A nice British cozy mystery. Nurse Kate and her alcoholic sister Angie have retired to Cornwall from London for a quiet life. After being there for a couple of months they join the WI to meet more of their neighbours - and that's when everything starts to go pear shaped. I found the characters, mainly, endearing and believable. Well written, a good start to a new series.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I received a free review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own work.

Dee Macdonald is back, one of my fav authors whose previous 4 novels have centered around ‘older folk’ having a great time via travel, romance, 2nd chances and ‘starting again’ so I was really interested ( and a bit nervous ) to see how this new genre and new series would be.....and it was fabulous! Everything that the author did so well in the previous books is in this book plus the new element of village sleuth, a modern day Miss Marple ish kind of thing with much humour

Kate and her ‘just one more gin’ Sister Angie have left London and moved to the picturesque Cornish village of Lower Tinworthy ( and yes theres a middle and a higher one ) and are attending the W.I. when there is a scream and a woman ( the local shall we say ‘popular with the gentlemen’ character) is found dead in the kitchen, murdered while
slicing her home made cake....and so starts a real whodunit romp as many villagers, for one reason or another, come under suspicion and as another body is discovered Kate becomes more and more determined to solve the case and maybe get herself a bit of romance into the bargain
Full of superb village characters who gossip and have their theories, wonderfully described scenery, LOL humour and a good storyline this book had me ‘there and part of it’ right from page 1 and I loved every word, just the right book for unsettled times when you can relax and be drawn into pure escapism, roll on Book 2 and more adventures to come from Kate
10/10
5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc of A body in the village hall by Dee MacDonald

Thank you Dee MacDonald for the first book in this new mystery series.

This is book one in the Kate Palmer is the main character. This is set in Cornwall, England,

Kate and her sister whom is called Angie have relocated to Cornwall for a more quiet and easier life, Kate works part time in a medical centre as a practice nurse. Whereas she is trying to get her sister Angie and herself into events in the community. They was attending a group meeting with the Women's Institute when mysteriously a body of a woman was found inside the village hall. Kate then decides in which to try identify whom the killer may be and the detective of the case wants to solve it then he wants to retire from the force. Everyone in the village is a suspect as everyone had a reason to hate or want her dead.... mysterious as things go the prime suspect in the case also ends up getting murdered....

This is like agatha christie type mystery which i really liked it had me gripped and loved the clue guessing and thrilled me from start to finish, i couldnt put it down, so well done Dee MacDonald.

Definitely recommend
5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OK, so you know exactly what you're going to get with a 'cozy' murder mystery: amateur sleuth who pokes her nose in everyone's business; the local inspector who tolerates her actions but tries to warn her off; a cast of dubious characters and lots of motives; a cute dog....

Sometimes a book like this is exactly what you need to read, and Dee MacDonald's sleuth, in the form of Kate Palmer, carries the plot along with gusto. Together with her alcoholic sister Angie, she has recently moved to Cornwall and has taken a position as a part-time nurse in the local medical practice. When a woman is murdered at WI meeting, and then a second body appears washed up on the beach, Kate can't stop herself getting involved. Divorced for many years, she also takes a fancy to the California-born DI 'Woody' Forrest. Clues and suspects abound, and as Kate tramps about the village and cliffs with the ever-willing Barney, her springer spaniel, somehow you just know that a) her life will be put in danger and b) she will find the killer.

It's fun and breezy and shamelessly nonsense - but that's the charm, and this is perfect escapism for a few hours. 4 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

A cozy set in Cornwall! Kate and her sister Angie moved down from London but because the house needs more work than they expected, Kate's working again as a nurse. Then, Fenella, the local busybody (among other things) is found dead at the Women's Institute and Kate simply must investigate. Is that because of DI Woody Forrest? He's been thinking retirement too but he wants to solve this one. Of course there's more than one person who didn't like Fenella so our intrepid team of Kate and Woody must deal with some red herrings. I liked this one in part because I'm a fan of stories set in Cornwall but mostly because of the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans looking for a new setting.

I've never really liked cozy mysteries, and I think this one finally helped me figure out why. They always sound so fun that I very often pick one up and then I almost always dislike them. What I hate is when the 'detective' keeps shoving his or her oar in for no rational reason. A series of mysteries featuring a police detective or sheriff who is solving murders makes complete sense, of course. Or, say, a series about an art historian who is solving art thefts, that would seem reasonable enough. But this type of thing, which is too, too common with cozies, with a complete rando finding a body and then deciding to 'help' the cops with their investigation... No. Never again.

