I didn't realise this was a sequel when requesting - I must have misread the "flappy returns" as a general description that Flappy was returning somewhere. I don't think it is fully necessary to read book one first (it's not even listed as a series on goodreads) but it bothers me when I read series out of order so I'm not sure I'd go back to the first one.

This is book 2 in a series. It’s a lighthearted fun book with some humorous moments. The main character is well developed. The story was a bit confusing in places

Flappy Investigates, the delightful sequel to Flappy Entertains, is a whimsical journey through the charming village of Badley Compton. Santa Montefiore weaves a tale filled with the eccentricities of Flappy Scott-Booth, a character who is both endearing and exasperating.

What I enjoyed most about the book is Montefiore's ability to capture the essence of a close-knit community. The quirky characters, including the delightful Flappy herself, create a vivid and entertaining backdrop to the unfolding mystery. The author's vivid descriptions of the village and its inhabitants immerse the reader in a world that feels both familiar and enchanting.

Flappy's investigative antics, armed with binoculars and a determination to teach newcomers their place, add a humorous touch to the narrative. The blend of mystery and comedy keeps the storyline engaging, and Flappy's various distractions, from an ardent admirer to a New Year’s Ball, add layers of complexity to her character.

On the flip side, the numerous distractions that Flappy faces also contribute to the book's drawback. At times, the plot seems to meander, with Flappy juggling multiple subplots that may dilute the overall focus. While these diversions add to the character's charm, they occasionally leave the reader yearning for a more streamlined narrative.

Additionally, the arrival of Flappy's son Jasper and his family introduces interesting dynamics but at times feels like a subplot that could have been more seamlessly integrated into the main story. Their highly-strung nature and Flappy's reaction to them create moments of tension, but their connection to the central mystery is not always clear.

In conclusion, Flappy Investigates is a delightful romp through the quaint village of Badley Compton, brimming with quirky characters and a whimsical storyline. Despite some detours and distractions, Santa Montefiore succeeds in crafting a charming narrative that keeps the reader entertained. Fans of Flappy Entertains will undoubtedly enjoy this sequel, and newcomers to the series will find themselves drawn into the whimsical world of Flappy Scott-Booth.

This is the second in a series from Santa Montefiore and very different from her other books. I have only discovered her writing in the last couple of years and have enjoyed her historical fiction/ romance novels very much. This is what I would call a comfort read, without the depth of her other books but entertaining all the same. A lot is going on in the village of Badley Compton in the run up to Christmas. Not least that Flappy’s son and his family move into the village. As a character Flappy is a something of a Margot Leadbetter, keen to keep up with the Joneses but likeable despite her pretentiousness. She has a New Year event to organise and a new young couple from London who’ve only just moved in and need to be taught the ways of the village. I found her delightfully gossipy and enjoyed her relationship with her husband too. Not my usual read, but good for when undemanding, light reading is required.

Flappy is back, a great funny character. In this story she meets new people in the village, has an admirer, organises everyone in the village and her son is home with family in tow. Plenty of adventures and laughs ensue.
Yet again Santa Montefiore has written a great story, I cannot wait to see what else Flappy gets up to.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an advance copy.

Flappy Investigates what is not to love! A book that will leave you chuckling and wondering what Flappy will get up to next with all the antics and mystery you have to just love this book.

This is the second book in the Flappy series and I loved it just as much as the first. This is a different style of book to what I have previously read by this author but it works. Flappy is just an adorable character and you can’t help but laugh at her. If you’re looking for a fun, easy read it’s perfect. I would recommend this series and I hope there will be more adventures in the future from Flappy. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for letting me read and review this book.

Having now read both the Flappy books.I can say I enjoyed both.They are nice easy quick reads perfect for this time of year..Flappy is very entertaining as a character.

Flappy Investigates was a sequel to Flappy Entertains and I was keen to read this book to see what further adventures Flappy was set to have..

Flappy is a sweet country busybody with deep down - a good heart. She's the queen bee of Badley Compton and investigates the new comers to the village who need to know their place. A lot is going on in Flappy's life - including her son coming to the village and a party to organise.

It was an entertaining read but unfortunately the story almost got lost in constant referral to a previous affair and then a new issue with food and diet that I didn't think was written in a healthy way at all.

Still one of my favourite authors - I love the description Santa Montefiore gives of the peoples and places but unfortunately the Flappy books just haven't done it for me.

