Dark Doings..
The sixth outing in the Georgina Drake series of mysteries and Georgina’s photoshoot at a family vineyard takes a fatal turn. With a body in a wine fermentation tank and bones discovered in a pond, the sleuthing begins. Weaving together past and present, Georgina soon unearths familial secrets and dark doings. Another enjoyable outing with a lively and well drawn cast of characters, a pacy plot and a well imagined setting,

The Body at the Vineyard completely swept me away into the lush, secret-filled world of wine country, blending atmospheric settings with a tightly woven mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Georgina Drake is a fantastic amateur sleuth—curious, clever, and refreshingly relatable. I loved how her photography career gave a unique angle to the investigation, and her partnership with Sybbie and DI Colin Bradshaw added great dynamics and plenty of wit. Plus, Bert the spaniel was a charming addition who stole my heart!

The plot was brilliantly crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that made the story impossible to predict. The contrast between the beautiful vineyards and the dark secrets buried beneath was skillfully done, adding layers of suspense and emotional depth. I especially appreciated how the author explored family rivalries and hidden pasts without overwhelming the mystery.

The pacing was spot on, with each revelation building the tension perfectly toward a satisfying climax. I couldn’t put it down and found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished.

If you love mysteries with rich settings, complex characters, and a dash of elegance, The Body at the Vineyard is an absolute must-read.

Really enjoyed this book. I love the setting for this cozy mystery. Now I have purchased the other 5!in the series

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read "The Body at the Vineyard" in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kate Hardy has once again written a brilliant addition to the Georgina Drake series. This is the 6th book in the series and once again Georgie and her springer spaniel Bert have stumbled onto a mystery. Georgie has been hired to photograph Gabrielle Edwards at Rosa Wines for a magazine article. While there they find that there has been an accident and someone has fallen into a vat of wine. At the same time Doris - our favourite ghost - has alerted Bert that there is a body in the pond on the property. Georgie is quite certain that it is another historic case they are "bones of antiquity" according to the police.

Ms. Hardy weaves the two stories together seamlessly and we learn that the past and the present are ever so connected. How so many lives were changed by decisions that were made back in the early 1920s. There is so much sadness for lost love but also hope for the future with the arrival of Sybbie's much awaited grandbaby.

One improvement in this story is that while not totally accepting that Georgie has conversations with Doris, DI Colin Bradshaw, Georgie's partner is more open to the fact that there is no other way George could know of these historic cases if Doris isn't helping her and Bert stumble upon them.

This story deserves more than 5 stars and I'm eagerly awaiting what Ms. Hardy writes next.

What a wonderful treat to be back with Georgina, Bert and Sybbie! They’re such great characters – warm and believable – and I love following Georgie’s ups and downs with partner Colin too. The plot was enthralling, with Kate Hardy’s trademark mix of historical and contemporary intrigue and skulduggery. The family relationships here were intense, dramatic and tragic. The story had me hooked from start to finish! Highly recommended!

Cozy cozy cozy mystery with Georgina and Doris

Georgina is working on a photoshoot at the vineyard when her brother is found dead. Also a skeleton is found by Bert, the dog who needs a medal. Georgina’s friends looking at the history of the skeleton and Colin investigates the body found dead

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

I’m really enjoying this series, I love the premise of how Georgina and Doris communicate and Bert the dog plays his part too. A present day death causes problems when a body is found while Georgie, Cesca, Sybil and Bert are at a vineyard as part of a photo shoot. To make matters worse Bert finds a skeleton in a pond. DI Colin Bradshaw is brought in to look into both matters, one less seriously than the other. However, Colin is trying very hard to be supportive of Georgie rather than scathing. This makes a really good read, but I would say it’s better to have read at least some of the previous 5 books. Recommended. 4 1/2 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Absolutely loved this next edition of the Georgina Drake mysteries. From the poor dog Bert that always finds the bodies, to the whispering ghost Doris who gives hints to the identity of the body, I love the way intrigue and mystery is always threaded through these stories. Can’t wait for the next one!

Another fab book in this series. There is the supernatural in Doris speaking to Georgina through her hearing aids, however this is very much secondary to the plot development. The characters are the usual core group and these are well explained and given real depth. The body found at the vineyard is central to the investigation and brings in wider stories or childhood bullying, affairs and stories of war. The various strands and timelines are woven together well and this is beautifully crafted and a book I chomped through desperate to see what happens to the various characters linked to the vineyard as well as Georgina and her relationship. Clearly the whole book is made better by the excellent springer spaniel - Bert.

Georgie and friends are challenged in this mystery and have to pull out all the stops to make headway. It's marvelous.

I really enjoyed how Ms. Hardy parallels the past and present murders while intertwining them in a very sensitive manner. Colin might be coming around to Doris' involvement in solving the cold cases, and it's good to see him becoming slightly more receptive to Georgie's experiences. Parts of the story were hard to read (bullying, infidelity) but it was treated with respect and not gratuitously filled with coarse description.

It is high time that I return to the start of the series and read how Georgie and Doris become friends. I definitely recommend this book (and series).

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

This was a 4.5/5 book— The Body at the Vineyard (Book 6 in the ‘A Georgina Drake Mystery’ coming June 2025) was a fantastic read that I absolutely flew through—24 hours start to finish!

Let’s get the one little downside out of the way: there were a lot of characters introduced, and at times I found it a bit tricky to keep track of who was who. I jumped into the series with this book (this is Book 6), so I’m guessing it would’ve been easier if I’d started from book one— which I’m planning to do. Still, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story overall. And I feel it still can be read as a stand alone book.

Now for the good stuff—because there’s a lot of it.

This book is a great cozy mystery with an engaging plot and two mysteries unfolding at once. I loved the twists, the pacing, and the way the final reveal snuck up on me. It kept me guessing right until the end, and that’s exactly what I want from a good whodunit.

Georgina, the main character, is someone you instantly like, and the supporting cast (ghosts and all!) is full of charm and personality. And can we talk about the dogs? There are dogs all over, and they’re woven into the story in the best way—not just cute background fluff, but real companions with purpose. As a dog lover, that alone had me smiling the whole time.

Bonus points for the warm friendships and the small-town feel. I honestly want a group of friends like this main character has… maybe minus the ghost, but still. Just really fun, heartfelt dynamics that added so much to the experience.

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries with clever plots, lovable characters, and plenty of four-legged sidekicks, I definitely recommend picking this one up. And if you’re new to the series, maybe start at the beginning for the full effect like I’m about to do—but either way, it’s totally worth your time.

Thank you @netgalley @stormbooks_co and the author for the eARC.

This was the first book I have read in this series and will be looking to read more. I found it a totally enjoyable read. I liked the characters, was irritated by Colin and loved Doris and the dogs. The story is well written with a good plot and the characters. A light enjoyable read.

4* Another delightful sortie with Georgina and posse, but ugh, what a wet fish Colin is. He's sooooo not lead-guy material.

You don't have to read previous tales in this series to enjoy this one. There's enough mentioned so that anyone can pick up and enjoy a 'whole' story without being lost. I like that the tales are set in the UK and that the PNR aspect is low key and believable.

It's another decent tale, with the sleuthing I've gotten used to, with Bert once again 'finding' the deceased - that dog needs a medal! But, ugh, what does Georgina see in Colin? Boring by name, boring by attitude, actions amd nature. Even her friends tell her so, but she persists in keeping the peace and making overtures to get their ' relationship' back on track. For me, him exiting the series could take it in a slightly different, nore organic direction.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

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