My thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Vanilla Killer’, the fourth in the Charity Shop Detective Agency Mysteries written by Peter Boland, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue call themselves the Charity Shop Detective Agency as while working at the Dogs Need Nice Homes Charity shop they’ve caught criminals the police have been unable to catch. Daisy’s newly-divorced daughter Bella buys an ancient ice cream van and starts selling around the area but it isn’t until Bella receives a note telling her she’s not welcome that they find out about Kevin Masterson whose body was found in her van’s freezer. Afraid that Bella’s life could be at risk, and with the police showing no interested, the ladies decide to do a bit of sleuthing themselves and try to reveal the identity of the Vanilla Killer before there are more dead bodies.

‘The Vanilla Killer’ is the fourth case for the ladies of the detective agency and very much a tongue-in-cheek cozy murder mystery. The characters are nicely described as well-rounded ladies as they enjoy having a cup of tea from their chipped brown teapot and getting involved in a new case. The story gets more interesting towards the latter part of the novel but is quite slow till then and I haven’t found it very exciting. While this isn’t the best book of the series it’s definitely readable it as it’s set in Dorset and as Christchurch is my home town I’ve enjoyed getting involved in the fictitious ice cream war and the dodgy characters. I know all the places mentioned and have been following the ladies as they’ve gone from Wick to Mudeford to Somerford as they’ve worked tirelessly to unearth the identity of the ice cream mafia boss and restore calm to the area once again. I’m looking forward to reading book number five.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peter Boland for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Vanilla Killer coming out December 17, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Normally I read cozies by female authors, so this was a change from that. I really enjoyed the story. I love the coastal English setting. It felt like a super cozy place. I think Bella was a strong character. She was going through it and managing. I thought the ice cream theme was fun. I thought the writing was good. There was depth to the storylines. I’d read other books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy English mysteries!

Daisy's recently divorced daughter Bella has bought an ice cream van. But someone leaves her an unpleasant note and slashes the vans tyres. Convinced that the Ice Cream Mafia is behind it all, Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue are on the case. The previous owner of the ice cream van had been murdered. The case has not been solved.

This is book 4 in the ladies of the Dogs /who Need Nice Home Charity Shop are working on a cast that's closer to home. There's the unsolved murder of the previous owner of the ice cream van, Bella receiving an unpleasant note and getting her tyres slashed. I love the main characters, Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue. They are feisty women who can be funny, outsmart many criminal minds, and solve crimes that the police can't. This book could be read as a standalone. A good cosy murder mystery.

Published 17th December 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #PeterBoland for my ARC of #TheVanillaKiller in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona, Daisy, and Partial Sue? Straight brilliant. These queens run a charity shop in Southbourne, where Daisy’s daughter Bella is out here hustling with her new ice cream van. But things go left quick—Bella starts getting threats. When Daisy peeps that the van was tied to a murder, these ladies find themselves taking on the Ice Cream Mafia.

Y’all, this ain’t your regular crime-solving trio. These street-smart, sharp-witted women are a whole vibe. The comedy hits just right, and the plot? Pure chaos in the best way. Watching them outsmart hardened criminals while cracking jokes had me hollering. And let’s be real, folks be underestimating older women—these ladies show them what’s up.

Peter Boland serves up a quirky, fast-paced mystery full of twists, but the real magic? The characters. Fiona, Daisy, and Partial Sue feel like your ride-or-die aunties, and their loyalty to Bella is heartwarming. Real talk, I could read five more adventures with this crew and never get bored.

If you’re into cozy mysteries with a side of hilarity and some big personalities who don’t take no mess, this one’s for you. Can’t wait to see what Boland’s cooking up next!

I didn't realize that this was not the first book of a series when I was scrolling through the list of ready-to-read books. Thankfully I didn't necessarily need prior knowledge of the previous books to follow along; however, maybe if I had read the previous books, I would have found the characters and story more interesting. Instead, I was mostly bored, and the mystery was a bit more ridiculous than I anticipated, it made it hard to continue reading. I think the only part I really enjoyed was the epilogue.

Daisy’s daughter Bella buys a second-hand ice cream van which turns out to have a chequered history when they realise that the previous owner was murdered and dumped in the van’s freezer. After Bella starts selling ice creams, she gets threats and the van is vandalised so the three amateur sleuths wonder if there is a connection to the unsolved murder, perhaps there is a local ice-cream mafia.
The reader does need to suspend belief somewhat to enjoy a murder mystery in which the police seem to be both disinterested and incompetent but the ladies’ adventures in tracking down the culprit are entertaining and I liked the descriptions of the New Forest and surrounding area. The Vanilla Killer is ideal for fans of a cosy, light and entertaining murder mystery.

