This cozy mystery is the second in a series. I would recommend reading the series in order as this book references the first book and it sounds exciting! This book focuses just as much on the people as the mystery they are working to solve. Jude owns a sheep farm and decides to setup a glamping site in her pasture. The reader follows her in her journey and it’s a fun journey! One of my favorite parts of the book were the UK words such as gassing, bugger, and plaster to list a few. As an American I love the UK slang! The story is also very recent as it mentions King Charles. This is a great cozy mystery you can get lost in.

Great to return to the Malvern Farm once more,
With new friends, surprises and so much to explore.
Jude has new plans to diversify the farm
Never anticipating anyone else coming to harm.

A new couple moved into the village and seem
The opposite to loves dream!
He's obnoxious, rude and sleazy, too,
Whilst she's friendly, joining in and finding things to do.

A hit and run leaves a stranger dead.
An accident or something worse, instead?
There's worse to come for the village once more
The chance to investigate Jude can't ignore.

Another village murder mystery with family drama, too,
That keeps you guessing all the way through.
There are twists and surprises as well as possible romances
But dare these folk take any chances?

An enthralling cosy mystery and a great read,
I really hope you'll find it is a book (and series) you need!
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Life has settled into a good rhythm at Malvern Farm but Jude finds herself in the middle of an another murder investigation when a hit and run in the village points to a deliberate act. There are plenty of suspects, including a mysterious stranger seen in the village, and Jude’s own sister Lucy.

I loved Jude. I wish I had her energy. She's like a real-life Wonder Woman! Despite the murders, I would love to live in a place like the setting of the book and enjoy the peaceful village life. The first half of the book is a bit slow, but the second half is full of unexpected twists and turns. The introduction of the artist character brings a lot of revelations, with the first one being particularly surprising. However, the second revelation feels somewhat excessive given the many other twists in the second half of the book.

Jude Grey has a farm in Malvern End, which she runs with her shepherd, Noah. Her sister Lucy and nephew Sebbie also live with her. Jude is still grieving the loss of her husband and the recent murders that happened on her farm, which make it hard for her to make ends meet. She wants to add some campsites on the farm to generate some extra income, in addition to raising sheep and chickens. Unfortunately, there is another murder to solve when Dez Smith, an unpopular town resident, is found dead. Jude and her friend, DS Binnie Khatri, have to solve this murder as well as other mysteries in the town. Meanwhile, Jude finds herself struggling with her feelings for an artist who is helping her set up her new shepherd huts. As the number of deaths increases, Jude finds herself in danger as she tries to fend off an attacker who is responsible for all the murders in the story."I loved Jude. I would love it if I had her energy even more! She's a bit of a Wonder Woman! Despite the murders, I would love to live somewhere like the book setting and adore the village life. The book's first half is a slow burn, while the second is filled with shocking developments and twists. The artist's artist's introduction brings forward a cascade of revelations, with the first proving particularly startling. However, the second revelation feels somewhat excessive as the narrative progresses, given the already abundant twists in the book's second half.

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An absolutely gripping read from start to finish. I had my favourite suspect towards the end but there were so many twists that I kept questioning myself.

There were a few new characters in the village and I didn't trust any of them but I wanted to believe in Marco as he and Jude were becoming friends with a hint of something more.

Village life in Malvern is as lively as in the first book. Affairs, domestic violence and a hit-and-run are the talk of the day. But when another murder occurs and Jude's sister, Lucy, gets arrested as suspect number one things take a very sinister turn as it means that the real killer is someone very close to Jude and her family.

Lucy's son, Sebbie, provides a lot of comical relief in the way all toddlers do; repeating inappropriate phrases at the most inopportune times and being generally cute and adorable between tantrums.

There are some very dramatic scenes, particularly where Sebbie and Jude are in harm's way. I could not put this book down.

Humour, small-town drama and taut suspenseful scenes create a winning combination for this mystery series.

