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Fethering #21
Death and the Decorator
Neighbours Carole and Jude uncover more than they bargained for when Jude decides to redecorate her cottage in this lighthearted cosy mystery.
Having decided to redecorate Woodside Cottage, Jude has engaged the services of local man Pete, who has painted and decorated the homes of Fethering residents for many years. Pete is currently working on Footscrow House, a large Victorian building which is being converted into holiday flats by a local developer.
Having arranged to meet at 'Fiasco House', as it is known locally due to the many failed business enterprises over the years, Jude and Pete make a surprising discovery behind a wall panel: a woman's handbag! The casual discovery becomes serious when the police identify the handbag's owner as Anita Garner, a young woman who vanished in suspicious circumstances twenty years earlier.
Determined to find out what really happened to Anita all those years ago, Jude and her neighbour Carole's investigations plunge them into a maze of deception and murder, as they uncover a number of uncomfortable secrets beneath the serene surface of Fethering life . . .
Having decided to redecorate Woodside Cottage, Jude has engaged the services of local man Pete, who has painted and decorated the homes of Fethering residents for many years. Pete is currently working on Footscrow House, a large Victorian building which is being converted into holiday flats by a local developer.
Having arranged to meet at 'Fiasco House', as it is known locally due to the many failed business enterprises over the years, Jude and Pete make a surprising discovery behind a wall panel: a woman's handbag! The casual discovery becomes serious when the police identify the handbag's owner as Anita Garner, a young woman who vanished in suspicious circumstances twenty years earlier.
Determined to find out what really happened to Anita all those years ago, Jude and her neighbour Carole's investigations plunge them into a maze of deception and murder, as they uncover a number of uncomfortable secrets beneath the serene surface of Fethering life . . .
192 pages, Hardcover
Published July 5, 2022
50 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Simon Brett
417 books524 followersSimon Brett is a prolific British writer of whodunnits.
He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.
He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.
After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.
He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.
He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.
He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.
After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.
He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 29, 2023
The 21st entry in this wonderful series doesn’t disappoint. When a handbag turns up during a redecoration of a former nursing home, it belongs to a young woman who disappeared without a trace 30 years earlier. Bohemian Jude and her strait-laced neighbor Carole Seddon look into the case, as they’ve done before. Rumors upon rumors circulate around their Sussex village of Fethering, as it did when it first happened, but just know that Jude and Carole will get to the truth in this amusing cozy.
July 20, 2022
Death and the Decorator by Simon Brett.
Another romp with Jude and Carole in Fethering. An enjoyable read with my 2 favorite sleuths.
Jude is having her front living room redecorated by Pete. Pete the decorator is well liked around the Fethering neighborhoods and gainfully employed. Currently he is on another job at the Fiasco House or so it's been named due to all the failed businesses it has been used for over the years. The last was a care home for the aged.
So while Pete is stripping down one of the rooms Jude stops by to go over her choices of color for her walls at Woodside. While chiseling away at a panel a space is opened up. Pete and Jude peer inside and discover a ladies purse. On further examination it appears to belong to Anita Garner. Anita Garner was a woman who mysteriously disappeared from Fethering decades ago. Her whereabouts has never been discovered and whether she was murdered remains unknown.
I loved getting back to Fethering and those sleuth-some twosome Jude and Carole. An interesting read and fun read with our old reliable Ted and the Crown and Anchor. The unraveling goes beyond simple guesses.
Another romp with Jude and Carole in Fethering. An enjoyable read with my 2 favorite sleuths.
Jude is having her front living room redecorated by Pete. Pete the decorator is well liked around the Fethering neighborhoods and gainfully employed. Currently he is on another job at the Fiasco House or so it's been named due to all the failed businesses it has been used for over the years. The last was a care home for the aged.
So while Pete is stripping down one of the rooms Jude stops by to go over her choices of color for her walls at Woodside. While chiseling away at a panel a space is opened up. Pete and Jude peer inside and discover a ladies purse. On further examination it appears to belong to Anita Garner. Anita Garner was a woman who mysteriously disappeared from Fethering decades ago. Her whereabouts has never been discovered and whether she was murdered remains unknown.
I loved getting back to Fethering and those sleuth-some twosome Jude and Carole. An interesting read and fun read with our old reliable Ted and the Crown and Anchor. The unraveling goes beyond simple guesses.
September 1, 2022
I have read all the Fethering Mysteries, of which this is the latest. It is quite cleverly plotted, as always, hinging on the discovery of a handbag hidden in an alcove. It is found by Jude and a decorator who is working on the room but is also going to be decorating her front room in the fullness of time, which is why she happens to be there for the discovery. Finding out what happened to the owner of that bag constitutes the latest mystery for Jude & Carole, and it is fair to say the outcome is not what you might expect.
