Cosy Mysteries - Being Bookish

The Bookshop: Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 23:13:00 +0100

Whether you love Miss Marple or Murder, She Wrote, you'll be familiar with the genre of cosy mysteries. And if you, like me, love them, then you'll probably enjoy Agatha Raisin's inaugural adventure as she adjusts to country living in the Carsely, a small village in the middle of the Cotswolds. Picturesque and full of old-country charm, there is a bit of darkness in the centre. Think PG-rated Hot Fuzz (no don't!). If you're anything like me, then this is the perfect Sunday afternoon read. It may be a brand new genre, but if you've seen even one episode of Murder, She Wrote and solved the crime along with Jessica, then give Agatha a try.

The Bookshop: The Murder at the Vicarage

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 23:13:00 +0100

In my last Bookshop episode, I took a trip to the Cotswolds and introduced you to Agatha Raisin. So I figured that now would be a great opportunity to introduce you to Agatha's inspiration in the form of the character I believe to be Agatha Christie's greatest creation (though everyone has their favourite), Miss Jane Marple. The Murder at the Vicarage was published in 1930 and serves as the official introduction to St Mary Mead and the village's most observant resident, Jane Marple, who, until the brutal killing of a rather distasteful resident, has used her skills to solve simple mysteries that keep everyone amused. Did I like it? Did I remember the killer? Give this episode a listen to find out whether I will be making another trip in the future.

Also, if you're an eager reader, do you have a physical TBR list? Would love to know how you keep track of what you plan on reading next. Get in touch and let me know.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 23:13:00 +0100

I am going back to cosy crime again this week with the best-selling debut from TV presenter, Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club. A group of elderly residents of retirement village Coopers Chase gather every Thursday in the Jigsaw Room to solve cold cases. But are they going to be up to the challenge when someone close to their community is found bludgeoned to death? Find out what I thought of this 2020 novel in the latest episode.

Promo: Lords of Swine

Talked about: Murder at the Vicarage and The Quiche of Death

Agatha Raisin - There Goes the Bride by MC Beaton

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 23:13:00 +0100

There Goes the Bride is the 20th book in the Agatha Raisin series by author MC Beaton. What do you get when a determined private detective attends her ex-husband's wedding to a younger, prettier and wealthier woman? Well, in Agatha Raisin's case, you get murder! In this review, I take a look at the book released in 2009 and the subsequent TV episodes produced in 2021. Which did I prefer? Which handled the story better? Listen to find out.

Featured episodes:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

The Thursday Murder Club

Murder at the Vicarage

Death in Paradise

Belle Nash and the Bath Soufflé by William Keeling

Sun, 01 May 2022 23:13:00 +0100

Belle Nash and the Bath Soufflé is the first novel in The Gay Street Chronicles by new author William Keeling. Based in Regency Bath, it's a gentle cosy mystery that combines a sunken souffle into a tale of death, kidnapping and corruption at the heart of Bath politics. I was sent this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and that's exactly what you're going to find when you click play.

Featured episodes:

Agatha Raisin: There Goes the Bride

Bombshell

And don't forget to show your support for Livestream for the Cure.

Agatha Raisin - A Spoonful of Poison

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 23:13:00 +0100

A Spoonful of Poison is book 19 in the Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton. Released in 2008, it is a complicated but enjoyable cosy crime that takes place in a Cotswold village. Join Agatha and her team of eager investigators as they try to solve not 1 or 2 murders, but 4, AND a cold case. Can they do it? I won't spoil it, but I will tell you if I enjoyed it.

Featured episodes

Agatha Raisin - There Goes the Bride

Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates by Kerry Greenwood

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 23:13:00 +0100

Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates is an exciting, fast-paced cosy mystery based in the glitz, glamour and adventure of the roaring 20s with a titled, intelligent and carefree female lead. With descriptions that pull you into the era is the mystery enough to keep me enthralled to the very end? Listen to find out.

Featured episodes

Six of Crows

Hickory Dickory Dock by Agatha Christie

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 23:13:00 +0100

Hickory Dickory Dock, the clock struck one, the mouse ran down... Who hasn't heard this rhyme? Agatha Christie was a fan of them, even though the rhyme has little connection to the story on this particular occasion. This week I am taking a look at this novel written by Christie in 1955, it is the 30th of 39 Hercule Poirot novels and includes murder, drug smuggling and an unusual case of kleptomania. But can the Belgian detective solve the crime before it's too late? You won't get any spoilers from me, but it's an intriguing book nonetheless.

