issues to explain evil, especially given the stigma people who suffer from them usually live under, even as the vast majority are decent and peaceful, and go out of their way to cause no trouble for their communities.

Moved to Murder gets a 7.00 out of 10

I love this book. Gianetta Murray writes crime fiction with the same intellectual qualities and credible settings as Ngaio Marsh (one of the Queens of Crime during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction) so that quality of writing and fully developed characterisation is as important as hiding whodunit. There are lots of amusing moments as the author reminds one of the cultural differences between Yorkshire and California.
The intriguing plot is enlivened by numerous pop culture references and characters almost as well-read as their creator. I grudgingly forgive the author for killing off two of my favourite characters in the first book in the series but please don't let anything happen to Sydney (he is irreplaceable).
Vivien Brandt's curtain raiser as an amateur sleuth is honed to perfection and I can't wait to read 'Dug to Death'.
A new Crime fiction star is born!

Moved to Murder by Gianetta Murray
A Vivien Brandt Mystery
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 28 June 2024

Vivien Brandt, a forty-something editor and librarian with aspirations of becoming an interior designer, has long harboured dreams of living in England. Her second marriage to Geoffrey finally makes this a reality. Accompanied by her reluctant cat Sydney, Vivien leaves sunny California behind for a quaint village in South Yorkshire.

As Vivien settles into her new home and meets the local characters—including the village vicar, an engaging politician, and a couple of troubled teens—she realises there's much to learn about her adopted community. Her crash course in village life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a dead body.

Teaming up with her neighbour Hayley and a skeptical police inspector, Vivien finds herself thrust into the role of amateur sleuth. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of village secrets and scandals. With the killer still at large, Vivien must race against time to solve the mystery—before she becomes the next victim.

This novel introduces a delightful cast of characters, with Vivien standing out as the charming protagonist. A spirited American transplant, Vivien's wit and sarcasm shine through as she navigates her new life in England, driven by love for her endearing husband Geoffrey. Their relationship is a highlight, showcasing genuine care and affection.

Hayley, Vivien's new friend, brings humour and support to the story. Her character, who is deaf, adds a refreshing layer of representation rarely seen in cozy mysteries. Vivien herself is portrayed as intelligent and cautious, taking calculated risks without recklessly endangering herself. Her caring nature sometimes leads her to overstep boundaries, but always with good intentions.

The author skilfully weaves in cultural references, enhancing the authenticity of the setting. The depiction of small village life feels accurate, capturing the gossip-laden atmosphere and the mischief of bored local youth.

As the first book in a series, this novel sets a promising foundation. The blend of engaging characters, cultural insights, and village intrigue makes for an enjoyable read, leaving me eager for future instalments from this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Troubador, and the author, Gianetta Murray, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I was a bit worried at first because I am not usually a big reader of mystery/detective novels, but I decided to give it a try because it had a cute cover and a really interesting description. I absolutely fell in love with Vivien throughout this book, and (most of) the village's inhabitants as well. Vivien is spunky, sarcastic, and a thoroughbred American that came to England for several reasons, including love for her adorable and caring husband Geoffrey. I loved their relationship and how much they cared for each other.

The plot of the novel was great, in my opinion. I did feel that it was very slow-paced until the end, so if that isn't your vibe, it might not be the best book for you. Vivien goes on lots of adventures with her husband and new friend Hayley, not all of which pertain to the murder that happens in her very own brand-new home. I felt attached to many of the characters and their stories. I did find the plot twist (no mystery is complete without one!) surprising because it seemed a little out of the blue with odd motivation, but looking back on it, I can see some clues coming together. All in all, a wonderful book and I look forward to any future Vivien Brandt mysteries!

4.5 stars

In Moved to Murder by Gianetta Murray, lifelong Anglophile Vivian Brandt, moves to a small village in England with her new second husband. She finds the culture shock a bit more than she expected but soon finds a friendly neighbor and enjoys mentoring some of the local teenagers. When a murder occurs in her house, she feels compelled to get to the bottom of it.

