Alice Carroll, aged 50, has split with her partner Steven who she’s been with since her university days and relocated to the village of Little Pride where the houses are more affordable. Thinking she has found the perfect old cottage to do up, she moves in as she made redundant from her job as Victorian expert at the Broadwick City Museum but soon discovers an overlooked clause in the sale contract that means she will have to continue running the business known as Nell Little’s Cotswold Curiosity Shop. Maybe it’s fate but she soon takes to the task in hand aided by her best friend Danny from the museum. Then things take a darker turn in the village. The lovely donkey paddock next door has been sold to slimy developer Terence Bolt and she makes a friend of his labourer Barnaby who smuggles out old bottles and bits of broken tiles for her to sell, while she also makes the acquaintance of some of the rather eccentric villagers, including billionaire industrialist neighbour Robert (he of the famous Eternal Sponge) ex-spy Andrew and hairdresser Coralie. When Barnaby is murdered and found in the allotments, and council Archaeology Officer Felicity expresses her doubts about the speed that Bolt was given permission to start work, she and Robert take another look at the pottery pieces and decide to do some digging for themselves. Alice wasn’t known as the museum sleuth for nothing, and there’s definitely a mystery here to be solved.
There is plenty of wit and charm in this start to a new series as Alice has to judge just who of her rather quirky neighbours can be trusted and finds herself taking to life in Little Pride with alarming ease. Danny is lovely and a true friend whom she can rely on, and the Cotswold village and its inhabitants are beautifully described as the battle between conniving developers and retaining green spaces ensues. The death comes quite late in the story, the first part mainly devoted to setting the scene and getting to know all those involved, but the plot soon thickens in the second half and develops quite quickly into a nice cosy crime with a very likeable and capable detective in Alice. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

When Alice, recently single, decides to move out of the city of Broadwick to the small Village of Little Pride to turn an old shop into a cozy home, she didn’t think she would find the body of one of the officers in front of her terrace.
More trouble comes to her way when she was made redundant from the museum she was working in, she also discovers her once lawyer boyfriend, Steven, forgot to read the buyer’s clause in which, in order to get the property, she had to continue to operate Nell Little’s Cotswold Curiosity Shop.
Contrary to her wishes to convert the shop into another room in the house, she started to continue the former owner’s tradition of accepting everyone’s “heirlooms” until someone else wants the old junk.
The small village atmosphere with the Little Pride Parish News, the local council with its strict rules, and its quirky residents that do not like change, make a challenge for Alice to settle down as she would like to, not to mention the tragedies that suddenly surrounded the town.
October is the perfect month to read mysteries, I really enjoyed this amateur sleuth one, the main character with her friend Danny.
Thanks to Debbie Young, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop by Debbie Young

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

Blurb

When Alice Carroll steps into Curiosity Cottage, a picture-perfect former bric-a-brac shop in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, she thinks she’s found the perfect place to start the new phase of her life. Freshly separated from her collector long-term boyfriend, she’s excited to embrace her new, minimalist existence.

All Alice needs to do is sell off the left-behind stock, and settle in. But the villagers of Little Pride have other ideas, and Alice quickly realises they won’t give up their beloved shop without a fight.

Then a dead body is found buried in her neighbour's compost heap, and Alice realises there’s much more to Little Pride, and its residents, than meets the eye.

My Opinion

Firstly, I want to start by saying that this is such an interesting idea for a shop. Alice is trying to start over following a break up and finds what she thinks is the ideal cottage for her to move into, unfortunately the locals want her to keep the shop open. When a body is found in the area Alice finds herself drawn into the investigation.

Whilst this is a new series by Debbie Young it was nice to see mentions of characters and shops from her other series. I have read quite a few books by Debbie so I know that they are always delightful, cosy mysteries. With an opening like this, I can see this being another great series.