Featured episodes

The Thursday Murder Club

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

Agatha Raisin: There goes the Bride

Agatha Raisin: A Spoonful of Poison

Miss Phyrne Fisher Investigates

Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 23:13:00 +0100

Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House sounds as though it should be a great book to talk about in Booktober, right? Spooky, Halloween-like, ghosts, mysteries to solve. Well, in this we get a mystery, three murders and a haunting, but is all what it seems? Find out more about the 14th instalment in MC Beaton's Agatha Raisin series without discovering whodunit before you read the book.

Featured episodes

Agatha Raisin - There Goes the Bride

Agatha Raisin - A Spoonful of Poison

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

An Interview with Author Jamie West

Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:13:00 +0100

Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body feels like the perfect start to December. When Health and Safety busy body John Sunday starts to tell people that there will be no Christmas trees on the church roof, that Christmas lights are a health and safety hazard and there can be no candles during evening services, you just know his days are numbered. But who in the village is the one that stabs him repeatedly in the back?

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 23:13:00 +0100

If you know me you'll know that I love cosy crime, and also have a huge amount of affection for the TV series Death in Paradise. When I saw The Marlow Murder Club on the shelves in my local book shop - just as I was feeling I needed to buy a new book (nothing new there), I had to pick it up. So, what did I think of this book by the creator of Death in Paradise? Did it fail to impress? Was it too much like other books already on the market, or did it hit the nail on the head? Check out my spoiler-free review to find out.

Featured episodes

Death in Paradise

The Thursday Murder Club

Agatha Raisin

Phryne Fisher Investigates

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 23:13:00 +0100

Yes, we're back here again, with another cosy mystery, but I had to admit I couldn't stay away from the genre for too long because this sort of book has a lot to offer, whether you're into crime or character-driven plots. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murders is the latest offering from Jesse Q Sutanto, the creator of The Four Aunties series, a YA cosy crime and matchmaker duology (so far). In it, she introduces us to Vera Wong, a 60-year-old Chinese mother who runs a tea shop in San Francisco's Chinatown. When she finds a dead body in the middle of her tearooms she knows that she has to help the police solve whodunit. Along the way, she makes new friends and proves to her son that she's not quite over the hill yet. Find out what I thought of this 2023 cosy mystery in this spoiler-free review.

Featured episodes

Cosy crime playlist

Murder Before Evensong by Reverend Richard Coles

Mon, 29 May 2023 23:13:00 +0100

You know I am always a fan of reading new cosy mysteries, so when I saw this one and then it just kept on popping up on all my social feeds I knew I had to give it a go. What we have here is a murder most gruesome that takes place in a church...Canon Daniel Clement has already got a lot to contend with, what with the resistance to having a toilet fitted, so the last thing he needs is for a body to be discovered in the very last pew. Of course, in the tradition of all cosy crime novels everywhere, he simply must investigate, but will he solve the crime before the bodies start to pile up? Find out what I thought of the debut crime offering from Reverend Richard Coles before the next book in the series is released in June.

Featured episodes

My socials

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Sutanto

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 23:13:00 +0100

You know how much I love cosy crime, so I thought that after almost 3 months I would take a trip down memory lane and remind you why this is a genre I think you may enjoy. This week I am taking a look at the first cosy crime novel by author Jesse Sutanto, Dial A for Aunties. It's a fun jaunt with a sort of 1980s Weekend at Bernie's twist. There are jewel heists, a dead body in a cooler, 4 incredible Indo-Chinese aunties who would do anything for their family and a woman who suddenly reunites with the love of her life at what could be legitimately the wedding from hell. So, find out what I thought of this novel brought to you by the author who wrote Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. How did I like it!?

Featured Episodes

Cosy Crime Playlist

Agatha Raisin Dead on Target by MC Beaton and RW Green

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 23:13:00 +0100

What can I say? Agatha Raisin keeps on drawing me back in and when I got approved for the latest addition to the series I wasn't sure whether it would be a topic I chose or if I would just write a review and talk about something else. The 34th book in the Agatha Raisin series was released on the 19th of September and though still published under the name MC Beaton, the baton has been taken up by co-writer RW Green. So, what does that mean for our beloved Agatha and her friends in Carsley? Join me to find out if I liked this book and whether it met the high standards of previous offerings or if it is a damp squib?

