Best for:
Fans of quiet mysteries where you can maybe start to guess who the killer is.
In a nutshell:
A couple of years on from the first book in the series, Daphne, a transplant from south London to the village of Pudding Corner, discovers a body. But were they murdered?
Worth quoting:
N/A
Why I chose it:
I enjoyed the first in the series.
Review:
I enjoy the characters that author Sutton created in the first book and was a bit disappointed they don’t feature more in this one. They are there, and I guess it makes sense because it’s already a bit odd to have one person involved in two murders in a small town, let alone loads more.
The town has welcomed back Lord of a manor in town, who has been away for over twenty years. He has come back because his elder brother has passed away, and so he has inherited the estate and the title. He and his fiancée (who also grew up in town) have decided to renovate parts of the home to rent out, and so have hired Daphne to assist. One day she is wandering in the giant back garden and discovers a dead body.
The body is of a man who has been seen about town, is likely unhoused, and who some of the more uptight residents believe is responsible for some petty thefts that have taken place. But is he? And did he die in an accident, or was he murdered?
There is a twist, and I did sort of see it coming, but there was more to it than I had figured out, so I still found the book a satisfying read. The book is sweet, the characters are fine, and reading it is a lovely way to pass a lazy afternoon.
I read the audio book version and wasn’t a huge fan of the performance, so I’d recommend the physical or digital version if you do pick it up.