When Georgina headed back to the vineyard office to notify the police about the skeleton found where the pond used to be there was a full complement of police and rescue already there. This was because the vintner had just been found floating in the vat. Workplace accident or something more sinister? Georgina and friends work with ghostly Doris to solve each mystery while DI Bradshaw and his team do a more conventional investigation. There's also a missing brother of the vintner and a whole lot of family drama going on with each case. I love this series and this book is another real winner!
Georgina Drake is a middle aged, widowed photographer who has come to have a relationship with DI Colin Bradshaw while working together. Further helping Georgina is the audio presence of a young woman who became a ghost fifty years ago but is rarely heard from and then only by Georgina due to her new hearing aids. The DI doesn't quite believe it.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected ebook file from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Avail Jun 13, 2025
#TheBodyattheVineyard by @katehardyauthor #GeorginaDrakeMysteriesBk6 @stormbooks_co
#BritishCozyMystery #Ghost #hearingImpaired #coldCase #NetGalley #goodreads #bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #BritishPoliceDetective #suspiciousdeath #grieving #shellshock #vineyards #familydrama #photographer #relationshipissues

Murder, Secrets, and a Vineyard with a Past
Loved This Clever, Cozy Mystery in a Vineyard Setting.
I really enjoyed The Body at the Vineyard! Georgina Drake is such a relatable and sharp main character, and I loved how the story blended humour, charm, and suspense. The vineyard setting was beautifully described, and the mystery kept me guessing from the body in the fermentation tank to the surprise discovery in the pond. I especially liked the mix of past and present secrets coming to light. A great read for fans of cozy mysteries with heart and personality. Can’t wait for the next one! Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Title: The Body at the Vineyard
Series: The Georgia Drake Mystery #6
Author: Kate Hardy
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: June 13, 2025
My Rating: 3.8 Stars
Pages 237

Georgina Drake – professional photographer, amateur sleuth – When a murder bubbles up in wine country, it takes all of Georgina Drake’s sleuthing skills to uncork the truth…

(Okay the blurb is corny but I read others in this series so knew I was in for an entertaining read!

Georgina and her friends Sybbie Walters (who helps Georgina with her photo shoots and keeps an eye on Bert Georgina’s Springer Spaniel) also Cesca aka Francesca –Sybbie’s pregnant daughter-in-law are looking forward to going along with Georgina for her photo shoot at Rosa Wines, Georgina is excited to take photos of Gabrielle Edwards for Veritas magazine. Winemaker Gaby Edwards is twenty-five and is one of the top up and coming vineyard managers in the country! Recently won a prestigious award for her wine!
However, when Gaby’s oldest brother
Nathan is discovered drowned in a fermentation tank and another brother is missing ~the photoshoot is forgotten!
Adding to this Bert, the spaniel, uncovers a skeleton hidden in a pond. Hmmm

It all comes together as Georgina uncovers a tragic history of family rivalries and secrets buried deeper than the vines’ roots

Once again I totally enjoyed not only this story but Ms. Hardy’s “A Letter From The Author”.
She tells us that she grew up in a haunted house so is drawn to spooky stories. When she got the idea for this story she had a great idea where to hide the body. She and her research assistant (aka her husband) visited English vineyard not only for the delicious wines but to research ideas to help develop this story. She tells us the places that are real and also those that are her imagination!
She assures readers that she has a lot more stories and ideas to entertain us!
Certainly has me anxious for her next one!.

I want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 13, 2025.

Who doesn’t like who done it and it seems like Georgina Drake, who is going on a photo shoot to vineyard seems to find herself in another mystery. Georgina is going to take photos of Gabby Edwards who is a young winemaker who is trying to keep the legacy of her grandmother, rosemary alive, and keeping the vineyard going. Unfortunately, for Gabby, she has a bully of a brother Nathan, who takes his from his bully of a father neck who does not want to see Gabby succeed. Gabby wants to run a vineyard that is organic and her brother and father fighting her all the way. Then there is her brother Ashley, who is involved in the business and is an artist and also feels the wrath of his father and brother. Once at the Vineyard and Georgina is starting to take pictures this seems to be a problem at the lake. A skeleton is surfacing and no one seems to know who this could be. Why all of a sudden are these bones appearing and no one from the vineyard seems to know how this could’ve happened. So along with her friend Sybbie they dive into the history of the vineyard and the family feuds that pit brother Sister and father against each other. Gabby still wants to preserve her grandmother‘s legacy and include her mother who has divorced her father involved in finding out who this body was that was in the lake. Meanwhile, another mystery pops up. Georgina is trying to take pictures of Gabby, they find out that her brother needs. He drowned in a vat of wine. How can Nathan possibly drown? is this an accident or was it murder? Georgina and her friends along with her partnerDI Colin Bradshaw start on a journey to find out what really happened all that these years ago. Oh I forgot to mention Doris. The person that Georgina seems to be able to hear through her hearing aids and guides her through her investigations.

