An enjoyable read! Rather than a murder mystery, by the end I felt it was more about the main character, Martha, who just happens to have been investigating and solving the mystery of the garden vandalism and two murders. The police didn’t really seem to be doing much, despite the deaths making national news, so just as well Martha and the vicar were there! Hopefully Martha can solve the mystery of her husband’s disappearance too - although I think I’ve worked that one out!

(one thing niggling me - it was mentioned more than once that Martha was cooking peppers she’d grown.. Really? Would these have been available to home growers in the 1940s? Another mystery!)

I love Catherine Coles books and this one is a what looks like it will be a great new series .I love a cosy mystery book and so throughly enjoyed this one. I also liked the fact it was set in the past. Great writing style and characters.

Martha Miller's husband, Stan, disappeared a year ago on his way to work. The village has been looking at Martha like she had something to do with it. Martha is trying to put it behind her as she works as deputy chair of the village show, but as her plum gin is served, the chair of the show drops dead! Martha works with her sister Ruby and the new (very handsome) vicar to find out who used her delicious gin to do away with a pleasant pillar of the village. Then a new victim is found and more suspicion lands on Martha. Martha puts it all together with help from her friends, but almost too late for Martha and Ruby.
I am looking forward to the next book to find out more about what happened to Stan and how Martha and Ruby deepen their relationship as sisters.

Normally I love novels like this but for some reason I couldn’t get into it. I picked it up and put it down so many times that it left me frustrated.

The synopsis was well written and had me excited for get cracking but it was a slog to the plot twist and then once that happened I was left a little deflated. Was that really it? Just that.

A great start to a new cosy mystery series.
The book is set post world war 2 in 1947.
Mrs Martha Miller lives in Westleham village and her husband has disappeared , he has been missing for a over a year and there is much speculation that Martha has murdered her husband and buried him in her garden , she is a keen gardener after all.
It is the day of the village show and Martha provides some of her homemade plum gin , after sipping some of the gin the chairwoman of the village show keels over and dies .
Fingers are again pointed at Martha , so she begins her own investigation helped by the new handsome vicar.
This was an easy and enjoyable read.
I loved the characters all of them are amiable and the book is written is an old fashioned mystery style which is both pleasant and entertaining.

An enjoyable read and looking forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

One day, Martha Miller’s husband left for work and never returned. The village gossips have persisted in the rumours that it was her fault, some even suggesting that he’s buried in the vegetable garden. Determined to put such tattling to rest, Martha has helped organise the village show, providing copious amounts of her renowned plum gin to assist in her endeavours. Unfortunately, when the gin is passed around, Alice Warren, the chairwoman of the show, collapses, poisoned from the gin in her glass.
Suspicion, for no particularly good reason, falls on Martha, so determined to prove her innocence, she sets out to find the real murderer. But when a second victim falls prey to more poisoned gin, it seems not even the new vicar can help her…
This is billed as a “Cosy Mystery” – the first in a series, although not the first from the author – and it’s a perfectly fine example of the subgenre. Fans of the subgenre will find plenty to like here, with an interesting situation for the sleuth. It’s set in post-war England, although, bar some references to the war and rationing, it could be set at any time, and I struggled to get a sense of the time period.
Fans of well-clued mysteries, though, might find this a struggle, not least to get over the initial murder. It takes forever to even ask how the victim was given the single poisoned glass from a tray of several, and even when it’s brought up, it never seems to worry anyone until the finale. And yes, it does sound a lot like ***** *** ******* by ****** ********, doesn’t it, and unfortunately there isn’t really anything new done with the idea. I had a more interesting villain in mind that turned out to be the case, as I was hoping the author was going to stray a little from the constraints of the format, but alas no.
Perhaps this was the wrong choice for me – cosy mysteries rarely include mysteries of the right depth for me, but they have, at times, entertained me with easy reads – Murder At The Seaview Hotel springs to mind. As I said, this is perfectly fine, but not really my cup of tea.
Poison At The Village Show is available on ebook from 17 March and in a very expensive paperback, apparently, on the same day.

I have read other books by this author and this new series is fantastic.

Poison at the Village Show is set in 1947 where we find Martha Miller. Her husband Stand disappeared one day on the way to work and has not been seen since. Left alone and unable to pay for her home she invites her sister Ruby to move in along with her red setter Lizzie.

The buzz around the village is there is a new vicar in town and quite handsome, and then there's the local Westleham village show. Martha cannot think about the vicar as she is still a married woman but she can look her best and hopefully win over the villagers with her homemade plum gin.

