I’ve read nearly every book written by Fiona Walker except for the first in this series and Country Secrets. Felix and Phoebe are my favourite couple of hers so seeing them again 25 years into their marriage was a lot of fun. I was worried about Felix’s character at first but I was glad to see I was wrong. They still love each other madly but life gets in the way.

Making up half of the Village Detectives, they team up with Juno, another previous character and Mil, the barkeep. Typical of Walker’s writing style there are lots of humorous moments. The writing is very English village, gossipy vibes with at times snarky innuendos. I love it.

This was a fun read with bumbling moments by our amateur detectives that had me shaking my head at times. I had worked out the murderer but the motive was unexpected. I enjoyed my time in this little village and the side characters are a hoot. For example I loved how Phoebe, a mystery novelist, kept getting invited to book club but then being told she’s not to try to discuss her own books. So very English.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Publishers for the arc and this is my honest review.

Novelist Phoebe Fredericks thinks it’s a joke when she opens a letter addressed to her that is her own obituary. Nonplussed, she chooses to ignore it. However her husband and friends are concerned. Enter the recently formed “Village Detectives”.
A cozy mystery with sharp banter, engaging characters and alas murder! I look forward to reading the next book in this fun series by Fiona Walker. Thank you Netgalley and Bollwood Books for the early copy. This review is my personal opinion.

4.5 upped to 5
This is the second novel I read in this series and had fun in reading it as it's a well plotted cozy mystery with rom-com elements.
There's a lot of fun and I laughed a lot. I think the plot pays homage to Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced”. Phoebe receive an invitation to her own funeral, a parcel for her explodes and kills the postman.
An intriguing start for a fun and compelling novel. I appreciated the alternance of rom com like moments and solid mystery parts.
This is the right novel to read if you want something light and entertaining.
One note: I like Juno, Phoebe’s friend, but I would prefer some less men-craziness and an evolution in the character.
An entertaining and well plotted novel, highly recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Book #2 in the Village Detectives series. I'm not sure how I'd react if I received an invitation to my own funeral, but Phoebe's reaction set the tone for this cozy mystery as she and her friends investigate the threat. I've read several of Fiona Walker's books and loved them. The mysteries are unique....at least to me....and the characters entertain while solving the crimes. They are quick reads with no flat chapters, always a twist exactly where you need one, and the community developed so well, I'd swear I'd been there. If you're looking for a new cozy series, you couldn't go wrong with The Village Detectives.

In addition to the above blurb, Goodreads also says: “A totally hilarious, modern cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling author Fiona Walker, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and Janice Hallett.” Well, that’s why I decided to read this. I need more good laughs these days (don’t we all, actually), and after enjoying that Benjamin Stevenson book “Everybody on this Train is Suspect” I liked the idea of a modern, cozy crime mystery with lots of laughs. Yes, I know, I probably should have read the first one of this series, but I was approved for the ARC and decided to go ahead with it anyway. Sadly, the “hilarious” bit was hyperbole, but it certainly is a modern cozy crime mystery. Plus, our Village Detectives are all of a ‘certain age,’ including the women, which ticks boxes for me.

Although I didn’t get more than “amusing” and an occasional “cute” vibe from this novel, what I did get were lots and lots of rabbit holes to go down. One thing is for sure, Walker really knows how to put us off the scent and send us along the wrong path only to find dead ends. She even doubles the trouble with certain clues and hiding suspects. This is not one of those mystery stories where you’ve got even an inkling of an idea who the perpetrator is from the beginning. No, this one comes at you in the last bits of the story, after every other option is eliminated, and they essentially reveal themselves to one of the Village Detectives. Plus, the whole ending comes as a wild-ride climax that’s been simmering all along the way. Yes, this is an extremely well plotted, and well-paced, cozy mystery story that will keep you turning the pages to the very end, and for that Walker deserves high marks.

That said, there were a few things in this story that felt confusing to me. Now this could be because I didn’t read the first installment before this one, and for that I apologize. Even so, I could feel where Walker was trying to fill us in on some facts that were obviously first revealed in the first book, and she succeeded, for the most part. Mind you, it took me a while to figure out Juno, and I don’t think I ever totally got Phoebe, but both Felix and Mil were pretty straight forward. The thing is, as much as I felt that Juno was the most central of the four characters in the group, I’m not sure I got to know her all that well. This was somewhat unfortunate. Add to this that I found her attempts at dating to be pretty lame (perhaps Walker meant for those bits to sound funny), and frankly a bit sad.

Finally, I did have a hard time picturing each of the four of them in my mind, and sadly, least of all Juno. That may sound strange, but not being able to put a face or body onto characters is something that for me, helps build empathy for them. Again, this could be because I didn’t read the first book, but they were all a bit… blurry for me. Also, there were a couple times when I got confused because I wasn’t sure who the focus was upon. This cleared up immediately when headings suddenly appeared about half way through the book, which showed me it was either Juno or Phoebe. This could be that my copy had them missing at the start of the book, which will probably be resolved with the final copies.

