Katie Gayle delivers another delightful addition to the Julia Bird Mysteries with A Village Theatre Murder. This time, Julia finds herself immersed in the world of amateur theatre when a shocking murder takes place during the climactic scene of Berrywick’s latest production. What should have been an enjoyable evening of drama turns into a real-life mystery, and Julia’s keen investigative skills are put to the test once more.

The story begins with a gunshot—this one tragically real—leaving one of the lead actors dead and the entire village reeling. As Julia pieces together the puzzle, secrets emerge about the victim’s personal life, rivalries among the cast, and the sinister motivations lurking behind the stage lights. With red herrings aplenty and a second shocking death, the tension steadily mounts, keeping the reader guessing until the very last act.

What makes this book so engaging is the seamless blend of intrigue, humor, and the cozy charm of Berrywick. Julia is as delightful as ever—curious, resourceful, and full of warmth. The supporting characters, from Julia’s boyfriend Sean and his shy son Jono to the theater’s ambitious director and jealous cast members, bring the village to life with their quirks and complexities.

Katie Gayle’s writing is sharp and perfectly paced, weaving twists and turns with just the right amount of lighthearted moments. Even as a later installment in the series, the story is easy to follow for new readers, while longtime fans will enjoy reconnecting with familiar faces.

A Village Theatre Murder is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries who love small-town drama, clever plotting, and a touch of theatrical flair. It’s a captivating whodunit that’s hard to put down, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
As the final curtain falls on Berrywick’s amateur theatre production, a gunshot pierces the air amidst the enthusiastic applause. Julia Bird, curious and concerned, peeks through the curtain only to find lead actor Graham motionless on the stage, while his co-star Oscar stares at his prop gun in disbelief. Julia realizes that Graham has been murdered, and with so many villagers involved in the play, anyone could have tampered with the props. But why would someone target a well-loved family man? Graham’s wife, Jane, crumples in sorrow as Oscar is consoled and escorted away. However, days later, Julia witnesses the seemingly composed Jane sharing a kiss with Oscar, leading her to question whether Jane’s tears were genuine. After all, Graham had served Jane divorce papers on the day of his death—was he silenced before he could reveal her affair and tarnish her pristine image?
In the midst of it all, the aptly named director, Roger Grave, is determined to keep the production alive. The play is in the running for a local award, and this could be Roger’s chance to shine. However, when the aspiring actor Hector is passed over for the lead role he believed was his, tensions rise among the cast. Julia starts to wonder if Hector’s jealousy over the coveted part could have driven him to murder Graham. As if that weren’t enough, another crew member turns up dead, leading Julia to uncover a sinister secret lurking within Berrywick’s local theatre society. But who would go to such lengths to keep it hidden? Can Julia solve the mystery before another life is lost?

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
To start, I want to point out that when I asked to review the book and was approved, I mistakenly thought it was a standalone. That said, I was able to follow the plot without any issues. I devoured the book in one day and had a great time reading it. While I did get a bit confused at times due to the large cast of characters, it didn’t ruin my enjoyment. I spent the whole time trying to solve the mystery, and the ending caught me off guard!
Thank You @Netgally and @Bookouture for allowing me to review this ARC.

Another enjoyable book in this cozy series. Julia is helping her friend with the props for an amateur production that Tabitha wrote herself. But tragedy occurs during the performance when in the final scene of the play, a prop gun shoots a real bullet and kills one of the actors. The man's wife and daughter are distraught and the man who shot the supposedly fake gun is feeling guilty and wants to be arrested for murder. Julia feels she has to help solve the case to give the family peace.

Julia's boyfriend, Sean, hears that his son is having difficulties in London and brings him home to Berrywick. Jono is a shy young man, but good with dogs. Julia makes friends with him.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this novel.

I received a free copy of, A Village Theatre Murder, by Katie Gayle, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book seven of seven, in the Julia Bird Mysteries series. Graham is murdered on screen while doing a play, who could of killed him? So many twists and turns in this enjoyable cozy mystery.

A gunshot at the end of a performance and the curtain closes, but the man does not rise. The prop gun was not supposed to have bullets. Who killed this man and why?

Two of my favorite things—mystery and theatre—come together in A Village Theatre Murder, setting the stage for an incredible read right from the start. Julia Bird is back again, this time caught up in the chaos of a murder that interrupts what should have been an enjoyable night of drama. What begins as a well-executed play quickly unravels when a real gunshot signals something far darker. Before the curtain can fall, Julia finds herself solving yet another death in the charming village of Berrywick.

What stood out for me was the fantastic pacing—the story flowed seamlessly, and I truly couldn’t put it down. Katie Gayle delivers just the right amount of intrigue, twists, and delightful red herrings, keeping me engaged until the very last page. The familiar setting and beloved characters, along with a couple of intriguing new faces, made this seventh installment feel fresh yet comforting.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or new to Julia Bird’s mysteries, this book is a must-read. It’s a perfect balance of suspense, small-town charm, and clever plotting. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a cozy mystery!

Julia Bird had been helping behind the scenes of the South Cotswolds Players' latest production before enjoying the opening night with boyfriend Dr Sean O'Connor and close friend Tabitha who wrote the murder mystery. The play ends, as planned, with a gunshot, but it soon becomes clear something is wrong, and before the evening is over, Julia has another death to investigate. Can she work her way through the clues and discover who was responsible before anyone else dies?

A Village Theatre Murder is another chance to enjoy visiting the residents of Berrywick and separating the clues from the red herrings that once again abound in Katie Gayle's seventh book in this great series. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and there are a couple of new protagonists who I hope will make further appearances in future storylines.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a fun read that is easy to recommend.