I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book.

The plot was all over the place and the portrayal of mental health was negative and a stereotype.

The is the second of what is hopefully a series of rural murder mysteries involving the newly formed Village Detectives, led by Juno, widowed and newly returned to the West Country from the US, and Phoebe, a former journalist and columnist and now an author. There are passing references to events and characters from the first book but this story is completely independent and standalone. Also, there are no spoilers in this story relating to the first book, so, if like me you have not read the first one, it becomes another book to add to my wish list.

The story is related from the alternative perspectives of Juno and Phoebe, which provides good momentum to the story as Juno gradually unravels the truth of Phoebe’s past and the motives for her poison pen letters.

The characters and the setting of the village of Inkbury are nicely developed and there is a good balance of plot twists, red herrings and humour. I found it a compelling read that entertained me from start to finish. Definitely going to read the first book in the series, The Art of Murder, and will be looking out too for book number three.

Told from alternating perspectives this story follows Juno and Phoebe, old friends who are facing the trials and tribulations of middles age, complicated love lives, small town gossip, and now another murder. Phoebe's mental health has seen better days and her writing career, her marriage, and her social life are all suffering until her enthusiastic mailman is murdered mistakenly in what was intended to be an attempt on her life. Now the author, with the help of her friend must get to the bottom of this mystery or it may cost her her life.

I needed a light hearted read despite the genre of a gruesome murder (poisoned pen nibs), so much of vicious trolling relentless and anonymous, but the characters were so fluffy and light hearted. Juno living in an imaginary world of her being young and flirty with everyone, Mil the bar man who had the measure of all the “girls”, Phoebe deep, anxious and protective of her wastrel and philandering husband and then the miscellaneous characters sprinkled through the story. The mean and the frivolous equally interesting.

The detective work was all over the place, each person following different suspects and with no coordination, though they all wanted to solve the problem. The murderer was not someone you’d suspect as a reader because of the many believable red herrings strewn all over the place.

Nice, light hearted story.

I've previously enjoyed many of Walker's books but this is a first in this genre. The Poison Pen Letters is the second in The Village Detectives series and is a thoroughly enjoyable cosy style mystery.

The story takes place in a small village in Wexshire named Inkbury. It's home to crime writer Phoebe and a varied cast of personalities.

Can you even begin to imagine receiving an invitation to your own funeral, let alone someone having decided that tomorrow is the day you die! What would you do?

Loved the plot and I'm definitely looking forward to the next episode of the Village Detectives.

I didn't realise that The Poison Pen Letters is the second book in a series when I first started reading it, so you can totally read it as a standalone as I really enjoyed it. It's a cosy mystery but it also has a bit of a comedy crime caper about it so be prepared to laugh a lot along the way.

I loved my virtual visit to the picturesque village of Inkbury and Fiona Walker's vivid writing drew a beautiful picture in my mind. Of course the village may look lovely on the outside but something evil is lurking beneath the surface and one of the villagers ends up dead...but was that person the intended victim?

Author Phoebe Fredericks has been targeted with disturbing poison pen letters that would have had me running for the hills but her friends, the Village Detectives, are determined to find out who is writing them. Phoebe has quite a list of people she has fallen out with in the past so the detectives, led by Juno, have their work cut out for them and a road trip is on the cards.

Juno is a fabulous character; it's so refreshing to have a middle-aged protagonist and she reminded me of an older Bridget Jones, especially when her mother tries to set her up with an eligible bachelor. Juno did provide a lot of the laughs for me and I want to read the first book now just to see what she gets up to before this book.

As funny as it is cosy, The Poison Pen Letters is a witty and compelling mystery that entertained and surprised me. I will definitely be picking up the first book in the series and I will be keeping an eye out for more visits to Inkbury.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Poison Pen Letters' by Fiona Walker.

This is the second book I have read by this incredible author. It is also the second book in Fiona's 'the Village Detectives' series but can be read as a standalone. i have also read the first book in this series which is called 'the Art Of Murder' which I would also highly recommend!!

