The Importance of Being Murdered, by Debbie Young

 Publication March 26, 2026

Fun!

Seriously, I was about half convinced that this was going to be a book where everyone was guilty. I was initially jotting down clues to help me solve it before the sleuths but, wait a minute, there really weren't any amateur sleuths. The book opens with a chapter introducing us to DC Windermeir who is basically cruising around looking for a house for her and her new husband, artist Darius, to buy. Next chapter, poof, no Windermeir but, oh, my, what a cast of characters, all of whom, it turns out, are basically the cast and crew of the local theatre's upcoming production of Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest". Save yourself from note taking as you're going to get to know these people well, very well, even before the murder and much, much better afterward. Given my love of character driven cozies, this was not just perfect but, as noted, oh, my, what a group. You'll get to know their personal quirks, strengths, weaknesses, and even better, the various connections, infatuations, and relationships between them. Add aged former star Bertram Manchester to the mix and, well, it's going to get even more interesting.

Set in the small town of Bunbury, population 1,000, you'll also see how quickly gossip can explode and rumors spread. That was quite funny, with various unlikely celebrity names spread as the latest resident. I was never quite sure how Hugh Grant's name emerged given the initial chatter, but it made all the sense to those excited at the idea of a celebrity in their midst. I'm definitely not going to detail the cast except to say that at one time or the other I wound up sympathizing and liking most, then the next finding them terrible bores and selfish, even sad and obnoxious. In other words, you know, the sort of people you might encounter anywhere and find you blow hot and cold with them. And, yes, I pretty much had each pegged as the killer at one point or the other. It wasn't even frustrating as, quite frankly, I was enjoying my read immensely. Do make sure you read the author's explanation of how/why she wrote the book this way at the end. It added to the fun and understanding. You may feel you're caught in some virtual game of Clue at some point but, hey, that's part of the fun, too.

Bottom line, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book this much. It's supposedly a one-off book but I sort of hope the author somehow brings back some of these characters in a series. You get to hear their inner thoughts as the plot moves along, too, which  may or may not help you figure things out before the big reveal. Let's just say, it didn't really help me. Grin. The senior police officer, DI Whistler, in a hurry to solve the case so he and his wife can head off for a long planned vacation, is definitely fun to "hear" thinking, especially in conjunction with DC Windermeir who finally reappears about half-way when the murder (or was it murder) occurs. Again, makes all the sense in the world as you read, so don't let my rambling review confuse you. Opt for being intrigued instead as I'm leaning toward thinking fans of cozy mysteries with humor that are most definitely character driven will love this one. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for allowing me this early peek at what was a fun, great read. 

O, Deadly Night (Year-Round Christmas Mystery, #8), by Vicki Delany

 

Publication October 14, 2025

This one might be a caution about becoming too much of a snoopy neighbor but, well, since it's Merry's curiosity and caring that leads to the solution, I don't think we're supposed to take that literally. Grin. In any case, this is another favorite series with characters you'll like, even if they do annoy you at times. Kyle, I'm looking at you. Mabel D'Angelo, Merry's landlady, is determined to greet her new neighbors properly, all in being neighborly, of course, not snooping. And, if you believe that, I'm sure the realtor in town has some swamp land they'd like to unload on you. 

Merry is annoyed when Mrs. D'Angelo's, who was supposed to be helping with the shop's float in the annual Christmas parade, is a no show. Crazy busy as Merry is, however, she doesn't think much beyond wondering who's moved in across the street. Then a couple days later a mutual friend mentions Mrs. D'Angelo is missing and isn't answering her phone. That's very unlike her. Merry and BFF Vicky decide to check up on her. 