Why have I given the book three stars? Well it is enjoyable in a very blah way; I suppose it falls under the category of a 'cosy crime novel' and is very easy to read. But having now read all this series, I admit to finding the treatment of Carole rather unpleasant. I seem to remember that in the earlier books Carole seemed rather more rounded; Jude was always rather obviously Mr Brett's favourite but Carole was allowed some input into the mysteries and to have something of a life outside their friendship. This is no longer the case, in this book you only really have Carole involved to show how wonderful Jude is and she has become a tiresome, rather stupid character much patronised by her theatrical 'friend'.
Fethering must, after 21 books, now rival Midsomer as the murder capital of the UK. In this one, Jude is (as always) considering 'moving on'. Maybe it is time she did
Why have I given the book three stars? Well it is enjoyable in a very blah way; I suppose it falls under the category of a 'cosy crime novel' and is very easy to read. But having now read all this series, I admit to finding the treatment of Carole rather unpleasant. I seem to remember that in the earlier books Carole seemed rather more rounded; Jude was always rather obviously Mr Brett's favourite but Carole was allowed some input into the mysteries and to have something of a life outside their friendship. This is no longer the case, in this book you only really have Carole involved to show how wonderful Jude is and she has become a tiresome, rather stupid character much patronised by her theatrical 'friend'.
Fethering must, after 21 books, now rival Midsomer as the murder capital of the UK. In this one, Jude is (as always) considering 'moving on'. Maybe it is time she did
October 20, 2024
One of my favorite authors and always guaranteed to produce laughs and thoughtful consideration. Love the characters, the dialogue, the murders and the social commentary. Love the glimpse at "healing" that Carole sneers at. I have a good friend who is so like Jude and I love her for it. Anyway, sorta sad solution to a 30 year old mystery disappearance and lots of romantic troubles included for various characters. It rained and I went to bed to finish the book. could not be a better day! Thank you Simon Brett.
January 1, 2024
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I am closing out 2023 enjoying a cozy night with Carole and Jude. Read 235 books.
I am closing out 2023 enjoying a cozy night with Carole and Jude. Read 235 books.
July 27, 2023
Jude is having her sitting room repainted and has hired the decorator Pete, who is currently working in Footscrow House, an old building that has housed many different businesses, all of which have failed and thus has been nicknamed Fiasco House. Jude meets with him there, and while they talk, he is removing a panel. When the panel is out, it reveals a small triangular alcove holding a red leather woman's handbag. Besides the usual items, the bag has a new passport in the name of Anita Garner. Jude takes the the bag to the police. It appears that Garner disappeared about 30 years previously when the building was a senior care facility, and Anita, age 23 worked there.
Jude and her friend Carole immediately begin investigating. Anita was an only child, and was Catholic. She had been still living with her parents. The senior care facility was owned and managed by Veronica and Harry Laselle. It was their son, Roland, who was now renovating it for holiday flatlets. Carole goes to the Library to read the old newspapers, and a man approaches her to tell she is reading his writings. The former newsman, Malt Penberthy, helps her find information. There is a lot of gossip around town, including that Roland and or his father was hitting on Anita. When Harry Laselle dies of carbon monoxide poisoning on his boat, the gossip continues along with ideas on whether it was murder, suicide, or an accident.
I enjoyed this book, which is very clever, includes humor, and there is a great surprise near the end.
Jude and her friend Carole immediately begin investigating. Anita was an only child, and was Catholic. She had been still living with her parents. The senior care facility was owned and managed by Veronica and Harry Laselle. It was their son, Roland, who was now renovating it for holiday flatlets. Carole goes to the Library to read the old newspapers, and a man approaches her to tell she is reading his writings. The former newsman, Malt Penberthy, helps her find information. There is a lot of gossip around town, including that Roland and or his father was hitting on Anita. When Harry Laselle dies of carbon monoxide poisoning on his boat, the gossip continues along with ideas on whether it was murder, suicide, or an accident.
I enjoyed this book, which is very clever, includes humor, and there is a great surprise near the end.
August 5, 2022
When Jude decides to have her therapy room redecorated, she has only one choice as to painter--Pete, who is esteemed by everyone in Fethering. When she drops off at his previous job to leave a key for him, she witnesses him discovering a hidden handbag, that of a girl who had disappeared thirty years ago. But the passport in her purse knocks out the idea that she fled to Spain to be with her boyfriend, and reopens the case again. A more current body may be suicide, but Jude and her annoying best friend Carole Seddon think it may be murder instead.
