It is an atmospheric mystery with an amazing setting. Death at St Jude's is the second book in the series. However, the author has done an amazing job to introduce the reader to all the characters and necessary details.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery for its characters, relationships between characters and... yes, setting: small village community in a very picturesque part of UK.
A head master of local school ends up dead. Who's done it? A nice man on the surface, head master had a knack to rub people around him the wrong way. Who would have bottled up enough anger to deal him the fatal blow?
A very nice read for those of us who love cozy mysteries and book series set in the nice places.

Fans of Miss Marple and Agatha Raisin will love Mary Grand’s Death at St Jude’s.

The Isle of Wight has always been a safe haven for dog-walker Susan – until she ended up entangled in a troubling investigation close to her old home. Having now moved to the village of Bishopstone, Susan hopes to spend her days getting to know her neighbours and helping out in the local community, not solving murders. However, little does she realize that she’s going to have to put all her skills to test and turn detective yet again!

Joining the choir at St. Jude’s, Susan is shocked when one day she witnesses a shocking altercation at the meeting for the choir committee, followed by a shocking incident involving head teacher Lawrence. With a dangerous killer hiding in plain sight and the police refusing to get involved, Susan realizes that she needs to get to the bottom of this case by doing the investigating herself. Can she catch the killer before more bodies are found? Or has whoever is responsible already got their next victim in their sights?

A treat for cozy mystery fans, Mary Grand’s Death at St Jude’s has a terrific amateur sleuth, a strong sense of place and tension, suspense and red herrings galore. A gripping mystery readers will not be able to put down, Mary Grand’s Death at St Jude’s is a hugely enjoyable page-turner I couldn’t read fast enough.

When Susan moves to Bishopstone on the Isle of Wight, she’s not given up her habit of dog walking, but she’s not expecting to be drawn into another murder investigation. That was something she was leaving behind with her move. She throws herself into becoming a part of her new community, even joining the local choir. But it’s not long before she pulled into investigating the death of Lawrence, headmaster of the local school…considering she was one of the last people to see him alive. At first, police aren’t sure if the death was a suicide or an accident, but when Lawrence’s widow asks Susan to investigate, she can’t turn her down.

The author has created an community of characters with plenty of secrets they want kept under wraps. There’s more than one viable motive and suspect for Lawrence’s murder.

Susan’s character is well developed, with personal issues related to her family creating plenty of drama outside of her sleuthing, including having to spend time with her ex-husband (after forty years of marriage) at a family event. Will she be able to resolve those problems and create a happy life for herself in Bishopstone? Will she be next on the killer’s list as she gets close to the secrets in Lawrence’s life?

Mary Grand has crafted a well written mystery and there’s enough twists and turns that the reader will be suspecting more than one Bishopstone resident is capable of killing.

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

"Death at St Jude’s" by Mary Grand is a captivating whodunnit that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Set in the picturesque village of Bishopstone on the Isle of Wight, this novel delivers a compelling blend of mystery, suspense, and community intrigue.

At the center of the story is Susan, a keen dog-walker and reluctant sleuth who finds herself drawn into a series of disturbing events unfolding in her new home. Grand skillfully crafts a sense of atmosphere and tension as Susan delves deeper into the mystery surrounding an altercation at the choir committee meeting and a shocking accident involving head teacher Lawrence.

What sets "Death at St Jude’s" apart is its richly drawn characters and intricate plot. From the quirky villagers to the enigmatic suspects, each character is brought to life with depth and nuance, making it impossible to guess their true motives. As Susan races against time to uncover the truth, readers will find themselves eagerly turning pages, trying to piece together the fiendish puzzle alongside her.

Grand's writing is sharp and evocative, transporting readers to the idyllic setting of Bishopstone while keeping them on the edge of their seats with twists and turns that are both unexpected and satisfying. The sense of urgency is palpable, and the stakes are high as Susan grapples with the realization that a dangerous criminal may be hiding in plain sight.