Another incredible and fun read from the fantastic Fiona Walker!!! I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series which is called 'The Art Of Murder' so I was landed when I got a copy of this and knew I was going to love it just as much! I am pleased to say that I was right in that!! I genuinely adored this fun, charming, emotive, crime packed page turning cosy murder mystery!!!! This book has been set in the stunning location of Inkbury, which Fiona ensured came to life in front of my eyes. She has created a fantastic setting for a crime series and portrayed life in a small village absolutely perfectly!! Fiona's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic book and I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The storyline is ram packed with crime, humour, friendship, drama and absolutely everything you could ask for in an absolutely fantastic page turner!!! There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. It was a very compelling read and I would never have guessed who did what. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more. I must say I had tears streaming down my face laughing at some points which is always nice when it comes to any crime books as it lightens the mood and gives it a nice mix! This is one of those fantastic books that you could get completely lost in whether you are curled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate or laying on the beach with a cocktail. It really is a fun easy to read book filled with laugh out loud moments and you will get completely lost in the pages. If you have never read any books by this brilliant author then pick up your copy today!! Well done Fiona on yet another fantastic page turner and a great addition to this absolutely addictive series!!! I am counting down the days until the third book in this series comes out and I am really hoping I will not have to wait too long!!!

Although this is the second book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without reading book one first. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

Clear your schedules and pick up this fantastic and page turning book in this absolutely promising series!!!

I loved meeting all the characters again or for the first time. Each and every character has a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. The 'Village Detectives' very quickly became like friends to me and I adored watching their interactions throughout along with the rest of the characters! Fiona's evocative writing skills really have brought each of these characters to life throughout this book and I am looking forward to continuing my friendship with them all in the future books in this epic series! A great group of realistic, strong and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in these amazing books and that I cannot wait to meet again and again!!!

Congratulations Fiona on yet another absolutely addictive and unputdownable cosy crime book, an absolutely brilliant addition to a fantastic and addictive cosy crime series! Here is to your next guaranteed success!!!

Overall an intriguing, charming and laugh out loud addition to this epic series!

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The blurb, the title - The Poison Pen Letters - and the book cover piqued my interested, so much so that I decided on the spot that I just had to read it immediately.

The Poison Pen Letters is book number 2 in The Village Detectives series but the first in this series that I have read. It's also my first by this author. No matter. I found I didn't need to have read the first book, The Art of Murder to fully appreciate this novel. Although having done so now, I've added The Art of Murder to my wish list.

I like to think I am on an adventure of discovery when I read fiction. I love well-researched historical fiction because I most times learn something new and interesting. Cozy fiction is, for me, more entertainment than educational so I was delighted to find that more than once, I had to look up references made in the text, and that made this novel all the more enjoyable; a rung above the usual cozy mysteries that I enjoy.

I found The Poison Pen Letters entertainingly humorous, as well as a real brain-teaser. There are so many threads to follow that I can't tell you how many times I changed my mind as to who the murderer might be, and their motives, and I was completely caught off guard when they were revealed.

I would whole-heartedly recommend The Poison Pen Letters to readers who enjoy a slightly more challenging cozy mystery.

The Village Detectives have their next case, but this time, one of them is under threat. Phoebe, the novelist with many secrets and a husband she loves but cannot trust, receives an invitation to her funeral. A former journalist who has experienced death threats and social media trolls before with dire consequences for her career but not her life is only mildly unsettled until the demise of her postman, killed by poison pen nibs meant for her. The village detectives need to protect their own, so they have to investigate. What follows is a twisty investigation full of suspects, investigative trips, and frustrating false leads. The relatable characterisation immerses the reader in this quirky and often humorous story. I like the characters and their individuality, the classic murder mystery vibe and the frequent humour that balances the crimes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I really enjoyed Book 1 of this cosy mystery series and this second book is even better! The characters feel more settled and revealing more of themselves – Phoebe and Felix with their intense, idiosyncratic relationship; warm-hearted, impulsive Juno and amiable, doggedly loyal Mil. They make a great investigative team (although a little more honest communication wouldn’t go amiss!) and engaging main characters, all with their own secrets and motivations.

Juno’s dating escapades are slapstick romcom territory, as are her mother and Dennis living their best lives in a retirement community, loving it up with champagne and hot-tubs, whereas Phoebe and Felix provide a more serious, dramatic tone fraught with heartbreak, self-doubt and misunderstood love.

The mystery is fascinatingly bizarre, featuring a mixture of online trolls and ingenious-but-deadly gadgetry that had me breathlessly reading on ‘just one more chapter!’ into the early hours of the morning because I HAD to know what was going on. And I did manage to work out some of the clues before our intrepid/inept sleuths, but not the whole mystery, so that was perfectly balanced for me.

