"Bloodshed on the Boards" by Judy Leigh is a thrilling and engaging mystery that transports readers to the charming seaside town of Seal Bay, where the arrival of a traveling theatre troupe brings more than just entertainment.

At the heart of the story is Morwenna Mutton, a spirited sexagenarian librarian with a penchant for wild swimming and amateur sleuthing. When tragedy strikes on the opening night of the Cornish version of King Arthur, Morwenna's curiosity is piqued, and she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the untimely death of actor and director Daniel Kitto.

Leigh skillfully weaves together elements of mystery, intrigue, and small-town charm, keeping readers guessing until the very end. As Morwenna delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding Daniel's demise, she uncovers a web of secrets and motives, leading her on a perilous journey where danger lurks around every corner.

What sets "Bloodshed on the Boards" apart is its richly drawn characters and vividly depicted setting. From the quirky residents of Seal Bay to the eccentric members of The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company, each character leaps off the page with personality and depth. Leigh's attention to detail brings the seaside town to life, evoking a sense of nostalgia and warmth that envelops the reader from start to finish.

As Morwenna races against time to unravel the mystery, the stakes are raised, and the tension mounts, culminating in a thrilling and satisfying conclusion. "Bloodshed on the Boards" is a testament to Leigh's skill as a storyteller, delivering a gripping tale that will keep readers eagerly turning pages until the very end.

In conclusion, "Bloodshed on the Boards" is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and amateur sleuths. With its captivating plot, endearing characters, and charming setting, it's a delightful and entertaining read that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Morwenna Mutton's next adventure.

Morwenna Mutton is an eccentric and clever sixty-something that I love as I think the more you age the more you get the right to be eccentric and don't care about what other think about you.
I was glad to catch up with her and the cast of quirky characters. I liked them in the first instalment in this series and loved in this second one.
This is a well done and highly entertaining cosy mystery: there's the right level of mystery, small town vibe, weird characters that never take the front seat and makes the mystery an accidental part of the plot.
I love Judy Leigh's storytelling and style of writng and this solid and fast paced novel kept me hooked and being surprised.
Can't wait for the next one, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this arc, all opinions are mine.

I have been a fan of Judy and her work for a while now. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed each and every book that she has released to date. I must admit that at the moment I have a particular soft spot for Judy's cosy crime series, featuring the legendary character of Morwenna Mutton. I read and loved the first book in the series, which is called 'Foul Play At Seal Bay' and it was released in August 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 series is called 'Bloodshed On The Boards' and it was released on 11th April 2024. I thought that the first book in the series was good but 'Bloodshed On The Boards' is even better. I LOVED 'Bloodshed On The Boards' but more about that in a bit.

I was drawn to 'Bloodshed On The Boards' by the fact that I saw Judy's name on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't read yet. When I started reading the story itself, I quickly realised that I wouldn't be doing anything other than reading for the rest of the afternoon because I knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down. So it proved to be. I was drawn into the story from the start. 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 my own suspicions as to what was going to happen and of course I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I was so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and the speed with which I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Bloodshed On The Boards' and I had to say goodbye to Morwenna and the rest of the characters. I found 'Bloodshed On The Boards' to be an unputdownable, page turner of a read, which certainly kept me guessing.

'Bloodshed On The Boards' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Judy Leigh. Judy has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Judy's books often feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. Judy grabs the reader's attention from the start and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story. Judy's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact Judy makes the characters seem so real that I ended up feeling as though they were friends of mine rather than characters in a book. I love the way in which Judy 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 'Bloodshed On The Boards' and I would definitely recommend the book to other readers. I look forward to reading much more of Judy's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

A cosy mystery set in a Cornish village. Morwena
Makes an interesting sleuth in a take of various twists and turns. An interesting set of villagers are well portrayed and I’m sure we will hear more of them in consequent storylines

