Stranger in the Village by Kate Wells - Book Review

Series: A Malvern Farm Mystery #2 

Publication Date: 30th Jan 2024

Genre: Small Town Dark Cozy Mystery 

3.8 stars 

One Liner: Slow but enjoyable mystery 

Jude Gray is busy keeping her farm afloat and diversifying to generate more income. She is still getting over the previous murder and the attack on her life. 

However, things get complex when Des Smith, a sleazy chauvinist newcomer in the village, gets murdered. His wife, Loretta, is a kind and loving person, a good friend of Jude. There are a few other strangers around, one of them being a mysterious person with red trainers. 

Like it or not, Jude once again has to solve the crime with DS Binnie Khatri. 

The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

As guessed, the pacing is on the slower side like the previous book. Even the atmosphere is dark and continues a few months after book #1 ends. The narration is better, so looks like we are settling into the series. 

Little Sebbie is three and going to nursery. He is a lively child, adding some funny moments to the story. Of course, like every other kid, Sebbie can throw a tantrum, and we see it multiple times. And… never underestimate a child’s ability to remember and use cusswords. ;) 

This is my second book that talks of glamping sites on farms as a source of additional income. Both books highlight the need for eco-friendly practices, which I like. However, given the dark atmosphere and the almost bleak setting (despite beautiful locations), I’m not sure how camping here would be glamorous. 

That said, Jude is great at managing the farm. Sure, she has help, but she is not afraid of tough jobs and is willing to learn. Lucy is now working at the retirement center and helps with housework whenever possible. 

The mystery is intriguing and has enough twists to keep the reader hooked. Binnie’s role is more of someone who shares the updates with Jude and discusses ideas to investigate the case. I’d love to see her in action someday. She is balanced, controlled, smart, and dedicated. 

Jude is not without flaws, which makes her annoying at times. A character calls her self-righteous, and I agree. However, this implies the character development is deliberate (to make her more realistic, I guess). Maybe give her a task she cannot do on the farm? That should add to the authenticity factor. 

And… it is easy enough to guess the killer and gets way too evident as more information is revealed. If Jude wants to become a sleuth, she needs to step up and stop trusting every darn soul who acts kind. Not considering a theory coz the person is kind-hearted won’t work! 

And oh, I love the two new members on the farm – Alfie and Ned, cute little pups. The farm already has Pip, the dog; Gertie, the goat; and Pancake, the lamb. The author has a new Alfie, too, but has unfortunately lost her Pip recently. Here’s hoping her sweet dog enjoys exploring the doggy heaven. 

To summarize, Stranger in the Village is a dark cozy mystery about family, relationships, friendship, doing the right thing, taking chances, and solving crimes. It’s also about not jumping to conclusions and accepting our mistakes. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #StrangerInTheVillage