I actually haven't read the first book in the series, but I was so drawn in by this blurb that I had to go for it! An intriguing Murder Mystery set at Glastonbury festival! I'm in!
Our brilliant detectives are pulled into the drama of a shocking public murder. Many winding trails, colourful celebrities and whacky festival goers are introduced to us whilst the clock ticks on...the murder must be solved by the end of the festival. Very interesting detective team I loved their polarised policing styles, and banter. Will have to go back and read the first book!

I was very excited about this book as it took place during the Glastonbury festival. But I was a bit disappointed.
I just didn't connect with DI Shanti Joyce and DI Vincent Caine.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this ARC in exchange from an honest review

Parts of this book I really liked and it was quite funny in places but my main gripe is that they called the village kilton?
And pilton is nowhere near the tor (closer to shepton tbh).

Story was a bit daft but I think that was part of the fun. Quite like watching midsomer murders.

Entertaining Mystery....
The second in The Mindful Detective series brings an entertaining mystery, set in Glastonbury during festival season, with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. An engaging read with a vibrant backdrop and dry wit aplenty.

The premise of this book was sooo up my street! The blurb definitely sounded amazing, and really excited me.
I enjoyed reading this book and the writing style was really easy, allowing me to speed through it - but the overall plot was slightly disappointing. The lead up was great (and I loved the scene in the magick shop) but the ending was just so flat. Nothing thrilling in the execution of the book.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it - just a 'meh' book for me. I was really disappointed that i didn't have a stronger opinion of the book as the premise is so exciting, and original. I have read tons of thrillers and never have I come across one set at a music festival! I would definitely be intrigued to see what Anholt does next, hopefully it will be just as original in premise - but hopefully with a stronger plot/ending!

I had a lot of fun and read it in one setting. Glastonbury is one of my favorite places in the world and I was always fascinated by the festival.
It's an enjoyable and entertaining story, full of twists and turns and it made me smile and turning pages. Shanti and Caine are two quirky and likeable characters. She's more by the rule, he follows his guts.
Together they get results.
The mystery is full of twists and turns and the solution came as a surprise.
I liked the humor and some parte made me laugh.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I had great hopes for this adult novel from an acclaimed children's author with the fantastic setting of Glastonbury festival. Although Vincent Caine was well drawn as a character and a detective, I didn't find DI Shanti Joyce at all credible as a character. The plot was a bit thin and uneven, at times racing along and at others stuck and slow as if immersed in Glastonbury mud. Sorry but this was a disappointment.

oh that's a shame - approved yesterday and archived today. Im sure its a good book but will have to wait and see. Love the idea of a murder set at Glastonbury though!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of Festival of Death, the second novel to feature DI Shanti Joyce and DI Vincent Caine of the Somerset Police.

When Ethan Flynn, the creative genius behind Stigma, one of the world’s biggest bands, is electrocuted live on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Joyce and Caine are asked to investigate because they are “the go-to team for weird stuff in the West Country” and it doesn’t get much weirder than this.

I thoroughly enjoyed Festival of Death which is a fun read with a good mystery attached. It is told mostly from Shanti’s point of view with Caine in a supporting role and this reflects their roles in the investigation and their characters. She is the loud, decisive one with a penchant for rules and regulations and a strong dislike of even minor infringements. He is the intuitive, Buddhist character who quietly follows his own path and comes up with solutions. Much of the humour comes from her riding roughshod over his suggestions and making fun gently of his beliefs and lifestyle that don’t fit comfortably into police culture. That makes her sound bad, but they are fond of each other, work well together and he can be exasperating to anyone of a practical bent.

I liked the plot which mainly consists of Shanti fixating on Ethan’s nasty brother, Tyrone, while Caine sees a bigger picture. I think it’s well done and it had me baffled. The solution made me sad, but the final twist made me laugh loudly at its absurdity. If nothing else it’s worth the admission price.

Festival of Death is a good read that I can recommend.

This is the first in the Mindful Detective series but it’s so deftly written that I thought I had missed a few previous novels. Buddhist detective Vincent Caine and partner DI Shanti Joyce must solve what happened to Ethan Flynn of supergroup group Stigma, once he’s electrocuted by his own guitar while performing at Glastonbury. He and his twin brother, Tyrone, were making a comeback as 175,000 witnesses watched Ethan’s life come to an end. While Shanti is quick to start investigating, Vincent, who was attending the festival, is slower to revert to his working life, but the pair will need to work together in order to untangle the many clever red herrings thrown at readers throughout. The ending is fantastic, quite unlike what is expected and sets up the next instalment with ease. One of my favourite reads of 2021 so far.