Favorite Quotes:

Elowen had hugged her and told her that Billy Crocker had told everyone in the class that her grandmother had found a ‘horrible drownded woman’ on the beach and Elowen had retorted that Billy was the reason God created the middle finger. The conversation had occurred during a lesson on religion and about how blessed the peacemakers were, so Miss Parker had not been best pleased.

Elowen declared she needed toys and clothes for her sleepover, despite Lamorna saying that in her day all she’d take to a friend’s was a pair of pyjamas and a toothbrush and if it was a male friend, she wouldn’t take the pyjamas. Tamsin shot her grandmother a look; Elowen didn’t need leading astray– she was already a handful.

‘It hurt my feelings and I felt like thunder and lightning inside.’ Morwenna took Elowen’s hand. ‘We all feel like that sometimes.’ ‘So I hit him in the face. It wasn’t just me. The thunderstorm in my heart did it really.’

I know that guilty face. Ever since you were a kid and peed in your toy box.


My Review:

Judy Leigh is a guaranteed fun read. She never fails to entertain and amuse me with her quirky, authentic, and entirely knowable characters. I am enjoying this new cozy series, the murders are well-contrived and unpredictable, and keep the little pea in my brain pinging.

DJ Irina asked to meet Morwenna privately. She says it is very important. But, she never showed up. Several days later, Morwenna took a swim with Jane as usual. Suddenly, a big bag was floating on the sea. Horror came to their mind when they saw what was in it. 

Police street-detective-mission impossible vibes. This time, the story has more actions. Morwenna gained more confidence in her intuition when she investigated this homicide case. She has good character development, but unfortunately, she hasn’t decided who is the right man for her between Ruan and Barnaby.

The story's plot pattern is very different from the previous books. Morwenna's investigation clues are like a puzzle and very abstract. Anyone in the town could be the suspect. Morwenna's story this time is slow-paced, enjoyable and has many actions, such as spying, undercover and using weapons. Yes, she is using a weapon this time, but in a way that you can’t imagine. I’m surprised too! Now, she could become a secret agent hahaha

I wish there was a more thriller-suspense event. The thrilling tense event is only near the end of the story. To be honest, if you asked me which book I choose in the series, I would choose Bloodshed on the Boards. But, this is the only preference, personal book taste / trope matters because I like thrillers-suspense in crime-mystery fiction. I still enjoy the story and, in fact, this book is more cozy and relaxing than Bloodshed on the Boards, and is a good refreshment for the next book.

Now the good question is, who is Elowen’s father?

This series is a good balance of mystery, women's fiction, and humour. Morwenna grew on me and I'm always rooting for her and her ex (they would be a great couple). I'm not a fan of her dress sense that makes my eyes bleed (I'm Italian, sorry)
This is a good story, well plotted and gripping. It kept me reading till late in the night and it was both relaxing and entertaining.
A solid mystery, full of twists and surprises.
Have fun and read it.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

When Irina’s body is discovered washed up on the beach, presumed as a result of drowning, Morwenna is determined to solve her friend’s case as she believes there was more to it.

I loved the writing, especially how Leigh is able to write cozy mysteries. The setting was so immersive and it made me want to visit a coastal fishing village. It was very interesting reading the book from Morwenna’s perspective as she is 63 years old and loves to solve crimes. That said, I didn’t realize I was reading the third book in the series, so I think that might’ve been why I was struggling at the beginning. It was a more lighthearted read which was pleasantly surprising! I would love to read the other books in the series.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me an advance reader copy. My review is my own opinion.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Cream Tea Killer' by Judy Leigh.
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This is the second book I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last! It is also the third book in Judy's 'A Morwenna Mutton' series but can be read as a standalone. I have also read the second book in this series which is called 'Bloodshed On The Boards' and which I would also highly recommend.

Well done and thank you Judy on, and for, yet another absolutely amazing cosy mystery and a fantastic addition to this addictive series!!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.

I absolutely LOVED this book and cannot wait to read previous and future books in this series!!