I’m such a sucker for a cozy fun British mystery and I found it in this novel. The main heroine is very relatable and the supporting cast and list of suspects are well rounded. The author provided glimpses of who the murderer was but didn’t provide any major clues so the “Who done it “ wasn’t a dead giveaway. I look forward to reading more in this new series.

I dont know what to say about this book. I was expecting more twists and thrills but to me, it was very predictable. I really like the setting of the book. I lost interest somewhere in the beginning. Idk, I just wasnt expecting this book to be a little boring.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I was expecting more from this first book in the series, and have to say I was disappointed - especially because the book didn't live up to its subtitle: "an utterly gripping cozy murder mystery." Nurse Kate Palmer and her alcoholic sister Angie move from London to a small village and promptly discover a body (in the village hall). Then Kate comes upon murdered person number two and feels compelled to find the murderer(s), even though the local police are doing a fine job and warn her repeatedly to stay away as she's putting herself in danger. Of course she doesn't listen, even when the "fanciful" detective in charge who has a crush on her tells her to leave it alone as she doesn't know what she's doing. She repeatedly puts herself in danger by interviewing several suspicious suspects, even telling them she suspects them. She constantly walks her dog alone at dusk or in the fog on deserted rocky cliffs or near the empty beach. I lost patience with her when time after time she said, "I guess I shouldn't be doing this," "I guess I should have told someone where I was going," or "this probably isn't safe." And she should have been more sensible than to think she was capable of solving the murders when her only detecting skill is she watches the BBC murder mystery shows and people like to tell her things.

It's fun to read about a murder in a small town, with lots of quirky characters and suspects, but this cozy was a disappointment.

I have already read a few books by this author but in a different genre than this one. I liked it that she puts slightly older people in the main roles, because when you are 50 or 60, you certainly are not old. 

In this first book of a cozy mystery series she continues in this direction. Her sleuth and the detective are middle-aged but this does not stop them from solving the case.

A corpse here and there, a little romance and a determined and pig-headed nurse is what it takes to make this story a fun read.

Whether it's a cozy mystery or a feel good story, a book by this author is reading pleasure guaranteed. Bring on the next one, please. 5 stars.

Thank you, Dee MacDonald and Bookouture

This is a slight departure from my normal mystery reads because, while this is a mystery (surrounding murders) this book falls into the genre of Cozy Mystery. Let me quickly define this for anyone who doesn’t know what this means.

When I first heard about cozy mysteries and learned more about them I was interning at Bookends Literary Agency and a good portion of the authors they represented were authors who fit into this cozy mystery genre. While there I grew to love them as I get the mystery and crime fix without reading the gory details. Yes, even sometimes I need a break. This book was a fresh reminder as to why I need to get back into this sub-genre.

Kate Palmer, our main character, is a divorced woman that moves to Cornwall, England from London with her sister Angie in search of a quieter life. Kate works as a part-time nurse at the local medical center and is encouraging her sister to connect with the locals through their events. While at a talk about gardening a woman is found dead in the village hall.

Through this murder we meet Detective Inspector “Woody” Forrest who, also slightly older, is looking to solve this case and retire. The pair are drawn to each other on a personal level but know that the larger concern is solving this crime. Kate, our amateur sleuth, wants to solve the case and gets herself into a few sticky situations along the way.

With plenty of suspects, interesting plot points and a town full of mysteries A Body in the Village Hall is the ideal introduction for anyone who may want to try out the cozy mystery sub-genre.

Many thanks to Bookouture, Dee MacDonald and NetGalley for the chance to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

A body in the village hall is a so called Cosy mystery set in a small English village, one of the Tinworthy villages which I suppose is fictional, like for example Midsomer.
Kate Palmer is a practice nurse who has recently moved to this small village on the Cornwall coast. While trying to integrate with the locals by visiting the local Women's society Kate gets called to assist as a nurse with a woman who has been stabbed with a cake knife, only to discover that the woman is beyond all help.
As a nurse Kate is in contact with a lot of villagers and she turns into a kind of amateur sleuth, a la Miss Marple.

I liked the interaction between Kate and her (semi) alcoholic sister and her love interest, inspector Woody Forest (what's in a name ;-)

I found the book an enjoyable and, indeed, cosy reed. Hope it will turn into a series in which case I will definitely read the next episode.
I want to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but to give it the benefit of the doubt, I'll give 4

WI meetings are, usually, pretty predictable. You know in advance about competitions, guest speakers or special events so if you're newly moved to a small village it's a good place to start to get to know local people. At least that's what Kate Palmer tells her sister, Angie, before their first visit to Tinworthy Village Hall but then local socialite, Fenella Barker-Jones, is found dead in the kitchen.

