In the latest instalment of this delightful mystery series, Jude Gray is taking part in the local county livestock show. She is doing this for the first time, and is slightly nervous.

Adding salt to the collective wounds of the farmers, one contestant this year is Zander Pettiford. A rock musician/farmer/influencer. Upon hearing his description, I personally could not help but compare him to Jeremy Clarkson of .Clarkson’s Farm. fame.

As per usual, murder follows Jude around like a puppy. There is a body found at the show. The victim was one of the competitors. A man who was disliked by many, so there is no shortage of possible murderers.

Once again, Jude’s good friend policewoman Binita Khatri is the lead on the murder investigation.

Since this was the fifth book in the series, I was delighted to meet up with Jude Gray and her family and friends once again. They are strongly defined characters that are both well drawn and memorable. Jude tends to latch on to waifs and strays, both animal and human.

I felt a bit of frustration at the whole ‘will they’ or ‘won’t they’ aspect of Jude’s relationship with Marco. I feel either they should get together, or that he should be out of the picture. We know she adored her husband, Adam, but she is very young and it is time to move on.

With themes of the value of modern farming, sustainable farming, duplicitous friendship, manipulative behaviors, and the re-wilding of agricultural lands, this instalment of the series certainly gave pause for thought.

The ending emphasized the contentment of Jude’s life, so it seemed like a warm hug. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this engaging, cozy mystery series. After five books, this series is fast becoming one of my favourites.

Killer at the County Show by Kate Wells is the fifth book in the Malvern Farm Mystery series and I've read four of them (see my reviews below).

It's a delight to return to Jude and her farm and family, and hasn't she just got involved in yet another murder mystery, all while attending the County Show to exhibit her sheep.

This is another welcome addition to the series. I always enjoy the fact that I never quite manage to guess who the murderer was in every book, and the plot is twisty enough to keep me reading. I will certainly be reading book 6.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy..

Going to join in her first County Show,
Jude soon other Kerry Hill sheep exhibitors gets to know.
Most are friendly, supportive and helpful, too,
Guiding her through what she should do.

However, they don’t all get on well with each other
There’s bad feelings and more to discover.
When one is murdered and left with the sheep
Jude’s worried and loses her sleep!

As friends work together to uncover the killer,
Another victim succumbs making this a real thriller.
Can Jude work with the police to solve the crimes once more
As together the evidence and clues they explore.

Misunderstandings, families and puzzles, too,
Make this a fabulous read all the way through.
Relationships, secrets and lots more besides
Can Jude help find where the killer hides?

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

My fifth trip to Malvern Farm, and Jude and her crew were branching out to show her pair of Kerry Hill sheep at the county fair. Whilst on the scene, we are introduced to an eclectic group of farmers, all showing their own Kerries: Jim and his adult son David, their neighbour Griff, Ffion and her husband Carl, Tara and her mother Penny, and Zander Pettiford (a musician turned influencer / wild farming activist) and his best friend Olivia.

Tensions are high because Zander believes traditional farming should be a thing of the past and is using his influence to try and build a more “sustainable” farming future. In his quest, he argues (while secretly filming) with all the rest of the farmers who clearly do not share his views. David specifically gets into a live-streamed argument with Zander at the pub over dinner.

When David is later found murdered, stabbed with a pair of shears, Jude puts back on her sleuthing cap and gets to work trying to solve the case. Other than his father, no one really misses David… but that doesn’t mean his killer should walk free. And who among Jude’s new friends is the culprit? When a second body is found admitting guilt for the first murder, Jude is sure there is more than meets the eye to this group of farmers.

Another fantastic addition by Kate Wells. This instalment was character driven, and advanced the overall story well. It was a bit slower paced than her other novels but I’m not complaining! It’s always great to spend a few days on the farm and spend time with my friends Jude, Lucy, Noah, Sebbie, Binnie, and all the animals.

I’m always thrilled to have the opportunity to read this series and I appreciate the e-ARC I received from the publisher and net galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was book 5 in the series and id only read one other before but it didn't make a difference and was easy to follow.

Overall a fun easy read but I didn't think it was very true to real life - you can't just break into houses without a warrant! There were also quite a lot of characters that made it a little hard to follow.

I also thought her love life distracted from the overall pot quite a bit and it's obvious they will end up together. No need for additional peril!

Having said that it was a fun quick read and I'm looking forward to the rest in the series.

Another great entry in Malvern Farm mystery series by Kate Wells. Jude is attending a local farm show hoping some of her Kerry Hills sheep will make a good showing. But of course, murder gets in the way and Jude is once again determined to find the killer, at great cost to her friend and police officer, Binnie.

This series keeps getting better with every new installment—like the perfect summer read that knows exactly how to whisk you away. The setting is delightfully vivid, filled with picturesque countryside charm and a quaint cozy place like any proper cosy mystery.
The characters are a joy, full of wit and warmth, their sharp banter adding just the right touch of humor.
The mystery itself is cleverly crafted, packed with twists and surprises that keep you guessing until the very end.
This is the perfect book to enjoy under the summer sun, lounging with a cool drink while the magic of reading works its spell. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC; all opinions are mine. Highly recommended!