But overall, despite these niggles, it was a good read. I enjoyed Walker’s general style, but I don’t think she should give up her day job and go into standup. Sure, I smiled a bit here and there, and there was one audible HA. But “hilarious?” nah, sorry but no, which is too bad because I need levity these days. Still, if you want a slightly amusing, cozy mystery, with lots of twists, and some sweet amateur sleuths of a certain age, this one will tick all those boxes. So, I’m recommending it with a healthy four out of five stars.

Phoebe, a crime novelist, is shocked one morning when she opens her post to discover an invitation for her own funeral, especially when the date of her death is shown as the following day. Dismissing it as a prank from someone disgruntled from her past she ignores it. That is until the next morning when her postman is delivering a package which explodes in his face. Having to take the threat seriously Phoebe along with the rest of the Village Detectives, Juno, Mil and Felix, they set out to uncover who is behind this.

This is the second book in the Village Detectives series by Fiona Walker. Although this could be read as a standalone, I haven’t read the first and found it slow to get into, and felt that if I had known the characters better from before that this wouldn’t have been the case.

I enjoyed the characters once I got to know them and their different tactics in trying to get to the bottom of who sent Phoebe the funeral invitation and the poisoned pen-nib.

I was kept guessing who was behind the murder throughout the book, and didn’t work out who it was. There were twists and turns which kept be hooked from the beginning.

This is a perfect cozy murder mystery to curl up with in these autumn months.

The Poison Pen Letters by Fiona Walker is a delightful and suspenseful journey through quirky characters, literary rivalry, and deadly pranks. Crime novelist Phoebe Fredericks is accustomed to fiction’s dark twists, but when she receives a chilling funeral invitation for her own death date, the macabre prank feels too real. When her postman’s unfortunate encounter with poisoned pen-nibs confirms her fears, Phoebe realizes she's facing a very real and very dangerous enemy.

Walker excels at balancing humor with suspense, creating a cozy mystery that’s equal parts charming and chilling. The quirky members of the Village Detectives—Juno, Mil, and Felix—are the perfect team for Phoebe, adding warmth and levity as they investigate. The dynamic between the characters makes for delightful reading, and Phoebe’s “No. 1 critic” postman brings some comic relief with his meddling and critiques.

With its witty dialogue, suspenseful clues, and a close-knit village atmosphere, The Poison Pen Letters will appeal to fans of M.C. Beaton and Agatha Raisin. Fiona Walker combines small-town charm with a dash of literary irony in a mystery that keeps you guessing until the final chapter. Highly recommended for cozy mystery lovers looking for a touch of dark humor and a sprinkle of British wit!

When I read the first entry in the series, I was hooked. Quirky characters, an amazing sense of humor, and a solid mystery make this series addictive! I mean, who comes up with the idea of sending someone an invitation to their own funeral? And then turns it into a solid whodunit filled with humor and red herrings. Loved it!

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the second book in the Village Detectives cosy mysteries series, and I really enjoyed the first book, so I was excited to read this next instalment. When Phoebe receives an invitation to her own funeral, she knows that something strange must be going on, and the Village Detectives decide to investigate.

I loved the quirkiness and humour in the writing, as once again, the author brought the village of Inkbury to life, and the characters with it. I was happy to read about these characters again, and I realised that I could relate to Juno. This book did make me chuckle, as I found the characters, and their interactions, quite humorous. If you are a cosy mystery reader like me, this is a funny and entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

An invitation to a funeral may not be unusual, but it is when it’s your own funeral. Crime writer Phoebe hopes it was just a silly joke, but when her postman is killed delivering a package to her the next day, she has to accept that this was no joke.

Neighbour and friend, Juno, decides to investigate. With the help of the Village Detectives, she vows to find the killer, before anyone else dies.

Although involved in the serious business of murder, Juno and the gang manage to engender a great sense of camaraderie. There are some fantastic one-liners and a lightness of touch that works well. There are plenty of twists and turns and an increasingly exciting turn of events. A very enjoyable read.

When the postman is blown up on Phoebe's doorstep and dormant trolls start to make her life miserable once more, the Village detectives decide to investigate. They have plenty of suspects both in the village and scattered around. Meanwhile Juno has been on the dating apps and finds out that all that glitters is not gold.
A fun read that keeps you guessing.

The Village Detectives are at it again. Juno is still over excited and desperate to get involved in village life. Phoebe is still trying to avoid everyone . Someone is trying to scare Phoebe and it’s working. To find out who it is they have to look back and Juno finds out more about her friend. I really enjoy these books very clever and funny while people are being murdered. With plenty of twists and turns along the way

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

The first book in this series had me hooked from the start, and this was no exception. I just adore Juno and Phoebe, what a pair! You’d never put them together as friends but it works, so so well. This instalment Phoebe is sent an invitation to her own funeral and then a parcel bomb kills the postman on her doorstep! It sounds like the plot of one of her novels but sadly this is real life.