But as you can imagine someone dies. The Chairwoman of the village, Alice Warren is poisoned and fingers are pointed at Martha.

Martha and Luke work together to solve the mystery and what a fun mystery! A must-read!

A fabulous start to a brand new mystery series! When I was reading this I immediately thought of the series Grantchester. Both quaint English village settings with a handsome vicar looking to help solve a murder.

The story follows Martha Miller who is living the quiet country life. Right from the start there is already one mystery that has taken place. Her husband Stan went to work one day and then never returned home. So many questions remain: What happened to him? Did he meet someone else? Or did he somehow die? The village gossips believe somehow she is to blame and they make no qualms about spreading their beliefs around. Although she is struggling financially, Martha's sister Ruby moves in to help. Then disaster strikes when Alice (the chairwoman) of the village show suddenly slumps to the ground-poisoned. Under suspicion herself, Martha sets out to solve the murder with the help of the new vicar Luke.

The characters in the story are fantastic. Martha is quiet, reserved, and intelligent. She grows through the course of the book which is nice to see. Martha learns to be more sympathetic to the situations of others as well as learning to stand up for herself. Her sister Ruby is spunky and modern. She speaks her mind and is fiercely protective of her sister. I love the fact that both Martha and Ruby seek to have more of a closer sisterly relationship throughout the course of the story. The new vicar Luke is charming, sympathetic, and caring. He doesn't listen to the gossip of others and instead forms his own opinion on Martha. I also love that there might be the possibility of a future relationship between Martha and Luke. They already make a great team and I think they would also make a great couple. Let's not forget about Martha's adorable dog Lizzy! An affectionate puppy dog and the perfect companion for lonely Martha.

The setting of the quiet country village was the perfect backdrop for this mystery. Author Catherine Cole does a phenomenal job of portraying what life was like in 1947, just two years after World War II. Great descriptions of everything from clothes to cottages. It takes you back and makes you feel like you are right there in the village. The mystery had several suspects and many reasons why someone would have committed the murder. I like that the author presents all these other possibilities to throw you off the path. This kept me guessing just about to the very end.

All in all, a great mystery! I couldn't put it down because I was so engaged. Such an enjoyable read and I am anxiously looking forward to the next book!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced ebook copy of Poison at the Village Show by Catherine Coles in exchange for my honest review.

3.8 Stars

One Liner: Comfort read for cozy mystery lovers.

Westleham Village, 1947: The Second World War is over, and people are getting back to their lives. All is not well, but life has to go on.
Martha Miller is a newcomer in the Westleham Village and has her share of troubles. Stan, her husband, left without a word, and there’s been no news of him for almost a year. Martha takes Ruby, her younger sister, as a lodger to earn her living.
It doesn’t help that Martha isn’t a favorite in the village. Rather it’s the opposite. When Alice, the chairperson of the Westleham Village Fair committee, falls dead after drinking Martha plum gin at the fair, she is immediately the prime suspect.
Martha has no choice but to clear her name. Luke Walker, the new and handsome vicar, extends his help and support.
As the duo tries to solve the mystery, the news of another death reaches them. After all, how can there be only one death?
Now up to Martha, Luke, and maybe even Inspector Ben to find the killer before it’s too late. With secrets and new crimes being revealed, can they catch the actual murderer?

My Observations:

• The book is just 210+ pages long and reads at a decent pace. It’s got the old-world charm of historical cozy mysteries with simple plots.
• There’s a list of characters and their roles at the beginning of the book. I love this. Makes it easier to keep track and refer.
• The dynamics between the characters change as the story progresses, and I’m intrigued to read further developments.
• The beginning is bumpy. It was around 15-20% that I settled into the narrative. Martha sounds older than her age, and I wondered if she was inspired by Miss Marple. It took me a while to guess she was in her early 30s.
• The side characters are quirky and even stereotypical at times, but I was expecting it.
• This time, I didn’t want to find who the killer was. I read it more as a way to relax rather than become an active investigator.
• The solving is uncomplicated, though there aren't too many clues. No twist or surprise, which is always a plus.
• The ending leaves things open and ready for book two. Needless to say, I am waiting for it. I also hope there will be more character development as the series progresses.
• I probably would’ve rated it 3 or 3.5 any other time, but this book came to me at the right time. Cozy mysteries are my comfort read, and this did the job. So 4 stars it is.

