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Julia Bird adores a walk on a winter’s day. The crunch of fresh show under your feet and the promise of hot cocoa by a roaring fire afterwards… But she’s not expecting to find a body in the woods! It’s Christmas in Berrywick, the busiest time of year for dashing taxi driver Lewis. But when he’s killed in a road accident, the entire village is shaken. Julia Bird, recently appointed to the Road Safety Committee, visits the site so that no other villager suffers the same fate. But when she spies a pendant left in the bushes, she feels certain Lewis’s death was no accident… As the festive lights twinkle in the village square, Julia vows to uncover the truth. She soon learns not everyone found Lewis’s charm appealing. Sweetshop owner Dora says he had an eye for the ladies, much to his wife’s frustration. Lewis recently gave his life savings to a mysterious businessman who proves difficult to track down. But could these be reasons enough to want him dead? Then, local beekeeper Matthew is struck by a car near the Christmas market. Julia believes the two deaths must be linked, but contrary to Lewis, Matthew was as sweet as the honey he sold. Who could possibly want to hurt Berrywick’s kindest man? With no obvious leads, Julia stumbles upon an old picture that finally links Lewis and Matthew. Many years ago they were in a band poised for stardom, but when the bubble burst, their chance at fame vanished quicker than a glass of festive eggnog. Could someone be targeting the band members one by one? And can Julia track them down before the killer strikes again? An utterly gripping and totally charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries! Readers love the Julia Bird Mysteries: ‘Had me hook, line and sinker!!!… Stunning… absolutely love… fantastic… amazing… devoured the whole book in just a few hours… absolutely addictive…
A seemingly accidental death in a quaint English village reveals a sinister plot as an amateur sleuth races against time to uncover a killer targeting former bandmates. Julia Bird, a member of the Road Safety Committee, investigates the death of taxi driver Lewis, which is initially ruled an accident. However, the discovery of a pendant at the scene leads Julia to suspect foul play, especially when she learns Lewis recently gave his life savings to a mysterious businessman and had strained relationships. When a second, seemingly unrelated death occurs, Julia uncovers a past connection between the victims, suggesting a pattern of revenge linked to their shared history in a band that never achieved stardom.
The premise sets up a classic cozy mystery with a charming English village setting and an amateur sleuth at its heart. The narrative appears to focus on uncovering hidden connections and past grievances to solve a series of murders. The inclusion of Christmas festivities suggests a lighthearted yet suspenseful tone, typical of the genre. Readers who enjoy the works of M.C. Beaton and Faith Martin are likely to find this installment in the Julia Bird Mysteries series engaging and addictive, with a plot that unfolds at a brisk pace.
Page Count:
262
Publication Date:
2025-09-22
Publisher:
Bookouture
ISBN-10:
1835258840
ISBN-13:
9781835258842
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