Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this cosy myster story, great characters and a really good storyline. I would recommend it.

I received an ARC of Poison at the Village Show, by Catherine Coles. This was an ok mystery. I did not like why the killer did it, and Im not going to spoil it here.

Poison at the village show by Catherine Coles


A murder mystery set in 1947, at the local village show, Martha and the other villagers are toasting the show when one of the group , the village show chairwoman Alice Warren, drops dead after drinking the plum gin that Martha has brought to the show.. she decides to investigate and the new local youngish vicar decides to help…

I loved this cosy mystery.. I could not put it down, the story was ok but it was the characters who dragged me in and would not let me go!
Martha lives in a small village and is the centre of horrible gossip as Martha’s husband went to work one day and never returned and Martha is surviving with money she receives from her sister staying in her house. I really loved Martha, she makes do and keeps going in the face of adversary, she knows that she did not love her husband and is now questioning if she deserves more especially in Luke the new vicar…

I hope that this becomes a series, as I want to know what happened to Martha’s husband and I want to know if Luke and Martha are reunited after falling out and what will happen between Martha’s sister and the detective investigating the murder, and I loved the villiagers coming out there shells to befriend Martha so I need to see more of them as well!!!

The ending is very reminiscent of Agatha Christies Nemesis and I was ok with that as it was a good ending to the mystery.

This was a joy to read.. I throughly enjoyed it and I cannot wait to read more of this series.. I loved all the characters and I loved all the hints of the developing romance between Luke and Martha.

#Poisonat theVilliageShow #Netgalley #Cosy #mystery #postwar

In the quiet little town of Westleham, a village outside of London, the post-war years have been hard on Martha Miller. Her husband came home from war, only to disappear on his way to work one morning, never to be seen again. Without his steady paycheck, Martha has to resort to taking her sister on as a lodger, and must scrimp and save every way she knows how. But when the chair of the village gardening competition drops dead after drinking Martha's homemade plum gin, Martha is no longer just the woman who couldn't keep a man, but instead the woman who poisoned a pillar of the community! Martha had to find the murderer before she's hauled in herself!

This was a lovely little cozy mystery. Martha is a bit of a stiff character, but she's surrounded by quite a few interesting characters, which play off her quite well. The story was truly interesting, and even though it's a classic mystery story, it was laid out really well. There are some loopholes that are open, which leaves this open for sequels and long-term storylines. I have already suggested the book to my library's buyer. I think our patrons will really enjoy this!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. I thank the author and publisher for this opportunity!

Poison at the Village Show is a charming mystery set in a small village in the years after the Second World War, featuring Martha Miller, her sister Ruby, and the new vicar, Luke Walker.

I have already read all of Catherine Coles Tommy and Evelyn books set in the aftermath of World War I and love the depictions and the characters of Tommy and Evelyn. Fans of those books will not be disappointed with Martha, Luke and Ruby. They are all excellent creations and make for an engaging read.

The story really gathers pace as it continues, and the ending is both satisfying, and I confess, slightly unexpected for me. It's always good not to guess who the real perpetrator was.

I really look forward to reading more of this series and returning to the charming village of Westleham with its cast of eclectic busy-bodies in the years after the war when a sweet cup of tea is the solution to everything.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

rural, small-town, clergy, disappearance, family, false-information, 1946, vandalism, murder, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, England****

This is a pleasant little cosy mystery set in post WW2 rural England. The cast and plot are very interesting and engaging. The publisher's blurb is a nice hook, and I don't want to spoil the read. Good, relaxing cosy.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you.

An absorbing story set in a little village in post war England.Murder, mystery and Gin! what could possibly go wrong?
Martha is so likeable and relatable as she finds herself under suspicion for not only for her husbands disappearance but a MURDER too, with the help of her sister and the dashing new vicar she seeks to clear her name once and for all.
I absolutely loved this book and I’m very keen to read more about the going’s on in the village and what happens next to Martha.
I won’t give much away but I hope good things happen to both Martha and Rita,
Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review before publication date.

I really enjoyed this book at first I was reminded of the first Agatha Raisin book but that was solely due to the setting of a village fete. The book however is set after the war and is based around a woman called Martha whose husband has disappeared and so the village will blame her for everything whether or not it has anything to do with her, I really enjoyed the budding friendship between the characters in this book and the fact that the murders are true to the golden age of crime stories and not some overhyped murder.
I will recommend this book to all who want to spend a few hours being transported to another time and place for a jolly good read. I do hope this is not the last we see of Martha and co. and eagerly await another outing for the characters.

Martha’s husband left for work a year ago and has never returned. We are in post war England (1947) and Martha has had to take her sister for a lodger to keep a roof over her head and is growing fruit and veg in order to feed them as she has no means of support. She has extended the vegetable patch and there are rumours from one source that she killed her husband and his remains are to be found under the potatoes. It's the village show and Martha is on the committee, so has not entered any of the competitions. Many of the village's gardens have been ransacked, adding further fuel that Martha is up to something. When someone dies at the village show after drinking some of Martha's gin she is instantly the chief suspect in some eyes both for the murder and for her husbands disappearence.
This was a wonderful easy read with a smile. A mystery and larger than life characters quickly bring the story to life. Martha is a great character and the historical timeline works perfectly without the trapping of modern life which would complicate things. A rural setting adds perfectly to the simplicity. A mystery, a little romance, plenty of intrigue made the pages turn very easily. I hope that this is the beginning of a series- I would look forward to reading more. A brilliantly entertaining lighthearted read.
#blogtour

This is a nice light cozy historical novel. The writing is spot on and the plot of the novel is both well written and well crafted. Characters are fun and easily relatable. The story and writing is smooth and flows nicely from chapter to chapter keeping the reader interested and guessing whodunnit. This is easily a nice solid read that will appeal to all mystery lovers!!

Gloriously Entertaining…
It’s 1947 in the village of Westleham, the war is over and rationing remains but does the sense of community in this small village where everyone knows everyone else’s business- or do they? Something is very amiss and when a second death quickly follows a first and both are declared to be as the result of murder then Martha Miller knows that something must be done about it. With a glorious cast of characters, an endearing protagonist, a keen sense of both time and place and a very enjoyable,often heartwarming, storyline this is a wonderful start to this new series of cosy mysteries. The next is very much anticipated.

If you enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club then give this book a go, it’s a nice light read to distract during these difficult times and I for one will be looking for more titles by the author

Poison at the Village Show by Catherine Coles is a great historical cozy mystery that is the first book in a brand new series: A Martha Miller Mystery. I enjoyed this one and can’t wait for this series to continue!

This book takes place in the village of Westleham in 1947. Martha Miller is a new addition to the village, and comes with her own history and baggage. All she wants is to forget her losses, fit in, and create a fresh start. Unfortunately, she gets embroiled into a murder/mystery involving her own homemade gin, and now with all fingers pointing towards her as the prime suspect, she is determined to clear her name and find the true culprit. I love that she is refusing to go down without a fight on this one.

Add in a great sidekick and friend in the village’s new Vicar, Luke, and a great character cast, and a great amateur sleuth narrative is created.

I loved the historical timeframe, the details added, and the feel that the post-war rural England gives to the overall narrative. I liked Martha, the plot, pacing, and I liked how it all played out. There is plenty of material present for future installments amd I can’t wait to see where this goes!

5/5 stars


Thank you NG and Boldwood Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/17/22.