Before you know it, The Village Detectives are on the case. Investigating this and trying to work out if it’s the work of Phoebe’s cancelling too, more on that as the book goes on (not mentioning - spoilers!) There is fun, laughs and seriousness, trips to the other end of the country and back (and another country) all pursuing the murderer and stopping Phoebe becoming the next victim.

I really love this series and can’t wait for the next one, there’s no way this can just be a duo series.

A good cozy mystery story with a fun group of women working together to solve the case. Would recommend.

This is a good cosy murder mystery. Initially I found it difficult to navigate through the sizeable cast of characters, (and I have read the previous book in the series), but soon got into it and then the action flowed. At times the book is hilarious but at others the pace slows so only 4 stars.

Delightful …
The second outing in The Village Detectives 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 are no strangers to conducting covert investigations - however, when crime novelist Phoebe opens an invitation to her own funeral due to take place the very next day horror soon sets in. With the post soon becoming ever more concerning, the sleuthing pair need to up their game to discover what on earth is going on in the village. A wholly enjoyable and entertaining next 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. Delightful.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

As the postman is delivering a parcel to Phoebe at her door, she drops down dead. She’s already had invites to her own funeral, being an author she’s received threats over the internet, it all seems a lot for one person to deal with.

She’s not sure who they’re from or why. So then her friend Jono and her husband decide to do some investigations and find. They travel to different places in England, as well as France to find out who in their list of suspects wants Phoebe dead and the reason.

I loved the characters and the mystery of whodunnit,

I recommend this book.

The Poison Pen Letters is book 2 in Fiona Walker's The Village Detectives series, a cozy mystery series featuring a group of amateur sleuths in the village of Inkbury in England.

Phoebe, an author and one of the members of the Village Detectives, receives a notice of her own death, followed soon after by the death of her postman while delivering a package to her. Juno, another member of the Village Detectives, is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, with the assistance of the other members, Felix and Mils.

I found the book a bit confusing at first, not having read the first in the series, but I was soon caught up on all the characters and their relationships, so if you haven't read the first book I think you'll be okay jumping into this one. The mystery itself is self contained, so in that aspect the book may be read as a standalone.

The mystery was interesting, especially as it came out that Phoebe had a bit of a mysterious past and we learned more about that past as the story progressed.

As usual in a cozy mystery, there are a number of suspects, and quirky characters (personally I loved Juno's mom and her fiance, Dennis), and lots of red herrings to confuse the reader. I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters in the book. I especially found the relationship between Felix and Phoebe to be realistic since it was not always perfect and rosy.

Getting to know the characters in this book has made me want to go back to read the previous book in the series, and I will be looking to see what the Village Detectives are up to in the next book. I think anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery will enjoy reading The Poison Pen Letters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Juno and co are back for some more mystery solving. This time one of their own is being targeted - Phoebe received an invitation to her own funeral! Then the poor postman is killed when someone sends her a letterbomb!

Juno continues to pine/lust after her new friend Mil. She thinks he's too young for a widow like her, but I say let Mil decide who he wants to date! The flirty banter between them is escalating - she just needs a little prod.

I love a great amateur sleuth mystery and this team are growing on me. Juno is a great leader of the pack, even though she may dispute that herself. Phoebe and Felix would be couple goals if Phoebe could rid herself of her mental health battles, which causes rifts between them. Felix is no angel but it is clear that he loves his wife. Learning more about their life prior to the village really filled in some gaps.

There are plenty of suspects to choose from and the plot twists a few times, skewing the favour to one suspect or another. I really struggled to have any empathy for Penny at all, she was such a vicious madam.

I have to admit I was completely hoodwinked at the reveal - I did not see that coming at all! There are lots of laughs from the supporting characters of Juno‘s mum and her boyfriend Dennis. Juno's son also makes a wee appearance, dealing with a dilemma of his own.

Can you imagine opening a letter only to find it’s an invitation to your own funeral? That’s what happens to mystery writer Phoebe (Freddie) one day at home in a quiet English village, and this is where the fun begins as her friends and husband band together again as the Village Detectives to find out who is behind the letter and other unfortunate incidents that follow. Quirky characters kept me laughing as the crew dig into Phoebe’s traumatic past to see if the clues to solve her present problems can be found there. The ties of friendship are important to the story line, I enjoyed how they played out, I also enjoyed how Phoebe and her husband’s story about how they got to where they are currently at in their lives and relationship was slowly explained.
If you’re looking for a funny cozy full of red herrings and a look at small village life this is for you, I’ll be looking for the next one (this can be read as a stand alone with out having read the first one). Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.