Jude met Ben at university and was welcomed by his friends from childhood Charlie, Adam and Sarah into their group. She later married sheep farmer Adam. Adam has been dead these past three years and Jude, together with invaluable help from shepherd Noah and his dad Frank, has taken on the running of Malvern Farm, now hoping to make ends meet by setting up a small campsite. Her half-sister Lucy has also come to live with her, bringing her toddler son Sebbie along and working at Granny Margot’s care home, so things are looking good again for all of them. In the previous story Sarah was murdered and now her cottage is being rented by the lovely Loretta who has thrown herself into village life. Unfortunately, she also comes with Des, her obnoxious womanising husband, who seems to be making himself very unpopular. Things don’t stay quiet for long though when a charity night out for Lucy, Jude and good friend DS Binnie Khatri at the Lamb pub ends with a woman being killed in a hit and run outside. Soon it transpires the victim was another of Des’s conquests but was it really an accident? And who is in the frame? There are certainly plenty of good suspects. Meanwhile Jude acquires a willing helper at the campsite but events take a darker turn when there’s another murder and when the police focus on a prime suspect close to home, there’s nothing to be done but for the reluctant sleuth from book one with already plenty on her plate to seek out the truth.
There are some great characters who were introduced in the first story in this new series, and I have a real soft spot for Granny Margot, Binnie, Noah, Floss, Pip and, of course, Pancake the lamb and Gertie the goat! I like Jude, she’s become a tough cookie and a hard worker out of necessity but still has a lovely caring side to her and keeps everyone together. Although it’s filled with furry farm animals, there are some dark goings-on in the quaint village of Malvern End, and plenty of surprising twists for the reader. With a lovely ending, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Jude Gray has worked hard to bring a steady equilibrium to life on Malvern Farm and things are going well.
The only fly in the ointment is the addition of a new face in the staunch townie and chauvinistic, Des Smith. Jude has nothing but sympathy for his caring, patient wife, Loretta, who has become a regular visitor to the farm for a cup of tea and a chat. But things take a turn for the worse when a hit and run outside The Lamb brings death once again to the village.
The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I do like Jude & feel that I’m really getting to know her. The pace never lags but it strolls rather than runs. I also really like the secondary characters especially Jude’s three year old nephew Sebbie. There are twists, turns & red herrings & I didn’t guess who the villain was, which is always a bonus. I look forward to many more in the series
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The book in the Malvern Mysteries series takes us back to the farm and reintroduces us to some old friends and new characters., not all of them likeable or quite what they seem to be. When a particularly toxic character dies, his last words leave a cryptic clue to the murderer, but will Jude solve it? I like the setting for this story with the charismatic animals, the complex and relatable characters and the murder mystery with multiple twists. I did work out the murderer, but I wasn't sure I was correct until the final chapters. I enjoyed this rural mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

3.8 stars
One Liner: Slow but enjoyable mystery

Jude Gray is busy keeping her farm afloat and diversifying to generate more income. She is still getting over the previous murder and the attack on her life.
However, things get complex when Des Smith, a sleazy chauvinist newcomer in the village, gets murdered. His wife, Loretta, is a kind and loving person, a good friend of Jude. There are a few other strangers around, one of them being a mysterious person with red trainers.
Like it or not, Jude once again has to solve the crime with DS Binnie Khatri.
The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
As guessed, the pacing is on the slower side like the previous book. Even the atmosphere is dark and continues a few months after book #1 ends. The narration is better, so looks like we are settling into the series.
Little Sebbie is three and going to nursery. He is a lively child, adding some funny moments to the story. Of course, like every other kid, Sebbie can throw a tantrum, and we see it multiple times. And… never underestimate a child’s ability to remember and use cusswords. ;)
This is my second book that talks of glamping sites on farms as a source of additional income. Both books highlight the need for eco-friendly practices, which I like. However, given the dark atmosphere and the almost bleak setting (despite beautiful locations), I’m not sure how camping here would be glamorous.
That said, Jude is great at managing the farm. Sure, she has help, but she is not afraid of tough jobs and is willing to learn. Lucy is now working at the retirement center and helps with housework whenever possible.
The mystery is intriguing and has enough twists to keep the reader hooked. Binnie’s role is more of someone who shares the updates with Jude and discusses ideas to investigate the case. I’d love to see her in action someday. She is balanced, controlled, smart, and dedicated.
Jude is not without flaws, which makes her annoying at times. A character calls her self-righteous, and I agree. However, this implies the character development is deliberate (to make her more realistic, I guess). Maybe give her a task she cannot do on the farm? That should add to the authenticity factor.
And… it is easy enough to guess the killer and gets way too evident as more information is revealed. If Jude wants to become a sleuth, she needs to step up and stop trusting every darn soul who acts kind. Not considering a theory coz the person is kind-hearted won’t work!
And oh, I love the two new members on the farm – Alfie and Ned, cute little pups. The farm already has Pip, the dog; Gertie, the goat; and Pancake, the lamb. The author has a new Alfie, too, but has unfortunately lost her Pip recently. Here’s hoping her sweet dog enjoys exploring the doggy heaven.