This is number six in the series and I’ve only read this one and number five. I truly enjoy these little mysteries. I love the character Georgina. I like that they have someone named Doris who she listens to because Doris can tell her things that nobody else would know. is some comedy to the books which I like it’s something different. There is some conflict with Georgina and her inspector boyfriend because he doesn’t believe in Doris he believes in facts so there’s always a little conflict which also brings a texture to the book. It’s a feel good. Cozy mystery and I find myself wanting to know more and more about Georgina and her friends. I will probably go back and read books so I get the background Georgina and her friends. I totally enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next Georgina mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. . 5 star cozy mystery

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. In this installment, Georgina Drake is back to investigate a murder at a family's vineyards. Georgina is working a photoshoot at wine maker Gabby's vineyard when her less than sympathetic brother is found dead. To make matters more disturbing, a skeleton is found soon thereafter. Georgina and her sleuthing companions try to figure out if both bodies are related and learn the sordid history among the family in the process.

This series is all about the cozy mystery vibe, and this book certainly delivers. But the plot has a good storyline and writing too, and the mystery is well-constructed enough that I was engaged throughout the book. The book also gives credence to realistic family issues, which I found to be relatable. I also enjoyed the list of characters, and appreciated the supporting characters being written with depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series never disappoints, but the books just get better. Doris is such a great invention, I loved that she was going to ‘live’ music. A lovely cosy mystery with real heart.

Georgina Drake is busy with a photo shoot at a beautiful winery when her hearing aid ghost tells her there is a skeleton in the pond. Bert the spaniel admirably performs his job as bone finder. On the way back to the winery to call the police, Georgina, Sebbie, and vintner Gaby find an ambulance is already there. A death has occurred while they were out. Georgina and her partner DI Colin undertake both cases in their differing ways to come to a satisfying conclusion.
These mysteries always make laugh. I do love the solving of a recent murder and an old one and the ways they mirror each other. This is a great series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this DRC.
#TheBodyattheVineyard #NetGalley

The publishers offered me the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Body at the Vineyard (thank you Storm Publishing.) After reading the synopsis I was intrigued, and just had to accept, despite this being book 6 of a series and my not having read its predecessors. 🍷
I'm glad I did accept because this was a very enjoyable read. I would categorise it as a cosy mystery, a quirky one at that. Think Randall and Hopkirk (Decessed), and you'll kind of get my drift. 👻🍷
Ghostly sleuths aside, there was plenty going on to keep me interested. The discovery of a skeleton in a pond during a photoshoot at a vineyard, was swiftly followed by the discovery of a body in a fermentation tank at the same vineyard. Were these two deaths, nearly 100 years apart, the result of accidents, or was it foul play? That folks, you will have to find out for yourselves. 🍷
To sum up then; The Body at the Vineyard is a quirky, cosy mystery that reels you in straightaway, and leaves you wanting more. Can easily be read as a standalone. 🍷
Oh, I forgot to mention, there are dogs. Spaniels and labradors, my two favourite breeds. 🐕🍷
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Set in the English wine country. Kate Hardy is a new-to-me author. I saw the synopsis on Netgalley and requested the ebook. I found the story unique for a mystery but it could have been ripped from local news just about anywhere. It is a standalone read. Even though this is book six in the series, I did not feel lost in the story line or back history of the group.

The story has two intertwined mysteries, a ghost, Doris, that guides Georgina and Bertie, Georgina’s dog, into finding the bones of people with an unexpected death. The ghosts have unresolved deaths – they don’t know how they died.

The family has many dark secrets that most of the members are unaware of since they do not communicate freely. The are a number of bullies in the family that have caused grief over the years.

I enjoyed the book despite its dark tones.

I recommend the book to those mystery enthusiasts that appreciate the non-gory graphic details. Thank-you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for recommending the book. These are my opinions.

Georgina is going on a simple photo shoot at a vineyard with her friends (and her resident ghost, Doris), but Doris alerts here to the presence of an old skeleton by the vineyard pond. Upon returning to the vineyard buildings, they find that a body has been found in one of the fermentation vats. The family that owns the vineyard is sharply divided: most of the men are unfaithful bullies and the women are the true vintners. The two deaths are related to a tragic history between the vineyard family and their neighboring farm family. Georgina delves into the skeleton’s mystery, with the help of Doris, determined to prove to Colin, her detective boyfriend, that she really does talk to a ghost. She also aids Colin in solving the current murder.