My family is from Malvern, I lived there for a while and even did temp work at the Three Counties Showground, so this book (and the whole series) is very familiar territory to me.

The main character Jude, is a female farmer who inadvertently stumbles across a dead body at the Three Counties Show. David, the deceased, had ruffled a few feathers at the show and there's a long list of suspects who might have wanted him dead. The police are investigating, and Jude carries out her own investigations alongside them.

I really enjoyed this book. I like how the author includes current political and financial issues that are affecting farmers. Although this is the 5th book in the series, you could read it without reading the others first (But the whole series is great!). There is an interesting cast of characters and I love reading about life on and around the farm. A great cosy mystery that kept me guessing.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of the Malvern Farm cosy mysteries series. It's Jude's first time at The Three Counties show, showing Kerry Hill sheep. She meets some of the other competitors, and there's one person in particular who seems rather unpopular. When a body is later discovered, an investigation begins. Who disliked this competitor enough to want them dead?

I've read the previous books in this series too, and they are always enjoyable. Jude is a likeable protagonist, and I always enjoy the rural setting, as it's perfect for a cosy mystery. There are some other characters in these books that I've grown fond of too. This new instalment was an entertaining page turner that kept me guessing, and as always, it was a light, easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Jude’s first time at entering her two Kerry Hill sheep in the Three Counties Show is cut short when the classes are abandoned as one of the competitors is accused of cheating and sabotaging other people’s animals with hair dye. The accuser, son of farmer Jim who is angry that his land has been sold beneath him for new houses, is later discovered by Jude and Marco stabbed to death with sheep shears. But with so many people having a motive for killing David, just where are DI Binnie Khatri and DS Sami Abadi to start with their murder investigation? Could it also be Jim’s aggrieved farmer neighbour, a former pop star and so-called sustainable farmer whose very profitable blog was hijacked by a venomous David, any of the women David was overly friendly with or any of their loved ones? Could it have been caused by another nefarious activity he engaged in or did someone he tried to manipulate strike back? Jude is hopeful she can get the inside track on the closeknit breeding community and help Binnie bring a killer to justice but with so many great suspects, all having no firm alibi, just where is she to start when so many people have something to hide?
It’s nice to see Frank living in his son Noah’s old cottage and helping on the farm now he has given up his own tenancy, whilst Noah has moved into the main house with Lucy as their wedding fast approaches. The will they/won’t they question still hangs over Jude and Marco, once more keeping the reader guessing, and Granny Margot and the other residents at the care home are on their usual fine form. This is another great instalment in the series, full of fluffy farm animals, warmth and humour and a spot of grisly murder.

Jude Gray’s first time showing her Kerry Hill sheep at the Three Counties Show is nerve-wracking enough without the added tensions between the competitors. When cheating rears its ugly head, Jude finds herself caught between feuding factions. When one of the group is found dead, there are a multitude of suspects. Will the culprit be found before anyone else has to die?

I enjoyed the county show setting as it was brought to life in a vivid and engaging way. We get to see the competitive spirit of the farmers, but also the clash between the traditional ways of farming and the new ideas coming to the fore. Which is right? It is this dilemma that seems to raise tensions - but would someone really murder for that reason. Jude’s investigation has to take it into account. But is there more to it?

I love reading about Jude’s farm and her family and friends. Kate Wells makes excellent use of the characters around Jude, and I especially enjoy the input from Binnie, Margot and Lucy. We get to see the mystery from various perspectives and it works.

Yet again, Jude puts herself in grave danger, but her inquisitive spirit and sense of fair play means she can’t stand idly by. Another great mystery.

It's another chapter in the Malvern Farm series, which sees Jude showing her sheep at the County Show. The setting is well-described, and imagining the animals, events, and people is easy. Jude gets to know the other farmers, and it's soon clear that there is tension amongst the group. It results from historic connections and current happenings, and the most objectionable character dies in suspicious circumstances. Jude, of course, uncovers the body and her connections, and new knowledge makes her an essential investigative partner for her police detective friend, Binnie. There are echoes of romance as Jude tries to understand her feelings. As a reader, you are invested in the outcome and want her to find love again, but her indecision is realistic given that she has lost the husband she loved. I enjoyed meeting regular characters again, the twisty mystery and the rural setting, all of which contribute to this suspenseful cosy mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Killer at the County Show is the fifth book in the Malvern Farm Mysteries books and another great addition to the series.

We follow Jude Gray, a young farming widow who in this story, has decided to show 2 of her Kerry Hills sheep at the local County show. With the help of Frank, another local farmer and father of Noah (her future brother in law!) Jude is looking forward to spending some time with other farmers and seeing what the County Show has to offer. Unfortunately things turn a bit sour when they arrive in the middle of a spat with 2 rival farmers. When one of the farmers turns up dead in a sheep pen, killed by some shears, Jude and Detective Binnie Khautri, team up to try and get to the bottom of things.

