Murder at the Bonfire just didn’t work for me. It is apparently the second book about the characters and the town of Cherrywood. Oftentimes, a reader can jump into a setting without having read the first book and easily follow the story. That wasn’t my experience with Murder at the Bonfire. It felt like I was missing background information that I needed in order to get a clear picture of the town dynamic. The other thing that didn’t work for me is that it focuses heavily of topics that I don’t enjoy reading about: witchcraft, tarot, and voyeurism (a married female character seduces men, her husband is aware of this fact, and he enjoys watching her be intimate with these other men. He also hires an investigator to “catch her” with some of the men, so that those men will know “they can never possess her.”) What a dysfunctional mess!

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tess is back and she, Liam, Raven and Oliver are working on a second murder in Cherrywood. WHO would want to kill a celebrity DJ and in Cherrywood no less?

There may be some things that hit close to home in this one, but the foursome will do their best to figure out who unit and why, even if it kills them.

The characters are well-written, even the minor characters and are likeable except for the victim who is not well liked by anyone. There are lots of twists and turns and suspects to keep you guessing who the murder is which is usually the case when the victim is not well liked. Can be read as a standalone as I did. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

‘Murder at the Bonfire’ by Penny Blackwell was an entertaining read – perfect for a cold winter day or a day by the pool. Full of twists and turns and gentle humour, it contains murder, mystery and a hint of romance. When an aging DJ and his young wife are invited to the village to judge the best guy competition, people are curious. Their curiosity turns to horror when the DJ is found dead, dressed as a guy, at the top of the bonfire. A charming read, perfect for fans of Richard Osman.

Another murder in the sleep village of Cherrywood after celebrity guest DJ Screaming Ade is found dead, disguised as the effigy on the bonfire moments after it's lit. Liam is hired by his wife, Leonie, to clear her name and it's not long before Tess and friends Raven and Liam decide to jump in to the excitement and solve the murder with him - whether he wants them to or not,

I really like the cozy-crime PI story as these kinds of books tend to be about Marplesque characters who insert themselves in to the investigation so it was a refreshing change. The characters are well-written, even the minor characters which is nice as they're not used simply as plot devices/red herrings. Lots of twists and threads to keep you on your toes and keep you guessing - even when you think you know who did it (I was so sure I was right) think again!

I look forward to reading more of these books about the newly created Feather and Hanley detective agency. Another great cozy crime series that I can't get enough of!

Lovely cosy crime, just perfect for an Autumn evening snuggled under a blanket. Very good mystery too, I didn’t guess any of the twists. Really enjoyed the romantic side of the book too. Will be looking out for the next instalment.

A second outing for Tess and Liam, who are still not quite a couple, as they have another murder to solve. Plenty of suspects, each with a reason to kill, a very nasty victim who will be mourned by nobody, and a fair few red herrings along the way, as the pair deal with witchcraft, devil worship and family secrets in pursuit of the truth. I really liked village vicar Oliver in book one and he is even more lovely this time around as he battles his own conscience and insecurities and shows himself to be the nice guy he really is. Did I guess who committed the murder? No! Cosy crime with a touch of humour and a nice dollop of romance. I enjoyed it.

It's coming up to Bonfire Night in Cherrywood. This year, the village has a Guy Trail, with many houses taking part and a celebrity guest to judge, culminating in the lighting of the bonfire.

But things don't go well...

Who would have thought that so many people in Cherrywood had something to hide?

I tally enjoyed this murder mystery book. It was thrilling, suspenseful and funny in places. I loved trying to solve the mystery and finding out who dun it at the end.

I have seen that it was compared to The Thursday Murder Club and this book didn't disappoint. Very easy to read, perfect for reading in the evening wit.a blanket and a cu9 of tea, cosy vibes!