To summarize, Stranger in the Village is a dark cozy mystery about family, relationships, friendship, doing the right thing, taking chances, and solving crimes. It’s also about not jumping to conclusions and accepting our mistakes. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

unpleasant-neighbors, hit-and-run, widow, sheep, rural, farming, family-dynamics, friendship, friends, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, relationships, relatives, small-town, amateur-sleuth, domestic-violence, family-by-choice, family-drama, murder, investigations, Herefordshire, sisters, grief, grieving, cozy-mystery, procedural, stalker, stalking*****

Widow Jude Gray has had a difficult year what with her best friend having been murdered, trying to manage the sheep farm without her husband, and her self-entitled sister (Judy) having moved in with her small son. Her ally in the local law is DS Binnie Khatri, and there are many other supporters to help them get through this mess. Part of Jude's issues is the expansion of a camping/glamping aspect to the farm to help the finance base, but things really get messy when there is a hit and run of a woman who had come to see a local Lothario who was later murdered, himself. Worse yet, her sister Judy is arrested for that stalker's murder. Then things really get messy!
I requested and received an EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I was immediately sucked into this village and its characters, I haven’t read the first in the series, but this did not impact my enjoyment.

I loved Jude, would love it if I had her energy even more! She’s a bit of a Wonder Woman!. Despite the murders I would love to live somewhere like the books setting and adored the village life.

The authors writing flowed so easily and the twist was a complete surprise to me. I’m now off to read book 1 and get to know the characters even more!

There are more deaths at Jude Gray's doors in this second installment of the Malvern Farm mysteries. Could it be linked to the new arrivals in the village, shady character Des Smith and his wife Loretta?
Jude becomes desperate to find answers as someone she knows joins the list of suspects...

I enjoyed catching up with the characters of Jude, Lucy, Sebbie and Noah. The personnalities of the rest of the cast developped along with the story, with some shocking twists in the second part of the book. I guessed who the murderer was though...! But I still enjoyed the read and the resolution was satisfying.
It was also lovely to see Jude gaining in confidence, both in her personnal life and in the projects she undertakes on the farm. A very good read.

I had thoroughly enjoyed the Malvern Farm series debut and was eagerly anticipating the second installment. I was captivated by the charming farm setting in the quaint village and the characters, including Jude, Noah, Binnie, and Sebbie.

The first half of the book is a slow burn while the second is filled with shocking developments and twists. The introduction of the artist brings forward a cascade of revelations, with the first one proving particularly startling. However, as the narrative progresses, the second revelation feels somewhat excessive, given the already abundant twists in the second half of the book.

My only niggle with this installment was the predictability of the killer's identity, which dampened my overall reading experience a tad. I found myself questioning how easily Jude and Lucy were misled, given the killer's apparent awareness of their lives. Personally, I had identified the culprit before the second half unfolded, not as a fortunate guess but through a classic scenario where the crimes seemed intricately linked to one person.

Having said that, I love this series and Kate Wells' storytelling. I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next installment.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of this book, Stranger In The Village, by Kate Wells.

Jude Gray has a farm in Malvern End, which she runs with her shepherd, Noah, and also has her sister, Lucy, and nephew, Sebbie, living with her. Jude is still recovering from the death of her husband and some recent murders on the farm, book one in the series, and she is struggling to make the farm a success. She wants to add some campsites on the farm to supplement her income, along with raising sheep and chickens.