Judy's amazing and evocative writing skills really brought everything to life all throughout the story ensuring I could see the characters, the surroundings and feel everything the characters were feeling. In this cracking book we are taken to Seal Bay in the stunning location of Cornwall. I absolutely LOVE books that are set in Cornwall. I went on holiday to Cornwall last year and missed it before I read this book but OMG Judy has made me want to jump in the car and go straight back now!!! Judy's evocative writing skills ensures the readers are absolutely sucked into the stunning storyline with the atmosphere and characters coming to life all around them. I absolutely fell in love venturing back into Cornwall and Judy's vivid descriptions are absolutely perfect and evocative. I am just glad that I am returning to Cornwall in April otherwise I would be looking at holiday booking sites by now!! I became so invested in this book that it actually felt like going on a holiday and I absolutely dreaded coming to the end where I had to unpack my suitcase and get back to reality. I always say it is better to read books that are part of a series in order but that is not always possible as sometimes, like myself in this case, when you see a book you just have to read it regardless of what number in a series it is!! There is a silver lining to reading books in a series out of order and that is while you are waiting for the next superb book in this series to come out you can go back and read the previous books in the series. That is exactly what I am planning to do as I am yet to actually read the first book in this series which is called 'Foul Play At Seal Bay'. In this addictive book we meet the fabulous Morwenna Mutton again, for those who have already met her. Morwenna is 63 years old, lives in Seal Bay in Cornwall and works as a part time librarian, part time waitress at her family's tea room which is called the 'Proper Ansom Tearoom' and part time amateur sleuth after already helping to solve 2 cases. Morwenna also works with her mother Lamorna and her daughter Tamsin at the tea rooms as well as helping to look after her granddaughter and Tamsin's daughter Elowen. She is also "dating" Barnaby but is still close to her ex and Tamsin's dad Ruan. If that does not keep her busy enough she also joins the SWAN's (The Seal Bay Wild Aquatic Natation) for a weekly swim in the sea. One day Morwenna's friend and local journalist and radio presenter Irina approaches her saying that she is investigating a big story that will make heads roll as it is so explosive but she needs to gather some more facts together before she can tell Morwenna. However, Irina does not get the chance to tell her as Morwenna comes across Irina's washed up body. Irina used to go swimming with the SEAL's and was a strong swimmer so Morwenna has difficulty believing that she just drowned. Morwenna goes to her friend and local PC Jane Choy and expresses her doubts. Morwenna is determined to discover the truth about what happened to Irina. Louise works in the library with Morwenna and believes their resident ghost Elizabeth is leaving clues behind in regards to the death of Irina. When Morwenna discovers information hidden in Irina's desk at Bay Radio it gives her an idea on where to start her search. With the local Sea Shanty Festival going on, the Blue Brothers turning up and a library ghost dropping hints will Morwenna get to the bottom of what really happened to Irina? Well, you will just have to grab your copy of this absolutely addictive page turner to find out for yourselves and I can promise that you will not regret it. You may even discover a new favourite author just like I did!! With a storyline ram packed with stunning locations, mystery, cream teas, family, bizarre costumes, friendship, ghosts, romance and so, so much more what on Earth are you waiting for? I love the fact that Judy includes a Glossary at the beginning of the book which I thought was a very nice and thoughtful touch so Thank You Judy for that!! It gives a list of several Cornish "slang" and their meanings which I found incredibly useful to go back to refer to now and again plus it was fun learning some new words! The book is fast paced with one thing happening after another and I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. Every time I told myself just one more chapter it ended in a way that I just had to read one more and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book around in one sitting. I was walking around with my kindle glued to my hand as I just could not put it down!! Judy's fantastic evocative writing skills really bring the surroundings and characters to life and it makes you feel that you are standing right next to them throughout. I absolutely loved everything about this book and I am so pleased that I can go back and read the first book in this series!! All of the characters are realistic, have their own unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses and are all very well developed. Grab your copy of this fantastic book and discover for yourself how great this book is and trust me, you will not regret it and if your anything like me you will find a new author whose work you will fall in love with!! 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 is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one mystery becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read and I would never have guessed who did and was hiding what and I was completely shocked by the mega twists. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Judy, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! I loved the addictive storyline and the fantastic characters and I really am looking forward to getting stuck into the rest of your books!! With a fantastic storyline, unforgettable characters and twists and turns this book is perfect to devour in front of a fire on a winters day or relaxing on the beach under the sun! Regardless of where or when you read this book Judy transports you to Seal Bay at the turn of a page!

Although this is the third book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without reading the first book which is called 'Foul Play At Seal Bay' and is one I'm looking forward to going back to and reading. 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.

