Bitter Poison

Village Mysteries #5

by Margaret Mayhew

The Colonel turns reluctant sleuth once more when tragedy strikes at a Christmas party, in Margaret Mayhew’s latest atmospheric village mystery

Frog End, that most quintessential of English villages, is preparing for its annual Christmas pantomime. This year, it’s Hans Christian Andersen’s dark fairytale The Snow Queen. Local busybody Marjorie Cuthbertson is on the hunt for her leading lady – and who better to play the icy queen than beautiful new resident, ex-model Joan Dryden. But as interested as they are in their new neighbours, the residents of Frog End remain wary of the Dryden family, considering them aloof Londoners.

Mystery is about to engulf the village however when a cast member collapses and dies at a Christmas party, having consumed a rogue mince pie. Was the death an accident – or was it a malicious revenge strategy masked as an allergic reaction? The Colonel makes it his business to find out.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, British Literature, Christmas, Book Club

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2016

About the author

Margaret Mayhew was born in London and her earliest childhood memories were of the London Blitz. She began writing in her mid-thirties and had her first novel published in 1976. She is married to American aviation author, Philip Kaplan, and lives in Gloucestershire.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one evening, partly because it is quite a short book and partly because I was enjoying it so much I did not want to put it down. I do like a series where the characters are fun and revisiting them in each new book is something to look forward to.

Bitter Poison is set at Christmas time and the villagers are busy preparing for their annual pantomime. Hugh, or the Colonel as he is better known, is roped in to make a sleigh and becomes very involved in helping with the stage sets. Thus he is present at the celebratory after party when one of the actors suddenly dies.

The police put the death down to natural causes but Hugh and some of the other villagers suspect murder. As they start sleuthing some intriguing facts turn up but is it enough to make the police reopen the investigation. The conclusion is very interesting.

A perfect book to read on a cold winter's evening. The author writes well, the setting is lovely and the Colonel leads a band of interesting characters. Five stars from me.

[Sandra P. Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, much better than last one. I do wish that the murderers would be caught and punished instead of getting away with murder.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bitter Poison by Margaret Mayhew is An English Village Cosy. Frog End Players are preparing their Christmas offering (play) and Marjorie Cuthbertson is recruiting everyone to assist. They have decided to perform The Snow Queen. The only person who could play the part is newcomer Joan Dryden (who looks down on the villagers). The play is a hit and everyone retires to the after party. Joan suddenly is choking and her husband, Kenneth is calling for her Epi-pen. The Epi-pen cannot be found (it should be in her bottomless purse). Joan is rushed to the hospital but does not survive. Turns out that Joan is allergic to nuts and she ate a pastry that contained nuts. Was it accidental or did someone deliberately sabotage Joan? The Colonel (Hugh) decides to look into the matter and find out who is responsible.

Bitter Poison was extremely disappointing. The story is charming, but the mystery took a backseat. The murder did not occur until I was 70% through the novel. I could have told you who was going to die and the killer at about 25% (or earlier). I kept hoping for a surprise (a twist), but I did not get one. The ending was a big letdown. Bitter Poison was a snoozefest. If you just want a cute story on village life, you will enjoy the book. If you want a book with a good mystery, then this is not the book for you. I give Bitter Poison 2.75 out of 5 stars. Bitter Poison is easy to read (nicely written), has quirky characters, and a gorgeous setting. If it contained a twisty mystery, it would have been superb.

I received a complimentary copy of Bitter Poison from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review of the novel.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There appear to be a great many of these British village mystery books, this one a Christmas seasonal wherein a colorful new resident of the village dies from allergy. I will likely dip into this village pond of books again for light reading of familiar characters as it brings a smile or two. The characters are just interesting enough to revisit.


