I really enjoyed this murder mystery. The characters came to life and the final reveal was a surprise.I really hope it is the start of a series as it would be great to see the interactions develop. Even the ‘extras’ and red herrings had depth and it was.a joy to read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

I was very intrigued by this book but ultimately couldn't get into it. The prose was hard to follow at times (things were described in a way that was beautiful but confusing) and there was so much information given in the opening chapters that I couldn't retain most of it, which for a mystery made me worried I might be missing important things in the multitude of details. I ended up DNFing fairly early in because I was just having a hard time following things.

Delicious…
The first in a new series of mysteries, from this accomplished author now turning her hand to cosy crime, set in the village of Inkbury and featuring former stand up comic Juno. Relegated to the village to keep an eye on her mother, who may just be about to marry a serial wife killer, Juno and friend Phoebe decide to conduct some covert investigations. The discovery of a washed up body, however, stops them in their tracks and so begins the ever so unofficial Village Detective Agency. A wholly enjoyable and entertaining first in series with an eccentric and eclectic cast of characters in a delightful and well imagined setting and with a fun and frothy plot laced with lashings of humour. Delicious.

Juno Mulligan is moving to from America Inkbury, a small English village. A widowed, aging former stand up comic she’s moving to be closer to her mum (dating a possible three times wife murderer) and her directionless adult son. She has plans to befriend 90s icon, cancelled journalist now crime novelist, Phoebe Fredericks. Which is helped by them finding a body in the river that Juno is convinced is a victim of murder. She steamrollers Phoebe, and local pub landlord Mil, to help her play detective. Could her mother‘s boyfriend be the culprit?

I found this rather slow to start, there’s a lot of introducing us to the cast of characters. In this early section I wasn’t sure I liked the two main characters. It was nearly a quarter of the way through that the murder occurred and things started to get interesting. Then I found myself drawn into the murder, and village life. The characters grew on me, women in their fifties who are not your typical main characters, who have interesting back stories and a love of Brit pop (which I share). It seems like a set up for a series of books, going for the cosy crime fans (the Thursday murder club fans). It was different enough and enjoyable enough and I found the story nicely plotted. I would read future stories in this series.
3.5 rounded up to 4

In the art of murder by Fiona Walker we meet Juno is once a pawn a time comedian who is moving from New York City to inkberry in England to take care of her elderly mother she is worried because her mother is marrying a man named Dennis who she believes is a serial wife killer. Where Juno likes to over share Phoebe on the other hand is a loner and ever since she was canceled by the masses she’s pretty much been a hermit. She also has a secret resentment for her husband Felix who is a filmmaker in for most of the book is not there. Juno and Phoebe, who Juno call‘s Freddy knows each other in passing but promised to show her inkberry when she arrived. Despite the fact Phoebe has made no new friends since moving there and really doesn’t go out enough to be a tour guide but irregardless of the fax Phoebe doesn’t deep take Juno on a tour around inkberry and this is where they come across the dead body of Silas who is holding on to life long enough to say Merde or did he say murd? No matter what he says Juno is obsessed and convinces Fiona they should investigate so along with Mill A local villager they start an investigation. It is mostly Juno trying to convince Phoebe there was a murder not to mention her moms new boyfriend who she believes it is also a murderer. Was Silas murdered? If he was there’s plenty of suspects to go around and eventually Juno and Phoebe will get to all of them until they stumble upon the truth. Let me just start by saying I did not expect the culprit who finally was the murderer to be the murderer and so kudos for that I did find this book funny and engaging it has a little more substance then a cozy mystery so I guess it is just a plain bona fide mystery. I definitely enjoyed The two women together I thought JUNOs personality was awesome I love the way her and Phoebe’s personality played off of each other and again there’s no way you’ll guess the murderer. There’s lots of talk about art and Artist but that doesn’t have to be something you like to enjoy the book it said this is a new series I am definitely down to read another. I want to thank Boldwood books for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Another month, another murder mystery book filled with laughs and amazing characters. Our main trio are Phoebe the writer, Juno the comedian and Mil the ex-rugby player/pub landlord. The most unlikely bunch to become amateur sleuths when a local art dealer is found drowned near the pub.