This is an immensely fun murder mystery read with memorable characters and a solid (if far-fetched) plot and I am definitely looking forward to the VD’s next outing, unfortunate initials and all!

The next instalment of the Village Detectives find them investigating a funeral notice that Phoebe had received in mail. The mailman, who helps Phoebe by reading the drafts of her books) is killed by poison pen nibs when delivering her mail the next day.

Mil, Juno, Felix and Phoebe are looking in to her past and anyone that has held a grudge. which is proving to be interesting!

Another great read in this series!

Ideal for curling up on the sofa with under a blanket, this is a cute, cosy mystery and the second in the Village Detectives series. It's quite charming and has that picture postcard depiction of the perfect village life...sans threats and dead bodies, of course.
Phoebe, Juno, Mil and Felix are well-formed characters, but I don't feel I got to know them properly, particularly Juno, which is a shame.
The plot is great, with red herrings and twists. If you read a lot of crime you may well work out who's behind the threats, but there's enough here to keep you reading until the end.

I’ve read nearly every book written by Fiona Walker except for the first in this series and Country Secrets. Felix and Phoebe are my favourite couple of hers so seeing them again 25 years into their marriage was a lot of fun. I was worried about Felix’s character at first but I was glad to see I was wrong. They still love each other madly but life gets in the way.

Making up half of the Village Detectives, they team up with Juno, another previous character and Mil, the barkeep. Typical of Walker’s writing style there are lots of humorous moments. The writing is very English village, gossipy vibes with at times snarky innuendos. I love it.

This was a fun read with bumbling moments by our amateur detectives that had me shaking my head at times. I had worked out the murderer but the motive was unexpected. I enjoyed my time in this little village and the side characters are a hoot. For example I loved how Phoebe, a mystery novelist, kept getting invited to book club but then being told she’s not to try to discuss her own books. So very English.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Publishers for the arc and this is my honest review.

Novelist Phoebe Fredericks thinks it’s a joke when she opens a letter addressed to her that is her own obituary. Nonplussed, she chooses to ignore it. However her husband and friends are concerned. Enter the recently formed “Village Detectives”.
A cozy mystery with sharp banter, engaging characters and alas murder! I look forward to reading the next book in this fun series by Fiona Walker. Thank you Netgalley and Bollwood Books for the early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

4.5 upped to 5
This is the second novel I read in this series and had fun in reading it as it's a well plotted cozy mystery with rom-com elements.
There's a lot of fun and I laughed a lot. I think the plot pays homage to Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced”. Phoebe receive an invitation to her own funeral, a parcel for her explodes and kills the postman.
An intriguing start for a fun and compelling novel. I appreciated the alternance of rom com like moments and solid mystery parts.
This is the right novel to read if you want something light and entertaining.
One note: I like Juno, Phoebe’s friend, but I would prefer some less men-craziness and an evolution in the character.
An entertaining and well plotted novel, highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Book #2 in the Village Detectives series. I'm not sure how I'd react if I received an invitation to my own funeral, but Phoebe's reaction set the tone for this cozy mystery as she and her friends investigate the threat. I've read several of Fiona Walker's books and loved them. The mysteries are unique....at least to me....and the characters entertain while solving the crimes. They are quick reads with no flat chapters, always a twist exactly where you need one, and the community developed so well, I'd swear I'd been there. If you're looking for a new cozy series, you couldn't go wrong with The Village Detectives.

In addition to the above blurb, Goodreads also says: “A totally hilarious, modern cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona Walker, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Janice Hallett.” Well, that’s why I decided to read this. I need more good laughs these days (don’t we all, actually), and after enjoying that Benjamin Stevenson book “Everybody on this Train is Suspect” I liked the idea of a modern, cozy crime mystery with lots of laughs. Yes, I know, I probably should have read the first one of this series, but I was approved for the ARC and decided to go ahead with it anyway. Sadly, the “hilarious” bit was hyperbole, but it certainly is a modern cozy crime mystery. Plus, our Village Detectives are all of a ‘certain age,’ including the women, which ticks boxes for me.

Although I didn’t get more than “amusing” and an occasional “cute” vibe from this novel, what I did get were lots and lots of rabbit holes to go down. One thing is for sure, Walker really knows how to put us off the scent and send us along the wrong path only to find dead ends. She even doubles the trouble with certain clues and hiding suspects. This is not one of those mystery stories where you’ve got even an inkling of an idea who the perpetrator is from the beginning. No, this one comes at you in the last bits of the story, after every other option is eliminated, and they essentially reveal themselves to one of the Village Detectives. Plus, the whole ending comes as a wild-ride climax that’s been simmering all along the way. Yes, this is an extremely well plotted, and well-paced, cozy mystery story that will keep you turning the pages to the very end, and for that Walker deserves high marks.

