Murder at the Summer Fete

By Victoria Walters

What it’s about?

A fete worse than death…

After finding the killer of Lucy Roth six months ago, life has settled back to normal for bookshop
owner, Nancy Hunter, and her grandmother, Jane.

The annual Dedley End village fete is just around the corner, and Nancy is delighted when bestselling author, Thomas Green, agrees to launch his first new novel in ten years there.
But then a series of sinister events lead Nancy to realise someone is trying to sabotage their fete, so
she, along with Jane and their journalist friend Jonathan, must turn detective to discover who isn’t at all thrilled about the return of Thomas Green.

When a body is discovered at the summer fete, the death scene mirroring that in Thomas’ latest
bestseller, they realise that there’s another killer in Dedley End, but can they outsmart someone
who appears to have pulled off the perfect crime?

The clues are right under Nancy and Jane’s noses, if only they can find them. Because the answers to life’s questions can always be found in a book…!

A twisty, unputdownable cozy mystery that fans of Richard Osman, S.J. Bennett and The Marlow
Murder Club will love.

What I think:

Murder at the Summer Fete is the second book in the Dedley End Mystery series. While it can definitely be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the first book as there is a lot of back story to the characters and the previous case and the imoact it had had in the village is referenced.

Nancy and Jane have arranged for super successful crime writer Thomas Green to speak at the Dedley End village fete. A Cotswolds local, he hasn’t been back for 30 years, but agrees to return to his roots as part of his book launch publicity.

Not everyone is happy to see him return. Posters for the event are vandalised, sinister threats are made, and Green’s former writing group are adamant that will not be attending.

Looking for a story, and missing the excitement of the Roth investigation, Nancy and Jonathan start making some enquiries into whines threatening Green and what secrets he himself is hiding.

When a body is discovered mirroring the murder from Green’s latest book it definitely seems as though someone is out to get him or even frame him for murder.

This is such a readable series. I love Nancy, Jane and Jonathan and their close relationship. They work really well together sharing ideas and talking though clues. While people are sometimes wary of Jonathan as a journalist, they naturally open up to Jane and Nancy who are well-liked in the village. The book shop becomes a central part of the mystery.

The story is well-crafted with some unexpected twists. Just when you think everything has been neatly solved, there is more to keep you guessing which makes for an intriguing and more complex mystery.

Nancy’s character continues to develop. She is more confident and has embraced her role as bookshop owner determined to honour her father’s legacy as well as make it her own. I am really intrigued to see how her relationship with Jonathan might develop as there were definitely a few little moments in this book that could hint at something more than friendship. Or that could just be my wishful thinking!

The ending of the book sets up a future installment perfectly as Nancy receives some shocking news that will sent her off on another adventure. And it promises to be a good one!

This is a great cosy mystery series. It’s compelling and readable with great characters and lots of twisty red herrings to keep you guessing.

Visit Dedley End using to purchase links below:
AMZ: https://amzn.to/3HE7928
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3JLSUtX
Apple: https://apple.co/3zDUyte

About the author:

Victoria Walters writes up-lifting and inspiring stories. She’s the author of the bestselling GLENDALE HALL series, which continues with its third book HOPEFUL HEARTS at GLENDALE HALL in September, as well as two other standalone novels – SUMMER at the KINDNESS
CAFE, and THE SECOND LOVE of my LIFE. She has been chosen for WHSmith Fresh Talent and
shortlisted for two RNA awards. Victoria was also picked as an Amazon Rising Star, and her books
have won wide reader acclaim.

Victoria is a full-time author. She lives in Surrey with her cat Harry, and loves books, clothes, music, going out for tea and cake, and posting photos on Instagram.

Find out more about Victoria by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on Twitter
at @Vicky_Walters or by visiting her blog at: https://victoria-writes.com/.

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this twisty blog tour.