I absolutely LOVED meeting all these refreshing characters again and getting to know more about them along with meeting new characters that I had not met previously. They are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. Each and every character is realistic, well defined and leapt out of the pages at me every turn of a page!! Our main protagonist is 63 year old Morwenna who I absolutely loved but we also get to meet many members of her fantastic family including her 83 year old Mum Lamorna, 29 year old daughter Tamsin and 7 year old Granddaughter Elowen. Each of them had their own unique personalities, were all a breathe of fresh air and I just adore them all. I must admit though one of my favourites just had to be Brenda the cat!! I am a huge animal lover and run my own cat rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue and Hospice (you can find me on social media if interested) so any books that contain animals is always a huge bonus for me and this has the bonus of having a cat which made me very happy!! I absolutely love our main protagonist Morwenna who is just absolutely amazing and a strong female lead. I am always a fan of strong female protagonists in books being female myself and I was surprised at how quickly it was for me to think of Morwenna more as a friend than a fictional character, along with several other characters. I absolutely loved getting to know many of these characters and Judy's vivid and evocative descriptions makes it feels like the reader is standing next to Morwenna and meeting her and the other characters for yourself. I really cannot wait to get to meet many more of them again on my next visit in the first book in the Morwenna Mutton Mystery series which is called Foul Play At Seal Bay, as well as the future books in this series. I loved watching the way they all interacted with each other and seeing them change as individuals as well as relationships between characters throughout the storyline. Judy ensures that you really get close to them feeling everything that they are feeling and seeing everything that they are! Congratulations Judy on creating a fantastic collection of unique, varied, realistic and memorable characters who I am looking forward to meeting over and over!

Congratulations Judy on another absolutely fantastic and successful cosy mystery and I cannot wait to get stuck into more books in this promising series especially the first book to meet some of these amazing characters from the start!!! An absolutely perfect addition to this series. This is the exact reason you are in my favourite author club!! Here's to many more successes!!

Overall a quirky, fun, page turning, intriguing murder mystery that will keep you hooked!

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I loved this one , it was such a a pleasure to read and I really didn't know who the killer was a long time through the book which is always great. I enjoy Judy's books as they are so entertaining. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I decided to review this book based on the other books by the author I had read and enjoyed. I didn't realise that this was a cosy mystery or that it is book #3 in a series.

I started off reading on the back foot, as it felt like there was something I should have known before I began. It wasn't until a few pages in that reference to the earlier mysteries was made. I read on and really it didn't make any difference to me. Other than I had no back story in my mind.

It was nice to read a mystery where the main character (Morwenna) is a mature lady and I think that works to her advantage in the investigations she undertakes. In this case a DJ she is friendly with, asks her to meet up later to discuss some goings on she thinks could be explosive if uncovered. The DJ never makes the meeting as her body is found washed up on the beach despite her being a very strong and experienced swimmer.

Morwenna is a librarian and also helps run her daughter's tea shop so she is a very busy lady. However, she still finds time to meddle in police investigations and do some investigating of her own. The police do their best to discourage her maverick detection but to no avail.

I enjoyed the book and the characters. It was a nice cosy read and going along at a nice pace until the last third of the book. Then it became very fast with action and not at all cosy really, but a page turner for me.

I did not read the first two books in this series. I think that probably caused me to struggle for a good part of the beginning of this book number 3. I read the Kindle version, and I knew I had to make a list of characters early on, since so many were mentioned. At 15% I had 21 characters! At that point I did not continue to write new ones down. I felt I would just let it go.

The story picked up speed in the last fourth of the book. I found it slow moving prior to that. Again, I think that was due to so many characters and the fact that I did not read books 1 and 2.

I have read and enjoyed this author's fiction books in the past and did not know she also wrote cozy mysteries. I was happy to explore her writing in a different way, but I do enjoy her Women's fiction books more than I did this book.

I want to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the advance reader copy. My review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

My Review: It’s no secret that I adore author Judy Leigh aka Elena Collins. Morwenna Mutton is a very special cosy crime character, she’s fun, sassy and loves to uncover crimes, murders in particular. We are reconnected with her ex Ruan, her mother Lamerna, daughter Tamsin and her very cheeky Granddaughter Elowen.
Seal Bay is still as endearing as ever, until something bad happens to Irina who was about to uncover a very dark secret.
The police try and discourage Morwenna’s sleuth antiques, but fail miserably. Jane, Rick and Blessed have their work cut out.
Pretty soon we are on the hunt for the Cream Tea Killer. Although lets be honest, imagining Morwenna dressed as a Prawn is hilarious, her and her bike take a humourful centre stage, as do her feelings for Barnaby and Ruan. There are fun song references, shots, people falling into water. It’s a light hearted and loveable read, easy to follow and then the pace really picks up 75% in, edge of your seat stuff as things start to become clearer. A recommended read.