That said, there were a few things in this story that felt confusing to me. Now this could be because I didn’t read the first installment before this one, and for that I apologize. Even so, I could feel where Walker was trying to fill us in on some facts that were obviously first revealed in the first book, and she succeeded, for the most part. Mind you, it took me a while to figure out Juno, and I don’t think I ever totally got Phoebe, but both Felix and Mil were pretty straight forward. The thing is, as much as I felt that Juno was the most central of the four characters in the group, I’m not sure I got to know her all that well. This was somewhat unfortunate. Add to this that I found her attempts at dating to be pretty lame (perhaps Walker meant for those bits to sound funny), and frankly a bit sad.

Finally, I did have a hard time picturing each of the four of them in my mind, and sadly, least of all Juno. That may sound strange, but not being able to put a face or body onto characters is something that for me, helps build empathy for them. Again, this could be because I didn’t read the first book, but they were all a bit… blurry for me. Also, there were a couple times when I got confused because I wasn’t sure who the focus was upon. This cleared up immediately when headings suddenly appeared about half way through the book, which showed me it was either Juno or Phoebe. This could be that my copy had them missing at the start of the book, which will probably be resolved with the final copies.

But overall, despite these niggles, it was a good read. I enjoyed Walker’s general style, but I don’t think she should give up her day job and go into standup. Sure, I smiled a bit here and there, and there was one audible HA. But “hilarious?” nah, sorry but no, which is too bad because I need levity these days. Still, if you want a slightly amusing, cozy mystery, with lots of twists, and some sweet amateur sleuths of a certain age, this one will tick all those boxes. So, I’m recommending it with a healthy four out of five stars.

Phoebe, a crime novelist, is shocked one morning when she opens her post to discover an invitation for her own funeral, especially when the date of her death is shown as the following day. Dismissing it as a prank from someone disgruntled from her past she ignores it. That is until the next morning when her postman is delivering a package which explodes in his face. Having to take the threat seriously Phoebe along with the rest of the Village Detectives, Juno, Mil and Felix, they set out to uncover who is behind this.

This is the second book in the Village Detectives series by Fiona Walker. Although this could be read as a standalone, I haven’t read the first and found it slow to get into, and felt that if I had known the characters better from before that this wouldn’t have been the case.

I enjoyed the characters once I got to know them and their different tactics in trying to get to the bottom of who sent Phoebe the funeral invitation and the poisoned pen-nib.

I was kept guessing who was behind the murder throughout the book, and didn’t work out who it was. There were twists and turns which kept be hooked from the beginning.

This is a perfect cozy murder mystery to curl up with in these autumn months.

The Poison Pen Letters by Fiona Walker is a delightful and suspenseful journey through quirky characters, literary rivalry, and deadly pranks. Crime novelist Phoebe Fredericks is accustomed to fiction’s dark twists, but when she receives a chilling funeral invitation for her own death date, the macabre prank feels too real. When her postman’s unfortunate encounter with poisoned pen-nibs confirms her fears, Phoebe realizes she's facing a very real and very dangerous enemy.

Walker excels at balancing humor with suspense, creating a cozy mystery that’s equal parts charming and chilling. The quirky members of the Village Detectives—Juno, Mil, and Felix—are the perfect team for Phoebe, adding warmth and levity as they investigate. The dynamic between the characters makes for delightful reading, and Phoebe’s “No. 1 critic” postman brings some comic relief with his meddling and critiques.

With its witty dialogue, suspenseful clues, and a close-knit village atmosphere, The Poison Pen Letters will appeal to fans of M.C. Beaton and Agatha Raisin. Fiona Walker combines small-town charm with a dash of literary irony in a mystery that keeps you guessing until the final chapter. Highly recommended for cozy mystery lovers looking for a touch of dark humor and a sprinkle of British wit!

When I read the first entry in the series, I was hooked. Quirky characters, an amazing sense of humor, and a solid mystery make this series addictive! I mean, who comes up with the idea of sending someone an invitation to their own funeral? And then turns it into a solid whodunit filled with humor and red herrings. Loved it!