I really enjoyed the characters. Hayley, the new close friend is funny and supportive. She’s also deaf which is pretty unusual in a cozy mystery. Vivien is smart and takes some risks but doesn’t run headlong into trouble by herself. She’s caring and probably oversteps some boundaries, but she does it out of concern. Loved the cultural touch stones that are sprinkled throughout the story too! The small village life seems spot on with everyone knowing everyone else’s business and kids causing trouble because they have nothing else to do.

There are also some topics introduced that are a bit unusual for a cozy mystery such as homophobia, coming out, immigrants, etc. that really added some depth to the story. It did make the ending a little darker than I was expecting. While there were plenty of suspects and I didn’t guess the murderer early on, the reveal and motive were a bit over-the-top and a little less believable than the rest of the story.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable first-in-series. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Troubador and NetGalley for providing the digital ARC.

3* A far fetched plot

This is a most unusual murder mystery because the murder occurs a third of the way through the book, usually a body is discovered in chapter one. The victim was a 17 year old boy befriended by the heroine, Vivien Brandt, she's newly married, moved from California and adapting to living in England with her British husband.

I found the constant translations of US words into English annoying. I acknowledge that in reality this would unconsciously be going through someone's head when they're trying to adjust to another country. In the written word it seemed pedantic.

Losing points, the reason offered for the murder was bizarre and unconvincing.

eARC generously supplied by Troubador and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gianetta Murray for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Moved to Murder coming out June 28, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I think this is the first book in the series. I like that Vivien is compassionate and wants to help people. She’s in a new place and wants to make friends. But I feel like a lot of the problems she has is because she gets involved. She probably should’ve checked with the teens’ parents first before letting them hang out at her house. It seemed a little odd. It felt like the parents of the boys weren’t really involved a lot in the aftermath until a certain point. I thought it would be more of a cozy murder mystery, but there were some pretty heavy, dark themes. The ending was a little dark. I love the random quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I loved the American in England vibes. I would check out other books by this author though.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries!

5 stars
I really need to know how Gianetta Murray got into my brain and pulled out every pop culture reference I could possibly think of for this book! I never would have guessed that there could be so many wonderfully nerdy allusions to things like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, Daphne du Maurier, manga, Jeeves and Wooster, even Murdoch Mysteries(!) in one "whodunnit?", yet here we are. Murray is nice enough to include a handy Reference section at the end just in case you don't quite catch all of the sly witticisms.

Vivien Brandt, the main character, is so immediately likeable to me because she's compassionate, funny, well-travelled, and yet still a little brash and naive as an American Anglophile living in England with her second husband. I found myself really rooting for each of the characters, since most of them were fleshed out in satisfying ways. You can absolutely tell that Murray is setting us up for more cozy mysteries in this idyllic village setting with this cast of characters and I for one am very much looking forward to the next Vivien Brandt caper!

Thank you to NetGalley, Gianetta Murray and Troubador Publishing for this advanced digital readers copy. All opinions are my own.

I only liked one character, Hayley. The mystery was ok, but the main character annoyed me too much. I couldn't stand the constant explaining of differences between America and Britain. Example: "did they saying parking lot here? Car park? Automobile containment area?—she was made slightly nervous by the people walking right in front of her bright blue Toyota Prius, blithely unaware of her dodgy driving record and her confusion about which side of the road she should be on. At least there were fewer SUVs to deal with, she noted, and most of the cars were smaller than she was used to in America, thanks to the relatively expensive cost of gas in Britain. (It’s petrol now, she reminded herself.)

Once parked, Vivien commandeered a cart (trolley!, she corrected)". That is three examples in one go and this isn't an isolated incident either.

"Vivien was glad she hadn’t given in to her desire to be comfortable in pants. Or trousers, as they were called here; she mustn’t forget ‘pants’ was used to describe underwear. And, oddly, as a swear word. Like she didn’t have enough language pitfalls to worry about just around food and drink (chips? biscuits?) without also having to deal with fashion faux pas (or was it faux pases?). "

"where tea and cookies (biscuits, her mind automatically translated)"

I can understand context and it wouldn't have been so bad if there were less of these, though I guess it would have made the book a good deal shorter.