When a friend, Irina, discovers nefarious goings-on in Seal Bay,
Morwenna Mutton can’t wait to learn more later that day.
However, for their meeting Irina doesn’t come or call
To what cruel fate did she befall?

Morwenna never expected Irina's body to discover
Washed up on the beach - was it an accident or something other?
Morwenna can’t resist looking to see what she can find
But if it was murder, will Irina's killer mind?

When a radio presented dubs the murderer The Cream Tea Killer
Will this prove to be another enthralling thriller?
Will Morwenna's family be safe if she continues to investigate?
Can she identify the killer before it is too late?

Another brilliant read that had me engrossed from the start
A murder mystery with community and love at its heart.
A fascinating read, with so many twists and turns, too,
I have no hesitation in highly recommending it to you!

For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is book 3 of the series, and Morwena and her family are trying to move on from the events in the last book, and she is thinking she was ghosted by her new doctor friend, and being ok with that, when he comes back to town, just when a new mystery arrives on her door step. Morwena isn't about to let her friend's death go undetected and is soon on the job, trying to find the clues the police are missing. A fun cozy, this one has a few red herrings as well, for an enjoyable quick read.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery with an older woman amateur sleuth. It is the third in a series but the first I have read. While there are some references to previous adventures, I feel it reads well on its own. The setting of a coastal fishing village is done well. Characters are developed well. I like amateur sleuth Morwenna, one of the Sunday morning swim group, braving the cold ocean water. And she thinks chamomile tea smells like cat pee. Her granddaughter, Elowen, is something else. Six going on fifteen, she says what she thinks, often to the dismay of adults in the room. The plot is good. There is a twist at the end, just when I thought everything had been settled. What fun.

This is a good cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Having eagerly anticipated The Cream Tea Killer, the latest in the Morwenna Mutton Mysteries, I was thrilled to dive back into Judy Leigh’s cozy Cornish world. All things Cornish—from cream teas and Cornish farings to dialect—shine in this installment, and the mystery kept me guessing till the very end.

Beyond the mystery, Morwenna’s personal life adds depth and charm. From navigating her friendship with her ex-husband, Ruan, to juggling work at the tearoom and library while pondering new romance, she remains a relatable and endearing protagonist. With Leigh’s storytelling flowing as smoothly as endless tea, this book, my bewty, is a must-read for cozy mystery fans!

Book 3 in the Morwenna Mutton Mysteries will not disappoint!

After the body of Morwenna's friend, Irina is found washed up on the beach she believes that something is amiss!

The residents of Seal Bay are not safe if there is a killer on the loose, so Morweena must try to find out who has done this before more people are hurt.

A witty and fun read, one that you will not want to put down until you uncover who is behind this and the reasons why!

I’m always on the lookout for new cosy crimes, and The Cream Tea Killer looked like fun, so I decided to give it a whirl.

It took me a little while to get into this book. It’s not the first in the series, so it just took a few chapters to get the hang of who everyone was, and how they related to one another. However, the story was most enjoyable once I had.

I liked the setting of Seal Bay, in Cornwall. It seemed like a lovely place, though like anywhere, it has its less salubrious areas. I also enjoyed getting to know Morwenna and her friends and family.

The plot was a good one. It seemed a little slow to start with, but soon got going, with small, mysterious events building up into more. It was fun to go along with Morwenna as she gradually figured out what’s going on, she’s much braver than I am!

Overall, this was a fun and interesting mystery. I think I’d have enjoyed it more if I’d read the previous books in the series, so maybe start with book one - Foul Play at Seal Bay.

When local DJ and investigative journalist Irina doesn;t turn up for a meeting with Morwenna to discuss her big story, it is first thought that that she decided to do something else. But when her body is washed up and discovered to a be a murder, Morwenna is on the case.
She is also trying to sort her personal feelings for her ex-husband and Barnaby, her possible new boyfriend.
This is a fun book that comes complete with a glossary of Cornish phrases used throughout the book. I really enjoyed it and will be looking at other books in this series.

