Member Reviews
This is the second of this series that I have read. I like the setting a great deal, and the MC is a strong, independent woman in a community filled with strong women. That is refreshing. I did not love the mystery itself in this book, but I would recommend this series to readers of cozy mysteries.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!
Well written with an enjoyable mystery. I really like the fact Judy Leigh peoples her books with more mature characters and Morwenna is one of my favourites After all the recent excitement and investigatiuons, Morwenna Mutton is hoping that life will get back to normal. But what she hasn't realised is that THAT is now normal for her . . . This was another great entry in the Morwenna Mutton Mystery series, it had that concept that I enjoyed from the previous book I read in this series. As well as the humour and wit in her novels and the fabulous characters and stories, Judy Leigh's settings are excellent too. In the Morwenna Mutton series, Seal Bay comes to life with its coast, all the little shops around and the people who live and work in the area. It’s all so easy to picture and you feel like you are there, right in with all the action.
This was another great entry in the Morwenna Mutton Mystery series, it had that concept that I enjoyed from the previous book I read in this series. Judy Leigh wrote this strongly and was engaged with what was happening. The characters had that concept that I was looking for and glad I got to read this.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy mystery and felt myself transported to a warm (and rainy) day on the Cornish coastline.
Morwenna is the towns amateur sleuth and she always has her nose in the air searching for trouble. When an acquaintance turns up dead and the mystery deepens she steps up and begins her own investigation which ends with fiery and intense final showdown! I loved the familial bonds that the Mutton family have with lots of strong independent women who aren’t afraid to express themselves, as well as the ties to some very modern day issues for both Cornwall and the country as a whole.
Overall this was a fun, cosy read and I hope to hear from Morwenna again; because I’m absolutely certain this won’t be the end of her sleuthing!
A cozy crime book? Say less. I loved it. It was the perfect book to read as the months get colder and darker. I read it in one sitting. It ended up feeling like I wasn't even reading. If you want a cozy murder crime vibe, This is your book.
Morwenna Mutton is one of those amateur sleuths that I find both intriguing and maddening. She's smart and clever about sorting out clues but, well, sometimes doesn't show much common sense in how she gets them. This go-round, she finds her snooping may put not just her but those she loves in danger, too. That's one angle you don't see often in cozy mysteries, the fact that an even semi-intelligent murderer might not hesitate to harm your loved ones if you get too close, so kudos to Judy Leigh for going there. Morwenna is also almost 63 year-old, so she's hardly got youth as an excuse. Even more amazing, she seems to be on friendly working terms with Jane, the local investigator, so her habit of not sharing until she finds out just one more thing, so to speak, seems foolhardy.
Nonetheless, Morwenna is determined to see justice done, using her wits and smarts to find out, in this case, who killed radio DJ Irina. She's told Morwenna she was on the verge of uncovering something important but didn't share. You guessed it. She had one more thing to verify before sharing. Bad move. They plan to meet the next morning. Irina is a no-show. Initially Morwenna doesn't think too much about it, expecting she'd been detained, but when her efforts to locate Irina prove fruitless, she pretty much begins investigating without much thought. That's when the trouble... and danger.... begins. Irina's body is found washed up along the shore near where Morwenna and a group of avid swimmers meet to share their love of the sport, even when the water is frigid. Brr. Cornwall isn't exactly a tropical spot in England. In any case, she's pushy and has the help of Ruan, her ex-husband who just happens to live across the street. There's a love-triangle of sorts involved, too, although quite frankly, I'm on Team Ruan. All that aside, putting herself into some dicey situations, usually with Ruan along, Morwenna slowly uncover the secret Irina died without revealing.
I won't detail any more of the plot but it was far more intricate than expected. I liked Morwenna although, sigh, a little bit of her, oh, so talkative grand-daughter went a long way. Toss in Morwenna's attraction to Barnaby, a monied plastic surgeon, while obviously harboring feeling for Ruan wore on me. I like Ruan's calm, always-there-for- her presence. That said, I didn't dislike even the annoying grand-daughter, who desperately wants a real dog, but just wished for less of her. Seal Bay seems an intriguing place, full of interesting characters, and, oh, yes, there's that little matter of whether the library Morwenna works at is haunted. Louise, a friend and co-worker, is on Team Ghost, I'll note. And let's not forget Brenda, the cat, who seems to have the ability to sleep peacefully through almost everything, even gun shots. Bottom line, an intriguing multi-level mystery with likable, interesting characters, even if I do think I'd pass on the swimming sessions. And, oops, almost forgot, thanks #BoldwoodBooks for not only allowing me an early peek at Morwenna's latest adventures but including that handy glossary of terms. I'm happy to say that I didn't much need it as they mostly made sense, but was handy to have.
Morwena is asked by local DJ for a meeting as Inna wanrs to share information she has uncovered. However,
Inna never shows uo and is reported missing. When Inna's body is wased up to the beach, the death is ruled
as an accidental drowning. Morwena is suspicious as Inna was a strong swimmer and is determined to find out
what really happened. As her investigation continurs, she poses a real threat to the killer.
Supportive family and friends - enjoyable cozy.
#TheCreamTeaKiller #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley
I particularly enjoyed the Cornwall setting of this book. Also the mystery has a good balance of menace and romance.
After all the recent excitement and investigatiuons, Morwenna Mutton is hoping that life will get back to normal. But what she hasn't realised is that THAT is now normal for her...
When Irina's body washes up on the beach after she fails to meet Morwenna for a pre-arranged drink and a chat to discuss some suspect goings-on. Morwenna is duty bound to investiagte what happened to her.
But, yet again, Morwenna's pursuit of the truth puts her famnily in danger...
Another excellent addition to this delightful series