A brilliant book , so well written and loved the story , had you guessing but still a lot off humour. All the characters were so funny and well described you felt you were with them, a really good read.

Book Review: The Vanilla Killer by Peter Boland

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I recently picked up The Vanilla Killer by Peter Boland, and I’d say it’s a charming little cozy mystery that hits the spot for a light cozy read. I'm giving it a solid 3.5 stars.

Set in the picturesque seaside town of Southbourne, the story unfolds on what seems to be a perfect summer day. Enter Partial Sue, who, in one of her rare generous moods, decides to treat the ladies from the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop to a supper. Just as they’re about to call it a day and head for some fish and chips, the unexpected happens: an old ice-cream van rolls into view, and guess who’s behind the wheel? It’s Bella, Sue's newly divorced daughter, who has just escaped a toxic marriage only to find herself tangled in another messy situation.

But this isn’t just any ice-cream van; it has a dark past involving the body of its former owner found in its freezer! The village is buzzing with rumors about the 'Vanilla Killer,' and soon Bella finds herself on the receiving end of ominous letters. The stakes are high as the ladies rally together over tea, determined to solve the mystery before anyone else meets a grim fate.

First off, I have to mention how delightful the cover of this book is—super inviting! Boland has crafted a cute cozy mystery that stands well on its own, making it easy for newcomers like me to jump right in without feeling lost. The setting is simply lovely; Southbourne feels like a character in itself with its seaside charm.

The characters are incredibly likable, each with their own quirks that add flavor to the narrative. I found myself invested in Bella’s journey as she navigates her new life while simultaneously trying to uncover the truth about the chilling events surrounding her. The plot is well-constructed, keeping me guessing throughout—just when I thought I had it figured out, there’d be another twist that would make me rethink everything!

Overall, The Vanilla Killer is a delightful escape filled with whimsy, mystery, and a touch of suspense. It’s perfect for anyone looking for an engaging read that can be enjoyed over a cup of tea on a lazy afternoon. While it may not be groundbreaking, it certainly provides a fun ride that kept me engaged from start to finish!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I took a chance and requested the first Charity Shop Detective Agency from NetGalley and am so glad I did. This is the 4th one and as good if not better than the first. Great characters, that you can't help liking.

I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review this book. I am always looking for the next book in the series. Th is book is brilliant. Cozy. Well written and a great plot. I just can’t fault it. I read it till I finished it all in one day with only tea breaks ti keep me going! Such a good book - bring in the next one !

I love this series! It's a pleasure to go back and spend time in the world of these characters again. This is another great instalment!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The Charity Shop Detectives are back in this next instalment. And this time, we are on the hunt for the killer of an ice cream seller.

This is a brilliant series, and every time I read an instalment it is like catching up with old friends. The characters are all so well written, even if some of them can be highly annoying, mentioning no names (Sophie). I think my favourite is Daisy. The story is the perfect cosy crime, ideal for people who want the element of crime but without the seriousness of it all. This one was well written, and was a good pace, and every page offered something new to the story.

Charming! Endearing characters, light/easy reading, and punchy sentences here and there that just made me chuckle and smile. I don't think I've read many cottagecore (I think that's what this is?) mysteries, but this was a sweet pick me up that took me on an adventurous escape from my current reality that wasn't too heavy, but just enough to make me feel happy and content :).

A nice quick read. Somehow I missed the two in the middle but it didn't seem to matter. The Charity Shop ladies join forces once again to find the killer and have some antics along the way with new characters added for flavor. This would be a good series for someone who enjoys cozy mysteries set in England that can be read in one day.

A powerful, well-researched story that draws you in from the start. A compelling and rewarding read from cover to cover

An easy and enjoyable cosy mystery.

Partial Sue, Daisy and Fiona are working in the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop when they hear the tempting sound of an ice cream van. Much to their surprise, it's Daisy's daughter, Bella. Who fresh from a tough divorce, wanted a new venture. However, what Daisy doesn't know is that the van's former owner was murdered by the Vanilla Killer - and his body kept in the freezer!

That is until Bella starts receiving poison pen letters. To protect her, the ladies decide there's only one thing they can do... catch the Vanilla Killer.

I particularly love the dialogue - it's relatable, believable and highly entertaining. In fact, the narration itself has a charming and whimsical tone which is perfect for a cosy mystery. Albeit every British stereotype comes in to play!

I will say I saw the twist/reveal coming which was a bit of a shame.