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[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading this English village series of mystery stories written by Margaret Mayhew. They are relaxing and give me that lovely feeling of the tiny English village of my imagination, probably not something that really exists at all in real life. The characters are all sufficiently developed so that I already feel as if I know them from previous novels in the series. The Major with his eye fixed firmly on the clock waiting for it to strike six in the evening so he can have that drink he's pinning for and always on the lookout for an attractive woman to flirt with. Freda Butler concealed behind the curtains in her cottage with the Zeiss binoculars picking up most of the comings and goings in the village. Naomi Grimshaw usually shows up in some decidedly outlandish piece of apparel from long ago or a land far away and thinks it is completely normal. At the center of all the village activity is the one person who values his privacy more than any of the others and is therefore disturbed most often, the Colonel. Everyone wants to know what use he has for the shed in his garden but so far he has managed to keep his new hobby a secret. How long will that last with the Frog End equivalent of the KGB on the prowl for clues? Will the new couple from London fit into the social life of Frog End by participating in the Christmas theatre production? Or will the famous fashion model let everyone down by refusing to be The Snow Queen?

I had begun to think that this book wouldn't have any mysterious death to investigate at all since it came so late in the novel, but there is finally something for the Colonel to tackle and the author presents it in an unusual way. Quite an interesting way from my point of view. This is one of those mystery novels you can feel good about recommending to your friends who don't like to read the more grim and gritty variety of murder mysteries. A quiet corner, a comfortable chair and something nice to drink will complete the picture of the atmosphere of this book in particular and this entire series in general; just a nice, old fashioned cozy.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House Publishing.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really like this series, and enjoyed reading this, it's the second one in a row that seems to fall short as a mystery. The Colonel is coerced into helping the Frog End dramatic group with their Christmas play, which will star the beautiful newcomer Joan Dryden as the Snow Queen. At a party after the show, someone dies in a tragic accident. One of the Colonel's neighbors reveals something seen at the party that was disturbing; he confronts the suspect and is told that he's misreading the situation. Since he's sure that he's not (notice how carefully I'm avoiding spoilers!), he goes to the police, who tell him there's no evidence of wrongdoing. The end. Although he's the "detective," he does no detecting.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I've read anything by this author. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The Colonel is a private man and he is comfortable in his own surroundings. When he is asked to build a sled as a prop for the town's play, he doesn't expect there to be a murder and soon everyone is wondering who would do such a thing.
The humor in this book was great and I enjoyed the colorful cast of characters. My favorite part was when Major Cuthbertson kept trying to sneak an early drink. Waiting for the clock to ring six was hysterical and I kept thinking to myself, by golly good man, have a drink!
I will definitely read more by this author.

[Laurie Mucha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The villagers are fun to follow as this is the 5th in the series. However, it is a murder mystery.and the murder takes place about 2/3 of the way into the book. The victim is no surprise and there seems to be only one possible perpetrator. The final resolution is disappointing.

[Miki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny thing about the books in this series - the Colonel always figures whodunnit, but no one ever gets caught. Still good reading.

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 5 of the series with one more to go at the time of writing.

The saga of Frog End goes on. The Colonels garden is getting betting and the shed is in useful service as the Colonel has been conscripted into making a sleigh for the Snow Queen in the Frog End Players Christmas play.
It was fortunate that an ex model and her fading TV personality husband ( and their obnoxious girl child) have just moved in to the village as she would be absolutely perfect for the title role as long as she can be talked into taking the part.
Eventually she carries the part off to perfection before she dies at the after show party at the Manor.

Who did it, if anyone? Does anyone really care?

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner in This Delightful Series

I love escaping to Frog Pond these days. We are living in such distressing times and this series has provided me a safe haven from all the misery and unpleasantness the world is fishing out in droves. These books are well written and the characters are delightful. I just love the humility of the Colonel and this Cozy British Series has done wonders in allowing me to take respite, if on!y briefly .com today's tragic madness. I highly recommend this series of Cozy British Countryside Mysteries are your cup of tea.

[shawn marton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abrupt ending

This was an easy read. The characters were well fleshed out and likable. But I felt that it ended abruptly. I had to. Had to check to make sure I downloaded all of the book. Would probably not read another book by this author.