In conclusion, "Death at St Jude’s" is a must-read for fans of classic whodunnits and amateur sleuths. Mary Grand's expert storytelling and intricate plotting make this novel a standout in the genre, leaving readers guessing until the very end. With its intriguing mystery and vibrant cast of characters, this book is sure to stimulate even the most demanding of amateur sleuths.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

Reluctant sleuth Susan, has moved away from her old home where her first investigation occurred, bothered by the memory of murder and ugly secrets she has settled in the peaceful village of Bishopstone on the Island of Wight. Susan has thrown herself into the local community volunteering and joining the choir. But this peaceful village doesn't stay peaceful for long when an argument breaks out during choir practice and an "accidental" fall soon follows for one of the participants. Susan feels there is something wrong here and once again most investigate to bring a cunning murderer to justice.

I really liked the characters. Susan has problems in her own life between dealing with a possible new romance and the reappearance of her ex-husband on her doorstep complaining about his present relationship. Plus, she really doesn't want to believe that another murder has come to disturb her new found peace. The problems make her feel very real and someone who isn't perfect.

I particularly like the acknowledgement that being close to murder is disturbing to one's peace, particularly if one is doing the investigation and uncovering a lot of nasty secrets. Most cozy series, particularly long ones, have the characters living life in their wonderful community where so many people get along but there happens to be all these murders. All the murder victims can't all be visiting town. It would eat away at anyone's sense of security and trust in people to have this violence routinely apart of their lives. I know you can't have the main characters move to a new town every book because that would destroy the sense of community and bonds of family and friendship that people look for in a cozy. It is still nice to see the consequences of murder rippling beyond the last page of the last book and acknowledged every now and then.

There were a lot of twists in this book; I really enjoyed it. And the lovely descriptions of the island didn't hurt either. Looking for a good English village cozy mystery, try this. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a good mystery book set in the Isle of Wight. The main character Susan was brilliant at sleuthing and I really didn't pick up who it was until the final pages. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book was a fun read that made me wish I lived on the Isle of Wight. Susan has moved there after her divorce and when the head teacher is killed, she investigates. One of my favorite things about this book was the author's description of every place. When I can imagine myself there, I Know it's a great read. Mary Grand kept me guessing "who done it" with many interesting characters. I especially liked Susan's daughter and her family. I'm hoping they move to the island for some adventures. I'm looking forward to seeing where Susan's relationship with her new beau. The dogs were great as well. Thank you for letting me read this advanced copy. I am recommending it highly.

Blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/02/10/blog-tour-death-at-st-judes-mary-grand/

Susan has moved into the quiet village of Bishopstone. She is fairly recently divorced after forty years of marriage & is coming to terms with living alone- well apart from her two dogs. In an attempt to make friends she joins the choir & finds herself on the choir committee. When the local headteacher. Lawrence, announces that the choir master's post at the school will not be continuing it causes a great deal of consternation- but not half as much as when his body is found at the foot of the bell tower! Although it looks as if it is either accident or suicide, but his wife doesn't believe it. As Susan has a bit of a reputation as a bit of an amateur sleuth she asks her to look into it.

This is a great cosy mystery with a variety of interesting characters, blind alleys, & a surprise reveal. I loved the setting & the characters. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Death at St Jude’s is the second Isle of Wight cozy mystery by Mary Grand. Released 10th Feb 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 347 (e-format) pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, Death at Castle Cove , is also currently available on KU.

This is a well written and engaging story with an appealing and intelligent protagonist, set in a vividly beautiful location. The author has a gift with descriptive prose, and does a good job of "showing" and not "telling" in the story. The mystery itself is well constructed and self contained in this volume. All necessary backstory is included for the characters, so it works well as a standalone.

With two books published in the ongoing series, it would be a good choice for a weekend binge / buddy read. The author wasn't previously on my radar, but fans of Faith Martin and Frances Evesham will find a lot to like here.

Four stars. Competent writing and a well constructed mystery.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The gentle pace of life in the village of Bishopstone, along with its welcoming community, has proved to be exactly the fresh start Susan felt she needed – and, one day soon, she really will get all those boxes unpacked after her move. But it seems that passions are running high beneath its peaceful surface – an altercation at the St Jude’s choir committee meeting, when the village school’s headmaster Lawrence decides to withdraw funding, resulting in the inevitable ending of choirmaster Ross’ contract and a dilemma for vicar Daniel. Leaving Lawrence watching bats from the church tower, he locks the door behind her – but later that night, he’s found dead after an unexplained fall. His wife can’t believe it was the unfortunate accident the police believe it to be, and asks for Susan’s help in investigating – and she begins to uncover undercurrents and hidden secrets in the quiet village, and a mounting threat to her own safety as she draws closer to the truth.

