From the creator of Hill House Vintage and “Queen of Cottagecore” (Vogue), a fresh, witty, fun, and delightfully quirky cozy crime novel set in a seemingly sleepy English village for fans of Richard Osman, Parini Shroff, Benjamin Stevenson, and Anthony Horowitz.
“Miss Marple for the 21st Century.”―S.J. Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot
Welcome to the beautiful, bucolic village of Pudding Corner, where there's death amongst the dahlias …
Daphne Brewster has gladly swapped south London for Pudding Corner, a Norfolk hamlet full of quintessentially English charm. With a mix of stone cottages, Georgian architecture, and Victorian Gothic houses all nestled together and surrounded by fields of gold and green, Pudding Corner and its neighboring village of Pepperbridge seem as far from the bustle of city living as one can get.
For Daphne, joy at moving into beautiful Cranberry Farmhouse with her husband, James, and their three young children is tempered by some concerns about being the only Black woman for miles around. But within a few short months, Daphne has become known as the parish’s “Vintage Lady” and has set up her own shop. Business is thriving, and so is her family. As for Pudding Corner, it’s rapidly revealing itself to be filled with complicated, intertwined lives on par with anything she left behind. Then the local school’s headmaster is found dead in his allotment patch, unleashing a storm of secrets and scandal.
Even a sleepy village has its social hierarchy, and as her new friend, Minerva, becomes a target of whispers and speculation, Daphne can’t resist getting involved. Fighting for the underdog comes as naturally as sourcing the perfect vintage piece. But there is more at stake here than Daphne could have guessed, and a killer who has succeeded once is all too willing to try again …
DESCRIPTION:
Welcome to the sleepy village of Pudding Corner, a quintessentially English haven of golden cornfields, winding cobbled lanes … and murder.
Daphne Brewster has left London behind and is settling into her family’s new life in rural Norfolk, planting broad beans in raised beds and vintage hunting for their farmhouse.
But when the local headmaster is found dead in his potting shed, amongst his allotment cabbages, the village is ablaze: Who would kill beloved Mr Papplewick, pillar of the community? Daphne soon comes to realise perhaps the countryside isn’t so idyllic after all…
When the headmaster’s widow points her finger at Minnerva, Daphne’s new friend, Daphne vows to clear her name. Sneaking into the crime scene and chasing down rumours gets her into hot water with the local inspector – until she comes across a faded photograph that unearths a secret buried for forty years…
They say nothing bad ever happens in close-knit Pudding Corner, but Daphne is close to the truth – dangerously close…
There’s death amongst the dahlias… A truly unputdownable whodunnit by Paula Sutton – otherwise known as Instagram’s happiest influencer: Hill House Vintage, the queen of cottagecore – an unforgettable new voice in cosy crime. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Janice Hallett and Richard Coles.
MY THOUGHTS:
Daphne Brewster is convinced that moving her family to the sleepy village of Pudding Corner will be a wonderful fresh start. But village life quickly proves to be more complicated than she expected when the local headmaster is found dead in his potting shed. By all accounts, he was a well-liked and respected member of the community—yet someone clearly had a reason to want him dead.
When suspicion falls on Daphne’s friend Minerva, she refuses to stand by and watch her be wrongly accused. Determined to uncover the truth, Daphne begins asking questions of her own, only to discover that beneath the village’s charming exterior lie plenty of secrets.
What a delightful beginning to a new cozy mystery series! I instantly connected with Daphne and thoroughly enjoyed following her as she skillfully navigated the intricacies of village life while simultaneously unraveling a murder investigation. I particularly appreciated Daphne’s representation as a woman of color, a refreshing change from the predominantly white casts I often encounter in cozy mystery series. The captivating setting, engaging characters, and intriguing mystery all came together to create an enjoyable and promising series debut. I couldn’t wait to dive into her next book, The Body in the Kitchen Garden.
THE BODY IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN
Welcome to the idyllic village of Pudding Corner. Tea is poured, secrets simmer, gardens hide more than just weeds - and murder is blooming once again...
Pudding Corner is the enigmatic Lord Hugh Darlington has returned to his crumbling ancestral home after years away. With his fiancée, he plans to revive the grand Darlington Hall - and who better to help than vintage aficionado Daphne Brewster?
Daphne is enchanted by the estate's stained-glass windows, regal turrets, and sprawling kitchen garden. But amidst the overgrown greenery, she stumbles upon something far less a body. A body that nobody can identify.
As the shocking murder rocks the village, Daphne dusts off her sleuthing skills - despite the local PC's warnings to stay out of trouble. When Lord Darlington is attacked and a string of burglaries shakes Pudding Corner, it's clear that no one is safe.
With secrets buried deep and loyalties more tangled than ivy, Daphne must unearth the truth... before the killer strikes again.
Wickedly witty and brimming with twists as sharp as a pair of antique shears, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a cosy crime story that will keep you guessing until the very last clue is uncovered. Perfect for fans of Richard Coles, C.L Miller and Ian Moore.
Daphne Brewster has settled comfortably into her new home in Pudding Corner, a picturesque village that should be the very definition of peace and tranquility. A year earlier, Daphne found herself investigating a murder, and before long she will have another mystery on her hands. When she’s not tending her garden, Daphne enjoys hunting for antiques, making her a perfect fit for village life.
In this second installment of the series, Lord Hugh Darlington returns to Pudding Corner with his fiancée, determined to restore his family’s long-neglected ancestral home. Having been away for many years, Hugh discovers that the once-grand estate has fallen into significant disrepair. When Daphne learns of the restoration project, she eagerly offers her help. However, her enthusiasm quickly gives way to concern when she discovers a dead body on the property. Once again, Daphne must put on her amateur sleuth hat and uncover the truth behind a shocking murder.
Paula Sutton delivers another charming cozy mystery filled with village intrigue, colorful characters, and plenty of secrets lurking beneath the surface. Daphne continues to be a delightful protagonist—intelligent, resourceful, and impossible not to root for. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with enough twists and suspects to keep readers guessing until the end. Fans of traditional British cozy mysteries will find much to enjoy in this delightful return to Pudding Corner.
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