[Gloria Mccracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too easy to figure out but a fun read nevertheless.

[June E Dove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs a better ending. Too much recap.

[Ann Woodbury Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was originally going to give this a higher rating, but the more I thought about it the more flaws I saw. "Bitter Poison" is a cozy English mystery set in a tiny town that's mostly filled with senior citizens--including the "detective," a widowed Colonel, who's intelligent and decent; his friend Naomi, who he tolerates despite her nosiness; the liquor-loving Major and his busybody wife; a never-married former WRN who spies on all and sundry with high-power binoculars; and assorted others, all stereotypes. (Apparently there are enough children and teens to populate a Christmas show, but no schools and few people younger than 40 are mentioned.) When a wealthy London couple purchase a home as a weekend showpiece, questions and assumptions start flying. And when one dies after consuming a mince pie ... well, what's curious is that there's not a police investigation, as the death is presumed to be from natural causes; the Colonel, with a little help from others, figures it out and determines that justice has been served. Given the high level of snooping around everyone does and the general lack of secrets, it makes no sense (except to trip up readers) that two crucial items aren't mentioned until book's end. The crime itself is illogical since its success depends on the local doctor's absence, which wasn't known ahead of time. Even though the Colonel's been resident for nearly two years, Naomi has to patiently explain to him (meaning us) all about the local theatre troupe. Also, the Colonel has already resolved an alarming number of mysteries given the small population. Despite these quibbles, "Bitter Poison" is a fast, moderately enjoyable read. (I haven't read other titles in the series, but many reviewers complained that the books are extremely repetitive.)

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am rather fond of this gentle cozy series with its cast of eccentric English village characters securely rooted in the village of Frog End. The Colonel, always correct, and seemingly unaware of the reason he is trusted by the entire community, solves mysteries by simply talking to his neighbours. The charm of these novels hinges on humour. There's the Colonel's stray cat, Thursday who eats from a dish marked clearly DOG. There's the shroud of secrecy the Colonel imposes on the contents of his garden shed. There's the condescension of his daughter-in-law, he experiences and the miraculous way in which the Colonel is rescued from having to visit. Other characters gently amuse as well. There is Marjorie Cuthbertson and her hen-pecked husband, the Major, overly fond of his drink, and inclined to exaggerate his appeal to the opposite sex. The mysteries themselves are absolutely secondary to the character portraits in these books, in my opinion. Do such quaint and charming places exist? Well, they do in this book. Great escape read.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy read in this series. The Colonel is convinced to help with the village Christmas play, this year to be The Snow Queen, done seriously and not as a pantomime. The Colonel is given the job of making the sledge to carry the Snow Queen and her victim, Kai. He gamely makes it, using his newly purchased word working tools. Naomi provides a polar bear skin she'd found in her attic and it looks very good. The Snow Queen will be played by a new resident in Frog End, a former model. She's got the perfect looks for the job, but doesn't really care if she attends rehearsals or not. But all goes well, and after three performances, an after party is held at the Manor. Mulled wine and mince tarts (made by the volunteers) are passed around, and the model suddenly collapses, dead from a nut allergy. Her epipen is mysteriously missing from her purse.

The Colonel does a little investigation, but he doesn't go to the police as he feels they would just laugh at him. So ends another easy and fun read.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

No resolution

So while one is pretty sure one knows who did it, it is never actually spelled out although numerous other items are repeated ad nauseam, such as who repeat characters are, and key points in their relationship with the Colonel. As this is the 5th book in the series and one could presume that readers have read the others, the tiresome repeats could be reduced. If the author wants to make sure each is a stand alone, then find some other way of saying the same things... at the very least don’t repeat yourself IN THE SAME book! I appreciate the interesting premise in some of these stories in that many times the murderer does get away with it and there isn’t any true resolution, but on this one I felt everything was a bit hanging. I will likely read the next one, as I really enjoy the Colonel as a character.