The Mutton women and their friends and family are mostly “proper” Cornish, with their vocabulary of regional words for which there is a handy glossary. Four generations, all fiercely independent: Lamorna, her daughter Morwenna and her granddaughter Tamsin who run the local Proper Ansom Tearoom and Tamsin’s young daughter Elowen. Morwenna also works at the local library with her friends Louise and Donald, both of whom also join her in wild swimming together with young PC Jane Choy and the Lifeboat knitters Barb and Susan Grundy. The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company, led by Daniel Kitto, has arrived in Seal Bay to perform a Cornish version of King Arthur. Daniel is an old boyfriend of Lamorna and will be retiring to the town where he spent his youth. It soon becomes clear he is not well loved by his fellow actors, particularly as he is set to pull out of financially backing the troupe. Everyone is excited for opening night but it’s not long before it all goes wrong as Daniel (Uther Pendragon) does far more than “break a leg”. As Morgan le Fey stabs him in the play, he falls down in a pool of fake blood but he never gets to finish his final speech before Queen Guinevere declares him dead. The paramedics think he had a heart attack and although the police in the form of the rather incompetent DI Rick Tremayne are happy that his death was from natural causes, Morwenna is not so sure. There are a number of people who benefit from Daniel’s death, and so once again Morwenna undertakes a bit of sleuthing.
It's great to see all the main characters from book one returning, with one obvious exception (you’ll need to read the book to find out what happened) and also lovely to see how much Morwenna and her ex-partner Ruan still care for each other. This is a cosy crime story with some gentle sleuthing, full of twists and turns, and even a little romance, although things do turn pretty hair-raising at times for Morwenna. The inhabitants of Seal Bay are charming, vibrant and humorous and there is plenty to love in this thoroughly engrossing story. Morwenna makes a great lead character and I am keen to read more in this lovely series.

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh is a Morwenna Mutton Mystery – in fact, book two in the series. I read and enjoyed the previous one – Foul Play at Seal Bay – and was looking forward to catching up with everyone again.
It’s April. We catch up with Morwenna (62) and her family, with nice reminders of who everyone is. Morwenna likes swimming in the sea with her friends (the SWANs) and has a new electric bike and a busy life with work and the odd bit of sleuthing when necessary.
There’s her daughter Tamsin (28) and her granddaughter Elowen (6), who is a brilliantly funny character, very authentic. Morwenna’s mum Lamorna (82) lives nearby, as does Morwenna’s ex Ruan. There’s a gorgeous cat called Brenda too and even the cat jumps out of the page and is right there in front of your eyes. Judy Leigh has such a wonderful talent for bringing all her characters to life.
We are back in Seal Bay in Cornwall for another murder mystery. The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrive in the area and are performing the Cornish version of King Arthur. One of them is Daniel Kitto (82), who is Lamorna’s old flame! He owns the theatre company and is promising to move to Seal Bay, rekindling Lamorna’s hopes of them getting back together.
But then… there’s a murder!!!
I don’t want to tell you any more of the story, because I’d recommend you read this wonderful book yourself and discover all its joys as it unfolds…
I have read lots of Judy’s books in all three genres she writes as (one as Elena Collins) and have loved all of them. As well as the humour and wit in her novels and the fabulous characters and stories, her settings are excellent too. In the Morwenna Mutton series, Seal Bay comes to life with its coast, all the little shops around and the people who live and work in the area. It’s all so easy to picture and you feel like you are there, right in with all the action. Having said that, I’m just popping into the Proper Ansom Tearoom for a pot of tea and a scone…

As a fan of Leigh’s novels about women of a certain age, when I found out she was writing a cozy murder mystery series, also with women of a certain age, I was thrilled. My regular readers know that I really enjoyed the first Morwenna Mutton book, and I’m thrilled that her publisher, Boldwood Books, is so generous with allowing me to read more of Leigh’s books. Now, this book was released yesterday, so my apologies for this being a day late, but it won’t be (as we American say) a dollar short, I’m sure. So, this time Morwenna finds murder even though no one else was even the slightest bit suspicious of the death. I mean, seriously, older men die all the time of heart attacks, especially octogenarians like Daniel Kitto. Thankfully, her skeptical imagination takes hold and although we’re all ready for this close-up, obviously the murderer would prefer Morwenna stay out of the theater altogether!

Usually, I have a bit of a hard time keeping track when there are many people in a story. However, what I like about Leigh’s extensive cast of characters (in this case, both literally and figuratively) is that Leigh really knows how to make them all very distinctive. Obviously, I’ve got the main ones all figured out with this second book, as well as most of the minor ones. That we get a whole new group of people with the travelling theater company was a touch worrying for me. But I shouldn’t have been concerned, because as I already said, Leigh has a knack of making them each their own individuals. She also gives them distinguishing names that help us tell who is who. Granted, I’m not sure I’m pronouncing all of the names correctly (is it mor-WEE-na, mor-WIN-eh, or something else?), but that’s neither here nor there.

In this book we get a bit more about some of the minor characters, like Morwenna’s ex, her mother, and her granddaughter. The latter was terribly fun and she made me smile quite a few times – I remember how insistent young children can be, so that tracked perfectly. I’m also glad that Morwenna now has a partly motorized bicycle, because I was worried those hills might be too much for her. Silly, I know, but when you read a series, you do tend to get emotionally attached to the main characters, that is if it is done right. Mind you, I was hoping I’d get a touch more about Ruen, Morwenna’s ex-husband, but I’m guessing Leigh is holding back with him for future episodes. I did like the budding romance between Morwenna and Barnaby (from the previous book), and I also appreciated how Leigh is treading lightly with this aspect of the story, and letting Morwenna discover for herself what kind of a romantic relationship she wants in her life, if any.