July 8, 2022
This is the 21st Fethering Mystery, but the first that I have read. I never felt like it hurt my understanding or enjoyment of the story because I had not read any of the previous books. The author did an excellent job of providing any necessary background. The story is set in the small English village of Fethering. The main characters are neighbors Jude and Carole, who have very different personalities. Jude is more of a free spirit, whose occupation is healing and alternative therapies. This lifestyle is shocking to her more traditionalist neighbor, Carole, who is more set in her ways and often grumpy. This odd couple are unlikely friends, but a great pair of amateur detectives. The story begins as Jude is having her sitting room painted and hires local decorator Pete. She and Pete meet to discuss plans and colors at his current redecorating job, Footscrow House, an old building that has been the home of many unsuccessful businesses. This long history of failure has earned it the local name of Fiasco House. While they are talking, Pete removes a part of a wall and discovers a woman’s purse hidden inside. It proves to have belonged to Anita Garner, a young woman who mysteriously disappeared 30 years previously when Fiasco House was being used as a nursing home. Her case had been the talk of the town at the time and even made national news. This new discovery is just the thing to unite neighbors Jude and Carole in the hunt to solve the old mystery, but some in the community don’t want the past revealed. I found this to be a well written, light-heated mystery with a pair of likable and amusing protagonists. The mystery itself was engaging and full of twists and surprises. It makes me want to read more books in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 5, 2022
In the early days, it was Chardonnay, now it is large glasses of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but has anything much changed in this twenty-first visit to the murderous seaside town of Fethering?
Carole and Jude are still, uptight but now relaxedly-grandmotherly in one case, and just chilled and relaxed in the other. Nowadays they seem to investigate much more independently although just as intrusively as before. Ted looms large in the flourishing gastropub and the jokes are no better.
I have followed this series from its inception. It never strays out of the readers' comfort zone nor does it endeavour to tear away the comfort blanket. There are some ingenuities in the plotting of this one, and a slight twist towards the end, but essentially it administers the mixture as before. For most readers, old and new, this is reassuring. But I am no longer enamoured... and I am not a fan of magnolia!
3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House /Canongate Books for the digital review copy
Carole and Jude are still, uptight but now relaxedly-grandmotherly in one case, and just chilled and relaxed in the other. Nowadays they seem to investigate much more independently although just as intrusively as before. Ted looms large in the flourishing gastropub and the jokes are no better.
I have followed this series from its inception. It never strays out of the readers' comfort zone nor does it endeavour to tear away the comfort blanket. There are some ingenuities in the plotting of this one, and a slight twist towards the end, but essentially it administers the mixture as before. For most readers, old and new, this is reassuring. But I am no longer enamoured... and I am not a fan of magnolia!
3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House /Canongate Books for the digital review copy
December 27, 2024
The latest Fethering Mystery, number 21 in this addictive series of ‘gentle’ murder cases solved by neighbours Carole and Jude.
With Death in the Dressing Room ‘waiting in the wings’ I thought I would remove the dust sheets from my recent review in readiness for the new book due April 2025.
It has been a joy to dip into these books and I have read and reviewed in order the previous twenty titles. Simon Brett is at home in this imagined world of amateur detectives. I had feared he had moved on with the publication of the ‘Decluttering Mysteries’ which I have struggled to loose myself in, with the same enthusiasm.
Fethering however, centred on a couple of “busybodies” with divergent personalities and two contrasting approaches to life, always lift my mood, as they investigate each strange unexplained disappearance or death.
The novels are character driven and focus generally on a set group of people in the wider community. Sharing an interest or hobby, perhaps members or participants in a club or activity. Resulting in a small group of “suspects”, “people of interest” who the two friends endeavour to get to know, confront and become involved with.
I marvel how they ask such probing and personal questions and always seem to find answers or intuitive solutions to clear up mysteries and bring about justice and closure.
The writing is crisp and well paced. Elements of humour do not hinder the quest for truth or the seriousness of these cases. The relationship of the two women both encourages the search for answers and introduces healthy competition to uncover the truth.
The characters we meet are recognisable without fitting a stereotype, the interactions lead to threat and realistic confrontations yet the violence and language isn’t gratuitous or likely to cause offence. Some may describe this as cosy crime but even within what appears to be a settled community like Fethering murderous intent grasps the ultimate sanction, taking of a life.
The author is a natural storyteller as demonstrated again in this twenty first outing. The plots are not formulaic, Brett continues to surprise and delight me especially as there remains growth in the central characters. The mystery here is multilayered, deals with contemporary issues and simply holds a mirror up to humanity.
With Death in the Dressing Room ‘waiting in the wings’ I thought I would remove the dust sheets from my recent review in readiness for the new book due April 2025.