To sum up, Poison at the Village Show is a simple cozy mystery and an interesting start to a new series. This one has potential but go with low expectations.

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

This gentle cozy takes place right after WWII in a British village. Main character Martha Miller is a bit of an oddity in her town: her husband returned from the war, but left for work a year ago and never returned, leaving Martha in emotional and financial limbo. She is an appealing heroine but a bid of a sad case, kind of like a long-neglected houseplant in a dark corner. Her childhood didn't feature a lot of affection or nurturing, and although her younger sister lives with her, they have to teach themselves to have a warm relationship.

When a local garden club member dies at their big event after drinking Martha's homemade gin, she falls under suspicion, especially since some of the villagers gossip that Martha might have done away with her missing husband and planted him in her garden. The hunky new vicar in town, Luke, is sympathetic to Martha's situation and they decide to investigate the murder to clear Martha's name. Martha is a stickler for propriety and she and the vicar, while aware of a certain spark, are careful to maintain decorum.

They also decide to investigate Martha's husband's disappearance and discover he had talked to co-workers about moving to Brighton. Martha comes to several realizations during the course of the book, namely that she needs to solve the husband mystery so she can move on with her life. She also sees that her chilly reception from the townspeople is partly because she was too wrapped up in her own problems to get to know them and understand their challenges. This first in a series feels like a turning point for Martha.

Martha is plenty smart, and she does indeed figure out the murderer. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you regularly binge-watch Father Brown or Midsomer Murders, this book is for you! Enter small town England in 1947, neighbors watching you from behind their lace curtains, hot new vicar and dead bodies at the local fair from homemade drinks. I was so here for every bit of this book. Recommended!

I love cozy mysteries especially the Miss Marple types written by Agatha Christie, the queen of intriguing cozy mysteries. There is something about a small and closely knit village communities, where everyone knows what family secrets are harbored behind the closed doors that can lead to rivalries and sometimes, in extreme madness, even murders. Christie captured it brilliantly when she featured St. Mary Mead in few of Miss Marple books like Murder at the Vicarage and Body in the Library.

In Poison at the Village Show by Catherine Coles we have Westleham village and the story is set during 1947, a post WW2 world. Several women of the village have lost their husbands to the war and some are even jealous of other women whose husbands returned home safely. Martha Miller was one of the fortunate ones, but its been a year since her husband went missing, One fine day, Stan, Martha's husband, left home for work as usual but he never returned home in the evening. Now, Martha is struggling to pay the bills and grows her own vegetables in a small patch behind her house. She takes her sister, Ruby, as a boarder which helps her financially to a little extent. In the first village show after the war, when Alice Warren drops dead, just after drinking Martha's home made plum gin, all fingers point at Martha and she becomes a prime suspect.

Martha takes it upon herself and with some help from the new vicar, Luke, she starts investigating the murder in a hope it will absolve her in the eyes of the villagers. I loved reading this book and about the various characters of the quaint little village. Martha's character was lovable and her friendship with the vicar was adorable. The mystery was good too, but a few questions were left unanswered, but since this will be a series, there is hope that the cast of characters will continue in the next book. I'll be definitely looking out to read the next book in the Martha Miller series.

It's 1947 and Martha Miller feels like an outsider in the village of Westleham ever since her husband left for work one day and vanished, leaving her destitute. She expands what was her victory garden, gets some chickens, and welcomes her sister, Ruby, as a lodger to make ends meet. She suffers from the gossip going around the village suggesting that her husband might just be found under her potato patch. When the town comes together for the first village show since the war began, Martha hopes that her plum gin will be a hit with those in attendance because it could provide her with an additional income stream. Things don't go according to plan when after the toast, the chairwoman of the show committee, clutches at her throat, turns pink and purple, and drops dead. Martha must work to clear her name.

This was an enjoyable read. I'm a big fan of cozy mysteries, with their villages full of quirky characters and amusing situations. This book had those things. I liked the characters and the village. Since it's labelled as the first in a new series, I know I can look forward to more and I will happily read on. I am interested to know what happens to the characters. I thought a strong aspect of the book was Martha's growth as she dealt with some of her issues of shame and isolation and accepted some things about her upbringing and her marriage. She learned that she was not as alone as she thought, and expanded her thinking about why others might behave as they do. The ongoing evolution of her relationship with her sister was also done quite well.

I had a minor quibble with the fact that one person remained a suspect far longer than was logical or plausible (to avoid spoilers, I will say no more), but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. It was a lovely way to spend a stormy afternoon!

