Victoria WaltersReviews

You know, after two almost failed attempts at a quality cozy mystery, I was starting to despair. Did I just pick the wrong books or was the genre not for me?

I’m pleased to say it was an unlucky streak and nothing more: Murder at the House on the Hill is a fabulous story, one I’m glad I’ve been able to read.

[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]

This is a story of lost souls, broken hearts, dreams that seem well beyond reach, and above all else...HOPE. It's the hope of finding their place in the world. It's the hope that they can forgive themselves, let alone be forgiven. It's the hope that the next place they go will be more accepting, the next time they rest their head perhaps their heart can rest as well. It's about having hope for things that you didn't even know you were searching for, until you stumble upon it...and then you don't know what to do with it because it scares you out of yourself, and yet that's exactly what you needed! It's a story about so many things, and they all add up to acceptance, family, and love.

I loved Anna despite her itchy feet. She was living life to the fullest, and how many people can honestly say they've taken the chances they've been given. Those choices may not have gotten her in a better place, but they were at least her choice. When she lands in Glendale Hall, I crossed my fingers it's make her stay. I hoped on her behalf that the scattered pieces of her life would finally fall into place. When Cameron came around, despite his gruffness, he seemed like a kindred spirit, and their connection was something that could not be denied. There's a certain magic with a soul recognizes its potential forever...but when those two halves belong to people that were hurt so very much, and carried so much unnecessary guilt, it can make for a bumpy ride. This one is no different, but the end results are worth the journey.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own

This is a cozy mystery, second in a series, that could use more editing. It is repetitive, has some clunky writing, the side characters aren't well developed, the main characters aren't even very well developed, and the solution is predictable. The book talks a lot about being set in the Cotswolds, but I wasn' t left with any sense of what makes the area any different than any other part of England.

I received this eARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder at the Summer Fete by Victoria Walters is the second book in the Dedley End Mystery series. This book opens with the protagonists, Nancy Hunter and her grandmother Jane, as they are planning for a town event that includes a visit and book signing from a well-known author. As the plans are progressing, one of the posters announcing the event is defaced and many others are torn down by a man from another close by town. At the event, this man is discovered murdered shortly before the author is scheduled to be onstage and as a result the entire event is cancelled.

As I was reading this book, I felt that the story was quite slow to build and found that much of the story was devoted more to detailing the backstory and history of the varied characters than the actual solving of the mystery. Additionally, there were several times when I found myself just wishing that it was over already and was actually quite relieved when I finally reached the end. This book did however end with a cliffhanger that makes me want to see where the characters futures lead but I hope that future installments of this series will be faster paced and will do a better job of holding my interest.

Murder at the House on the Hill by Victoria Walters is the debut of The Dedley End Mysteries. I liked the two main characters in this new British cozy mystery. Nancy Hunter and her grandmother, Jane own Dedley Endings Bookshop which only carries mysteries, thriller, and crime novels. There is a cast of secondary characters that includes Nancy’s friend, Jonathan who is a local reporter. Jonathan is more about himself and his career, but you can tell that he does care for Nancy and Jane. The village of Dedley End sounded quaint. It is a small town that relies on tourist trade in the summer. The author’s vivid descriptions allow readers to picture the charming village and its residents. The death of Lucy Roth at an engagement party at Roth Manor is startling. Nancy is basically goaded into investigating by Jonathan. Of course, Nancy is curious, and she does not believe the local constabulary are up to the task. Nancy with help from Jane and Jonathan set out to ask questions and search for clues. Several people seem to have a motive to kill the victim. The mystery is straightforward and avid mystery readers will have no problems identifying the guilty party. There is a secondary plot involving the death of Nancy’s father. He died when she was ten in a car crash. She has wondered what really happened that night. Another thread involves the disappearance of Nancy’s mother. She took off when she was a small child and has never been heard from again. I am sure she will appear in a future book. At the end of novel, there is a teaser chapter for the next book in The Dedley End Mysteries. I had a hard time wading through this story. The pacing is slow, there are many repetitive details, and the writing is a little too detail oriented. I ended up skimming through part of the story to make it to the end (the book seemed to go on forever). There are several unlikeable characters with my least favorite being Nancy’s ex-husband, Richard. I really wanted to like Murder at the House on the Hill. I enjoyed Nancy’s love of books and that their bookshop caters to mysteries. Murder at the House on the Hill is a British cozy mystery with a toffee-nosed family, an eager reporter, a curious crime, suspicious suspects, and a probing bookseller.

4.5

Random Acts of Kindness is if Stardew Valley was a book. No, really, hear me out.

This little book is basically all about community in a small town, including a Kindness Board, paying it forward, a handsome vet, and a woman who moves here from the big city only to immediately start helping a stranger save his family heirloom.

Just like Stardew Valley, this book is also great if you're just in need of something light.