Fiona Walker (1) (1969–)

This is the second book in the Village Detectives Series which seems shockingly derivative of The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman.

The characters in this series, who live in the English village of Inkbury in the North Wessex Downs, don’t seem nearly as endearing as Osman’s characters however.

Juno Mulligan, widowed and randy, has moved to Inkbury after over 20 years in New York City, but she is making friends fast, and now has a bit of a reputation as a detective. In this show more installment, her long-time friend Phoebe Fredericks, who writes mysteries under the nom de plume Miss De’Ath, receives a death threat. The two along with the others in the Merde Squad, or Village Detectives as they agreed was preferable to call themselves, set out to find the culprit. (Ex-rugby pro landlord Mil Winterbourne and Pheobe’s handsome husband Felix round out the foursome.)

If I had not read all the Osman books, I might have found this more appealing, but instead I only found myself rating it much lower by comparison. Nevertheless, for those who aren’t familiar with the Thursday Murder Club books, I suspect they might find this cozy mystery appealing. show less

The blurb, the title - The Poison Pen Letters - and the book cover piqued my interested, so much so that I decided on the spot that I just had to read it immediately.

The Poison Pen Letters is book number 2 in The Village Detectives series but the first in this series that I have read. It's also my first by this author. No matter. I found I didn't need to have read the first book, The Art of Murder to fully appreciate this novel. Although having done so now, I've added The Art of Murder to my show more wish list.

I like to think I am on an adventure of discovery when I read fiction. I love well-researched historical fiction because I most times learn something new and interesting. Cozy fiction is, for me, more entertainment than educational so I was delighted to find that more than once, I had to look up references made in the text, and that made this novel all the more enjoyable; a rung above the usual cozy mysteries that I enjoy.

I found The Poison Pen Letters entertainingly humorous, as well as a real brain-teaser. There are so many threads to follow that I can't tell you how many times I changed my mind as to who the murderer might be, and their motives, and I was completely caught off guard when they were revealed.

I would whole-heartedly recommend The Poison Pen Letters to readers who enjoy a slightly more challenging cozy mystery. show less

This is a fast-paced twisty cozy centered in Inkbury village in the North Wessex Downs. The four good friends/sleuthing cohorts comfortably known as the Village Detectives are back and investigating the double murder of a pair of app producers who are pushing a new dating app. The story is as twisty as it is entertaining and the humour is there on nearly every page.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital copy from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Oct 08, show more 2025
#TheLittleBlackBookKiller by #FionaWalker #VillageDetectivesBk3 #theboldbookclub
#Britishhumour #cozymystery #matchmaking #newdatingapp #writer #friendship show less

I love Fiona Walker books as a rule. A friend gave me a copy of Snap Happy years ago which I still have an pick up when I need a pick me up. When I spotted this on sale on Amazon I was like "Yay, a Walker I haven't read yet" and nabbed it at a tasty 99p. And I was not disappointed. I liked Ellen, Spurs, and Pheely although Dilly was a bit much for me. I liked the setting and I liked the mishaps that kept the lovebirds apart until the end. However, it wasn't as funny as I'm used to from show more Walker and for that the book lost a star. If I find more of the Lodes Chronicles I'll be sure to pick them up - I've already been scouring the charity shops for more of her books - but unless the next one turns up on Amazon for 99p I doubt I'll read it for a while. show less