The initial listing of places of interest and the villagers right at the front of the book sets the scene of a quintessential traditional English village. Not all is as idyllic as it should be, with a spate of thefts, the unexpected death of a villager, concerns about gatherings of local youths and the arrival of a vagrant. Gradually suspicions are raised over whether the death was actually the result of an accident or was she pushed? Daphne, although a newcomer, is well connected with the villagers through her open and supportive manner and she starts to observe other inconsistencies. The death of the vagrant fuels her suspicions further and she uncovers some surprising truths.

The story is told with good pace and I was drawn into the life of the village from the first page. There is a nice balance of humour with interesting plot twists. A very enjoyable read and I hope that further books will follow.

I loved this book. It was fun despite the murder mystery. The characters are believable and relatable and at times humorous. Daphne haas moved with her family to an idyllic village in Norfolk. The family had settled in well but no doubt that was helped by Daphne, a amateur detective solving her first crime and elevating her status. This is the second book about Daphne investigating the deaths of two locals. It was a cosy mystery amidst cups of tea. I couldn't put the book down and it was one of those books I found relaxing to read. It was fast paced and very atmospheric. I will be looking for further books by this author.

Didn't read the first book but that didn't affect the enjoyment of this one. Great mix of village characters all with their own peculiar ways and back stories. Nice little who done it with a surprising twist.

Enjoyed it....

Another new author for me and again although the second in a series it reads easily as a standalone novel due very engaging descriptions of a close village community with lots of well drawn characters. Wonderful cosy crime with lots of humour. Recommended.

This is the second outing for Daphne Brewster, antique shop owner, in deepest rural Norfolk.

This time there is a spate of thefts and burglaries going on in the village blamed alternately on the local lads or the vagrant seen around the village.

Meanwhile there is a new lord of the manor with his girlfriend - a local resident - trying to do up the hall to begin taking B&B clients to start to restore its finances. Daphne’s expertise is required to dispose of some of its contents and to provide interior design input. After spending time at the hall she begins to suspect that the lord is not who he seems.

The death of the vagrant at the hall’s glasshouse - accident or murder? - and the continuation of the thefts leaves her with further questions.

It is a chance overheard comment from her friend, Nancy - dead after an accidental fall - which leads Daphne to suspect that there is to the situation than an imposter lord.

An enjoyable cosy murder story - easy to read, light and a good summer story.

An idyllic village suddenly blighted with burglaries, riffraff, bored young boys, graffiti and murders! What a good backdrop for a story. The characters described fit well within the village life. I live in a village and could recognise a couple of people! It’s a good story line with a couple of neat twists at the end. Not too complicated making it an enjoyable, easy to follow read.

This was a cozy murder mystery in a small town, where small thefts and burglaries are happening, finding dead body in the garden and accidental death that might not be that accidental. I didn’t know it’s a second book in a series but right from the start we have the prologue where we get enough information for the first book so it’s not confusing.

The writing is what you’d expect from a cozy mystery, it was slow paced and very descriptive. I liked Daphne, our MC, the book is mainly from her pov and her voice if I can call it so, is basically this patient soft voice retelling you a story and you just want to curl up on the coach with hot chocolate and listen to it.

It was too predictable for me, and the last 20% kind of lost me even more. I don’t mind the backstories of the characters but for some reason this one didn’t impress me. But it might impress you. I’d say it’s perfect if you want to read something and without spending too much time figure out what’s going on and just enjoy the vibes and the coziness.

Thank you NetGalley and Dialogue Books for the ARC! I appreciate it!

Utterly adored the latest from Paula Sutton! In The Body In The Kitchen Garden we return to the quaint village of Pudding Corner and our fave main gal Daphne! Now considered an honorary villager after solving a recent murder in the last instalment, Daphne is building up her upcycled furniture business and trying to steer clear of village politics! She’s working with the fiancée of the recently returned Lord Darlington to restore Pudding Corner’s grandest house, Darlington Hall. But scandal visits even the sleepiest of villages, and when Daphne finds a body in the glasshouses of the kitchen garden, Pudding Corner is plunged into yet another whodunnit!

This book is utterly charming, filled to the brim with wholesomeness, and quite honestly hilarious. The cosiest of cosy crimes and with characters that make you want to reach for the scones and spill the tea. I really enjoy this authors style of writing and find that the stories flow so smoothly. This is the perfect summer read for any cosy enthusiasts out there!

A cosy murder mystery set in the English countryside.

The characters are for the most part entertaining, although personally the main characters husband annoyed me. He didn't seem engaged with his wife or their life. The sisters in the shop were fun, and while I would hate to know the sort of busy body know-it-alls that are dotted around the village, to read about them was a lot more fun.

It's not the most complicated of plots - the threads are all there and for the most part obvious to the reader, who is of course looking for these. I was able to work it out long before the characters did, and pick up on plot points. It isn't taxing, but it was an enjoyable, light read, that you probably won't remember in a few months.

A good chunk of this book is dedicated to exploring the motivation behind the crimes. We revisit the past, long before the murders, as well as the murders themselves. Usually, these books have the killer unmasked in the last few pages, but I enjoyed this longer, more leisurely look at the why and the how, really getting into their heads.

eeeee my toes do tingly tingles when i get back to a book or series i love. from the cover to the contents this book was just so wickedly fun. so sharp. so witty. i loved it. start to finish and i could've done it again straight after. some books just hit an affinity with you. and in this very very very hot weekend this was just the thing i needed to be sat with. me this book and a fan were very happy indeed.
it was like the narrator of this book was sat reading this to me. she had a soft tone but brimming with humour and she let me laugh and let me gasp and let me sit on certain points and then continued on.
its the kind of village you love to be back in for a cosy crime. the kind you actually dont know whether you'd like to live in with noses in everyone else business but one i love to read abut all the same. Daphne is just a top notch character gift to us all. i am so excited to think i could get even more from this woman. and hope above hopes she can come back to us again. i want this woman in my life, or my pocket to just make me smile all day.
and the name Pudding Corner! are we all ok because i am not with that name. but its not as delightful as it sounds dear luvs. no no because this pudding is over baked and serving murder.

Cosy crime with heart and humour. A lighthearted whodunit set in a village where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Daphne loves her family and runs the local antiques shop. She’s solved a murder before and now there’s another one, a stranger to the village. There’s also been a burglary. Are the two connected? Daphne loves a mystery and is determined to solve it. She’s a great character and I can’t wait for her next case.

The first thing about this book that I appreciated is the kind and gentle tone of voice of the narrator who takes you by the hand, guides you strolling through the streets and scenery of Pudding Corner, and makes sure you get to know all the ins and outs of its citizens. In Pudding Corner everything has its place and people are expected to stick to it...

Will you believe at 54% of the book I, of course, had it all figured out, of course! Clever me, thinking of myself as inspector Barnaby herself. Let me tell you: that, apparently, I am not which did not make me enjoy the book any less and expecting the third book in this series coming along with James probably wanting to strangle his lovely wife Daphne for going sleuthing again. Bring it on!