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.

Another great book and a great catch up with the charity shop ladies. This time it was great to get some more backstory on Fiona and her troubles with “it”. Glad that with the help from her friends and wild swimming she could overcome. This book was a great addition to the series and even could be read as a standalone. The charity shop ladies are funny and armed with cake and a flask of tea they are a force to be reckoned with. This time tasked with the possibility of a murder of a wild swimmer they infiltrate the group and unravel the mystery before the police even realise it was a murder. Great book. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read in a fabulous series! The first hilarious and brilliant twist is in the narrator of the prologue, I laughed out loud and that was me hooked and strapped in for the ride.

When the death of a wild swimmer is ruled an accident by the police investigation, one of the members of the Wild Swimming Club approaches Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue for help, believing her friend and fellow swimmer was murdered. Naturally, the ladies can't say no to an opportunity to investigate.

I love the setting of this series as I grew up in Southbourne, so I know all of these places well and Southbourne Grove has always had a good number of charity shops. The characters are completely brilliant and I particularly liked that we experienced some vulnerability in Fiona, with her battle with depression. There are some great red herrings and some clever twists and despite Fiona's mental health struggles, there is heaps of dry humour and some side splitting one liners to lighten the mood.

Although this is book 5 in the series, I started on book 4 and these do work well as standalone reads.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Peter Boland and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.

If you like dry British humor, you have to try this series. In this one, Fiona, Daisy & Partial Sue delve into ice water swimming, which in retrospect is such an obvious topic for a murder mystery that I can't believe I haven't read one before. The trio are their usual lovely selves: quirky quips, lots of mildly incompetent sleuthing and a dogged determination to get to the truth! The first book of this series had a scene that I still remember when I'm feeling down as it made me laugh so hard I ran out of breath. This one was just as enjoyable. I can't wait for the next Charity Shop Detectives!

** “It’s the perfect environment for covering up a murder. ‘Water blurs evidence.’ ” **

With another solved murder under their belts and continuing their own amateur detective agency, a customer asks charity shop workers Fiona, Daisy and Partial Sue to look into an accidental drowning. Beth believes her friend, Colin, was actually murdered and she’s hoping the women can figure out how and by whom.

But as they look into the death of the wild swimmer — people who attempt icy cold swimming in bodies of water — will they be able to determine who might have had it out for Colin? Will Fiona dive deep into a new hobby of wild swimming? And can they solve the mystery before disaster strikes them?

Boland does a great job of creating characters besides the plucky main characters. Once again, he also builds a fun plot filled with red herrings, misdirections and creativity that will leave the reader laughing and guessing until the end, perfectly balancing frivolity with seriousness. He also reminds us of some good themes, like dealing with and overcoming depression; kindness goes a long way; misery loves company; and the impact of generosity.

Fans of series like Richard Osman’s “The Thursday Murder Club,” Robert Thorogood’s “The Marlow Murder Club,” as well as authors like Agatha Christie, will enjoy “Death of a Wild Swimmer,” which is due out March 26 in paperback.

Five stars out of five.

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

This is the fifth outing of the charity shop detectives and this time Fiona takes up wild swimming after another wild swimmer washes up dead in suspicious circumstances.

I really enjoyed that this book was a little different to the previous outings, Daisy and Partial Sue took more of a back seat and there was none of the usual berating from the police as the women undertake their own unofficial, but ultimately successful, investigation.

I really enjoyed the mystery and I didn't work out who done it.

Once again the weather and landscapes forms a key character for the novel. This time I could feel the evocative and pervasive cold of the sea. I also really enjoyed the unashamed embrace of mental health in all our lives and how significant life charges such as retirement can have an impact. It was a nuanced and realistic portrayal.

A really enjoyable book. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely brilliant. Love this series and it’s such a relaxing fun read. Great characters and well written and the story is fun. I love this author now and will follow up in the next in the series!

The charity shop ladies are enthralled in a new mystery. Fiona Daisy and Partial Sue are asked by a wild swimmer to investigate the death of her swimming friend. Fiona decides the only way to get answers is to get involved so she starts every morning swimming and finds it invigorating and it’s helping with her moods to. But the other ladies feel left out.
Can the ladies change to minds of police and coroner’s and get the murderer brought to justice..
As usual funny and heartwarming as the charity shops ladies do what they do best.
Brilliant new adventure loved it.

This series is a total joy. As soon as you see the author’s name, his characters jump straight into your mind. Partial Sue is my favourite but Daisy’s malapropisms are always giggle worthy. Inventive plot as always with plenty of red herrings. A joy!!