Phoebe doesn’t want to get involved, she’s close to finishing her latest novel but Juno won’t let it go. She thinks it’s Dennis, her mums new partner who has lost 3 wives in odd circumstances already. Mil will do whatever the ladies want, having a soft spot for Phoebe. They set about trying to find out what really happened and won’t stop till they do. This is such a twisty story that it took me most of it to work out who it was.

I really enjoyed this story, I’m hoping there will be more from this author and series as we need more background about the trio too. A quick easy read, perfect for just chilling with a great story.

The Village Detectives and The Art of Murder is the first in Fiona Walker's The Village Detectives Series featuring Juno, Phoebe and Mils (who I think deserves his own POV). This is the first mystery book for the author, who has previously written romances (this is not a romance).

This is quite a complex storyline, as the author is doing a lot with this book. We have the storyline of the murder, the storyline of the book Phoebe is currently writing, and our two main characters, Juno and Phoebe, both have back stories which are so complex I did wonder if this wasn't the first book in the series after all. However, having read the author's notes, it seems both of the female characters have been written about before, and while it's not necessary to have read either book, this does account for their well-rounded and complex characters.

I really enjoyed the storyline for Phoebe's book - indeed - I'd have quite liked a little 'ending' for that book as well in the final concluding pages. It takes a lot to entangle more than one plot line in a story, and it's done very well. Indeed, as the conclusion nears, the little 'tells' reveal themselves to be very well planted. I didn't know who the culprit was. I also always think that writing about authors can be problematic, but Fiona accomplished the task very well. Mind, the thought of cold coffee/tea was a bit gross. I always warm mine up, no matter how embroiled I am.

There are many references to the 1990s which some readers might not entirely 'click' with. The music references were not a problem, aside from the Agadoo one, which I found a little annoying. Equally, the art references from the 1990s somewhat passed me by, but I think the author did a very good job of making the art details both relevant and understandable.

This is not exactly a fast read, but it's not slow either - and it is very enjoyable as the storyline builds in complexity to the eventual 'big reveal.'

I know this says it's perfect for fans of Osman, but I would counter that as I'm not an Osman fan (sort your tenses out, Osman)- this is a much more rewarding read, and the mystery is particularly well-plotted.

I look forward to reading more of this series and seeing what they become embroiled in next.

This is a high 4 stars - more like 4.5.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

A beautiful English Village, a stand up comic and a murder. Add that up and you get a cosy murder mystery with a twist or two. A great read that will keep you guessing and also make you laugh. Yet there is drama and intrigue and the characters work perfectly in this book.

Love Juno Mulligan, love the investigation and found this such a fun and entertaining you that kept me reading from page one right to the end. I really enjoyed this one so will give it 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

cozy-mystery, England, small-town, investigations, friends, friendship, verbal-humor, situational-humor, new-series, first-in-series, murder, relationships****

The characters are delightful, but I got lost in the plot and local interests. I feel certain that the target audience will love it. Unfortunately that does not include this Midwesterner. But it does seem to be a lot of fun.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thanks, anyway.
#TheVillageDetectivesBk1 #BritishCozyMystery #Humorous #TheArtOfMurder

"Welcome to the beautiful English village of Inkbury. Tucked deep in the North Wessex Downs, it's only claim to fame is the picturesque riverside that once appeared in a Richard Curtis movie. That is, until the murder...

Former stand-up comic Juno Mulligan has been suffering a serious sense-of-humour failure. Not only has she lost the love of her life, but she's having to relocate to the (admittedly idyllic) village of Inkbury to watch out for her elderly mother, who she's genuinely worried might be marrying a wife-killer.

She hopes that her old friend, disgraced-journalist-turned-novelist Phoebe Fredericks can help her crack the case of whether her mother's perma-tanned, iceberg-smiled, three-times-a-widower fiancé is hiding a murderous past.

But before they have a chance, the local art dealer washes up distinctly dead in the village's famous river. His lover is in the frame, but Juno and Phoebe suspect that there is a deeper secret…One that relates to Phoebe's own past and Juno's present.

Will the unofficial Village Detective Agency solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? In sleepy Inkbury, as they soon discover, living one's best midlife can be murder.

An utterly gripping cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling Fiona Walker, guaranteed to absolutely delight fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and the Reverend Richard Coles."

The Richard Curtis reference made me snort laugh.