** “It made her think of an article she’d read about how long-distance cyclists tackled horrifically steep mountains. They’d do it by not looking up at the top. Instead, their eyes would be fixed on the tarmac a few metres ahead of them, so they weren’t constantly reminded of the seemingly endless, grueling climb to the summit.” **

The Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop workers Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue are now thrown into solving a close-to-home mystery in Peter Boland’s “The Vanilla Killer.”

Daisy’s daughter Bella returns home with a new career idea — an ice cream truck. Unfortunately, the ladies know this particular truck just happened to be involved in an unsolved murder. And when Bella starts to receive dangerous threats, the dynamic trio know they need to dig deep into just what’s going on in the local ice cream scene.

What follows is a funny, zany, mad-cap adventure of three retirees trying to solve a case the police don’t seem to want to bother with. Can they figure out who can be trusted, and whom the dastardly characters are?

As usual, Boland does a great job of creating fun and wily characters. He also builds a fun storyline filled with red herrings and creativity, reminding us to never give up, no matter our age, and to fight for those we love.

Fans of series like Richard Osman’s “The Thursday Murder Club,” Robert Thorogood’s “The Marlow Murder Club” and authors like Agatha Christie will enjoy “The Vanilla Killer,” which is due out Dec. 17.

Five stars out of five.

Joffe Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Boland always brings the laughs! This is the third story in the Charity Shop Detective Agency series, and it’s just as cozy, delightful, and hilarious as ever. Fans of the series will be thrilled to find that all the quirky charm and humor they’ve come to expect are back in full force, with a new mystery that keeps readers guessing and giggling.

The story kicks off with Daisy’s daughter, Bella, in need of a change. Having recently left her husband (which deserves a cheer—hurrah!), Bella is stuck in a bit of a rut, spending far too much time on the couch. Daisy, determined to help her daughter get back on her feet, gives her a gentle nudge to find some purpose again. After a bit of consideration and a lot of encouragement, Daisy decides to purchase an ice cream truck. It seems like a wonderful way for Bella to earn some money, get outside, and interact with the community—what could go wrong?

The ladies of the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop are both charmed and slightly wary of this new venture. There’s something about the truck that seems oddly familiar, and soon enough, they realize why: isn’t this the very same truck that was once involved in an… incident? The truck’s mysterious past only adds to the intrigue, and when Bella starts receiving a series of threatening notes, the plot thickens. Suddenly, what seemed like an innocent plan to get Bella back on her feet becomes a dangerous and puzzling situation. Who is sending these notes, and are they related to the truck’s history? Could Bella actually be in danger?

Naturally, the ladies of the charity shop can’t resist the lure of a good mystery. Partial Sue, Daisy, and the rest of the team jump into action. determined to get to the bottom of the threats and uncover the truth behind the truck’s shadowy past. As always, they go about it in their signature style—with plenty of tea, a good chat, and more than a few laughs along the way.

In true Boland form, the mystery is solved in the most charming and unexpected way, with the help of the Charity Shop Detective Agency's trademark blend of intuition, tea breaks, and good old-fashioned sleuthing. The story is full of delightful twists and turns, and by the time the final clues fall into place, readers will be both surprised and satisfied by the conclusion.

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, charming characters, and stories that make you laugh out loud, The Vanilla Killer will not disappoint. Boland’s ability to create a cozy atmosphere while keeping you engaged with a compelling mystery is unmatched, and this third installment proves once again why the Charity Shop Detective Agency series is such a gem.

#joffebooks #thevanillakiller #peterboland

It was a quirky story with relatable nosy characters that manage to solve crimes. It wasn't my favorite as the storyline wasn't believable. But it was still an overall "feel good" murder investigation - very different than others!

Another great mystery in the charity shop detectives series. This book continues with our 3 favourite volunteers having a mystery thrust upon them when sinister forces attack Daisy’s daughter Bella. I must admit I didn’t see it coming with who the culprit was, which is always a good sign, and the humorous dialogue made it a great cosy mystery. I’d recommend for fans of Richard Osman.

Another joyful visit to the charity shop with the ladies. They really do bumble along all fuelled by their huge pot of tea. They fall into another mystery and are soon in the thick of it. Was great to catch up with the ladies and tie up some more loose ends. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Missed these ladies. This cozy mystery series is perfect for fans of Richard Osman andRobert Thorogood who also write a cozy mystery series with an excellent cast of characters. While I love the mystery each time, my favorite part of reading the next installment is getting to revisit the cast of characters. It always feels like reconnecting with old friends and you're just dying to know what they've been up to. :)

A nice cozy mystery with plenty of fun characters to get to know and worry about as they inevitably get in over their heads while solving the mystery. This was such an unusual premise but it really worked and did not seem at all ridiculous, even when the term “ice cream mafia” is first thrown into the mix. Of course, I loved Simon Le Bon and consider the inclusion of a pet to be a critical ingredient for books like this.