Featured episodes

Cosy crime playlist

Episode links

Read the latest newsletter

The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 23:13:00 +0100

Probably better known for her stint on I'm a Celebrity (though I am going to admit right now I have never seen that show), Rosemary Shrager is a TV cook who has appeared on a lot of shows with lots of recipes. With her latest creation, Prudence Bulstrode (herself a retired TV cook), Shrager has put on another hat, that of cosy mystery writer. When Prudence Bulstrode is asked to take over as chef at a Cotswolds Manor house where her TV rival has recently died, she doesn't exactly jump at the chance, but a job is a job and something about rhubarb is pinging a nerve. What she gets when she arrives is anything but friendly, or a gathering of friends...so who could possibly want Deirdre Shaw dead and what is happening at Farleigh Manor?

Remember, I am not going to reveal whodunnit, but enjoy my spoiler-free and honest review.

Featured episodes

Cosy Crime Playlist

Featured links

Newsletter

Instagram

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 23:13:00 +0100

This debut cosy crime by new author Jessa Maxwell has everything a cosy crime baking fan could want. You have a baking competition taking place in a somewhat isolated location, a group of people who seemingly have zero connection to each other but are all keeping secrets. But more than that, there's a mystery victim, who could possibly have wanted to murder them? Were they keeping a secret?

I love cosy crime, so when I saw this promoted a few weeks ago, the idea of baking and murder just piqued my interest.

What did I think of the novel? Find out, but know I won't be revealing the victim or the murderer...they're for you to find out for yourself!

Featured episodes

Cosy crime playlist

Episode links

Newsletter

Instagram

Agatha Raisin Hot to Trot by MC Beaton and RW Green

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 23:13:00 +0100

I couldn't stay away from Carsely, so I decided that I wouldn't. With a whole series to choose from I decided to return to the small Cotswold Village with book 31 in the series, Hot to Trot.

Agatha and Charles are in trouble, and it's not the fun kind. Charles's new and admittedly unbearable young wife, Mary, has been found dead and of course, CI Wilkes is placing Agatha on the suspect list. Agatha knows that she has to solve the murder before Charles is jailed for killing his bride...but the suspect list is long and time is growing short. With the help of her friends, she will find out who killed Lady Mary and get an innocent man free before things go even more wrong.

Find out what I thought about this 2020 cosy mystery release, and you know I won't reveal the ending!

Featured episodes

Cosy mystery playlist

Episode links

Being Bookish Website

Death and Croissants by Ian Moore

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 23:13:00 +0100

Richard Ainsworth is a 53-year-old English man who has made his home in the fictional Val de Follet, running a quiet B&B where nothing happens, until the day one of his elderly guests goes missing and he, along with a mysterious and glamorous guest, Valerie D'Orcay find a bloody handprint on the wall. Will this staid and sensible B&B owner make the most of this opportunity to seek adventure? Will the mismatched couple manage to solve the mystery? You know I won't tell you everything, but I will tell you what I think of Moore's 2021 cosy crime debut.

Featured episodes

Cosy Crime Playlist

Illuminae

Death of a Gossip by MC Beaton

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:13:00 +0100

Every once in a while you have to try something new, but perhaps now isn't exactly the time. I guess that's why, this week, on the recommendation of a reviewer on YouTube, I picked up the first book in the Hamish Macbeth series. If you are a fan of 1990s BBC mysteries then you may be familiar with the series (as I was), but this isn't exactly that. While you're transported to the beautiful Highland village of Lochdubh (pronounced Lochdoo) and you meet the fantastic and laid-back Hamish Macbeth, other similarities are few and far between. However, if you love a cosy mystery and want something with beautiful scenery then this might be just what you're looking for. As with every episode, I am not going to spoil the ending, reveal whodunnit or why...I am going to give you a nice in-depth look into the story itself...

Featured Episodes

The cosy crime playlist

Episode Links

Being Bookish YouTube

Miss Austen Investigates by Jessica Bull

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 23:13:00 +0100

As you may know, there are few genres I enjoy more than cosy mysteries, so when this one kept on popping up on my Insta feed I knew that I had to give it a whirl.

Based in 1795, this novel follows one of my author idols, Jane Austen as she navigates social niceties, attends balls, spends time with her friends and...solves the murder of a milliner from whom she once purchased a hat in Basingstoke.

As always, I won't be spoiling the ending, revealing the murder or unveiling their motive...but I will be letting you know whether I enjoyed it or not!