It has been a joy to dip into these books and I have read and reviewed in order the previous twenty titles. Simon Brett is at home in this imagined world of amateur detectives. I had feared he had moved on with the publication of the ‘Decluttering Mysteries’ which I have struggled to loose myself in, with the same enthusiasm.
Fethering however, centred on a couple of “busybodies” with divergent personalities and two contrasting approaches to life, always lift my mood, as they investigate each strange unexplained disappearance or death.
The novels are character driven and focus generally on a set group of people in the wider community. Sharing an interest or hobby, perhaps members or participants in a club or activity. Resulting in a small group of “suspects”, “people of interest” who the two friends endeavour to get to know, confront and become involved with.
I marvel how they ask such probing and personal questions and always seem to find answers or intuitive solutions to clear up mysteries and bring about justice and closure.
The writing is crisp and well paced. Elements of humour do not hinder the quest for truth or the seriousness of these cases. The relationship of the two women both encourages the search for answers and introduces healthy competition to uncover the truth.
The characters we meet are recognisable without fitting a stereotype, the interactions lead to threat and realistic confrontations yet the violence and language isn’t gratuitous or likely to cause offence. Some may describe this as cosy crime but even within what appears to be a settled community like Fethering murderous intent grasps the ultimate sanction, taking of a life.
The author is a natural storyteller as demonstrated again in this twenty first outing. The plots are not formulaic, Brett continues to surprise and delight me especially as there remains growth in the central characters. The mystery here is multilayered, deals with contemporary issues and simply holds a mirror up to humanity.
July 16, 2022
I have read one other instalment in this cosy crime mystery series (The Liar in the Library - book eighteen) before this one, Death and the Decorator (book twenty-one) but I'd be happy to read more. This was a good example of light-hearted amateur sleuthing that was very funny and really easy to read. Set in Fethering, a fictional Sussex village in England, I like the sleuthing duo, Carole and Jude, although they make an unlikely pair. I didn't feel lost coming in so late into this series, but I would like to go back and read some of the first books to learn about their beginnings. Simon Brett's writing style is a hit with me and there is a surprise towards the ending. All in all, I would recommend Death and the Decorator to anyone who is fond of a good cozy novel. It was witty and a great tale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 28, 2022
It was years and years ago that I stumbled across that little place on the South Coast called Fethering. I soon learnt the idiosyncrasies of Carole and Jude and Ted at the pub and even Zosia, Ted's bar manager. They are all so well known now that you feel that you could just walk in to the Crown and Anchor and be able to talk to them all as easily as if it were your own local.
If you have read the earlier books in this series ( and why wouldnt you have?) this is a continuation of life in Fethering. This time the episode is about reopening the mystery of an old disappearance when the owners handbag turns up.
A Fethering cozy and although Carole and Jude find the solution, it isnt as much a joint effort as usual.
This is by far the authors longest running series and long may it continue but was I alone in spotting a comment by Jude, in the second book in succession , perhaps suggesting a rather drastic change on the way?
If you have read the earlier books in this series ( and why wouldnt you have?) this is a continuation of life in Fethering. This time the episode is about reopening the mystery of an old disappearance when the owners handbag turns up.
A Fethering cozy and although Carole and Jude find the solution, it isnt as much a joint effort as usual.
This is by far the authors longest running series and long may it continue but was I alone in spotting a comment by Jude, in the second book in succession , perhaps suggesting a rather drastic change on the way?
July 17, 2022
This mystery started off with the intriguing discovery of a handbag, hidden behind a wooden panel for decades. The two amateur sleuths who solve the mystery (somewhat competitively) are well-defined characters, New-Agey Jude and uptight civil servant Carol, whose relationship is the occasion for some humor. A comfortable read, though I'm always surprised in amateur-sleuth novels at how ready people seem to be to reveal personal and potentially incriminating information to these neighborhood busybodies. There was also at least one plot point that did not make sense to me .
July 1, 2022
Another enjoyable visit to Fethering , where we meet the indomitable sleuthing duo Jude and Carole.
Jude is a free spirit in to healing , crystals and alternative therapies Carole on the other hand is very set in her ways and can be quite taciturn at times.
They make the unlikeliest of friends but the perfect amateur detectives .
Jude is having her living room decorated , and this in turn leads to her uncovering a handbag from a thirty year old disappearance.
Carole and Jude get their interest piqued and they begin to investigate.
The writing is of the calibre you expect from Simon Brett , easy to read with light hearted moments never forgetting the serious subject of the story that being murder.
The relationship between Jude and Carole is both complex and credible.
I’ve enjoyed all the Fethering mysteries and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Overall an enjoyable cozy mystery !
