Ratings1
Average rating3
Welcome to the beautiful English village of Inkbury. whose only claim to fame is the picturesque riverside that once appeared in a Richard Curtis movie. That is, until the MURDER... Former stand-up comic Juno Mulligan has been suffering a serious sense-of-humour failure. Not only has she lost the love of her life, but she’s having to relocate to the (admittedly idyllic) village of Inkbury to watch out for her elderly mother, who she’s genuinely worried might be marrying a wife-killer. She hopes that her old friend, disgraced-journalist-turned-novelist Phoebe Fredericks can help her crack the case of whether her mother’s perma-tanned, iceberg-smiled, three-times-a-widower fiancé is hiding a murderous past. But before they have a chance, the local art dealer washes up distinctly dead in the village’s famous river. His lover is in the frame, but Juno and Phoebe suspect that there is a deeper secret... One that relates to Phoebe’s own past and Juno’s present. Will the unofficial Village Detective Agency solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? In sleepy Inkbury, as they soon discover, living one’s best midlife can be murder. An utterly gripping cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling Fiona Walker, guaranteed to absolutely delight fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and the Reverend Richard Coles. Readers love Fiona Walker: ‘Loved it!!!! Couldn’t put it down... Keeps you on the edge of your seat.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Witty, addictive, and with plenty of drama to sink your teeth into... Entertaining from beginning to end... Fantastic.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There were times when I belly laughed so loudly I had to put my hand in front of my mouth to stifle it. (This would be during a binge read until 2 a.m.)!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I stayed up WAY too late gulping down the last few hundred pages. I simply could not put it down!... I thoroughly enjoyed the sparkling wit... Pure escapism, pages and pages of thrilling relationships, turmoil and love.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of my all-time favourite authors... Love the characters, the plot, everything about it.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THE WAY THIS UNFOLDS!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Walker writes with such vitality that all the characters are instantly brought to life. She’s funny, moving and not too OTT in her interpretation of life’s little eccentricities!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Laugh out loud funny!!!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this so strongly and with such enthusiasm that I became devoted to Fiona Walker for life.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love, love, love this book.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of my all time favourites. Laugh-out-loud funny in places, poignant and touching in others. This book really has it all. Incredibly well written’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Featured Series
1 primary bookThe Village Detectives is a 1-book series first released in 2024 with contributions by Fiona Walker.
Reviews with the most likes.
Book Review: The Art of Murder by Fiona Walker
Rating: 3 Stars
I recently had the pleasure of reviewing The Art of Murder by Fiona Walker, and it was quite the cozy escape into the quaint English village of Inkbury. Now, I've always had a soft spot for picturesque settings, especially those that come with a hint of mystery, so I was eager to dive in.
Summary
The story revolves around Juno Mulligan, a former stand-up comic who's left grappling with life after losing her partner. She relocates to the beautiful village of Inkbury to keep an eye on her elderly mother, who seems to have taken a fancy to a rather suspicious fiancé—an iceberg-smiled man who's been married three times and has some serious red flags. Just as Juno is trying to figure out if her mom is falling into the arms of a potential killer, tragedy strikes and the local art dealer turns up dead in the river.
Enter Juno's old friend, Phoebe Fredericks, a disgraced journalist-turned-novelist, and together they form an unofficial Village Detective Agency. As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that there are hidden secrets that tie into both Phoebe's past and Juno's present. With danger lurking around every corner, the duo must work quickly to unravel the mystery before another life is taken in sleepy Inkbury.
My Thoughts
First off, I have to mention that I absolutely adore the cover of this book. It's whimsical and captures the essence of a cozy mystery perfectly! Now, onto the story itself—while I found it good overall, I can't say it reached great heights for me. There were definitely parts that dragged a bit, which made it feel longer than it needed to be.
However, the mystery itself was well-plotted, keeping me engaged enough to want to uncover the truth alongside Juno and Phoebe. The setting was charming, with Inkbury coming alive through Walker's vivid descriptions. And let's not forget about the characters—they were incredibly likable! Juno's dry humor and Phoebe's tenacity make for a delightful pair.
In conclusion, while The Art of Murder had its slow moments, I enjoyed the intricate mystery and lovable characters. I'm intrigued enough that I'd definitely give the next book in this series a try. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a dash of humor and charming settings, this might just be your cup of tea!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️