Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #8
Publication Date: 25th Sep 2025
Purchase Link: https://geni.us/B0DZRKHXF6social
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228921537-murder-in-the-winter-woods
Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery,
Contemporary
4 Stars
One Liner: Early Christmas Mystery
Book Blurb:
Julia Bird adores a walk on a
winter’s day. The crunch of fresh show under your feet and the promise of hot
cocoa by a roaring fire afterwards… But she’s not expecting to find a body in
the woods!
It’s Christmas in Berrywick, the busiest
time of year for dashing taxi driver Lewis. But when he’s killed in
a road accident, the entire village is shaken. Julia Bird, recently
appointed to the Road Safety Committee, visits the site so that no other
villager suffers the same fate. But when she spies a pendant left in the
bushes, she feels certain Lewis’s death was no accident…
As the festive lights twinkle in the
village square, Julia vows to uncover the truth. She soon learns not everyone
found Lewis’s charm appealing. Sweetshop owner Dora says he
had an eye for the ladies, much to his wife’s frustration. Lewis recently gave
his life savings to a mysterious businessman who proves difficult to track
down. But could these be reasons enough to want him dead?
Then, local beekeeper Matthew is
struck by a car near the Christmas market. Julia believes the two deaths must
be linked, but contrary to Lewis, Matthew was as sweet as the honey he sold.
Who could possibly want to hurt Berrywick’s kindest man?
With no obvious leads, Julia stumbles upon
an old picture that finally links Lewis and Matthew. Many years ago they were
in a band poised for stardom, but when the bubble burst, their chance at fame
vanished quicker than a glass of festive eggnog. Could someone be targeting the
band members one by one? And can Julia track them down before the
killer strikes again?
An utterly gripping and totally
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.
This is the eighth book in the series and might work as a standalone since the personal track is steady and the focus is on the mystery. Of course, we still see more developments and happy times with loved ones. These are always welcome.
Jake, our chocolate Lab, makes a slightly
late entry since he was left at home, as the humans enjoyed the Winter market.
Unfair, right? Poor Jake! He lost the opportunity to run around and whack a few
displays with his tail.
Given the festive vibe, the mystery feels
a bit mellow. It works since the setting (Nov) has the same languid feel.
Still, the book discusses important topics. The focal point is road safety, a
very important aspect across the world.
The chickens are healthy, though they’ve
slowed down due to the cold. Chaplin the cat is in his element and even
occasionally displays his affection by bringing gifts. You can guess what kind!
The mystery starts simply. Then, new
layers are added to it. Some are red herrings, but some are solid leads. Can
you figure out which ones to follow? I guessed it right, and we actually got
the answer at one point. Series readers will know it when they see it. ;)
The pacing felt a bit slower than usual,
but no complaints. It suits the mood.
To summarize, Murder in the Winter Woods
is a solid continuation of the series and a great read if you want a compact
little cozy mystery set in winter.
Thank you, Sarah Hardy, NetGalley,
and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest
opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
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.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieGayleWriter
X: https://twitter.com/KatieGayleBooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.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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This has been a pitstop on the blog tour
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