Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #5
Buy Link on Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CLL1T12Qsocial
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201910596-a-country-wedding-murder
Publication Date: 13th March 2024
Genre: Cozy Mystery
4.2 Stars
One Liner: Such a fun read!
Book Description:
The joyous crowd applauds as the happy
couple strides down the aisle. This Cotswolds country wedding has everything –
friends and family, beautiful flowers, and… murder?
When Julia Bird’s ex-husband Peter and his lovely
partner Christopher decide to get married in Berrywick, Julia is delighted –
after all, who doesn't love a country wedding? Little does Julia know that
normally calm and collected Christopher will turn into a full-on Groomzilla – and
that by the end of the night, someone will end up dead.
The morning after the big day, the jolly nuptial
mood turns grim when Julia discovers the lifeless body of the caterer, Desmond.
Someone locked him in the cold truck, and the poor man froze to death. Now
looking for a murderer, all eyes are on Christopher who, mid-tantrum, had
publicly threatened to kill him. Convinced that Christopher is innocent, Julia
vows to find the real culprit.
Julia soon discovers Desmond has a long list of
enemies as she races against the clock to clear Christopher’s name. Could his
death be the work of the respected wedding planner who was heard exchanging
choice words with the victim? Or perhaps it was his wife – ‘til death do them
part – who didn’t shed a single tear at his funeral?
But just when Julia thinks she’s cracked the case,
her prime suspect is found dead with a knife in their back. Can Julia find the
murderer before they strike again?
An utterly gripping, charming cosy
mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, and
Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries.
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Julia’s third-person POV.
The book should work as a standalone, but I
recommend reading book #1 to get a better idea. It will also help you see the
character growth in Julia and understand her relationship and dynamic with her
ex-husband. It is refreshing to read non-toxic relationships between
exes.
Christopher is a typical groom-zilla but still comes
across as a sweetie. The poor guy wants his wedding to be perfect. Who can say
no?
Jess, Julia’s daughter, is visiting for the first
time since Julia moved to Berrywick. Must say that I like Jess very much. She
is the right mix of fun and serious, childish and mature, which makes her easy
to connect with.
Now, Jake, our adorable chocolate lab, should get a
special mention. He is turning out to be a lover boy! In the last book, Jake
gives all his attention to Henny Penny, the boss chicken. Now, he is mesmerized
by Jess and can’t take his eyes off her. And with Jess pampering her Jakey boy,
there’s no stopping him!
Little Sebastian also makes a guest entry. I love
this tail-less monkey who asks Jake if he is a good boy, lol. Leave the two
alone for a few minutes, and there will be loads of cleaning up to do!
Julia and Hayley are becoming closer friends, even
if Hayley wouldn’t admit it. Sean is a perfect partner, as always, being there
for Julia without crowding her space and offering support without being
loud.
The mystery is solid. I like that Julia and the
readers get the clues at the same time. This does make it tough when Julia
takes time to connect the dots, but hey, readers have more sleuthing
experience. The reveal, when it comes, seems a natural progression of the case
and not something that appears out of nowhere.
To summarize, A Country Wedding Murder is an
entertaining and delightful mystery with dead bodies, food, sleuthing,
suspects, laughter, and a touch of contemplation. The pacing is steady, which
makes this a breezy read. Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #ACountryWeddingMurder
***
Author Bio:
Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of
best-selling South African writers Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail
have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie
Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate
live in Johannesburg with their husbands, children, dogs, and cats.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieGayleWriter
X: https://twitter.com/KatieGayleBooks
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases
from Katie Gayle here: https://www.bookouture.com/katie-gayle
***
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