I really enjoyed this murder mystery – it’s highly entertaining, with just the right blend of intrigue and suspense. From the very first page, it pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages until the end.

Welcome to Pudding Corner, where tea is poured, secrets simmer, and even the prettiest gardens can hide something dark.

When Lord Hugh Darlington returns to his crumbling ancestral home with plans to restore it, Daphne Brewster jumps at the chance to help. She’s charmed by the turrets, stained glass, and sprawling kitchen garden – until she discovers something far less delightful among the greenery… a body that nobody can identify.

As the village reels from the shock, Daphne finds herself drawn into the mystery. Her natural curiosity and knack for noticing details soon have her piecing together clues – much to the irritation of the local police. But when Lord Darlington is attacked and a spate of burglaries rattles the village, it becomes clear that danger is far closer than anyone realised.

Warm, witty, and brimming with charm, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a cosy mystery where friendship shines, secrets tangle like ivy, and one determined amateur sleuth will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

3.5/5.

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This was a fun murder mystery! I have really been enjoying these especially the amateur sleuth type and this was great. Fun and entertaining from the beginning

An entertaining book, which is following the current cosy-crime trend. As such it is a good book, but there is nothing which makes it stand out particularly. The characters are all a bit wooden, but the book is a pleasant way to while away an afternoon.

I had not read the first book in the series but that did not effect my enjoyment of this book. This was such an easy read, a cosy murder mystery that is fun to solve along with Daphne (the protagonist). This is a perfect book for anyone who loves a cosy vibe or something to help you get out of a reading slump.

I was drawn into this well plotted whodunit. The story is a great mixture of
fun and anxiety. With ample red herrings and suspects, it is a very enjoyable read.

Although this is the second book in the series, you don't need to read the first one, the author ensures the reader knows the back story at the start.
Daphne, is the main POV & she is softly spoken which I feel makes it a cosy murder mystery.
It is a pleasant, easy novel to read but I was disappointed that I'd worked out the plot very early on!
Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

Daphne has already solved one crime in her sleepy village and then becomes drawn in to another drama.
A nice gentle read.

A delightful cozy mystery I thoroughly enjoyed. Well plotted, fun to read, it kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I almost didn’t finish this book unfortunately. I really wanted to enjoy it but I just struggled to get into it, I’m not sure if that’s because I hadn’t read book 1. The characters and setting of the story are well-written and enjoyable, but unfortunately felt a little surface level. I found myself wanting the book to be over rather than being able to really get into it and escape.

The Body in the Kitchen Garden is a delightful and charming cosy mystery that channels the spirit of Miss Marple with a modern twist. Set in the idyllic English village of Pudding Corner, the story follows Daphne Brewster, an antique shop owner with a sharp eye and a knack for solving murders. When she's asked to help restore the crumbling Darlington Hall, Daphne quickly finds herself entangled in a new mystery—one involving a string of burglaries, a suspicious new lord of the manor, and a body found in the kitchen garden.

This is the second book in the Daphne Brewster mystery series, and it builds beautifully on the first (though beware—there are some spoilers for book one included in the narrative). Paula Sutton captures the essence of the classic cosy crime genre, complete with quirky village residents, secrets lurking beneath a picturesque setting, and just the right amount of intrigue.

Daphne is an engaging, intelligent protagonist whose curiosity is matched only by her compassion. The cast of supporting characters is equally vivid, from the enigmatic Lord Darlington to loyal village friends whose passing comments prove more important than they first seem.

While the plot is light and easy to follow, there’s enough mystery to keep readers guessing. The pacing is steady, and the atmosphere—rustic Norfolk countryside, elegant yet decaying manor houses, and gossip-fueled village life—adds to the book’s irresistible charm.

Perfect for fans of gentle mysteries, antique-laden settings, and witty amateur sleuths, The Body in the Kitchen Garden is an entertaining read that’s ideal for a quiet afternoon or a summer holiday. It’s cosy crime at its finest, and I look forward to following Daphne’s further adventures.

A great cozy whodunnit Sunday read in the the garden. I hadn't read the first book in this series, but it didn't matter, references were made to the previous text when required but it didn't interrupt the flow of this story. A reluctant heir comes back to Darlington Hall, with local girl and fiancé, Helena, in tow. Meanwhile things are being stolen around Pudding Corner and the local bored teens and a homeless man become the stereotypical targets of accusation at emergency council meetings. Daphne steps in to help Helena sell off some furniture from the hall in her shop and help redecorate, so she is in the perfect position to investigate when a body is discovered in the garden. Daphne, it appears, has form for uncovering murderous plots (in the first book) and she fits in her investigations between dropping the kids off for school, helping a bereaved neighbour and making sure tea is ready on time. The are some nice twists and observations on living in a small community, as well the greed and horror that some humans create around them. Will definitely be seeking out book 1 and any follow ups.