At the nearby nursing home, Susan has her elderly friend Alice to use as a sounding board – she was so valuable for her insights during her previous investigation, teasing out clues when she couldn’t work out her next move. But there are so many suspects – all quite wonderfully drawn characters, and every one of them credible. It seems that vicar Daniel might just have a bit of a secret life – and his flamboyant wife Jessie might not be quite what she seems either. And then there are the other teachers at the school – young Cerys who lodges at the vicarage and is still finding her feet, and dedicated Fiona who regularly works into the early hours. And then there’s choirmaster Ross – was he really going to be content to just walk away?

Walking her dogs gives Susan time and space to consider her next moves and weigh up the evidence she collects – but also to think about the changes in her own life. Ex-policeman friend Robert provides support, but worries about her repeatedly putting herself in the path of personal danger – and might she now be ready to let him become rather more than just a friend? And then there are her family issues – her ex-husband walked away, but with a new granddaughter will be coming back into her life, with some inevitable emotional turmoil attached.

This really is a wonderfully told story, filled with twists and turns and unexpected discoveries – and with a steadily increasing tension as it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want Susan to join up the pieces, and the threat increases to her personal safety. There are so many clues and hidden secrets, suspects moving in and out of the frame, red herrings and clever bits of misdirection, small details that might (or might not…) be significant and it was great fun to try to solve the case before Susan and Alice did – and, of course, I failed dismally as always. And the pacing of the whole story is just as perfect as ever – speeding up as the final revelation approaches, making the book quite impossible to put down.

Another triumph for an author whose books I unfailingly enjoy – a really compelling read, with an amateur sleuth I’ve really taken to my heart. I’m already looking forward to the next book in this lovely series – but this is one I’d very much recommend to others.

Death at St Jude's is a lovely cosy mystery set on the delightful Isle of Wight. It had interesting characters and enough twists and turns to keep me reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Set in a beautiful location on the Isle of Wight, this second entry in the The Isle of Wight Killings featuring amateur sleuth Susan, does not disappoint. Having moved to the village o Bishopstone for a more peaceful life, Susan once more finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Lots of twists and turns, and interesting characters make this a great read.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Death At St.Jude's' by Mary Grand
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Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Mary Grand, Rachel's Random Resources, Book And Tonic, Boldwood Books, Poison & Pens and The Bold Book Club.

Publication date 10th February 2024

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely will not be my last! It is also the second book in Mary's 'The Isle Of Wight Killings' series but can be read as a standalone.

This novel consists of a prologue and 40 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

Well done and thank you Mary on and for an absolutely amazing cosy mystery and a fantastic start (for me) in what promises to be an addictive series!!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.

I absolutely LOVED this book and cannot wait to read previous and future books in this series!!