Unfortunately, there is a new murder to solve, when an unpopular town resident, Dez Smith, is found dead. Jude and her friend, DS Binnie Khatri, have to solve this murder, as well as other mysteries in the town. Meanwhile, Jude is struggling with her feelings toward her first camper, an artist, who is also helping her fit out her two new shepherd huts. As the deaths add up, Jude finds herself in danger, as she fends off an attacker who is responsible for all of the murders in this story.

This is a well-written and interesting mystery, and a nice look at life on the farm in Britain.

Absolutely loved being back on the farm with Jude, Lucy, Sebbie and Noah. Another exciting thriller in the Malvern series and one that kept me guessing and gripped right until the very last reveal. Absolute first rate story telling. Hugely entertaining and eagerly waiting for the next instalment.

The Cover is stunning and one of the reasons that i requested the book. I am so glad I did because cozy mystery is my favorite genre.

The setting on the English countryside is awesome and makes the story. the story is behind Jude helping to figure out the murder to get her sister from being framed for the murder.

Definitely would recommend and will read more from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

A good cozy mystery set in the rural English countryside. Jude and her sister live and work on the farm, and when an odious man gets murdered she must step up and help when her sister is framed for the murder. Liked this one, and must admit the killer was not overly expected, at least the attempted kidnapping. Would recommend.

What a fantastic book to start the year with. Five stars, hands down. This is the second instalment of the Malvern Farm Mystery series by Kate Wells and though I gave the first book 5 stars as well, this one is even better.

Jude Gray has had a difficult year after her best friend was murdered months ago. Not to mention, lamb farming has not been financially sustainable in recent years. Jude decides to throw herself into a new project to diversify her farm’s offerings: glamping.

As she sets up the shepherd’s huts on her property to slowly renovate on a budget, a man named Marco proposes he helps out with the huts in exchange for room and board. She believes this might be too good to be true but cannot pass up on the free help.

Soon after, she goes to a charity auction organized by her new neighbour, Loretta. An unfortunate hit and run occurs and Jude has witnessed another death in her small village and she once again is thrown into hunting for clues and finding out who the killer is.

This story was so fantastic. The characters are so loveable and I was thrilled to see Lucy (Jude’s sister) and Sebbie (Lucy’s son) be even more involved in the story now that they live with Jude. I had all sorts of guesses in my head as I was reading and I was excited when the mystery unfolded that I had been right in some areas as I had caught onto some clues.

I know I will follow this series to the end, it is well written and well paced. The setting of a lamb farm reminds me of a goat farm I visited on an airbnb (who also offered glamping!) and it is so nostalgic and really keeps me attached to the story and series.

Thank you so much to Boldwood Books for giving me an e-ARC of this book through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

It’s October on Malvern Farm. The crops are harvested and the sheep are being turned out to prepare for lambing season in the Spring. Jude’s sister Lucy and her son, the delightful Sebbie, have moved in with Jude. Lucy has not noticed that Noah, shepherd and farm manager, is in love with her. And for the first time since her husband’s death, Jude is attracted to a handsome artist who is helping her set up profitable glamping cabins on a section of the farm. She is supportive of her new friend Loretta, whose husband Des is unpopular in the area because of his shady, Ponzi scheme investment practices. Then a local woman is killed in a hit and run accident and Des is the prime suspect. However, he is found dead before an arrest can be made. DS Binita Khatri, a close friend of Jude’s, must keep the investigation secret because Jude and her acquaintances are involved in this twisted case.

Stranger in the Village is the second in the Malvern Farm mysteries and even better than the first, Murder on the Farm. Familiar characters have returned and are still realistic. The farm setting is a character in itself. I have learned a lot of fascinating information about sheep breeding! I can’t wait for more Malvern Farm! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for this ARC.

An enjoyable sequel to the first book in this series. I enjoyed visiting Malvern Farm again, and catching up with Jude and the gang.

This is a cosy crime, BUT… the plot would have made for a brilliant psychological thriller. There were some fab twists and turns and I would have loved this story as a gritty crime/ psychological thriller.

The main character, Jude, is a really really terribly judge of character! I like her, but after two books, when she is so handy and competent in every other way, I’m left asking how she is so easily fooled!

This author clearly has a talent for crafting a well thought through plot, and I look forward to the next instalment.