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House.
Jude is a free spirit in to healing , crystals and alternative therapies Carole on the other hand is very set in her ways and can be quite taciturn at times.
They make the unlikeliest of friends but the perfect amateur detectives .
Jude is having her living room decorated , and this in turn leads to her uncovering a handbag from a thirty year old disappearance.
Carole and Jude get their interest piqued and they begin to investigate.
The writing is of the calibre you expect from Simon Brett , easy to read with light hearted moments never forgetting the serious subject of the story that being murder.
The relationship between Jude and Carole is both complex and credible.
I’ve enjoyed all the Fethering mysteries and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Overall an enjoyable cozy mystery !
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House.
June 30, 2022
Death and the Decorator is the twenty-first book in the Fethering mystery series.
It started with the discovery of a thirty-year-old handbag in a wall during a remodeling job. Its owner, Anita Garner, had gone missing around the same time. Anita worked in the building, which was then a nursing home. Jude and Carole, amateur detectives (and professional busybodies), decide to investigate Anita’s case.
Death and the Decorator is newly written but feels like a golden age mystery. The small British beach town setting is unchanged from the 1930s. However, many of its characters struggle with modern conveniences like cell phones and laptops. They are older and/or retired. Therefore, this book might be a better fit for an older reader.
If you fancy an Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple type of plot, but set in modern times, you can’t go wrong with Death and the Decorator, or really any of the books in this series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
It started with the discovery of a thirty-year-old handbag in a wall during a remodeling job. Its owner, Anita Garner, had gone missing around the same time. Anita worked in the building, which was then a nursing home. Jude and Carole, amateur detectives (and professional busybodies), decide to investigate Anita’s case.
Death and the Decorator is newly written but feels like a golden age mystery. The small British beach town setting is unchanged from the 1930s. However, many of its characters struggle with modern conveniences like cell phones and laptops. They are older and/or retired. Therefore, this book might be a better fit for an older reader.
If you fancy an Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple type of plot, but set in modern times, you can’t go wrong with Death and the Decorator, or really any of the books in this series. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!
Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
August 18, 2022
Simon Brett is the author and the narrator for the audio version. My husband and I really enjoyed his voicing of his characters. Just when you think Brett must have burned out on Carole and Jude he comes up with this delightful mystery where Carole and Jude go off on separate tracks trying to solve two mysteries. Was a missing person murdered 30 years ago? What a death in the current time an accident, a suicide or murder? Are these mysteries connected?
October 24, 2022
Simon Brett's books are short, compact, and totally enjoyable. I've read several in his many series. The Fethering Mystery series is quite fun, joining together two women of entirely opposite personalities and tastes into a remarkably successful team of amateur investigators. Their personalities grate, but they have esteem for each other than allows the team to survive clashes that might drive other people apart. That's part of the enjoyment of this series. And the plots are very workable with good characters and scheming criminals whose fates satisfy those of us who just cannot abide a criminal getting away with murder!
July 30, 2022
Jude and Carole are the proverbial odd couple. In other circumstances, it’s unlikely that they’d ever be more than acquaintances – let alone a duo who have gone on to solve a number of tricky murders. They are such very different personalities – Jude is warm-hearted, open-minded and easy-going, who mostly enjoys her life; while Carole is judgemental, bitterly lonely, socially insecure and naturally secretive. What they both have in common is huge curiosity, an eye for details and inconsistencies, sharp intelligence and a drive to see that Justice is done. There have been times in this series when I find the inevitable friction between them frankly annoying, as it can get in the way of the investigation and makes me want to upend Carole’s glass of wine over her head. However, this time around, I was glad that both women were playing to their strengths.
Brett is an experienced storyteller, with the ability to craft an enjoyably complex whodunit with a satisfying number of possible suspects. And I was delighted to discover that while I’d fleetingly considered the perpetrator – it wasn’t for the right reason, or for the right crime. I love it when an author has me flicking back through the pages to discover the little clues that I’d overlooked. As well as delivering a solidly good murder mystery – I always enjoy Brett’s cutting shafts of humour, as he takes lumps out of the smug, upper middle-class residents of Fethering. All in all, if you enjoy murder mysteries set in an English village that plays with the expectations of this crowded sub-genre in an interesting way, then this one comes highly recommended. And no – you really don’t have to have read any of the former twenty books in the series to thoroughly enjoy this particular offering. While I obtained an arc of Death and the Decorator from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Brett is an experienced storyteller, with the ability to craft an enjoyably complex whodunit with a satisfying number of possible suspects. And I was delighted to discover that while I’d fleetingly considered the perpetrator – it wasn’t for the right reason, or for the right crime. I love it when an author has me flicking back through the pages to discover the little clues that I’d overlooked. As well as delivering a solidly good murder mystery – I always enjoy Brett’s cutting shafts of humour, as he takes lumps out of the smug, upper middle-class residents of Fethering. All in all, if you enjoy murder mysteries set in an English village that plays with the expectations of this crowded sub-genre in an interesting way, then this one comes highly recommended. And no – you really don’t have to have read any of the former twenty books in the series to thoroughly enjoy this particular offering. While I obtained an arc of Death and the Decorator from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
July 19, 2022
I enjoyed my latest visit to Fethering. Jude and Carol are like old friends. Not my age group but close. Always enjoy Simon Brett's books and, as usual, I didn't quite get the solution right.