Rating 4/5

Newly separated from her long time boyfriend and now fire from her job Alice Carroll buys a house in the Cotswold village of Little Pride. There she gets involved in solving a murder. Good cozy read.

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

I love a cosy mystery as you know, and this new series is just my cup of tea. Alice moves to a new home in a village in the Cotswolds after a break-up and redundancy, hoping to change the shop into a cosy cottage and recharge before finding a new job. However, things don’t quite go to plan when the paddock next door gets sold to an unscrupulous builder and a body is found in the allotments!

As you can imagine, there are some real characters in the village - some nice and not so nice. Gossip is rife too, if you want to know what’s going on, just ask the locals 😆

Really well written and a quick cosy read, I’m definitely going to look out for more in this series. If you like a cosy mystery then look this one up.

This book sounded interesting and fun to read. I love a good mystery. But unfortunately the execution was more on the meh side. It wasn't really it for me. The story was still nice and i did enjoy reading it. It was just pretty slow, and for me it felt like there wasn't really much of a mystery. It all just took a while. I'm also not sure what i think about the mystery plot. But like i said, it was still a nice. Also liked the characters, but some were a little eh tbh. Not sure if i will continue with this serie.

3,5 stars

A new life in the beautiful Cotswolds beckons to Alice. After a break-up, she needs a new start, where her vision of  a minimalist lifestyle can finally come true. But first she has to deal with the cluttered old shop within her new home, Curiosity Cottage. The locals expect her to carry on the tradition of running the bric-a-brac emporium that has been parts of their lives for decades. When a dead body is found in a nearby allotment, Alice finds herself drawn into village life, as she works to solve the mystery. Who wanted the victim dead? And more importantly, why? It turns out life is never dull in Little Pride, and Alice becomes more and more drawn to the village and its residents.

I love starting a new series, and especially when I take to the main character right away. Alice is strong and curious, with a determination to make something of her new life. She has an interesting background in museum work and a strong fascination in all aspects of history. I like how she brings all this to her new role as the latest owner of the Curiosity Shop. 

As with all villages, Alice finds that her neighbours are a mixed bunch. Some are delightful and friendly - but not everyone is happy to see her take over the shop. Some are determined to make her life difficult and will stop at nothing to try and make her leave. 

This was a well written mystery, with a great main character. Like Alice, I was never sure who to trust. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, the author surprised me. I can’t wait to visit Little Pride again.

"Death at the Old Curiosity Shop" starts a new cosy mystery series set in the picturesque British Cotswolds. After being laid off shortly after being dumped by her long-time partner, Alice Carroll decides she needs a fresh start in the charming village of Little Pride. Her plan for a simple village life is complicated by an unliked and overeager builder tearing up the land around her new home, especially when one of his workmen turns up dead in the neighbour's compost heap.

While the mystery unfolds more gradually than usual, readers will appreciate the lovely village atmosphere and the details of its quirky residents. Young is excellent at capturing village life (I currently live in a village much like Little Pride1) and demonstrating Alice's strength of will and intellect as she navigates her new surroundings.

The story balances Alice's character development with a gradual uncovering of the town's secrets, intertwining small character arcs with the mystery. I found the murders happened quite late in the story, and the wrap-up was inversely short. It was still satisfying, but I very much enjoy a Miss Marple or Poirot wrap-up, which was missing from this story.

Overall, "Death at the Old Curiosity Shop" is a charming beginning to a series that will appeal to fans of light British mysteries. If you enjoy cosy mystery stories filled with character and a touch of intrigue, you'll want to follow any future adventures in Little Pride.

A big thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for proving an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

After her relationship ends and nothing is certain about what will happen with her job, Alice moves to a cottage in the village of Little Pride in the Cotswold.

All she needs to do is sort out the stuff left over, as the cottage used to be a shop, but, the villagers aren’t happy as they lived the shop.

When a body is found, Alice suspects things are not as they seem. The list of suspects is long as each character is different to the next.

This is the first book in a new series.

