I loved the premise of a charity shop where the employees solved murders, this book didn't let me down! The ladies were fun to spend time with, and I enioyed the banter. Will definitely read more by this author!

I have been enjoying this series but feel I may have missed one. But having said that I have enjoyed each of the 4 I have read and look forward to see what is going to happen next. This and the others are great cosy murder mysteries and they are a lot of fun to read. Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop are at it again.

Well written, easy to read, quirky and fun characters and a great storyline. These books are all fabulous and fun. I highly recommend them as they will leave you with a smile on your face but you will be satisfied that the mystery will and does get solved. Love this series.

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

This is a really fun series. When I read the first book, I wasn’t quite expecting it to be so engaging and charming, but it’s a British cozy mystery. What was I expecting? Absolutely delivers in a quaint British cozy mystery way and I find myself looking for the next entry’s release date as soon as I put the book down.

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

This is the fifth book in the Charity Shop Detectives series. This time, Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue are investigating the death of enthusiastic swimmer Colin.

I've enjoyed all the others in the series, and this was another awesome instalment. I always enjoy reading about these characters; they're humorous, fun and quirky, and I find them a little bit relatable in some ways. Cosy mysteries are a go-to comfort read for me, and I always feel at home with these characters. If you haven't read the previous books in the series, I'd say they work well as standalones too.

This was a light, easy read that made me smile. It cheered me up, it was very entertaining, and I didn't guess who the murderer was.

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, Joffe Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

A fun read which is a typical British thriller. What a great read. I enjoyed this book which made me smile as well as intrigued me with the underlying suspense running through it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A New Investigation…
The fifth outing in the Charity Shop Detective Agency series of mysteries and a new puzzle for the retired ladies of the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop when the body of a wild swimming enthusiast washes up at a nearby secluded cove. As the murder word raises its head, the ladies unite and ready themselves for a new investigation. A delightful cosy mystery with a well drawn cast of eclectic characters and a frothy plot. Another worthy addition to this enjoyable series.

This is the fifth book in The Charity Shop Detective Agency series by Peter Boland and I think I have read all of them. This is a fun, cozy mystery series.

Description:
Wild swimming in February? No, thank you . . .

To Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, it sounds like torture.

Still, no one ever died of plunging themselves into the icy sea waters. Until now.

When the body of Colin Barclay — retired PE master and wild-swimming fanatic — washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realize just how dicey this wellbeing trend can be.

Especially when a shifty new customer comes calling at their charity shop.

Is this where you solve murders? She asks, her eyes darting wildly round the shelves of bric-a-brac. I think I have one . . .

This woman knows Colin better than most. And she’s convinced his death was no accident. It was murder.

But she’ll need the ladies to dive in and help her prove it . . .

My Thoughts:
The death was ruled a death by misadventure, but what if it was murder? This is the mystery to be solved. Fiona was brave to tackle her initial adventure in wild swimming - in February of all times, as cold as it it - to help fight her winter depression. She joins the Southbourne Wild Things wild swimming club and makes some new friends and learns about wild swimming. She also is nosy and suspicious about the death and she and the ladies of the Charity Shop get involved in finding answers. This is an enjoyable cozy mystery and I think the books are getting better as the series progresses. I like the characters and can relate to these "women of a certain age" since I fall into that category now.

Thanks to Joffe Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Book Tour Review Death of a Wild Swimmer by Peter Boland

Introduction


I was given a copy to review by Zooloos Book Tours. My review is honest and freely given.

Blurb

Still waters run deep in this baffling new case for the Charity Shop Detective Agency!

Wild swimming in February? No, thank you . . .

To Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, it sounds like torture.

Still, no one ever died of plunging themselves into the icy sea waters. Until now.

When the body of Colin Barclay — retired PE master and wild-swimming fanatic — washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realize just how dicey this wellbeing trend can be.

Especially when a shifty new customer comes calling at their charity shop.

Is this where you solve murders? She asks, her eyes darting wildly round the shelves of bric-a-brac. I think I have one . . .

This woman knows Colin better than most. And she’s convinced his death was no accident. It was murder.

But she’ll need the ladies to dive in and help her prove it . . .

Review
This my second The Charity Shop Detective Agency novel but I will certainly be reading the others. In vain of Agatha Christie’s Maple (which was referenced) we have a group of Charity shop volunteers and friends turned detectives to help solve the case. The Vanilla Killer hooked me on this series but real life has gotten in the way of reading any others until now. I am obsessed with the way Boland writes his cosy crimes and the characters.

For me the standout, after the brilliantly paced and executed plot is the characters. I love Daisy, Fiona and Partial Sue (and Simon Le Bon (the dog not the singer)). The way Boland brings these characters to life with their quirks and personality makes it hard not to get attached. I love their friendship and I also love how we see the ups and downs of friendship too. It’s not all plain sailing (pun a little bit intended). The plot is fantastic and despite being a lover of some cosy crime did keep me engaged and guessing. I loved how all the bits fell into place and we become a sort of fourth member of the team.