That's where the story really takes off. Merry's good deed winds up with her not only rescuing Mrs. D'Angelo from a frightening situation but finding a dead body. One that turns out to have ties to the quaint town of Rudolph, NY, where Christmas is celebrated all year. Merry's sister Eve, an actress home for the holiday, recalls the victim being a mean girl in high school. I won't detail the plot much further but will note it involves online scams, illegal activities, greed, a family's drama, unrequited love, well, infatuation, and, oh, yeah, a dog gets skunked. And that's just hitting the high(low?)lights. Mrs. D'Angelo plays a pivotal role here and the regulars seem to largely be on hand, including Merry's father who might as well be Santa Claus as well as just portraying him. Her mother is an opera singer. How's that for an odd couple? Vicky is, as always, there when Merry most needs an assist, even reminding Merry not to be TSTL (too stupid to live) at one critical point.  

Bottom line, this was a fun read. The characters are easy to relate to and like and, well, who wouldn't like to at least try spending some time in a town where it's Christmas every day. There's even a horse-drawn sleigh! Watching the way Merry's St. Bernard Maddy adores the police detective is a hoot, too. The side-stories show Santa, er, Merry's dad, isn't just caring when dressed as Santa, either, and even Merry sometimes wonders about his Santa connections. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for this early chance to celebrate Christmas virtually in Rudolph. We do have a North Pole here in in Alaska, so I feel a kinship with those townspeople. 

Death at Lovers' Leap, by Catherine Coles

 Publication Feb. 16, 2024

Ah, the good ol' days. The days where when you stumbled across a dead body, instead of taking out a cell phone and calling for help, you had to leave the body and go summon the police in person. The days when crime scene photos were actually sketches, at least in small villages like Westleham Village. Cameras were too expensive for small town police, thus a rarity. A time when old stories connected to an old bridge clouded investigations and thoughts. Has Lover's Leap claimed another victim?

It's 1948, England. Westleham Village, to be exact. Ration books are still the norm. People have learned to make do with the bare necessities. It's also a time where gossip and everyone knowing your business can be both a blessing and curse. For Martha Miller, frequently the topic of gossip, it's definitely been both. After her husband simply disappeared, rumor had it that they'd find his body buried in her garden. Only now was she beginning to make inroads with friendships and trust, both of which were challenging as she and the local vicar, Luke, developed feelings for each other. Since she's still technically married, this is a bit of a scandal. It seems that despite her husband deserting her, she can't file for a divorce for three years. At this time, the idea of a small town vicar being involved with a divorcee was considered scandalous, not to mention that Martha's husband, Stan, would have to be missing for seven years before he'd be declared officially dead. That's a long time to wait when romantic feelings are kicking up. To be honest, I found myself as entranced with the chasm keeping Luke and Martha apart as I was the murder. That they work together so well as sleuths only upped their time together and, of course, the tension. 

So, was it murder? Or was it suicide? After all, it did happen near the bridge dubbed Lover's Leap. Why did the victim rush out of the building so suddenly? Was it that he saw his supposed girl friend with a bouquet of flowers? Where did they come from? Are the rumors right that she'd been seeing two different men? Could the victim's rival had offed him to leave a clear path to his romantic target? What does the sudden, unexpected presence of Luke's father mean? It isn't like they're close. Will the partnership Martha and he have formed to sleuth....as "just friends" .... create more problems for Martha and his relationship? Hey, it's a small village. Gossip flourishes. What problems does a shirt left behind create? Why is Martha so fixated on using lavender tea? Why do you have to be in line early to claim even a loaf of bread at the store? How do Martha's friends both help and, occasionally, distract the investigation? 

Who .... oh, way too many teasers. Despite the charmingly quaint slow pace of the plot, the story is an intriguing one. The characters are interesting, even aggravating at times, and, hey, Lizzie the dog is a delight. While we tend to fantasize how wonderful it might be to live in a small British village, it's clear that there is more to Westleham than meets the eye. Makes me curious to see what comes next, not to mention how the author will solve the problem of bringing Martha and Luke together at some point. Sit back with a hot cup of tea (not lavender), prop up your feet, and prepare to enjoy the somewhat leisurely trail to the conclusion which, quite frankly, kept me guessing until the very end. That reveal was rather a long, zig-zagging one, I must admit. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for giving me this sneak peek. It's rather fun to slow down and enjoy a visit to village life circa 1948.