3.5/5

I loved our main two characters, Juno and Phoebe, and found their story incredibly compelling and engaging from day one. The opening chapter also hooked me! I was anticipating a bit of a faster pace, as is more common with a cozy mystery. Similar to other cozies I’ve read, this really focused on niche topics that will inevitably allow for differentiation throughout the series but I wasn’t really interested in the art and music storyline

This is my first Fiona Walker read. I had a really hard time getting into this book. There was nothing gripping to pull me in immediately. I am not sure if it was me or because of the English humor, etc. Juno and Phoebe were likable enough I just felt the story was missing things. Maybe it's because it's a series and more will be revealed in future books. It was good just not my cup of tea. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

This is a British slice-of life book that pays a lot of attention to everyday events (for example, there’s an entire chapter devoted to the heroine walking her dog). The pace is on the slow side, and the book didn’t engage my interest. I’m sure others will enjoy the book, but I’m not the target audience. DNF ~25%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was really great.
I woke up early to read it and I struggled to put it down.
The best book I’ve read this year.
The characters were great, I got really invested in them and the story line was gripping.
Please write more.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea. I couldn’t connect to the characters and the mystery didn’t have me invested. There was something lacking in the story which I can’t put my finger on

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of "The Art of Murder" by Fiona Walker in exchange for my review.

I had to try a few times to get into the book. I got to a point where I couldn't not finish it and while I am glad I stuck with it to the end I can't say I particularly enjoy this story. The main issue for me were the characters - I didn't connect with the two main ladies Phoebe or Juno.

Phoebe is a murder mystery writer who earlier in life had a successful public career before being 'cancelled" shortly after recovering from cancer. She is living in the kitchen of a large mansion with her two dogs. Her husband, a former model, is away shooting a film in Hungary (or Bulgaria, I forget which). She is unsociable and a bit crotchety. She has made little effort to become a part of her new community but has a budding friendship with a pub owner who constantly turns up in various murder poses to make her laugh. Also she seems to be mad at her absent husband for interacting with younger women and then when he gets home they have a 24 hour sex session. That seemed really misplaced and out of character.

Juno is a former comedian (but at the end of the book she is also a performing singer although this is never brought up). She has just moved back to the UK from the States to be closer to her mother who, she is convinced, is in danger of being murdered by her new boyfriend whose three previous wives died in unusual circumstances. (This belief seems to be based on very little evidence but it is the idea that drives her character through the book). Juno is loud and too talkative. Her mother is straight up cringy. They have icky nicknames for each other - Juno is called Pusscat! Ugh.

When Phoebe and Juno stumble upon a man on the cusp of death (he dies) Juno is determined that she, Phoebe and their pub friend should investigate and solve the murder. Phoebe is not convinced it is murder and just wants to be left alone to write her book. Juno sets up a WhatsApp group called 'Merde' to sharing their findings.

All in all, it was alright but I felt the book was too long, it could bogged down by unnecessary diversions, and the characters were hard to connect with.

The Art of Murder is the first book in Fiona Walker's Village Detectives series. I love a cozy mystery and had a pretty good time with this one. The lead characters Juno and Phoebe were both great and had interesting back stories. I did feel like something was lacking with the mystery itself. But I would still be interesting in checking out the next book in the series. I haven't read Fiona Walker before but was glad to see she has an extensive catalog for me to explore in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future.

The me to Inkbury and leave me wander. This is the first story in the Village detective series and I am so excited to see where we will go next, this group will keep you on your toes. Phoebe will keep you guessing, what’s going on there, something old or something new? Her husband Felix rubbed me the wrong way for chunks of the story. Juno will captivate you and the story will keep you going, it does wobble in a couple of spots as it gets a little long, but honestly the overall was worth it, when everything falls together, you are left like aaagghhh fair enough. There is a great world building aspect to this, and you know the second story will be stronger as you already know everyone. This is going to be a great series, as it’s a great author who keeps everything together.

I've read nearly every Fiona Walker book over the last 20 odd years and I really enjoy her characters. This is her first foray into cosy crime and it's a reasonable murder mystery, it's her fabulous characters that makes this such a great read. The relationships and interactions are just great, especially between Juno and Phoebe, two people who are destined to be the best of friends. Both of them were just so much fun and well described. I loved the Venn diagram overlaps of all the different characters, it made for a very entertaining read.