The Vanilla Killer from Peter Boland is one of those cozy murder that has a certain fan base who love a slow moving, somewhat dysfunctional murder, that sees the killer carefully disguised until the final pages, but one who believes in the Hollywood style reveal! One could almost consider the style of cozy murder slightly tongue-in cheek!
An ice cream seller is murdered and his body is placed in the freezer of his van. He is a young man just starting out in his own business so what was he doing getting himself killed, when he had only been running his own van for a less than a week.
The ladies of the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, Daisy, Partial Sue and Fiona are enjoying their standard brew of tea, when their peace and quiet is disturbed by the off key strains of Greensleeves, and an old, somewhat dilapidated ice-cream van pulls up in front of the shop.
Bella, Daisy’s recently divorce daughter, has bought the van at auction and is all set to begin her new business. The ladies are horrified, as they immediately recognise the van and know well the tragic history, but agree to support Bella in her new enterprise. On her the first day things begin to go wrong and slowly get worse.
It is then the intrepid ladies begin to think there is more to the damage being done to Bella’s van than is apparent and set out, in their carefully discussed style to try and get to the bottom of what is really going on in the world of Ice-cream sellers.
As they slowly work their way through what seems to be a world of vanilla nothingness, they stumble across someone who, is while not happy to help them, will. That is when they truly realise that what is going on is very carefully orchestrated and undoubtedly very dangerous.
Join the ladies of the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop as they set out to catch a criminal as only they can in The Vanilla Killer.

Rill isn’t to see the ladies from the charity shop detectives on another case.
Daisy’s daughter Bella has found a new vocation in an ice cream van she has bought. But the van has a sinister past which spark the detective gene in the ladies who want to know how the previous owner ended up dead in the freezer.
As usual hilarious mishaps and accidents which make this series. Loved this latest adventure and looking forward for more to come.

The Vanilla Killer is a fun and friendly romp of a murder mystery, set in a serene and mostly quiet English seaside town. The ladies of the town’s charity shop embroil themselves in solving the demise of an ice cream van vendor, after a daughter of one of the volunteers buys the ice cream van that the unfortunate victim previously owned and where he met his untimely end.

Peter Boland has succeeded in writing an engaging story, the fourth in a series of books that describe the capers of the charity shop’s volunteers. The book is written in a relaxed and entertaining style. The descriptive passages of the countrified town are delightful.

The characters in the book have quite different individual personalities; as the story unfolded I formed a connection with each of the members. The author has artfully portrayed the impact of events on those characters, according to their roles in the story.

I would have liked a little more information on the appearance and demeanor of the main characters, however as this is the fourth book in a series I do recognise that this may have been covered in previous editions.

I found myself increasingly captivated by the narrative as the story line unfolded. Overall it was an amusing and enjoyable story, and I would recommend the book to all readers who enjoy a light, entertaining holiday read.

The fourth installment in the Charity Shop Detectives series starts out with Daisy's recently-divorced daughter buying an ice cream van. When someone leaves a nasty note and slashes her tires, Fiona, Daisy, and Partial Sue are on the case. They're convinced that an Ice Cream Mafia is at work. Reading this book requires the reader to suspend disbelief. A lot. Would the local police really get a warrant to look into a local business just on the ladies' say so? Would three older women take on a mysterious drug dealer themselves without notifying the police? Would strangers really submit willingly to questioning by these women? The characters are likable, but the story line is somewhat unbelievable. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Peter Boland does a fantastic job in writing this book, it uses the mystery element that I was looking for from the description. The overall story worked with the genre and was hooked from the first page and was on the edge of my seat till the end. It was written perfectly and was glad I got to read this, I look forward to read more from Peter Boland as this was really well done.

This book is basically a retelling of the Stooges, but with old ladies and a minor mystery. I can't believe I managed to finish it.

This was supposed to be a situational comedy. But it wasn't funny, it wasn't even situational. Just a bunch of old lady busy bodies with a few jokes, way too much tea, and no personality.

I didn't think it would ever end. I picked up on the "clue" that was such a big part of the reveal. That said, I still didn't call the killer. Everything in this book was so unbelievably slap-stick and cheesy. The mystery, the characters, the plot, the dialogue, the thories, the investigation, everything. So when the clue was introduced, I noticed it and filed it under the dumb category like everything else.

Why was there so much tea?

I loved this cozy mystery and enjoyed reading about the ladies in the charity shop. They are such wonderful characters that make me laugh out loud. The added bonus is that they love to solve murders and the antics they get up to is priceless. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.