Rounded up to 3.5 stars

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publishers Boldwood Books and author, Judy Leigh for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for January 04, 2025.

So, this is my first Judy Leigh read and I didn't have any preset expectations but chose this one purely because of the cute cover, title and blurb, and, well, because I'm a cozy mystery devotee.

The Cream Tea Killer is the third book in the Morwenna Mutton Mystery series and I've come in cold. The reader learns that Morwenna is regarded as the town's amateur sleuth, having helped police solve some previous mysteries.

Morwenna Mutton lives in Seal Bay, a small seaside town in Cornwall. Aged 63, sexagenarian Morwenna works as a part-time librarian and waitresses at her family's tearoom. Three generations of Mutton women work to make the Proper Ansom Tearoom a success – daughter (Tamsin), mother (Morwenna) and grandmother (Lamorna).

When Morwenna's good friend, Irina, who works as a journalist and local radio presenter, is found dead on the beach, her death is initially thought to be accidental drowning. Morwenna, though, is not so sure. For one thing, Irina was a strong swimmer – both she and Irina were members of SWANs (the Seal Bay Wild Aquatic Natation) – who met weekly as a group to ocean swim. When Morwenna learned that Irina had fresh water in her lungs, she was confident that her death was as a result of foul play.

For this reader, The Cream Tea Killer rated high for its characters. Brilliantly crafted and totally engaging. You will easily fall for all the Mutton women. Morwenna is hard working, empathetic and doggedly diligent in her efforts to find out what happened to her friend. Morwenna's six-year-old granddaughter, Elowen, is the granddaughter we'd all love to have! If I could, I'd give five stars to Elowen alone!

Morwenna looked at the child with affection. 'And being grown up is when you can make the thunder and lightning be quiet and you use your brain to think through the problem sensibly. The way of peace is best. The way of violence never works'.
'Never?'
'Never'.
'But I felt better when I thwacked him'.
'Did Billy feel better?'
'No – his nose bled a tiny bit and Miss Parker sent me outside to calm down, but I was calm because I hit him. Grandma? Does that mean I can't have a dog?'
'It might mean you're not quite ready for one yet.'…'But you can practice being calm and grown up on Brenda until you are ready'.
Elowen nodded furiously. 'I'll try the way of peace. I'll do my best.'

However, the mystery thread was this book's weak spot. In the story, the 'local newspaper' dubbed Irina's murderer "The Cream Tea Killer", in honour of Cornwall's famous delicacy – but this reader failed to see the connection. The plot for the murder was intriguing, however was not executed to its best advantage – the devil is in the details and this reader just couldn't join all the dots. The pacing was well done, but the action is a bit over the top and at times unbelievable.

But in true cozy mystery style, the reader will be drawn to the characters; the close-knit community of Seal Bay and the love and affection they have for each other. The author's use of fun, wit and humour did not go unnoticed and this reader would easily give this series another go just to spend more time with the people of Seal Bay and the Mutton family.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Publishers, Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this third book in a series.

The story had plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.

Morwenna is going through some personal issues as well as hekp the police when another murder takes place, and this time it’s someone she knew very well.

I highly recommend this book.

This is the third book in the series and, as seems to be the case so often nowadays, I haven't managed to read the first two yet. Saying that it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book, it is a cozy mystery with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way to the end. There are also some domestic issues that Morwenna, the main character and amateur sleuth, is dealing with alongside her helping the police investigating a murder. A very enjoyable book and I will certainly have to read more of this author's books.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Morwenna is a busy lady. She's old enough to be retired but she's working at the library and her daughter's tea room. She regularly meets friends for wild swimming, babysits her granddaughter and helps her elderly mother. She even manages to fit in dating - but, her amateur detective work supersedes everything else. When her good friend, Irina, a journalist and local radio personality, is found dead on the beach the death is initially thought to be accidental drowning. Morwenna knows Irina was a strong swimmer and her sleuthing antennae alert her to foul play. Irina had told Morwenna that she was close to breaking a big story that would shock the town and that may be why Irina died. On the hunt for clues Morwenna discovers suspicious activity at a rundown campground. She knows she's close to the truth when she's thrown overboard while on boat birthday event and receives verbal warnings from two goons. The danger escalates when the goons break into her cottage and hold her mother hostage. This is an exciting cozy with tense moments involving not only crime but Morwenna's romantic life. Characters are strong and the plot comes to an exciting conclusion.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.