Although I enjoyed this book I also had problems with it. Kate is a great main protagonist and the lead detective, Woody Forrest, also worked really well. My bugbear was Kate's alcoholic sister, Angie. The story, apart from one tiny but important part, would have worked just as well without her, as to my mind she added nothing to the plot. Her only contribution could easily have been completed by one of the more minor characters just as successfully. Also, if you have an alcoholic sister do you let her pop off to the pub alone or have wine with dinner regularly?

There will be more in this series and I will definitely read at least the second instalment. Although Kate seems well rounded already, the other main characters should grow and find their own place in the scheme of things over the next couple of storylines. The book improved the further I got into it and I liked far more than I disliked. As every potentially good series deserves a second chance I shall be on the lookout for Kate's next adventure.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review. I would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed this author's work in the past or is looking for a new cosy crime series with a promise of getting better and better.

Should be a good new cozy mystery series to follow. Kate is a nurse so she’s in a good position to find bodies and snoop around. Her alcoholic sister Angie should get in enough trouble to be interesting and like able. And the local DI seems like he will look forward to Kate’s help and maybe more.

I’m a big fan of the cozy mystery genre, and was excited to pick up this book! The main character, Kate Palmer, finds herself at the center of not just one, but two murders. Being an amateur detective and mystery lover, she begins to investigate the case.

From the beginning, I really liked Kate’s character. I found her to be resourceful, and I was really rooting for her to solve the mystery. I thought the clues were well-placed, and I was able to figure out the murderer right along with Kate. The pacing of the story made sense, and none of the clues or events seemed out of place.

What did not work for me was her sister, Angie. I found myself constantly frustrated with her character, and the lack of responsibility she took for anything. I did also find some parts of this story to be repetitive . Many of the scenes seemed to be either out alone with Barney at night because her sister had dropped the ball again, or finding suspects to interview. I would have liked to see some variation in the settings and events within the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this mystery, and would be interested in reading the next book in the series.

I read a lot of mysteries and dead bodies tend to pop up in the most unusual places, but I think this is the first one to be stabbed to death with a cake knife in the kitchen of an English village hall. This is the opening chapter of A Body in the Village Hall and the rest of the book is spent discovering who dunnit and why.

The characters were all older people and they were well written and generally likeable especially the main character, Kate, and her love interest, Inspector Forest. There's an alcoholic sister and a very demanding dog as well as the usual range of villagers with varying intellectual abilities. The dialogue was good and the book moved at a fast pace.

Altogether I enjoyed it very much and will be looking out for the possibility of a sequel.

A woman is murdered, and everyone in the village seems to have reason to have wanted her dead. Then the prime suspect is also murdered. Kate, a nurse, is on the scene of both incidents and is curious enough to start looking into it herself. This was good, not great. I liked Kate. There wasn't a lot of her getting into trouble with things she shouldn't have been involved with, more just asking a lot of questions and using her position as a nurse to get more information. BUt at the same time, there wasn't a lot of action. I'd probably give this series another shot. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

A BODY IN THE VILLAGE HALL by Dee MacDonald is the first book in a new cozy mystery series featuring Kate Palmer as the main character and set in Cornwall, England. Kate Palmer and her older sister Angie have relocated to Cornwall for a quieter life. Kate is working part-time as a practice nurse at the local medical center and is trying to draw herself and Angie into the local village events. While attending a talk at the Women’s Institute, a woman is found dead in village hall. Kate decides to try to identify the killer. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector “Woody” Forrest wants to solve this case and retire.

Both Kate and Woody are likeable characters with clear goals and believable motivations. The author does a great job of working the description of the village and the surrounding area into the story without detracting from the flow. The stakes were high and there was some tension as well as some romance. There are plenty of suspects for Kate to use her amateur sleuthing skills on but not many twists and turns. Besides murder, themes include alcoholism, infidelity, family dramas and much more.

Overall, this was a charming, easy-to-read, and fun story with older main characters. It had a satisfying resolution and was exactly what I was in the mood to read. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series. If you enjoy pleasant cozy mysteries with likeable main characters, a bit of romance, and a large number of suspects, then you may enjoy this book as much as I did.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Dee MacDonald for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Thank you for approving my request.

4 stars. Likable characters, a beautiful location for the setting and multiple murders.

While parts of the story went by quickly (the climax and conclusion), others felt a little drawn out. Also, the willingness of the detective turned lover to let Kate poke around his crime scenes and case was very unbelievable.

Overall good, fairly entertaining book to get me through day 95 of quarantine.

New to me author and I enjoyed the pacing and writing if this book very much. I will be recommending to friends and family.