Killer at the County Show is a really good addition to this series – being from Yorkshire, I have been to the Yorkshire Show which is a huuuuuge event for farmers and locals to showcase their animals and goods so I could picture everything clearly from the wonderful descriptions!

As with the other books in the series, Jude is joined by ‘the regulars’ to help her along the way – Granny Margot becoming a firm favourite with her astute wit and sharp mind! There is a wide array of other characters, mainly people that Jude meets at the show that we suspect which adds to the mystery – some come across as nice, whilst some have clearly got something to hide but despite this, I still couldn’t quite figure out who the murderer was with all the finely plotted twists and turns which despite this being the 5th book is still kept very fresh by Kate Wells.

A really enjoyable book in the series!

"Killer at the County Show" by Kate Wells is a magnificent 5-star cozy mystery! Jude Gray returns in the fifth installment of the Malvern Mystery Series. This time, she enters her prized Kerry Hill sheep in the Three Counties Show—only to discover that one of her fellow competitors has been murdered. Once again, Jude steps in as an unofficial consultant to her friend, DI Binnie Khatri, as they work through a long list of suspects.

If you've read any of the first four books in the series, you'll love this one too! And if you haven’t yet started the series but enjoy cozy mysteries with strong character development, this is a must-read. All your favorite characters return—along with the beloved animals on the farm. Kate Wells does a fantastic job keeping you guessing about the killer’s identity while weaving together a web of lies and deceit. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Kate Wells, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This is a good cosy murder mystery. I loved the farm and country show setting, it has made me think of our local agricultural show in a different light! Jude is an empathetic main character, if a little frustrating at times. Part of a series, this book could also be read as a stand alone, though it is nice to see relationships develop between the characters.

Tensions are high at the Three Counties Show when accusations of cheating add fuel to a longstanding feud. For Jude Gray, whose only hope was to not make a fool of herself showing her Kerry Hill sheep, farming life has never been so dramatic. When a body is found, belonging to one of the competitors, there is no shortage of suspects. Every sheep farmer in this close-knit community has a motive and beneath their show-ready smiles, they all have something to hide.
The fifth outing for Jude & another well written engrossing cosy murder mystery. The story flowed effortlessly & with strong characters meant I read it in two sittings finishing it well into the night. There were twists & turns as well as red herrings, I was kept guessing until all was revealed. I really like how the characters have developed throughout the series & look forward to more books in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Jude Gray is at the Three Counties Show to exhibit her Kerry sheep for the first time. But before she can load the sheep into the pen, a heated argument breaks out between two farmers. Then, after hair dye is found, there is an accusation of cheating by artificially enhancing sheeps markings. Finally, a body is found in one of the pens. The victim is an argumentative womanizer with controversial plans to develop farmland so there are many suspects. Once again, Jude becomes involved in the investigation, this time putting both her life and that of her friend DI Binnie Khatri at risk.

Killer at the County Show is a standout addition to this excellent series. The characters shine, especially Binnie and Zander Pettiford, rock star turned environmentalist. His plan to rewild farm animals and use arable land for solar panels has caused dismay in the closely knit farm community. If Marco and Jude are to get together, I hope it happens soon because I’m over the their back and forth behavior. I do love this series and look forward to what comes next. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for this ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of this mystery.

Jude and Frank are at the animal show when a murder takes place. The showing of their Kerry sheep is cancelled and Binny comes to investigate. After the show, another one of the farmers who had attended is found dead in his house. Jude and Binny get together to find out the truth.

I'm a little surprised that the police would depend so much on a civilian, and also that Binny would break into a garage without a warrant, but they get away with it. I was also surprised that Jude spent so much time away from the farm. And I hope that the next book will get her together with Marco.

Another belter by @katepoelswrites - I just love this series. A lovely cosy crime series set on a farm.

Jude, the main character/ amateur sleuth is a widow with a farm to run. The cast of characters has expanded into a loveable troupe as the series progressed and each time a new book comes out, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

This book is set around a county show, some old feuds, and a sheep pen!

You can probably dip in and out in any order, but as always with a series I think its better to start at the beginning.

Thanks to @katepoelswrites @netgalley and @theboldbookclub for the #arc

Part of a series but easy to follow as a standalone story.

It's a slow-burn, cosy mystery.

Jude enters the county show for the first time and things don't go to plan. David wasn't a nice guy and there were a few who had motive to do him harm.

Jude has good instincts which she clearly got from Granny Margot. I liked their relationship and it was nice to see Jude's family dynamics alongside her quest to uncover the killer.

Jude's relationship with Marco was a little frustrating and I felt like she needed to communicate better with him. She had such a good way dealing with others but held back with him. I imagine there's a history that you need to read the previous books before fully understanding.

There were a few surprises in this which kept things interesting.