I received an advance e-galley of this book from NetGalley, Boldwood Publishing, and the author in exhcnage for a fair review. I thank them.

Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. I have read the authors other series, which I do enjoy and if this goes on to be a series I think it will be even better. Couldn't put it down, I really liked the protagonist. Very enjoyable read. One thing that I did notice, that rankled a little, the reigning monarch is mentioned as Queen Elizabeth but the book is set in 1947.

This charming cozy mystery is set in a small English village just after World War II.

Talented gardener Martha Miller was abandoned by her husband precisely one year ago, whether by desertion or death, no one in the village is certain. However, some speculate that Mr. Miller might be buried beneath the potatoes in his wife's garden. (Of course, the reader knows that the quiet, good-natured housewife could not have killed her husband). Suspicions further abound when the village committee chairwoman, Alice Warren, is poisoned at the village show, and Martha's plum gin is blamed for the crime. In addition, someone has been vandalizing vegetable gardens just before the competition. Martha teams up with the village's handsome new vicar and the village busybody to solve these mysteries and clear her name in the ensuing pages. Suspects, motives, and cups of tea abound; the killer is not easy to guess.

This delightful book is best enjoyed by the fire with a cup of tea and a scone.

Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie, Margaret Mayhew, and Golden Age mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, author Catherine Coles for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Boldwood Books, in return for an honest review. This is the first in a new cozy series, set in 1947 rural England. As a relative newcomer to the small town of Westleham, Martha Miller is viewed with great suspicion by her neighbors. She’s looked askance because, just under one year earlier, her husband went to work and never came back again. She also doesn’t really socialize much in the village. The financial loss of her husband’s MIA status resulted in Martha inviting her younger sister, Ruby, to board. Martha also is envied for her garden, with most people not knowing that the garden helps Martha and Ruby eat. One of the best things Martha makes is her damson plum gin, which Martha sells through the local publican.
At the local village fair, Martha donates her gin, hoping it will encourage people to buy it. When the village chairwoman, Mrs. Alice Warren, falls over dead after drinking the gin, suspicions mount that Martha was involved. But the handsome new vicar doesn’t automatically believe that Martha is guilty of murder. He becomes her friend and sounding board as she works to solve the mystery and prove she didn’t do it.
Martha is a strong and interesting woman with not much self-esteem and determined to overcome the adversities that keep appearing in her life. A staunch member of the ‘stiff upper lip’ society, she struggles to let others into her life and her challenges. These are among the many story lines woven into this lovely cozy mystery. I look forward to the next in this series.

This is the first in a new cozy mystery series set in England post-WWII. Martha Miller is trying to get by after her husband abandoned her a year prior. However, this becomes more difficult after someone dies after drinking her gin at the village show. Shortly thereafter, another person turns up dead from drinking her gin as well. Along with her new local vicar, Martha investigates to find out who the culprit is.

This was a short, easy read. However, I didn't love the characters off the bat. I would read future books in this series to see if there is more development - and it does seem like there will be more to find out what happened to Martha's husband. I also thought there were not a ton of clues along the way. It was still a solid new cozy mystery though.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Poison at the Village Show by Catherine Coles is a lovely historical cozy mystery that is the first book in a brand new series: A Martha Miller Mystery. Set in the small British village of Westleham, Berkshire in the summer of 1947 it shows what life was like for the locals with the shadow of the great war still looming; plus, our protagonist, Martha, has the extra struggles of her husband having disappeared, leaving her financially strapped, a year earlier. When murder comes to the village show Martha and the new dishy Vicar team up to solve the crime if only to keep the local rumors about Martha from getting worse.
This was a great quick paced cozy mystery and a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed following Martha's sleuthing adventures and how they helped her not only solve the cases but also grow as a person as well as develop or strengthen relationships with her neighbors and sister/lodger.
The one thing that would pull me out of my enjoyment were the constant mentions of Martha's missing husband. While I understand that her growth is tired to some of her realizations while looking back it just felt like a bit too much for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this arc and in return I am submitting my honest review.

Wow!

An awesome historical mystery!

Loved Martha Miller... All the other characters were well written too...
The storyline was interesting and the way it was written was very good. I read it at one go... Did not want to put down the book!

So eager for the next in series

Enjoyed the historical mystery. Not usually a fan but the was well written and was light hearted too. Liked the flow of the story with the characters and it keeps you guessing till the end.