I honestly love this series so much and I think anyone who is a fan of cosy crime will love this series. It’s got everything including a nice bit of humour from time to time to lighten the mood. A must read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peter Boland for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death of a Wild Swimmer coming out April 2, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read the book right before this one. I loved that book, so I was excited to check out this one. I love the English countryside setting and the coziness of the people. This one felt a little different than the other book I read. I think I loved the Vanilla Killer more. But I really enjoy this author’s writing. I’ll definitely check out more books by this author!

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

My thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Death of a Wild Swimmer’, book five in the Charity Shop Detective Agency series written by Peter Boland, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

As Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue are opening ‘Dogs Need Nice Homes’, a charity shop situated in Southbourne, a lady enters asking if it’s the shop where murders are solved. The three retired ladies like nothing more than investigating murders so are keen to become involved in the case of ex-PE teacher Colin Barclay whose body was found on the beach at Hengistbury Head. Fiona wants to speak to the people closest to him so joins ‘Southbourne Wild Things’ whose members go wild swimming and of which Colin Barclay was a member.

‘Death of a Wild Swimmer’ is a murder mystery where the three ladies of the Charity Shop Detective Agency get involved in a case that isn’t going to be straightforward as more than one name makes its way onto their list of suspects. The author does a better job than a tourist guide book in encouraging visitors to Southbourne and the nearby beach of Hengistbury Head and if I didn’t already live there it’d be on my bucket-list of areas to visit. This is a well-written novel with twists and turns, suspense and the odd red herring thrown in to confuse, and it’s been a pleasure to read and lose myself in. Although I have no intention of following Fiona in wild swimming I’ve enjoyed reading of her experiences in the freezing sea and very much look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Wild swimming in February? No, thank you . . . To Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, it sounds like torture. When the body of Colin Barclay, retired PE master and wild-swimming fanatic, washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realize just how dicey this wellbeing trend can be. Especially when a shifty new customer comes calling at their charity shop & she asks Is this where you solve murders? I think I have one! This woman knows Colin better than most. And she’s convinced his death was no accident.
The fifth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I do love Fiona, Sue & Daisy & love how they complement each other. Another well written cosy mystery with twists, turns & red herrings, there’s a lovely mix of light hearted & serious moments, which all added to my enjoyment. I was also kept guessing which was a bonus. I look forward to more in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I think that words can express how I felt and the pros and cons of a book. Buying it means you really loved it.
That's what I did as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Have fun, highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have read a couple of the books in this series now so know what to expect from these quirky characters which includes lots of humour. It could however be read as a standalone. The mystery itself had plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to keep you guessing and is another great addition to the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.5⭐️ rounded to 5⭐️

When the body of Colin Barclay — retired PE master and wild-swimming fanatic — washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realise that it may not be as safe as they think, especially when a customer comes calling at their charity shop asking if they can investigate as she's convinced it was not an accident, it was murder...

I loved being back with my favourite charity shop detective ladies for another adventure and seeing their lovely friendship blossom even more. I loved getting to know about the other members of the wild swimming group and it was lovely to see how much of a tight knit community they were. There was so many of them that felt like well fleshed out characters and they really added to the plot. I will say that saying that a character was "a bit OCD like that" just because he didn't want to share a lift with other people was definitely a choice and not a good one. If a character actually had OCD, it could have been explored in other ways, which could be used to spread awareness about the condition, rather than wording it in a way that further adds to the stigmatisation and misunderstanding of OCD. However, the investigation into the murder felt slow to start off with but through sticking with it, it does pick up to the point I devoured nearly the whole book in a day.

The descriptions were so vivid which I loved and it was easy to picture the story developing in my head. The writing made it feel so cosy like being reunited with old friends after time apart. I am so excited to see where this series will continue to go if there is more instalments as it is one of my favourites.

Ending felt rushed. There was so much build up of suspense and tension throughout but when it came to revealing the killer, it felt like it was over so fast. It really could have benefited from being a bit longer. Due to past conflicts with being involved in police investigations, I was expecting to see an interaction between the police and the ladies when they appeared to arrest the killer - I feel like that would have made the reveal not feel as short is what it was.

Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: murder, panic attack, mental health illness (OCD), stalking, attempted murder, mentions animal death, Gestapo reference ⚠️

My first read of Peter Boland’s work, Death of a Wild Swimmer, proves to be an engaging and clever cosy mystery. While it is the fifth book in The Charity Shop Detective Agency series, it stands perfectly well on its own, making it accessible for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.

