Pippa McCathie

As I was scrolling for the next titles to read on Kindle Unlimited the subtitle caught my eye, "A cozy Welsh crime mystery full of twists." I've been drawn to reading novels this year either by authors "new" to me, or different location settings or subjects I've not familiar with [see review for "Six Cloves Under" (A Garlic Farm Mystery, Book 1) by Gin Jones as a good example]. This title is by an author I've never read previously and I couldn't remember reading a novel set in Wales since show more reading novels by Rosemary Pilcher.

Sometimes spontaneous choices are simply the best! Anyone who loves watching mysteries on AcornTV, BritBox, etc., will enjoy this cozy set in South Wales. I immediately liked the character of ex-superintendent Fabia Havard. Although she's able to use her talent from a personal interest and turn it into a new job as an illustrator, I enjoyed the depth of the character showing resilience but not completely being able to turn off her training, experience, and interest in police investigations especially in her neighborhood, someone she knew. The cozy was also more engaging. In addition to the murder investigation, as daily life continues in the small town, a backstory is slowly revealed for Fabia leaving the force, a personal connection to Chief Inspector Matt Lambert, and both impact the current investigation.

I'm delighted it's the opening cozy of a series and look forward to reading more of the author's work. show less

Another engaging mystery by Pippa McCathie. A local bigwig is poisoned. Lots of people had a good reason to kill him. Set in the countryside north of Newport the book has well-developed, credible characters and a good number of sub-plots that add depth to your traditional whodunnit.

A bit different from the usual murder mystery/police procedural, set in a close-knit South Wales community and featuring a female senior ex police officer, Fabia and her previous junior officer Matt. Spiky relationship between Fabia and Matt as he investigates the murder of a young girl Fabia was mentoring, as she left the police under a cloud. Good realisation of the chapel orientated Welsh community and the characters within it. Plotting is clever with several potential villains identified show more but the real one well disguised until the end. show less

This book has all of McCathie's characteristic style of elegant prose and evocative locations, but more romance than her detective series. Set in Guernsey, this is the story of Caro who gets herself into deep water in more ways than one.