Devil's Delight by MC Beaton and RW Green

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 23:13:00 +0100

I know, I know, I said that I would probably be staying away from Agatha Raisin for a while, but I was trying to find something on my bedside table and this book just happened to be there. So join me and Agatha and her reliable crew in Carsely as she attempts to solve the mystery of a body that disappeared, and discover what connection it has with ice cream, a naturist society and drug smuggling...it's a doozy, but did it impress me? Remember, there will be no spoilers, I am not going to tell you whodunnit and I certainly won't be revealing who gets to go home with Agatha at the end of the night, though I have my preferences!

Featured episodes

Cosy Crime Playlist

Episode Links

Being Bookish on YouTube

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 23:13:00 +0100

This one book is not like the others...and that is certainly true where The Secret Adversary is concerned. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Agatha Christie created and wrote about a lot of different characters, though her most well-known and most beloved are an elderly woman who loves to knit and observe and a rotund Belgian who knows and sees everything!

In 1922, Christie wrote about Tommy Beresford and his friend Tuppence Cowley for the first time. Though they would only appear in a few books, their tales are very different from others that she wrote...in fact, I would go so far as to say that they are more spy novels than mysteries! But that's just me...So, join me this week on my first adventure with the Young Adventurers Ltd and see what kind of trouble they get into, and whether I like it or not!

Featured episodes

Cosy Crime Playlist

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

Sun, 12 May 2024 23:13:00 +0100

This week I am heading all over the country with Lorraine from Once Upon a Nightmare as we follow Hercule Poirot on one of his toughest early investigations, The ABC Murders.

Not only does he have to contend with a serial killer who seemingly has no discernable MO, but he is up against the clock as this murderer is putting a timer on it all.

Will he solve the case? Will he beat the killer at his own game? We will reveal some, but not all of this, this week in the usual Being Bookish spoiler-free fashion.

The Wonder that is Cosy Mysteries

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 23:13:00 +0100

There is something I can't help but love about cosy mysteries. The genre is probably the second best represented on my bookcase (after historical romances - represented purely because of my love for Johanna Lindsey). So, what is it about the genre that I enjoy so much? Why am I always on the lookout for more, and where did my love of them come from? Was it the David Suchet show when I was in my 20s, or did my love stem from something much further back in my past? This week I am going to take a look at a few of my recent (and not so recent) favourites and dig into what I enjoy so much about the genre that is Cosy Mystery.

The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 23:13:00 +0100

I'm back this week with a recent paperback release in the form of Kat Ailes' debut cosy mystery, The Expectant Detectives.

I don't think that this is what happens when a group of pregnant women get together after they witness a murder, but I could be very wrong (let me know).

The first in a new series called The Mothers' Murder Club, does this debut set the scene for the next book?

Find out what I thought of the book in this completely spoiler-free review...

Featured episodes

Babylonia

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

The Marlow Murder Club

Hickory Dickory Dock

Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:13:00 +0100

Released in 1948, Taken at the Flood is the 26th Poirot novel by Agatha Christie, and while it maintains his rather bombastic character, it's very different to any of the novels which came before it. Set in the years immediately following the Second World War, it centres around the behaviour of a family who has grown accustomed to depending upon a single wealthy relative...asking and answering the question 'What happens when the golden goose dies and leaves you nothing?'.

An interesting novel, my views about it are varied and perhaps a little bit confused, but let me know what you think of my review of Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie.

Featured episodes

The Kingdom is a Golden Cage

Hickory, Dickory, Dock

The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:13:00 +0100

The Queen of Poisons is the third book in Robert Thorogood's Marlow Murder Club series, but does it hit the same spot as the previous two instalments?

This week I take a look at the latest addition (released in January 2024) and figure out whether I actually liked it, or not. As with every episode, while I will talk about the suspects and the murder, I never reveal whodunnit, because to do that would ruin the enjoyment for you if you pick the book up for yourself (which is what I always try and encourage).

Featured episodes

Cosy Mysteries

YouTube - Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death Analysis

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 00:13:00 +0100

No, your eyes do not deceive you. This episode has been missing for a while, languishing in the archives after someone or other at Spotify decided that my content belonged to someone else...so today I am going to be gifting you with my January 2023 episode all about one of the greatest detectives ever created, Hercule Poirot, in Agatha Christie's 1941 novel, Evil Under the Sun.

The 1981 film version of this book is a regular rewatch for me, so revisiting the episode seemed natural, especially as we quickly move into the chilly and dark winter evenings. So, enjoy Hercule on his holidays, on a remote Cornish island, as he solves an unusual but clearly well-planned and glamorous murder! And find out what I thought of this intriguing mystery.