February 9, 2025
Couldn't finish it. Not my type. I didn't find the characters gripping.
July 10, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I think I've read all of the Fethering books at this point, and they're always fun to read. Jude and Carole are two women, living in Fethering, a small-ish town in England, and they keep stumbling into mysteries that they enjoy solving. Carole is a retired civil servant, and is rather uptight, rule abiding, and set in her ways. Jude is a free spirit, who is a healer. They live next door to each other and team up to solve these mysteries.
This particular mystery arises when renovation work is being done on Footscrow House, a local building which has had multiple uses (and is commonly know in town as Fiasco House) - a pocketbook is found in a boarded up alcove in one of the rooms. The pocketbook contains a passport belonging to a young woman who disappeared from Fethering 20 years ago. Since Jude was present when the pocketbook was found, she and Carole get involved in trying to solve the mystery, and, of course, in uncovering multiple secrets among the residents of Fethering.
At an earlier point in the series, Carole appeared to be growing and changing, as she became a grandmother and became closer to her son and daughter in law. In the previous book, however, she reverted to her cranky, increasingly unpleasant ways, and in this one, that trend continues. I think this is too bad - it does set this series back, and it seems that Carole is being dismissed as a potentially interesting character, while once again, Jude is musing that it may be time to move on.
It's still a quick, fun read, but I wonder if the series is running its course.
I think I've read all of the Fethering books at this point, and they're always fun to read. Jude and Carole are two women, living in Fethering, a small-ish town in England, and they keep stumbling into mysteries that they enjoy solving. Carole is a retired civil servant, and is rather uptight, rule abiding, and set in her ways. Jude is a free spirit, who is a healer. They live next door to each other and team up to solve these mysteries.
This particular mystery arises when renovation work is being done on Footscrow House, a local building which has had multiple uses (and is commonly know in town as Fiasco House) - a pocketbook is found in a boarded up alcove in one of the rooms. The pocketbook contains a passport belonging to a young woman who disappeared from Fethering 20 years ago. Since Jude was present when the pocketbook was found, she and Carole get involved in trying to solve the mystery, and, of course, in uncovering multiple secrets among the residents of Fethering.
At an earlier point in the series, Carole appeared to be growing and changing, as she became a grandmother and became closer to her son and daughter in law. In the previous book, however, she reverted to her cranky, increasingly unpleasant ways, and in this one, that trend continues. I think this is too bad - it does set this series back, and it seems that Carole is being dismissed as a potentially interesting character, while once again, Jude is musing that it may be time to move on.
It's still a quick, fun read, but I wonder if the series is running its course.
July 4, 2022
I love Fethering stories and was more than happy to catch up with Jude and Carole. It was a lot of fun and I liked the story and how the author deals with some serious issues keeping the tone light.
It's a good and gripping mystery, there's a lot of quirky characters, and the twists and the solution surprised me.
Simon Brett is a master storyteller and this story kept me hooked and entertained.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's a good and gripping mystery, there's a lot of quirky characters, and the twists and the solution surprised me.
Simon Brett is a master storyteller and this story kept me hooked and entertained.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 20, 2022
This was a quick read, a thin plot and not much of a mystery. The story rehashes a lot of the conversations with uninteresting characters, predictable situations and a bit boring. Seems like a popular series, perhaps the earlier books are a better read.
July 25, 2022
It’s hard to believe that this book is authored by the writer of the Charles Paris books. There’s no wit, no biting social satire, no fun.
No more for me.
No more for me.
July 13, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Death and the Decorator is the 21st (!!) book in the Fethering cozy mystery series by impressively prolific author Simon Brett. Released 5th July 2022 by Severn House, it's 222 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
Simon Brett is an indisputably gifted writer. He writes consistently, entertainingly, and well. All the parts of his mysteries (and they are varied and numerous) fit together and do precisely what they're meant to do. The characters are believable and well rendered albeit slightly eccentric. The dialogue works and is never clunky or awkward. This is a long running and well established series and it's always a joy to check in on Jude and Carol and revisit Fethering and the locals. This one is written around a cold case murder and soon Carole's investigating the disappearance of a young woman 30 years prior.