As for the plot, this isn’t the most twisty story I’ve ever read, but there are a couple rabbit holes that Morwenna does go down, and thankfully, one of them proves to be very useful to discovering the murderer. What Leigh does instead, is slowly reveal things about the various characters in order to either cast light or shadow on each of them. You know, sort of like the old peeling away each layer of the onion to get to the center. This also means that some characters that feel very minor to begin with, end up having more importance in solving the murder. Also, kudos to Leigh in her pacing with this novel, including one harrowing car chase that did raise my blood pressure a bit. Mind you, I think the police were a bit too lenient with Morwenna’s nosing in on the investigation, but that is partly explained by the fact that the authorities weren’t even considering Daniel’s death as suspicious until Morwenna began digging about.

So, what’s my bottom line here? Because this book made me smile several times, and I did almost choke up at one point, I think I’ll once again very warmly recommend this second installment. For all this, I think it deserves 4.75 stars out of five (I really should get a graphic for that rating, but until I do… the five star graphic will have to suffice).

Bloodshed On The Boards is an engaging, cosy mystery set in Cornwall with a believable cast of characters and a charming amateur sleuth in Morwenna. Everyone is excited when the travelling theatre comes to town, but not all the drama is fictional. Morwenna is soon investigating a suspicious death, which puts her family in danger. The plot is twisty, the investigation immersive, and this story contains a lovely mix of humour, poignancy and romance. I love the dynamic between Morwenna and her family and friends, the theatrical setting and the gentle romance that contrasts with the intriguing mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

An enjoyable Cornish mystery!

The arrival of a travelling theatre company in Seal Bay causes quite a stir and the locals flock to be entertained, including Morwenna Mutton and her family. When actor Daniel Kitto dies on stage during the opening night, it's widely thought to be a heart attack but Morwenna has her doubts and can't help but try to find out what's going on . . .

I've ready many of Judy Leigh's novels and always enjoyed them but this time round I have to be honest and say that, while I'm not a cat lover I really don't mind them but someone allowing them on the table or eating from their plate really puts me off and definitely impacted my enjoyment of this one. It's a well-planned mystery, nicely written as always but the cat - and his eating habits - really spoiled it for me. 3.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

There is excitement in the air as the travelling theatre arrives in Seal Bay. When The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrives in Seal Bay to perform a Cornish version of King Arthur the locals flock to be entertained. But for Morwenna Mutton, sexagenarian librarian, wild swimming enthusiast and amateur sleuth, the theatre brings intrigue too. Actor and director Daniel Kitto is not the most popular member of the cast and unbeknownst to him, his role of Uther Pendragon on the opening night is to be his swansong.

In front of a horrified audience, he collapses during the dying moments of the performance in a pool of fake blood, and although the police are content that the causes of his death are natural, Morwenna isn’t so sure. And once it becomes clear that there are a number of people who stand to gain from Daniel’s death, Morwenna’s investigation takes a dangerous turn.

My Opinion

Judy Leigh writes some great books, but I have to say that as a character I am loving Morwenna. Morwenna travels everywhere on her bike and makes for such a lovable character. This is a series that I need no encouragement to read. I read the first 50% of this book in one sitting, and then I was so eager to return for the second half of the book.

Judy Leigh writes about older characters, but the books are still thoroughly entertaining. This is the second book in a new cosy mystery series and whilst the book would work as a standalone, I would recommend reading the books in order.

Rating 4/5

Bloodshed on the Boards is a community-led cosy mystery with its very own "Miss Marple" sleuth in Morwenna Mutton. Morwenna likes to tackle mysteries in her own way, by asking questions and following up leads while seeming to be perfectly innocently curious.
Set in Cornwall, with the added attraction of a wild swimming club where members talk "freely" about what's happening in their lives and their village. It's prime puzzle-solving ground for Morwenna in this book as she interacts not only with her friends but also others connected in some way to the travelling theatre group - whose director/owner has just been killed - and the murder itself.
Very much family-oriented, the story thrives on the interactions of Morwenna and her family and friends and their shared activities support the mystery plot well while also adding some fun red herrings to the mix.
It's an entertaining, enjoyable and easy read. A good whodunnit with more than its fair share of humour, community spirit, joie de vivre and good, old-fashioned fun. A series I could happily explore further.