I loved the setting.

I highly recommend this book.

I liked this one. It's a sold 3 stars. I don't always read cozy mysteries but I like the change of pace every once in a while.

Alice Carroll is 50 and has been recently dumped by her long time partner and has also lost her job in the city. She wants a change and decides to move to the Cotswolds to a small village called, "Little Pride." She purchases a house that used to be a shop called, "Nell Little's Cotswold Curiosity Shop." After purchasing she finds out by the local council that the shop must be reopened as its former business. This is more than Alice has bargained for. There are still plenty of things on the lower level. Along with her friend Danny, Alice begins to clean up the shop to open it and meets many of the area locals. There's also a developer in town who wants to build-up the area. One day a dead body is discovered in Alice's neighbours compost. Alice sets off to find the murderer.

This is book 1 of a new series and I think it's promising. The first half introduced Alice and dragged a little for me. In the second half once the body was found things ramped up. I'd be interested to take another trip into, "Little Pride" again.

I found this book had promise in the first half but I have to say the story did not hold my full attention for the second half of the book. I also found the ending very abrupt and odd. There is a certain charm to the book and I love the idea of a curiosity shop. Certainly cosy but low on mystery.

Thank you Netgalley

The Cotswolds and murder mysteries just go together. A little sleepy town where nothing bad could have ever happened... and then *bam* a murder takes place and of course the newcomer is accused and must investigate to clear their name. Doesn't it just sound perfect? It's probably why most of my favourite series feature the Cotswolds and Debbie Young's newest book, Death at the Old Curiosity Shop, has joined those ranks!

After the dissolution of her long term relationship, Alice Carroll is looking to settle in the country and pick up the pieces of her life. Alice purchases a little shop with an apartment above in the cozy town of Little Pride. She wants to rid the property of the shop - selling off its contents. However the town's occupants have other ideas and soon she is running a shop and enjoying herself. All that changes when a dead body is discovered and the neighbours start finger pointing trying to discover who the killer is.

I really enjoy mid-life mysteries. I myself am in mid-life and the idea that despite any circumstances you can just start again really appeals to me. Alice is full of spirit and she's determined to put her bad relationship behind her and start over in Little Pride and I love how she throws herself into running the little shop, especially with all the interesting [and maybe crazy!] people that live in the town.

The mystery is really fascinating. I read a lot of mysteries and I especially liked the archaeological aspect, as I haven't read many mysteries with this feature. The author has clearly done her research in finding out the history of the area and it has made me want to visit the Cotswolds even more!!

If you are looking to cozy up with a compelling whodunnit this Fall you can't get better than Death at the Old Curiosity Shop. It will leave you with that warm, cozy feeling that comes from visiting a quaint town and helping to solve a mystery... after all isn't that what everyone wants, or just me?

A great start to what promises to be a fantastic series!

Alice Carroll is looking forward to getting settled in her new village home; having separated from her long term boyfriend and his endless collections, she is keen to live a minimalist life. However, her intentions to turn the shop into a home hit a snag when the locals make it clear that they intend for the shop to remain and, apparently, there's a bit of legalese which supports that. Then, in the midst of all that, a dead body turns up in her neighbour's compost heap and, suddenly, village life doesn't seem quite so peaceful . . .

This is a terrific start to a cosy mystery series - a genre I'm very fond of. With well-crafted characters and plenty going on, I relished every word and this is definitely a series I shall be looking out for. For me, 4.5* and my recommendation.

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

Cozy crime at its best this has Alice Carroll as the main character who buys the Old Curiosity Shop not realising that it comes with certain conditions, such as selling all the stock that is still there! When it becomes obvious that there are some dodgy dealings going on and then a body is found Alice decides to start sleuthing. Fabulous characters, humour, friendship and an engaging storyline this is a brilliant read. I loved Alice as a character and how she is written with a big, fun personality and has a cheeky side. Can’t wait for the next book and to find out what’s next in store for the village of Little Pride! Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This is a really lovely cozy crime novel with Alice as our protagonist and owner of a newly squires home which she hasn’t realised is still a going concern as a village shop.