I really enjoy this series. The mysteries are well-done and I love the characters and the setting. The presence of Doris, whom Georgina hears through her hearing aids, is a unique touch.Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

BOOK SIX.
Georgina Drake when a murder bubbles up in wine country.a murder mystery at its best.
This book has page after page of gritty dark family history.
Glory be!!! It's unputdownable.
Rosa Wines and Gaby Edwards is not having it easy, her bullying brother is found drowned in a fermentation tank, then there is also a skeleton uncovered in a pond.
On her way for a photo shoot trip with Sybbie and Cesca this is one Georgina will never forget.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Georgina Drake is looking forward to her latest photographic assignment at an organic vineyard with friends Sybbie and Cesca. Georgie's friend, Doris is also along for the ride, not that anyone can see her as Doris is a ghost, helping to give other spirits peace one unexplained death at a time via Georgina’s hearing aids! With the help of Bert, Georgina’s loyal spaniel, a skeleton is discovered in the shallows of the vineyard pond. Unfortunately, it's not the only unexpected death at the same location that day and before long Georgina’s partner, Detective Inspector Colin Bradshaw, is on the scene following the discovery of a body in the fermentation tanks! Two deaths, one location, one fragmented family, and two intertwined tragic histories, between them Georgina and Colin, should be able to make sense of everything, shouldn't they?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. I love Kate Hardy's original take on a cosy crime series, and the admissions Colin makes this time around made me like him even more. The results of both investigations were extremely satisfying, and I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. Highly recommended, as is the whole series.

In The Body at the Vineyard, Kate Hardy serves up a sparkling blend of charm, suspense, and mystery with the flair of a seasoned storyteller. This is the first book in what promises to be an utterly addictive series featuring Georgina Drake — photographer, accidental sleuth, and the kind of protagonist cozy mystery fans will immediately adore.

What starts as a simple assignment — a vineyard photoshoot with an up-and-coming winemaker — quickly spirals into something much darker. When Gaby Edwards’ bullying brother is found dead in a fermentation tank, and a hidden skeleton turns up in the pond (thanks to Georgina’s curious spaniel, Bert), it’s clear something sinister is fermenting beneath the surface of this picture-perfect wine country estate.

Hardy has a clear talent for building layered plots without sacrificing clarity. The murder mystery is smartly constructed, with well-paced reveals, subtle clues, and red herrings that actually pay off. But what makes this book stand out isn’t just the whodunit — it’s the heart behind it. The tension between family loyalty and old rivalries feels real, as does the impact of long-buried secrets coming to light. These aren’t just twists for the sake of shock; they’re grounded in character, history, and motive.

Georgina is a standout lead — observant, level-headed, and determined, but never reckless or overly quirky (a pitfall for many cozy heroines). Her friendship with Sybbie, her bond with Bert, and her slow-burn rapport with the skeptical but intriguing DI Colin Bradshaw add warmth and texture to the story. They aren’t just there to fill space — they all serve the plot and give the book a genuine ensemble feel.

The setting deserves special mention too. Hardy captures the beauty and quiet menace of the English countryside with elegance — there’s a strong sense of place that gives the story both charm and weight. The vineyard isn’t just a backdrop; it’s steeped in history, secrets, and simmering conflict, and Hardy uses it to full effect.

For fans of authors like M.C. Beaton, Richard Osman, or Faith Martin, this book hits the sweet spot: cozy but not cloying, suspenseful but never grim. It’s the kind of story you race through but also want to savor — comforting, clever, and just a little bit dark around the edges.

The Body at the Vineyard is an ideal entry point to what could easily become your new favorite cozy mystery series. It’s witty, atmospheric, and rich with possibility. Kate Hardy has bottled something special here — and it’s definitely worth a second glass.

A very enjoyable read. Perfect for a summer by the beach. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review

I found this to be a good flowing plot, and easy to read..
i enjoyed reading about ner family at these. Vineyards.
I recommend this book
Thanks to Net Galley and Storm Publishers for my arc.

I'm really loving this series. Such wonderful characters, interesting cases to solve, and a gentle relationship between Georgie and Colin. This time Georgie, Sybbie and Bert go off to take photos of Gaby Edwards at her vineyard. Unfortunately, while there, Bert (with Doris' help) finds a skeleton in a pond and there's a body in a wine fermentation vat. Colin comes to investigate the body and is still a little skeptical about Doris helping Georgie with the skeleton case, although he's really trying to believe in Doris. The cases have a number of parallels and the modern case becomes quite twisty. As usual, a fantastic story!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Hardy for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.