Another wonderful read by Judy Leigh second in the series.A traveling theater an element of mystery great characters enjoyed from beginning to end.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks

As always a Judy Leigh book is a comforting and relaxing read as you join in with all the characters and their friends in their latest adventure!
Bloodshed On The Boards was exactly that, but boy was it a hard task working out who the murderer was in this latest adventure for Morwenna in Seal Bay! This is my first read of this series and I knew I would love it before I started! I need to read any previous ones!
Morwenna is middle aged lady, separated from Ruan, who lives a couple of doors down from her and is still a good friend. She works in a library, and helps her daughter in the family cafe but she also seems to be a very talented sleuth in her spare time!!!
A travelling theatre comes to town, bringing with it an old flame of Morwenna’s mum. Daniel is an actor himself and has invested in this theatre. He’s pulling his funds out and will be settling down in Seal Bay, much to the delight of Lamorna, Morwenna’s mum. But on their first performance, Daniel dies in front of the audience, apparently from a heart attack. Morwenna isn’t convinced, and she will move heaven and earth to find out how, why and by whom!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like I was working alongside her!!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy for review consideration via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #JudyRLeigh.

This was first by this author and I enjoyed this book!

It had a mystery element and the writing worked with the. Characters. With the mystery aspect it was good to try and figure out what was going on in the book!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

As a fan of Judy Leigh's Morwenna Mutton Mysteries and having read the previous installment, I eagerly anticipated diving into the next chapter of the Mutton women's sleuthing escapades. Judy Leigh's Bloodshed on the Boards continues to captivate with its quaint Cornwall setting and the endearing quirks of its protagonists.

When the director of a theatre group meets a tragic end on stage, suspicions arise, challenging the notion of his death as a mere heart attack. Morwenna's instincts tell her there's more to the story, especially as threats against her family emerge, pushing her to unravel the truth.

The theatre setting adds a delightful twist to the murder mystery, with Morwenna's six-year-old granddaughter charmingly cast as a mermaid in the play. Amidst the investigation, Morwenna's complex relationship with her ex-husband Ruan adds another layer of intrigue, as they navigate lingering feelings while pursuing new romantic interests.

While the abundance of red herrings and escalating threats kept the tension high, the revelation of the killer's identity felt somewhat abrupt, lacking the seamless integration I had hoped for.

Despite its minor flaws, Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh remains a delightful read, thanks to Leigh's vivid character portrayals and immersive storytelling. While the mystery may have left me wanting more, the eclectic mix of characters and the charming Cornwall backdrop made for an enjoyable escape into the world of the Mutton women once again.

A traveling theatre? I never would have picked this up, normally, but I’m so glad I gave it a try! Thank you NetGalley.

When a traveling theatre arrives in Seal Bay, locals eagerly attend the performance. But when the theater director dies onstage, Morwenna suspects foul play. With several suspects set to benefit from the actor’s demise, Morwenna embarks on a dangerous investigation.

A modern take on Miss Marple, Morwenna is a fun and quirky character, as are the other Seal Bay denizens. The book has a very small town feel, and Morwenna gets away with things she wouldn’t be able to in a larger village. The plot isn’t strictly believable, but it’s entertaining.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

An enjoyable book. I haven't read the first in the series which was a disadvantage. Although I enjoyed it I did not find the characters or plot memorable. It was the first of three books I read on a two week holiday and when I came to write the review at the end of the holiday, I had to read the synopsis to remind me of the story.

This is the second Judy Leigh book featuring Morwenna Mutton and the community in Seal Bay and just as enjoyable as the first one. This time round a theatre company comes to Seal Bay and after director Daniel Kitto unexpectedly dies on stage amateur sleuth Morwenna starts to investigate. She’s not convinced that he wasn’t murdered and soon there are plenty of suspects. Daniel wasn’t very well liked and many people would benefit from his death, but as Morwenna starts to work things out someone starts to threaten her to leave things well alone. This has some fabulous characters and plenty of drama. I love how it’s easy to keep track of how everyone is connected and I could easily visualise the individuality of each character . A great read and I’m so looking forward to reading what Morwenna gets up to next! Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This book is the follow up to Foul Play at Seal Bay and involves all the characters from the previous book. Things have settled down some for Morwena. Her daughter and granddaughter have recovered from incidents in the previous book and are making at adding some changes, allowing for more babysitting time for Morwena and her ex-husband. But before they can settle on a schedule, there is the new play in town, a love interest for Morwena's mom, and inevitably, a murder. It's a fun, quick read, and it's great to have an older character that is making changes in her life and taking on new experiences with glee. You may figure out who the murderer is, but the why may have you questioning til the end! Get the series, and you'll be read for Spring break reading!