This was a great, cosy mystery - very Miss Marple 'ish', except the sleuth in the story is much younger.
Set in the quintessential English village of Pudding Corner, Daphne Brewster is approached by the fiancee of Lord Darlington to help revive Darlington Hall. But before long, an unidentified body turns up in the Kitchen Garden and Daphne is once again caught up in a murder.
The story has everything you could want with a cast of eccentric and engaging characters, a typical quaint village setting and a twisty mystery to solve. I really enjoyed it. My only criticism is that finding it was the second in the series I was eager to read the first - but the author gives rather too much of the plot away regarding the first story even naming the killer. Never the less I look forward to reading more of Daphne's adventures in subsequent books.
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for this ARC copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed Paula Sutton's debut novel so was delighted to see this pop up and as soon as I was approved, I started it immediately!

We are reunited with Daphne and her family who are settled in the wonderful sounding Pudding Corner and her new business, an upcycling furniture shop in the village is thriving and is all is well. Well, this only lasts for about a chapter as things are turned upside down!

The Body in the Kitchen Garden is even better than the first adventure in my opinion and I couldn't put it down. I must admit, I nearly shed a tear over some events that happen but can completely understand why this was done.

The pace of the book is a little bit faster than the first one I think with the author still finding her feet and I think it worked a lot better.

A very enjoyable cosy crime series, I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

An enjoyable cosy murder mystery. The outsider Mum gets to solve the murder, much to the annoyance of the local police. The second in the series, although you dont need to have read the first to enjoy this one.

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read this book on NetGalley and enjoyed the story. It is the second book in the series and I have read the first one but I do think this would work well as a standalone book. I enjoyed returning to read more about the familiar characters and settings but feel that anyone would soon get to know and love the characters.
The main character is Daphne who gets drawn into investigating the death of a mysterious stranger. She is naturally inquisitive and friendly so she notices some things that others may not. She is also doggedly determined to get to the bottom of things and never takes things at face value. She is always thinking through what she has noticed and trying to make sense of it until she finally gets to the answer. Naturally enough this doesn’t always endear her to the local constabulary!
This is a fun, cosy mystery filled with great characters and the warmth of friendship. A solid 4 star read for anyone who wants an easygoing read.

Daphne is back and once againshe's caught up in a mystery when she discovers a body in the garden of a stately manor. Who is it and why did they die.

This is book 2 in the series. I havent read book 1 ye but I will because I really enjoyed it. I love a cosy mystery and even better when its set in my home county of Norfolk. The plot was simple but clever and the ending was perfect for the story, Especially the last scene with her husband. Daphne is a relatable and fun lead. I instantly warmed to her. The setting is so recogisable for the area its based. Village life, knowing each other's business so well covered. A brilliant sequel and I look forward to more.

Who ever said village life was dull has never lived in one. Pudding Corner has all the necessary characters to keep he village well and truly occupied. Daphne, the only colored lady, has her own battles but seems to find time to raise a family bake every day and look afer a shop and the two ladies who run the local general shop. When the long lost Lord Darlington returns from Australia determined to do up the Hall he soon has a fiance to help him, a local girl who calls on Daphne for help with re organizing the Hall as she wants. Unfortunately things soon start to go wrong. A tramp appears and there is a spate of robberies.
When one of the elderly sisters that run the shop dies no one believes she was murdered apart from her sister. When the tramp is found dead in the kitchen garden in one of the glass houses it it time for Daphne to play detective although the local inspector warns her off.
Lots of red herrings and the feeling that not everyone is who they claim to be can Daphne solve this before the police so that village life can resume?

The Body in the Kitchen Garden by Paula Sutton is the second book about Pudding Corner and Daphne Brewster. I like Daphne; she's a very engaging character. And the other characters are quirky and larger than life, giving a vibrant read. But the plot is a little obvious, although it does have the odd subtlety. I could wish that Daphne didn't behave so stupidly in the face of (real or imagined) crime but generally I enjoyed the book.

A really nice cosy murder mystery. Daphne lives with her family in Pudding. Corner and runs her business in the nearby village. Although a newcomer her previous involvement in solving a murder has seen her as an established member of the community. The new Lord Darlington has taken up residence at Darlington Hall, but no-one has really seen him, Hugh returned after over 20 years in Australia, having been estranged from his family and only returned after the untimely death of his brother.
Daphne gets involved in helping his fiancé Helena, a local girl, to renovate some of the Hall so that they can be let out. However, all is not as it seems.
An excellent read and my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.