[Eugene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another terrific entry in this most entertaining series. As with all the “Village Mystery” entries from Mayhew, there’s precious little mystery, and a lot of village life in small secluded Frog End. And it’s very nice to go for a visit there.
As the village prepares for the annual Christmas panto, director Marjorie Cuthbertson has higher aims; her long-suffering husband, Major Cuthbertson, has only to go along for the ride, bumpy as it’s sure to be. Her coup is to inveigle new resident Joan Dryden, a former model and actress, to play the role of The Ice Queen.
As usual, the village gossip is wide and strong, opinions are hard and deep, and animosities creep into some relationships…and then there’s murder. The Colonel (Hugh, never further identified) is of course again the voice of reason in all things, and brings people and events to a satisfactory end. So enjoy this series!

[Sharen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books! A small English village filled with “old” retired people…..boring you think? Not at all. Everybody knows everything about everybody…..the village KGB (according to the Colonel) sees to that. The Colonel has a stray moggie named Thursday who adopted him on the first Thursday he moved into the Village. There are charming characters, each book had an evil doer doing some kind of evil deeds which always leaves a mystery for the Colonel to solve. The series is simply thoroughly enjoyable. They can be standalone (no cliffhanger endings) but, Read them in order….you won’t want to miss the backstory. So, curl up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea and enjoy!

[Kimberley O’Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this series on my Amazon unlimited and unfortunately started on book 3, have managed to read the first 2 and up to 5 starting on 6, while I’ve enjoyed them up to now with the exception that each book seems to recap too much of the history of Hugh and cast + Thursday, I’m not a fan of murder mystery books that end with the killer(s) not being punished, the ending in book 4 & 5 almost felt they ended abruptly without much closure. I’m onto book 6 and hopefully will bring back the style of books 1-3, otherwise I love the characters and the full description of a English town.

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

The characters in the village are really friendly, they are like one big family. Strangers move into the village an ex model and a tv presenter and their daughter. The ex model is invited to play the Snow Queen in the village Christmas show. At the after show party there is a death, but was it an accident or a murder. The Colonel does a bit of sleuthing to find answers. I love these books.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've now finished this series although I read the last 2 books out of order.

If you take them on, do read them in order to get the best out of them. They are quick cozies and seem to capture village life as I imagine it to be.

I have enjoyed meeting the people living in the village of Frog End, and reading through the various scenarios. I did get a little tired of the re-capping of the plots that occurred before books 5 and 6.

[James H. Jaqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took the author's word for it, just to be safe.

Follows along, or leads along, the stories in the series. All the good stuff I liked about the earlier books still stand. The Colonel is a character to follow as he sets the pace for solid sleuthing. And now we take a break for tea.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Another great story the Colonel who has a knack of getting himself involved in mysterious deaths.A great asset to the village he now lives in with most people confiding in him. These stories are always an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Gail Gassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable cozy!

I like that Hugh always proves the guilt of the person/person's but they usually do t have to pay for the crime. Except if they were a bad-un they usually do some how. Like flying into a mountain!!?? As all the other books in this series, this book was amazing! Please try them. Hugh, the Colonol, is such a perfect character!

[wendykayte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Margaret Mayhew!
I have read every one of the Village Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed each one.
I am devastated that I have come to the end of this wonderful series and feel that I will truly miss some wonderful friends.
Please Margaret Mayhew let me know if there are any more of your wonderful stories that I may have missed.
Keep writing please.x

[STELLA SUTTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to get away with Murder!

I have read the first five Village Mysteries by Margaret Mayhew! For the most part, the characters are very charming! I have never visited England except in books! Maybe someday.......

Stella SUTTON

[MRS G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thoroughly enjoying these easy read, perfect to curl up in a warm bed or reading corner books. I've already started the next one. The characters all have a familiarity that feel like you're putting your well worn but veeery comfortable slippers on 😊.

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cold dish

A cosy English village, new inhabitants who are famous, and a Christmas play, all combine to create a mysterious death. The characters are intriguingly created to mimic the villagers in a rustic village. A good read.