Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #6 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 11th Sep 2024
Purchase Link: https://geni.us/B0CY6BCMFNsocial
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209998731-murder-on-a-country-walk
Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery
4 Stars
One Liner: A short and quick mystery
Book Blurb:
Julia Bird loves a walk in the
countryside. There’s nothing quite like the fresh air and green rolling hills
of the Cotswolds to clear your head. Unless you come across a dead body, that
is…
When the local Berrywick vet, Dr Eve Davies,
is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the police believe it’s nothing more
than a tragic accident, but Julia isn’t so sure. Just a few days earlier when
she took her dog, Jake, to the vet, Dr Eve said she believed something awful
was about to happen. It turns out she was right…
But who would want the beloved village vet dead? Was
it her mother Kay, a down-and-out gambler who stands to inherit her
unwedded daughter’s home? Was it her assistant Olga, who was close
to getting fired? Or was it her cut-throat tennis partner Will,
with whom Dr Eve had an argument shortly before she took a tumble? And who is
the stranger skulking around Berrywick peering into people’s windows?
When a second body appears in the exact spot where
Dr Eve was found, Julia knows it can’t be a coincidence. Both victims were
pushed off the cliff, but why? Should Julia let sleeping dogs lie, or
will she be like a dog with a bone to find the murderer?
A totally gripping and charming cozy
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.
My favorite Jake is back again! The book starts with our chocolate lab participating in the dog talent show and winning an award in a category (guess which one?), much to Julia’s delight.
The MC knows the victim and is naturally sad to see
her dead near the cliffs. It is never easy when she is the one to find the
body.
The mystery has quite a few elements, some of which
are solved pretty quickly. However, we don’t know if there’s more to be
discovered! I connected the dots way before our MC did but that’s not new
either.
The book deals with a few themes like conservation
vs. development (hot topic), competitive spirit, addiction, shady activities,
puppy farms, etc. Each of these gets different weightage based on the plot
requirements.
The MC is, as usual, trying to gather more
information. She isn’t the one to let something go when she knows the details
don’t add up.
The side characters do their bit to provide
information and entertainment. Little Sebastian makes an entry early in the
book for a teeny while and manages to get into trouble.
The best thing is that I learned three new things by
reading this book:
- Do
you know there’s something called happy tail syndrome where the dog’s tail
sprains from too much wagging? It could even cause a mild fracture if the
tail hits hard objects when wagging.
- I
had no idea cross-breeding dogs was a lucrative (shady) business with
loads of income. There’s an increase in demand for customized crossbreeds,
and the pups can cost a thousand pounds or two, depending on the breeds.
Whoa!
- There’s
a game called Padel (tennis) which seems to be a cross between tennis,
table tennis, and maybe even a little badminton. It’s played in teams of
twos (so like doubles in tennis). It is easier than tennis and hence
becoming popular (as older people can also play and get good exercise).
To summarize, Murder on a Country Walk is a good
continuation of the series and should work well as a standalone. There is
enough detail to get an idea about the character’s backstories without weighing
down the plot.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC.
This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #MurderOnACountryWalk
***
About the Authors – Katie Gayle
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.
Follow the Authors –
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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