FYI: I read the uncorrected proof on NetGalley.

I do love the ladies of Charity Shop Detective Agency. While I have enjoyed the previous titles, sadly, this one did not hit the target for me. I never really became invested. I think the plot of tracking down an ice cream truck killer was just too thin for me. I can suspend disbelief with the best of them, but was unable to do so for this tale.

While I was disappointed with this release, it will not keep me from eagerly awaiting their next adventure!

My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Joffrey Brooks and NetGalley for this ARC in return of my honest review.

This is the first “Cozy Mystery” I have ever read and picked it as an enjoyable read over the festive season .

I enjoyed the beginning of this book as there were some great one liners in it and I thought it was going to be a quick easy read that sucked me in quickly. Im not sure if it is the genre that isn’t for me or if it was this particular book. Sadly it fell short, I skipped through much of it as it seemed to take forever to get to the point. Perhaps this is how cozy mystery’s are? While the tea ladies were quirky, they were beyond frustrating at times and their antics ridiculously unbelievable.

I will try another cozy mystery in the distant future, however sadly this one is a 2.5 star, rounded up for the enjoyable one liners.

Another wonderful mystery! The thing I like most about this series is that the detectives are three elderly women. It's a delight to see them work together and gives this series a somewhat quirky, very British feel. (I mean, in what other book would you have a character called Partial Sue because she's partial to things?) Themes in murder mysteries often repeat and yet Boland has actually managed to find something novel with ice cream vans. Great story, great characters, extremely satisfying end. Highly recommended.

I have yet to read a book by Peter Boland that I have not truly enjoyed. He brings together, lovable, sometimes quirky, and always endearing characters with a solid mystery each and every time. It’s what keeps me coming back for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I have been teetering on the edge of engaging with cosy mysteries for a while, but hadn't quite bitten the bullet (so to speak) until now. I didn't realise that the 'The Vanilla Killer' was the fourth in a series - I thought it was the first cab off the rank, but I still enjoyed the characters and didn't feel too left out, even though there may have been a little bit of context that I was missing. All the characters were enjoyable, and I found that I particularly enjoyed the voices of the old ladies as they did their best to be a crime-fighting syndicate, solving murders and (attempting to) be prepared to kick whoever the villain was to the curb.

I will note that I was quite fond of the tea banter particularly, and can absolutely relate to the various complaints made about the rather snobbish tea house - sometimes one just wants a good cup of tea without any pomp or circumstance!

I did find parts of this one a bit slow, and there was definitely a need for some suspension of disbelief in this novel, but I suppose that is part of the charm of these kinds of novels. I think the hardest thing for me to believe was the absolute bastardisation of due process and police investigation, and unfortunately the main characters didn't think that the rules applied to them. I'm not sure how fond I will be of future cosy mysteries I stumble across, but this was an enjoyable first foray in its own way.

A fun cozy mystery that takes you on so many twists and turns. At first, it didn't grab my attention and I couldn't really get behind some of the stuff that happened in this book, but it was still an enjoyable read. I was surprised by the ending, and am glad with how everything turned out. The characters were a fun group of older women, who take matters into their own hands when one of their daughters buys an ice cream truck, and ends up getting threatened, leading them to believe it is related to an old murder of the owner of that same ice cream truck.

I love this series and always buy the books as I want more and to read a lot more stories featuring Dog ladies, their rivalry with the Cat Ladies, the humour, and the solid mysteries
This is another well done cozy mystery that starts with a mix of humour and tense description of how to bury a body in a refrigerator even if a killer with a backache is a great idea
There's an ice-cream seller killer, his cart being bought by one of the dog ladies daughter, a bizzarre tea-room and a lot of fun.
Go, get it, read it and enjoy
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is an easy fun mystery series full of humour and great dialogue however also a little mad at times and I feel like you do have to suspend logic over certain things which seemed a bit too silly but as long as you dont take it too seriously its a fun series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of The Vanilla Killer.
3.5 stars
This was a fairly average cozy mystery. Enjoyable to read but not very gripping as a mystery. I didn't pick up on the killer which is always a plus in a mystery. This is the 4th in a series, and I haven't read the others, so I came into this without a huge introduction. It can be read stand alone but I feel it could be better as a series.

I always enjoy his.books, good flowing plots, and good characters
It caught my attention from the first pages
.I recommend this book.as well as the series.
Given arc by Net Galley and Joffe books