When Colin Barclay, a retired PE teacher and wild-swimming enthusiast, is found dead in a secluded cove, Fiona, Daisy, and Partial Sue—the formidable trio behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop—find themselves entangled in another puzzling case. They are approached by Beth, a mysterious customer convinced that Colin's death wasn’t just a tragic accident but murder. Their investigation leads one of them to join the local wild swimming club, diving deep into a world filled with secrets, suspicions, and unexpected dangers.

Boland delivers a fun and well-paced mystery filled with clever misdirections and red herrings. The balance between light-hearted charm and more serious moments is handled expertly, ensuring the novel never loses its cosy appeal while still providing depth to the mystery. His engaging storytelling and witty characterisation make this an enjoyable read from start to finish.

As someone who has friends who enjoy wild swimming but personally prefers to avoid even warm water, the idea of plunging into the freezing sea sends shivers down my spine! Yet, the atmospheric setting and vivid descriptions made it easy to immerse myself in the story, even if I’d never dream of taking the plunge myself.

With its well-crafted plot, entertaining sleuths, and satisfying twists, Death of a Wild Swimmer is a delightful addition to the cosy mystery genre. If you love a good amateur detective story with a touch of humour and heart, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue are back! The three mature women (and a pup) have been solving crime in Southbourne for a few years now which is why they're approached when Collin is found drowned. Except that he was an expert wild swimmer and things don't add up. This is a fun cozy series (don't worry- this will be fine as a standalone) in a good setting with amusing characters. There are red herrings to the mystery but the best part is really the relationship between the women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Charity Shop Detective Agency #5

Wild swimming in February? No, thank you.... For Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue, the retired ladies behind the counter at Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, it sounds like torture. Still, no one ever died of plunging into the icy sea waters. Until now. When the body of Colin Barclay - retired PE master, and wild swimming fanatic - washes up in a secluded cove, the ladies begin to realise just how dicey this well-being trend can be. Especially when a shifty new customer comes calling at the shop.

Beth believes that her friend Colin was murdered rather than he died while wild swimming in February. She wants Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue to investigate retired PE master, Colin Barclay's death.

I love the three women who work in the Dogs Need Nice Homes charity shop, they are like old friends to me now. There were plenty of twists and red herrings, but there was also some humour too. This is another great addition to the series, but it could be read as a standalone.

Published 2nd April 2025

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

Another enjoyable read from everyone's favourite charity shop workers turned detectives.

I really enjoy how Fiona manages to really capture what living with depression can be like as although this is a cosy mystery it does touch on important subjects.

The murderer is a little bit obvious when you get to a certain part of the book and the motive was a bit flat but i think this is because the previous book with the ice cream truck was just so very twisty and this is just a bit more straightforward (but with some good red herrings chucked in).

Can't wait to see where the ladies go next!

Before the story even begins, there has been a death in Southbourne. Ruled as a death by misadventure by the authorities, the deceased man was a retired PE teacher and competent wild swimmer. Still, he'd gone missing one day, and a week or so later his body had washed ashore further along the coast. Fellow members of Southbourne Wild Things, his wild swimming club, were not convinced. They had a code - a set of rules - and Colin Barclay had been nothing if not a stickler for the rules, so they know he would not have swum alone. So founding club member, Beth, who has heard of the Charity Shop Detective Agency, approaches the sleuths with her suspicions.

This is all kicking off in February, which is notable for two reasons; 1) it's about the most miserable time of year to be wild swimming due to the cold and 2) Fiona, who as we know is prone to a deep depression, habitually struggles at this time of year with the festive season well and truly over and the promise of Spring still a long way off. Luckily Fiona's game to give it a try, while Daisy and Partial Sue do what they can to further the investigation from indoors.

This series just keeps getting better and better! I wondered how successful this instalment would be, when it's not even clear whether a crime has been committed, but Boland keeps the mystery fresh with all the usual red herrings and cameos from recurring minor characters. The matter of Fiona's personal struggles was handled sensitively, and I found this to be really poignant and a very welcome added layer of emotional depth to the story.

My favourite cosy crime detectives are back and Death of a Wild Swimmer is a pure joy to read. Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue meet Beth, a wild swimming enthusiast who thinks there is something suspicious about the death of fellow swimmer Colin, who has washed up on the local beach. The police believe it to be an accident but Beth is not convinced.

The Charity Shop Detectives set out to investigate, with Fiona literally jumping in to the world of wild swimming along the way. With a whole host of supporting characters to deal with, the ladies really have their work cut out to get to the truth.

This series goes from strength to strength, with the individual characters and the relationships between them really developing. That's what I really like about these books; the ladies make mistakes and argus with each other, and not everything goes their way. It's much less schmaltzy than some of the other cosy crime series, and I love it all the more for it.