I found it a delightful read and despite the potentially serious subplot elements, Mr. Brett manages to imbue the whole with enough humour to make it an entertaining and quick read. North American readers should be aware that it's written in British vernacular (torch, lift, flat, etc). The plotting is well paced and engaging with a surprisingly twisty denouement and resolution. I found the ending good, but surprisingly melancholy.
The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 6 hours and 57 minutes and is capably narrated by the author himself. Sound and production quality are high throughout.
Four stars. Really well done and one of my favo(u)rite consistently good cozy series. I'm looking forward to future installments in anticipation of a pleasant rainy afternoon's reading with a pot of tea and maybe some scones beside me.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Death and the Decorator is the 21st (!!) book in the Fethering cozy mystery series by impressively prolific author Simon Brett. Released 5th July 2022 by Severn House, it's 222 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
Simon Brett is an indisputably gifted writer. He writes consistently, entertainingly, and well. All the parts of his mysteries (and they are varied and numerous) fit together and do precisely what they're meant to do. The characters are believable and well rendered albeit slightly eccentric. The dialogue works and is never clunky or awkward. This is a long running and well established series and it's always a joy to check in on Jude and Carol and revisit Fethering and the locals. This one is written around a cold case murder and soon Carole's investigating the disappearance of a young woman 30 years prior.
I found it a delightful read and despite the potentially serious subplot elements, Mr. Brett manages to imbue the whole with enough humour to make it an entertaining and quick read. North American readers should be aware that it's written in British vernacular (torch, lift, flat, etc). The plotting is well paced and engaging with a surprisingly twisty denouement and resolution. I found the ending good, but surprisingly melancholy.
The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 6 hours and 57 minutes and is capably narrated by the author himself. Sound and production quality are high throughout.
Four stars. Really well done and one of my favo(u)rite consistently good cozy series. I'm looking forward to future installments in anticipation of a pleasant rainy afternoon's reading with a pot of tea and maybe some scones beside me.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 6, 2022
This is the 21st Fethering Mystery. And, like the others in the series, it is a reliable solid mystery (I’ve actually read them all). Jude and Carol, neighbors and very different personalities, are an unlikely couple of amateur detectives who decide to investigate the disappearance of a young woman 20 years ago whose handbag was discovered behind a wall during the renovation of a building.
Besides a good mystery, I really come back for several reasons. I love the relationship between Jude and Carol. It is complex and filled with ups and downs. Jude is the more go with the flow personality who works as a healer. Carol is the much more up-tight personality who is divorced and retired from the Home Office. But their differences complement each other in their investigations. I also love the lighter side of these books. Sometimes I laugh out loud and others I just smile but it is all good. I also enjoy the social commentary in the books. Fethering, the town were most of these murders occur, is the equivalent of a modern St. Mary Mead. Aristocrats don’t abound but normal people do and the observations are very telling.
Enjoy. It is a great series and I wasn’t disappointed with this installment. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
Besides a good mystery, I really come back for several reasons. I love the relationship between Jude and Carol. It is complex and filled with ups and downs. Jude is the more go with the flow personality who works as a healer. Carol is the much more up-tight personality who is divorced and retired from the Home Office. But their differences complement each other in their investigations. I also love the lighter side of these books. Sometimes I laugh out loud and others I just smile but it is all good. I also enjoy the social commentary in the books. Fethering, the town were most of these murders occur, is the equivalent of a modern St. Mary Mead. Aristocrats don’t abound but normal people do and the observations are very telling.
Enjoy. It is a great series and I wasn’t disappointed with this installment. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.
July 7, 2022
I adore Simon Brett's cosy witty crime stories including the Mrs Pargeter books and of course The Fethering Mysteries, of which this is his latest.
After Jude has her living room decorated, this indirectly leads to an old handbag being found, which is linked to a thirty year old disappearance and then, of course, to murder.
Despite being Book 21 of a series, the characters still felt fresh and as recognisable and familiar as ever. The chalk-and-cheese amateur sleuths; sensible ex Home Office employee Carole with her love of routine and faithful dog, Gulliver and charasmatic healer Jude with her colourful past. I love Carole and Jude's unlikely friendship, their shared love of solving mysteries and white wine (initially Chilean Chardonnay, changing to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in later stories!) despite their differences, and how this has developed throughout the books.
Other characters also make a reappearance such as Ted Crisp, the local pub owner, along with his bad jokes. While the books are described as cosy, the writing is as sharp and humorous as ever and the story intricately plotted.
