*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Blurb: Morwenna Mutton should be living the quiet life of a librarian and grandmother in Cornwall’s beautiful Seal Bay – if only dead bodies would stop turning up…
After the excitement of her last investigation, amateur sleuth Morwenna is looking forward to things getting back to normal. When local DJ Irina asks to meet however, desperate to share information she has discovered regarding nefarious goings-on, Morwenna can’t resist.
But Irina never arrives for their drink – instead her body is washed up on the beach, an apparent victim of an accidental drowning. At once keen wild bather Morwenna knows something is amiss as Irina was a strong swimmer who knew the local conditions well. What had Irina uncovered and who would want her dead?
When the local news dubs Irina’s murderer The Cream Tea Killer in honour of Cornwall’s famous delicacy, the clock starts ticking. Now the murderer knows Morwenna is on their trail, no one in her family is safe. She must get to the truth before the killer gets to her…
If you love The Thursday Murder Club, Agatha Christie and Richard Coles then you’ll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries.
Morwenna and her little family of Mutton maids (four generations: mother, Morwenna, daughter and granddaughter) return to solve another Cornish murder mystery (well, technically, only Morwenna does that bit – Tamsin is busy serving tea and scones and having a social life, Elowen is mainly begging for a dog, and Lamorna sticks to grumbling, meddling and definitely not swimming!)
I don’t know where Morwenna finds her energy to be honest – perhaps it’s the fresh Cornish sea air or those icy sea dips? – but she somehow manages to hold down two part-time jobs, keep up with her granddaughter, go out dating, regularly brave the freezing sea and STILL find the time to solve murders… even the police are in awe at her competence at this point!
In this story we get more ghostly goings-on from the alleged library ghost, more cuteness from precocious Elowen and the multiplying Oggys, and more will-they, won’t-they romance between Morwenna and her two potential suitors, one old and one new. Honestly, I am firmly in Ruan’s camp here, no matter how charming Barnaby is, and I am getting increasingly irked with Morwenna’s reluctance to admit that they belong together… it can only be the legendary Mutton stubbornness holding her back now. Oh, and someone get that poor child a real Oggy already (that’s my two only miffs out of the way!)
This is definitely a must-read series for fans of light and cosy mysteries with a real authentic British flavour and plenty of character, and this latest instalment is as delightfully easy to read as its predecessors (which you don’t need to read to follow this one, but should anyway).
I can’t wait to see what Morwenna gets up to next… hopefully with a certain loyal and reliable fisherman sidekick as back-up!
‘You see all the goings on in Seal Bay from here – you know most of the locals?’
‘Yes, I suppose so.’ Morwenna wondered what Irina was getting at.
‘And I hear you’re a bit of a sleuth,’ Irina said. ‘We mentioned it on Bay Radio – that business with Spriggan Theatre a couple of months back.’
‘I’m learning on my feet. I helped Jane out a couple of times.’ Morwenna remembered the scrapes she’d got into twice solving crimes, last autumn and again in the spring. ‘Why do you ask?’
Irina narrowed her eyes. ‘I might need your help.’– Judy Leigh, The Cream Tea Killer
Purchase Link: The Cream Tea Killer on Amazon
About the author
Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.
Website: https://judyleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyleighuk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyLeighWriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judyrleigh/
Don’t forget to check out the other blog stops on the tour for more great reviews and content (see the poster below for details)!
