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The Somerset Whodunit Mysteries #3
Murder on a Spring Day: A Light-Hearted English Whodunit Mystery
An amateur sleuth is tasked with clearing the name of an accused man . . .
Julia Ford's dream of running a bookshop in the small Somerset town of Biddle Rhyne is fast becoming a nightmare, with the lack of traffic and high running costs.
So when the door opens, she hopes it will be a wealthy customer. Rather it is a desperate man—a local accountant whom the police have fingered for murder.
Having gained a reputation for solving crimes, Julia takes pity on the disheveled Mr. Cutty—even though he doesn't buy a book—and vows to help him.
Yet the victim was seen arguing with Cutty, and named him in her dying breath. No wonder the police are intent on charging him.
With a village fête on the horizon and local tempers running high over the planned bake-off, will Julia manage to unravel the mystery?
Julia Ford's dream of running a bookshop in the small Somerset town of Biddle Rhyne is fast becoming a nightmare, with the lack of traffic and high running costs.
So when the door opens, she hopes it will be a wealthy customer. Rather it is a desperate man—a local accountant whom the police have fingered for murder.
Having gained a reputation for solving crimes, Julia takes pity on the disheveled Mr. Cutty—even though he doesn't buy a book—and vows to help him.
Yet the victim was seen arguing with Cutty, and named him in her dying breath. No wonder the police are intent on charging him.
With a village fête on the horizon and local tempers running high over the planned bake-off, will Julia manage to unravel the mystery?
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Published October 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 25, 2024
This is the third book in a series of cosy mysteries featuring bookshop owner Julia Ford as the protagonist.
This had the cosiness that I was hoping for, and was easily light enough to read in one sitting. I find Julia a likeable character, and some elements of her personality make me chuckle, but it's also easy to take her seriously. As the writing here is so light and easy to read, I wouldn't have minded if this book had been slightly longer.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
This had the cosiness that I was hoping for, and was easily light enough to read in one sitting. I find Julia a likeable character, and some elements of her personality make me chuckle, but it's also easy to take her seriously. As the writing here is so light and easy to read, I wouldn't have minded if this book had been slightly longer.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
October 4, 2024
I was looking for a series based in the South West corner of England, being Somerset born and bred, and came across these three books. After the first chapter I was hooked and five days later I've read all three and now look forward to number 4 and hopefully many more. A really easy read which covers issues of small village life, social issues and personal ones but with a lot of humour and three enjoyable storylines. A great read thank you Jon.
March 21, 2024
Absolutely absorbing!
Jon is an amazing story teller and had me hooked from the start to the finish, so much so that i finished all the 3 books in the series back to back.
Love his uncomplicated, not too dramatic and contemporary style.
Great read. I recommend.
Jon is an amazing story teller and had me hooked from the start to the finish, so much so that i finished all the 3 books in the series back to back.
Love his uncomplicated, not too dramatic and contemporary style.
Great read. I recommend.
December 22, 2024
Simple, short & sweet
Not a bad read when you need something easy to spend few hours with. Characters are a bit childish, but they mix well together. Storyline rather simple, but overall effects is not too bad.
Not a bad read when you need something easy to spend few hours with. Characters are a bit childish, but they mix well together. Storyline rather simple, but overall effects is not too bad.
December 31, 2025
Enjoyed the three cosy murder mysteries in this series which I read between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Well-plotted and good development of the main characters across the three stories. Highly recommended for an easy enjoyable read.
March 24, 2024
A delightful cozy mystery with humour and a solid mystery. I enjoyed it and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
April 21, 2025
really cute easy read, like the main characters, like the story, dont know if i'll read another one, this was the third one, so i missed books 1 and 2 so did not know the whole stories
June 9, 2024
This is a light cosy mystery set in a small town in the south of England. The amateur sleuths are a bookshop owner and a house painter, who fancy themselves as investigators, and others think so too. This time, they look into a businesswoman who was killed in her apartment after her boss was recorded on the video doorbell, and of course he says he didn't harm the lady. This combination of modern tech and fading custom in a bookshop and inn, reflect the changes in society.
Several moments are quite funny, in an immediate, local manner. No great issues are explored, and we could probably do with more of a statement about violence against women. The author is a man and may have just seen the deceased person as a cast member, but the best crime stories contain more social comment.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction and Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Several moments are quite funny, in an immediate, local manner. No great issues are explored, and we could probably do with more of a statement about violence against women. The author is a man and may have just seen the deceased person as a cast member, but the best crime stories contain more social comment.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction and Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews