I loved this! There are so many amazing cozy mysteries but ones with black protagonists are almost never given the praise they deserve. You can’t help but fall in love with Pudding Corner, despise Marianne, and root for Daphne at every single turn. Can’t wait for the next one, I hope this becomes a long series!

A new voice in the cozy mysteries!

Where do I begin? I so love the idea and description of leaving a busy city behind to move the countryside for a slower and more quiet life. I would love to live in Pudding Corner, and frequently the description of the town and the residents made me feel like I was there. I just curled up with a great drink and enjoyed!
The small town gossips, the social ladder, the traditions , all were explained in a way that helped you understand village life.

Daphne is delightful, and the way she was able to find her place, and find an interest while also integrating herself into village life . (while falling into a murder.!) ..was seamless.

What I appreciated about this one is that it didn't shy away from addressing the different perspective of being a person of color in a new space and how you may be received and perceived. At the same time it showed how being confident in yourself and giving and expecting respect can totally change the experience.

I am already anticipating grabbing my blanket and a cup of tea to read the next installment. Well done!

Firstly, the names of the people and places in this book are so outrageously cozy and British. It deftly opens with the most tongue in cheek, hilarious satire of a cozy small town England mystery. Needless to say, I loved it from the first page. Secondly, I, of course, immediately googled to see if Pudding Corner was a real town name. (Pudding Norton seems to be the reference for other nerds like me). How in the world is that a place name? Anyways this book hit right on the money for a cozy mystery. The cast of characters is adorable and funny, and the wit that starts at the beginning carries through to the end. If you love a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, then this is one for you!

Daphne has moved from London to the village of Pudding Corner. She is busy planting beans when the local headmaster is found dead in his potting shed. When Daphne’s friend Miinnerva is suspected, she must find out what happened.

Daphne Brewster, her husband, and her kids have moved from London to a charming village. She has started a business working with restoring furniture. Her kids have made new friends. And she has also. She has bonded with on of the "travelers" from the edge of the village.

But the village harbors secrets. It also harbors people with secrets. The local school master is found dead. Are there any suspects? In fact, there are many of them. Daphne wants to get her new friend off the hook. Can she find the real killer?

With its rural English setting and cast of intriguing characters, this is a charming story. I highly recommend this book for lovers of cozy mysteries and English countryside murders.

dachshunds, new-beginnings, new-series, new-to-me-author, small-business, small-town, antiques, upcycle, unpleasant-neighbors, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, sly-humor, amateur-sleuth, Norfolk, suspense, falsely accused, contemporary, secrets, lies, bullies*****

An unusual and interesting cozy with a very nice MC and family, an equally nice falsely accused, and half a village of sneaky secret holders. The victim was just about to break out of his rut when he was struck down. Then the suspects started crawling out of the woodwork! Good read.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from Kensington Publishing | A John Scognamiglio Book via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail May 27, 2025 #ThePottingShedMurder by Paula Sutton #HillHouseVintageMurderMysteryBk1
@KensingtonPublishing #CozyMystery

(3.5 rounded down) This was a sweet, cozy murder mystery that made some interesting authorial choices that I don’t usually see in cozies - different character perspectives (including those of suspects) and a main character/detective who is extremely empathetic and kind. I also loved the setting in this - a small village in the English countryside. Clearly, Paula Sutton lives in one herself, and she really brings it to life with her descriptions. Overall, I found this to be a bit too much of a slow burn. The book was a little too long and the writing could be repetitive and a bit overwrought. It took about 50 pages before the mystery of the story really gets going. It’s also an easily solvable mystery, but I don’t view that as a negative, really. If you go into this knowing what to expect, you’ll have a fun, easy time with this. I also read this while watching the new tv adaptation of “The Marlow Murder Club” & the two were a perfect pairing.

I had fun and thoroughly enjoyed this well plotted and compelling mystery. Lovely setting, quirky and lovely characters, a solid mystery.
I hope there's going to be another book by this author soon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Potting Shed Murder, the first Hill House Vintage Murder Mystery, had been highly anticipated by me as I've followed the author, Paula Sutton, on Instagram for quite a while. Mixing her love of all things vintage with a penchant for writing an entertaining cozy murder mystery, Ms. Sutton has created what I very much hope is just the first in a long series of books featuring amateur sleuth Daphne Brewster. When the headmaster at her childrens' school is found murdered in his potting shed and a local gypsy is suspected of the crime, Daphne discovers more secrets hidden behind the closed doors of Pudding Corner than she ever imagined. 5 stars, and I've already preordered the next in the series!!!