Every Santa Montefiore novel is in this readers opinion a masterpiece. The Flappy Scott-Booth books are a masterpiece all in their own though. These books are a delight to be enjoyed. I cannot wait to see what the delightful Flappy Scott-Booth gets herself into next.

This is the first Flappy book that I have read but I would definitely read another one. Flappy is more thank a little quirky and at times I found her and her lifestyle a little hard to relate to. However she is warm and funny and I totally enjoyed the book.

Another enjoyable read from Santa Montefiore!

Flappy!!! What a character she is, love her or hate her, she’s an incredible woman and makes an incredible read.

In this new book she’s off investigating matters close to home when she believes something is amiss. But has she got the wrong end of the stick?

Combined with planning a masked ball to rival all previous parties in the town, welcoming her sons family home from Australia permanently and planning Christmas, Flappy has a lot going on! Oh and her friend’s husband is showing more than a little interest in her too.

Well worth a read, Flappy is unique, likeable and sometimes a bit annoying, but sure that adds to the fun!

Such a great author and fantastic storyteller. Binoculars at the ready, Flappy Scott-Booth is set to investigate. Newcomers have moved in, a young couple from London, delightful no doubt but they do need to know their place. Who better to teach them the ways of this close-knit community than Flappy herself?
But Flappy has other distractions. An ardent admirer, a New Year’s Ball to organize and manifold appearances to be kept up. How much time and effort it all takes! Add to the mix the sudden arrival of her son Jasper with his utterly charming persona and total lack of ambition and drive, accompanied by his pretentious wife and their two highly-strung children - and Flappy is on ultra-high alert.
This is definitely a book to read!

The second book in the "Flappy" series, this is another gentle social comedy from Santa Montefiore centred on Flappy Scott-Booth, queen bee of Badley Compton, a genteel seaside town in Devon. The cast of characters from the first novel in the series returns, and they're joined by Molly and Jim and their children, who have escaped London in search of a happier life, and by Flappy's son Jasper and his family, recently returned from Australia and presenting a challenge to Flappy's well-ordered life and the image of familial perfection she so determinedly projects. I thought the first novel in the series worked slightly better than this one, but the author has set up interesting possibilities for novel number 3 and I look forward to reading that.

One of my favourite authors great book I recommend to you all love the plot a fast easy to read book characters are good you get into their heads plot good lots of twist and turned book

I enjoyed the first flappy book but unfortunately I found this on much harder to get on with and I’m not sure why.
It was enjoyable though and a great novel by santa

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Love this author so was thrilled to be able to read this

Loved it

I absolutely love the Flappy character. She just makes me laugh. Santa Montefiore does this type of character so well and I hope she continues this series or starts another one that’s similar. Sometimes you just need a chuckle.

It was so great to be back in Flappy world again. Badley Compton is a small place with a big personality. So much is going on in the village...according to Flapp. New people have moved in, her children are home to visit and so, as you can imagine, Flappy is very busy!

She is such a complex character, I feel like we went on a whole journey with her in Flappy Entertains and yet I think she does grow and change over the course of this book too. I was worried about having Flappy's son in this book because I thought they might have a strained relationship or else I wouldn't like the way she treated him. To be honest I was worried that she would use him in a game of oneupmanship i the village but their realtionship is interesting and I think their relationsip is one of the reasons we see somewhat of a change in Flappy over the course of the book.

There are definitely some laughs to be had as the storyline progresses. Flappy is in a quandry about so many things. In the process of her investigations she gets herself in some compromising positions and we also get to see a little more of her husband in this novel which makes for some light hearted moments too. Overall though, Flappy's heart is in the right place and so this book is definitely a comfort read and something short and sweet to warm your soul during a cold time of the year.

Flappy Investigates is the second in the title character's spin off series. It is a different sort of book than Santa Montefiore normally writes and while I appreciate lots of authors don't want to be pigeonholed into being one 'type' of writer, I didn't enjoy it as much as I have all her other books.

The story centres around Flappy, a sort of Hyacinthe Bucket type of woman, who presides over the fictional village of Badley Compton in Devon. I think my problem was I couldn't quite buy into Flappy and thus her trials and tribulations - which were all very surface level at first read, but in fact are real life dilemmas - didn't really grab me by the heartstrings. I felt like not much happened in the book.

The writing of course, is skillful and there were some parts I enjoyed but I probably wouldn't bother reading the rest of Flappy novels and will stick to Montefiore's historical fiction.

2.5 rounded up to a 3 for goodwill!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.