I may have never read any of this authors books prior to this one but after sinking my teeth into this cracking and intriguing mystery I cannot wait to get stuck into the previous book and future books!! Mary's amazing and evocative writing skills really brought everything to life all throughout the story ensuring I could see the characters, the absolutely stunning surroundings and feel everything the characters were feeling. I absolutely loved visiting the stunning Bishopstone and Isle Of Wight in this book and I'm looking forward to returning there in the other books in this amazing series. I have not been to the Isle Of Wight in several years but as soon as I delved into this fantastic book I was whisked straight back there feeling and smelling the fresh air and taking in the absolutely beautiful surroundings that not even a death could spoil!! Mary portrays life in a small village absolutely perfectly, bringing the community to life and showing that when you live in a small place everybody knows everybody else's business and there is no such thing as a secret for long! Living in a small village myself I can definitely relate to exactly the type of village that Mary portrays so perfectly with Bishopstone. I was so completely invested in this fantastic page turner that it genuinely felt like I was on holiday and, again even though there was drama and death, i was absolutely devastated to come to the end to and return to rainy Wales. Speaking of which, I absolutely loved the little bits of Welsh language and background included with a Welsh character, being Welsh myself (as is the amazing author Mary!). Susan is hoping for a peaceful life after moving from her home after being involved in a murder but that's not what she gets in this gripping storyline. There is drama at the choir she is invited to join and by the next day Lawrence, the headteacher of the local school is found dead at St Jude's church. The police think he fell but his wife Hazel is adamant that there is something darker going on and asks Susan to help. Susan brings her friends Alice and Rob into the investigation and end up questioning the choir members which include teacher Cerys and her boyfriend and choirmaster Ross, vicar Daniel and his wife Jessie and deputy headteacher Fiona. Each of the characters seem to have something to hide as well as possible motives and dodgy alibis. Will Susan discover a killer in the village or was it a tragic accident after all? I would love to tell you but that would be spoiling the storyline wont it so i will let you grab your copy of this fantastic book and discover for yourself. trust me, you will not regret it and if your anything like me you will find a new author whose work you will fall in love with!! The storyline is ram packed with death, murder?, tragedy, mystery, laughter, love, friendship, suspense, animals and absolutely everything you could ask for in a fantastic and addictive mystery!!! There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one mystery becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read and I would never have guessed who did and was hiding what and I was completely shocked by the mega twists. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Mary, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! I loved the addictive storyline, the stunning settings and the fantastic characters and I really am looking forward to getting stuck into the rest of your books which I am off to add to my Amazon wish list as soon as I have finished this review!! With a fantastic storyline, unforgettable characters and twists and turns you won't see coming this book is perfect to devour in front of a fire on a winters day or relaxing on the beach under the sun! Grab your copy and head off to the Isle Of Wight today!!!

Clear your schedules and pick up this fantastic, gripping and addictive page turner today and enjoy a visit to the sunning Isle Of Wight!!

Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without reading the first book which is called 'Death At Castle Cove' and is one I'm looking forward to going back to and reading. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

I absolutely LOVED meeting and getting to know all these refreshing new characters (for me as it is the first book I have read in this series) who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. Each and every character is realistic, well defined and leapt out of the pages at me every turn of a page!! I absolutely loved our main protagonist Susan who is an amazing and strong female lead. i am always a fan of strong female protagonists in books being female myself and I was surprised at ow quickly it was for me to think of Susan as more of a friend than a fictional character, along with several other characters. It certainly helped that she has two dogs called Rocco and Libs as I am a massive animal lover. I run Golden Oldies Cat Rescue and Hospice (you can find my page on Facebook) and animals in books always gain extra bonus points from me and more so with this book as they all played such regular parts. It wasn't just Susan's dogs Libs and Rocco that I enjoyed getting to meet when it came to four legged friends but Susan's friend Robert also has two dogs Gem Gem and Dougie as does shop owner Tracy who owns Lottie. I could talk about animals in books for ages but I best get back to talking about the main characters as I am meant to be cutting down on my review length!! I have mentioned Susan and Robert who play large parts in this book as well as Tracy who is the shop owner. We also meet many more characters including Susan's ex husband Doctor Steve and his new partner Hester, Steve and Susan's daughter Zoe, her daughter in law Fay and their daughter Jamari, victim and Headteacher of local school of Bishopstone, his wife Hazel who is a chiropodist and the church warden, Susan's friend and previous shop owner Alice who now resides in a nursing home and I absolutely adored, school teacher Cerys and her boyfriend choirmaster Ross, Ross's stepmother and deputy head of the school Fiona, vicar Daniel and his wife Jessie along with many more characters and suspects. I absolutely loved getting to know many of these characters and Mary's vivid and evocative descriptions makes it feels like the reader is standing next to Susan and meeting her and the other characters for themselves. I really cannot wait to get to meet many more of them again on my next visit to the Isle Of Wight with Mary. I had no idea who to believe as many of the characters had their own secrets, agendas and mysteries surrounding them but I loved watching the way they all interacted with each other and seeing them change as individuals as well as partnerships throughout the storyline. Mary ensures that you really get close to them feeling everything that they are feeling and seeing everything that they are! Congratulations Mary on creating a fantastic collection of unique, varied, realistic and memorable characters who I am looking forward to meeting over and over!

Congratulations Mary on an absolutely fantastic and successful cosy mystery and I cannot wait to get stuck into more books in this promising series especially the first book to meet some of these amazing characters from the start!!! An absolutely perfect introduction to this series for me and I would like to welcome you to my favourite author club!! here's to many more successes!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and first chapter of Mary's 'The island' which promises to be just as amazing as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!!