That'll Teach Her by Maz Evans

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:13:00 +0100

In today’s episode, I’m talking about the darkly comedic That’ll Teach Her by Maz Evans, a murder mystery set in a primary school. The story kicks off with the sudden death of the headmistress, Claudia Stitchwell, with the official reason given being an allergic reaction to nuts in a chocolate cake... But some of the parents aren’t buying it, so they turn to their school WhatsApp group to start putting the pieces together and figure out what really happened, uncovering a lot of secrets that would have been better staying buried along the way.

The book is told in a really fun way, using WhatsApp chats, chat boards, school newsletters, and police reports, all of which give it a unique twist.

Want to know if this book is for you? Give this week's episode a listen to hear my full take on it, without any spoilers, and find out if this darkly comic whodunit should be your next read!

Featured Episodes

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

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Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping by Jesse Sutanto

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:13:00 +0100

This week, I’m heading back to San Francisco’s Chinatown for another delightfully chaotic mystery with our favourite sixty-something sleuth, Vera Wong. In Jesse Sutanto’s latest novel, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man, the tea shop is still bustling, but what Vera's craving is just a little more excitement in her now much fuller life. When she encounters a young girl outside the police precinct, Vera senses a mystery in need of an answer, and she's back on the case! A locked briefcase, a viral social media moment, and a trail of secrets are far too much for the calming effects of a cup of her chrysanthemum tea.

In this episode, I share my spoiler-free thoughts on this cosy, yet surprisingly dark sequel. I talk about why Vera continues to be such a compelling character and how this book explores found family and identity in the digital age.

Whether you loved the first Vera Wong book or you're just dipping your toes into the world of cosy crime and cosy mysteries, this one has humour, heart, high-stakes sleuthing, and a grandmother who’s got more guts than your average gumshoe. So, pop the kettle on, settle in, and let’s chat all things books.

Featured Links

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Cosy Mysteries Playlist

And don't forget, I'm back on Livestream for the Cure this year, on the 17th May. Tune in, take part, and please donate to this incredibly important cause. It's all in the name of Cancer Research.

The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:13:00 +0100

In this episode of Being Bookish, I am heading to the tranquil banks of the Thames to visit with Judith, Becks and Suzie as they investigate two unfortunate deaths in Marlow while dealing with personal issues in The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood.

As the creator of the hit TV show Death in Paradise, Thorogood knows exactly how to craft a brilliant mystery. This latest release, which hit shelves on January 15th, 2026, marks the fifth book in the popular Marlow Murder Club series.

As always, I will be sharing my personal thoughts as well as looking at other reviews to provide a balanced perspective because we cannot all like everything. I will also be keeping it completely spoiler-free because you may want to visit Marlow for yourselves at some point, and you know I don't like to spoil books for anyone!

If you enjoy a classic cosy mystery with a sharp-witted protagonist, a touch of eccentricity, and a puzzling case that keeps you guessing, this episode is definitely for you. It is the perfect recommendation for fans of cosy crime and amateur sleuths looking for their next favourite read. Can you solve the mystery before the trio of friends does?

To round things off, my second, shorter review is for Esther is Now Following You by Tanya Sweeney. This is a far more unsettling and contemporary read that not only explores the dark side of social media obsession and parasocial relationships but also tackles deeper, moving themes of mental health issues and grief. It offers a sharp contrast to the charming, community-driven sleuthing in Marlow and is a must-read for fans of character-driven stories with real heart.

So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

Featured Episodes

Death in Paradise S1

The Marlow Murder Club

Hickory Dickory Dock

Evil Under the Sun

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

Cosy Mysteries Playlist

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:13:00 +0100

In this episode, I’m looking at a locked-room mystery with subtle digs at the publishing world in the debut by an author who remained a mystery for 6 months following the well-marketed announcement, The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke.

If you haven’t heard about it yet, this book is a collaboration between V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke.

The story follows six struggling, midlist authors who are invited to a private Scottish island, only to discover that a world-famous novelist has died, leaving his final manuscript unfinished. They’re given seventy-two hours to write the perfect ending, with a life-changing amount of money and a much-desired 3-book publishing deal as the prize.

As always, I’ll be sharing my personal thoughts on the story, characters and events, and how I felt about the mystery - does it live up to the hype? As ever, it will be completely spoiler-free, I will not be revealing the means, motive or murderer, you need to find that out for yourselves!

So, pop the kettle on, get comfy with a coffee, and let’s talk books.

Featured Episodes

Cosy Mystery Playlist