Meeting the local characters Alice puts her heart into the place to make it a home and a living and uncovers a possible crime taking place next door. When a body is discovered in a compost heap and a friend from the council is attacked Alice isn’t sure who she can trust.

Well written with plenty of laughs and irony. I enjoyed the characters and the description of the lovely village and it’s inhabitants. One I would recommend to lovers of the cozy crime genre.

When Alice Carroll enters Curiosity Cottage, a charming former bric-a-brac shop in the Cotswold village of Little Pride, she believes it's the ideal spot to begin a new chapter in her life. Having just separated from her long-term partner, a collector, and facing redundancy, she is eager to start afresh with a minimalist lifestyle. Alice's only task is to clear out the remaining stock and settle down. However, the residents of Little Pride have different plans, and Alice soon discovers they are not ready to let go of their cherished shop without a struggle. The discovery of a body buried in her neighbor's compost heap reveals that there is more to Little Pride and its inhabitants than one might suspect, with plenty of suspects and eccentric personalities.

This novel marks the beginning of a series, and thus the first half dedicates time to establishing the scene, delaying the moment when Alice must employ her full range of abilities to uncover the culprit. I appreciate that Alice is portrayed as an older, clearly intelligent woman. Initially overly trusting, she quickly adapts. The Cotswold backdrop is enchanting, adding a layer of tension with the classic town versus country debate. I eagerly anticipate the next book to see Alice's evolution. With thanks to Boldwood Books for an arc in exchange for a review.

I love cozy mysteries, and here I am always ready to read a new one and combine it with a cup of chocolate in rainy weather.

We meet Alice who moves to a small town where we meet many colorful and fun characters, and like all cozy a dead body turns up which starts to move our protagonist to become an amateur sleuth.

Funny moments, short chapters makes the plot and the mystery was super quick to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for honest opinions.

Review of Death at the Old Curiosity Shop by Debbie Young

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is a charming cozy mystery that takes its time to build momentum. For me, it wasn’t until about halfway through the book that things really started to get interesting. I’m not typically a fan of amateur detective stories, and while I found the book enjoyable, it lacked the depth in British police procedure that I would have liked to see. That said, this is very much a cozy mystery, and I think fans of the genre will appreciate its light, engaging tone and the quirky characters. While it didn’t completely win me over, it will likely be a hit for cozy mystery lovers.

#BoldwoodBooks #ARC #NetGalley #AuthorsWhoRead #Bookstagram

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is one part delightful and another part cozy. Reading this felt like the perfect cup of tea that never ran out, coupled with a fuzzy blanket on a day with perfect weather.

When Alice moves to the picture perfect idyllic Cotswolds, she meets a world of characters that just seem quaint and fun. When a dead body shows up, she knows maybe there's more than meets the eye in the little village.

This book is fun. It's uncomplicated, has short chapters, and at no point does it feel too heavy. The writing feels fresh, as do the characters, setting, and plot.

I particularly really loved Alice and wanted her to have everything good in the world. She felt very relatable in more ways than one.

The book did feel a bit off with pacing- the murder plot takes a while to happen, allowing for a slow start to the book, and then the ending felt rushed. However, this balanced out with meeting each character, so the setting becomes the story at some point.

Title: Death at the Old Curiosity Shop
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Kindle Page Count: 251
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Start Date: Sept. 18, 2024
Finish Date: Sept. 29, 2024
Anticipated Publish Date:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is a cozy mystery with plenty of village charm and quirky characters. The setting is delightful, and the community feel is like a warm cup of tea. But the mystery itself is a bit lukewarm—more of a slow stroll than a nail-biter. It’s a cute, easy read, but don’t expect edge-of-your-seat excitement!

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