Overall an absolutely gripping, page turning, intriguing murder mystery set in stunning locations that will keep you hooked!

347 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with Kindle Unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Mary Grand - Death At St Judes.

Susan’s fresh start doesn’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped. Joining the church choir should be a fun and relaxing activity…. in theory!
While their voices sing in harmony, there is discord behind the scenes. And before long, a dead body is discovered!

In a tale worthy of a place in Midsummer, Mary Grand, once more takes us to the glorious Isle of Wight.
Despite the idyllic setting and seemingly harmless locals, darkness and skullduggery are afoot.

Mary Grand has crafted another intriguing and cleverly thought out whodunnit.
Prepare to be gripped and thrown around on this rollercoaster of a book.

Cosy crime is rapidly becoming one of my favourite genres, and Mary Grand one of my favourite authors.

Well done Mary, Death At St Judes is a fabulous read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first read of Mary Grand's books and it was an entertaining one filled with twists, turns and yet more twists. I appreciated the main sleuths being of a more advanced age than the current detectives that fill most mysteries. I enjoyed Alice's contributions and Susan's steadfastness. The story itself had a lot of characters, all with secrets, telling lies and red herrings galore. I had a bit to keep track of at first. I had an inkling of the killer early on but didn't really piece together the motives until they were revealed at the end.
The one thing that spoiled it a bit for me was the fact that everything seemed to fall into place with Susan. Everyone she chatted with was happy to confess their deepest secrets just because she asked, it seemed. It was almost too easy sometimes and there were confessions flying left, right and centre and all just seemed happy with the fact that she would keep things a secret.
Apart from that, I enjoyed the flow and the jam packed ideas and actions of the characters that kept me guessing.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘Death at St Jude’s’ by Mary Grand
I really enjoyed this whodunnit and all of the characters in it. The story is very well constructed and very well written. It’s an excellent example of the ‘cozy mystery’ genre and is set on Isle of Wight. Susan, the story’s recently-divorced amateur detective is a dog-lover who thought she'd left crime-solving behind when she moved to the Bishopstone village where she is a volunteer helper at the local school and an enthusiastic member of the choir at St Jude’s Church. During a choir committee meeting the village school’s head teacher, Lawrence, has a shocking announcement that will mean the talented choir master whose contacts would help the choir generate much-needed money for the church building, will have to leave the village. Late that night, Lawrence falls from the church tower to his untimely death and when the police decide it was an accident (or perhaps suicide), Susan realizes she must assume the detective role to find the village’s murderer from among the many likely suspects. If you're into well-written, well-constructed murder mystery/whodunnits with a small-town vibe, this one's definitely worth a read.

I have been a fan of Mary's work for a while now. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every book that she has written and released. I must admit that I particularly enjoyed the first book in the 'Isle Of Wight Killings' series, which is called 'Death At Castle Cove' and it was released in March 2023. Since then I have been (im)patiently waiting for the second book in the series to be released. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because the second book in the 'Isle Of Wight Killings' is called 'Death At St. Jude's' and it was released on 10th February 2024. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death At St. Jude's' but more about that in a bit.

I have to say that it took me no time at all to get into 'Death At St. Jude's'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages, I realised that I would be doing nothing other than reading for the rest of the afternoon because I knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I had formed my own ideas as to who was the killer and what their motivation was so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had the wrong end of the stick completely. The more of the book that I read, the more intrigued I became, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I was so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Death At St. Jude's'. I found 'Death At St. Jude's' to be a gripping mystery, which certainly kept me guessing.

'Death At St. Jude's' is extremely well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Mary Grand. Mary certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story and then some. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a steady pace throughout. I loved the wide range of characters in this story and in fact I felt as though I had reunited with an old friend in the form of Susan. I loved the fact that the story and series are set on the Isle Of Wight, which is somewhere that I would love to visit. Through reading books such as Mary's, I feel that I have got a real sense of the island. This was a story with several twists and turns along the way and the level of tension increased as the story continued. I love the way in which Mary makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death At St. Jude's' and I would definitely recommend the story to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Mary's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.