While this can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend starting with The Body on the Beach, Simon Brett's first Fethering Mystery, to fully appreciate Carole and Jude's unusual, but firm, friendship and how this has developed throughout the series.
Thanks to author, Simon Brett, publishers Severn House and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
After Jude has her living room decorated, this indirectly leads to an old handbag being found, which is linked to a thirty year old disappearance and then, of course, to murder.
Despite being Book 21 of a series, the characters still felt fresh and as recognisable and familiar as ever. The chalk-and-cheese amateur sleuths; sensible ex Home Office employee Carole with her love of routine and faithful dog, Gulliver and charasmatic healer Jude with her colourful past. I love Carole and Jude's unlikely friendship, their shared love of solving mysteries and white wine (initially Chilean Chardonnay, changing to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in later stories!) despite their differences, and how this has developed throughout the books.
Other characters also make a reappearance such as Ted Crisp, the local pub owner, along with his bad jokes. While the books are described as cosy, the writing is as sharp and humorous as ever and the story intricately plotted.
While this can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend starting with The Body on the Beach, Simon Brett's first Fethering Mystery, to fully appreciate Carole and Jude's unusual, but firm, friendship and how this has developed throughout the series.
Thanks to author, Simon Brett, publishers Severn House and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2022
After Jude and her decorator, Pete, find a purse belonging to a woman who disappeared thirty years ago, Jude feels compelled to investigate the unsolved disappearance. Along with her next-door neighbor, Carole, the two of them become immersed in their small village’s speculations and rumors.
Death and the Decorator is the twenty-first book in the Fethering Mystery series. I have read most of these books but lately the stories have taken on a somewhat lackluster quality. However, this latest book has proven to be much better. As usual, Jude and Carole are friends but also somewhat adversarial, due to Carole’s rather acerbic nature. While this has always been a hallmark of the series, it has begun to wear thin for me. Jude, with her calm and caring demeanor, seems immune to Carole’s constant sniping about Jude’s profession (a healer) and her male friends. Jude is practically a saint for putting up with her and after all this time, one would hope that Carole, who seems to understand her own behavior, would try to curb herself. Otherwise, Death and the Decorator is nice cozy escape for a few hours and it’s always fun to visit old friends in Fethering.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
Death and the Decorator is the twenty-first book in the Fethering Mystery series. I have read most of these books but lately the stories have taken on a somewhat lackluster quality. However, this latest book has proven to be much better. As usual, Jude and Carole are friends but also somewhat adversarial, due to Carole’s rather acerbic nature. While this has always been a hallmark of the series, it has begun to wear thin for me. Jude, with her calm and caring demeanor, seems immune to Carole’s constant sniping about Jude’s profession (a healer) and her male friends. Jude is practically a saint for putting up with her and after all this time, one would hope that Carole, who seems to understand her own behavior, would try to curb herself. Otherwise, Death and the Decorator is nice cozy escape for a few hours and it’s always fun to visit old friends in Fethering.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
October 6, 2022
I liked this story, its about a woman healer and her friend looking into the disappearance of a woman from thirty years prior. The main character is having her sitting room repainted,the guy who is the decorator has a good reputation all over the town so she hires him and in the process of doing so goes to talk to him at his present job at a house that people believe is bad luck as no business seems to last long there. While she is there Pete the decorator is continuing with his job and opens up a wall, inside the wall is a hand bag which they determine has been there for thirty years. The main character takes it to the police station and finds out it belonged to a girl who had been missing for those thirty years. Lots of suspects but what really happened to the girl no one knows as the trail had gone cold. Then a murder occurs why and what connection did it have to the girl from thirty years ago if any. To find out what really happened to the girl and the new victim you will have to read the story. Happy reading
July 2, 2022
Polar opposities Jude, the free spirit, and Carole, the uptight divorcee, look into another mystery in the small town of Fethering. Jude is in the midst of getting some redecorating done, and she and her painter discover the handbag of a woman missing for decades. She and Carole can't resist snooping. The missing woman was a very upright and Catholic girl and the rumors at the time ran rampant: sexual harassment by her boss or his father, an illicit love affair with a co-worker, a secret elopement to Spain, etc.
The relationship between the two women is really the heart of this series. Even for a cozy, their incredible nosiness is over the top. Jude is unbelievably tolerant and relaxed, and Carole seizes on any occasion to feel affronted. This one had an interesting and unexpected twist to the ending.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The relationship between the two women is really the heart of this series. Even for a cozy, their incredible nosiness is over the top. Jude is unbelievably tolerant and relaxed, and Carole seizes on any occasion to feel affronted. This one had an interesting and unexpected twist to the ending.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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