This is the first book I have read by this author. Although it is part of a series, I felt it read very well on its own. I liked the setting, well described by Young. I liked learning about netsukes, miniature figures I previously knew nothing about. The Fair was an apt occasion for murder, especially with its Santa Run. The investigation amateur sleuths Alice and Robert do allows us to be introduced to many of the village's quirky characters, all of whom are interesting. It will also bring to memory your mother's or grandmother's button jar.

This is a fun book for readers who are also interested in knitting. The characters are well crafted and interesting. They certainly make the novel enjoyable. The plot moves along at a methodical pace. It is not suspenseful nor a page turner but is an enjoyable and informative read.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Santa is dead!!!!!! I say that but it’s not really. Someone dressed as Santa has been attacked outside the village hall as the local community hustle and bustle inside for Christmas presents and other festivities as well as the all important raffle! More importantly, said Santa is wearing on for Alice’s mum’s handmade scarves! What is the world coming to?!?

The police’s line of investigation doesn’t sit right with Alice and she’s got an itch to scratch. An itch that’s telling her she needs to get justice for this fallen Santa! And I was with her there. Their logic was slightly off – maybe they need to read more crime fiction 😆

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Alice, her mum and her friends. Her relationship with Danny is wonderful, her romance with Robert is rather formal but it’s touching in its own way.

This cosy crime investigation with two amateur sleuths at the helm was an enchanting read. I’ve not read any of the previous books in the series but I didn’t feel I’d missed out on any back stories. This is a book I can imagine being adapted as a Christmas special, it reminded me a bit of the Death In Paradise spin off Beyond Paradise, which is meant as a complement. I’ll definitely be getting myself the rest of the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series to read!

I loved it!
A cosy Christmas crime story, which has set the mood for me to seek out the other books in this series.
A good story line and characters that I truly warmed to.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third Cotswold Curiosity Shop cozy mystery by Debbie Young. Released 16th Aug 2025 by Boldwood Books is 235 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is *not* currently included in the KU subscription library, but the first two books in the series *are* available on KU.

This is a fun character driven village cozy set in "Little Pride", a fictive village somewhere in the Cotswolds. It's full of the whimsical slightly eccentric secondary characters, hidden motives and secrets, and over-the-top motivations which keep cozy readers turning pages. Obviously it would never fly in real life, and the main characters often seem to be fresh out of middle school instead of their actual ages/supposed maturity levels. It's within the acceptable parameters for a village cozy however; no harm, no foul.

Four stars. The language is clean and there's no questionable content. With three books extant in the series, it would be a good candidate for a weekend binge or buddy read. It's a nice holiday themed cozy, so bonus points for that as well.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Debbie Young for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death at the Village Christmas Fair coming out August 16, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love the series. I was excited for a cozy Christmas book. I really enjoy the characters and the writing is really fun for me. I would definitely check out this author.

It wouldn't be Christmas at the Curiosity Shop without a murder to solve! 3rd book in the series and definitely a must-read series for cosy mystery lovers.

In this cozy crime mystery, I found myself googling Japanese netsuke which turned out to be some very interesting objects! Lif in the Cotswolds Curiosity Shop is a great foil for murder and intrigue. Alice is by now well established in her Cotswolds village and seems to have gathered together a range of friends and acquaintances who all add to the story. In the background is her very slow burn romance with Robert who is encouraging and supportive as she delves deeper into the local goings-on. He often acts as a brake to her enthusiasms and points out the best times for her to question the locals, based on their daily habits.

I also like how the mysteries which Alice finds herself unravelling are introduced vis her life, not parachuted in as random external events. This makes her involvement all the more believable. There is a gentle humour in Alice's dealings with the other characters which adds to the enjoyment. I was also delighted to see that Alice's mother reappeared and hope to see more of her. Despite the setting of the Christmas Fair, the festive touches are applied with a light touch, making iy an ideal Autumn read.

In short: gentle sleuthing with a festive twist

Alice’s Cotswold Christmas is disrupted by a murder at the village Christmas fair. A stolen item from her shop ties her to the death, leading Alice and neighbor Robert on a race against time to find the killer.

I enjoy this series, and this book has a strong holiday feel. The mystery is well developed and kept me guessing. It’s fun to watch how the relationships are developing. The audiobook narration is well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Alice is looking forward to Christmas in Little Pride. Her mum is visiting and has brought lots of hand knitted goodies to sell at the village Christmas Fair. When a Santa steals a scarf with a peculiar button from her stall and then ends up dead, strangled by the stollen item, it is down to Alice and her friends to solve the mystery.
I loved returning to Little Pride and its inhabitants. Once again the author has delivered a enjoyable copy read.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the fantastic third book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries. It's Christmastime in Little Pride and that means a Christmas Fair and Santa Run to round out the festivities. Alice rents a stall at the Fair to sell her mom's knitted items. The joy of the holiday is diminished when one of the Santa Run participants pilfers something from the stall and then found dead. Now, the game is afoot as Alice puts her sleuthing skills to the test once more.

Alice is a fantastic character. She has embraced small-town life despite the frequency of murders. I really enjoy getting to Alice a bit better with each book. The character development in this series is great.

This mystery is fresh and exciting. The characters are quirky and would expect nothing less coming from a small town. I love the world-building and descriptive scenes as they play out in my mind. I enjoy the author's writing style, both smooth and conversational.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It’s been a busy year for Alice Carroll, with her Curiosity Shop opening for business, and not one but two murders shaking things up in her quaint Cotswold village. She’s looking forward to her first countryside Christmas, complete with traditional Christmas Fair and Santa Run.

But her hopes for innocent festive fun are thwarted when one of the Santa Runners steals something from her mum's knitting stall. His festive outfit makes him hard to spot, until he's found fatally injured outside the village hall with the stolen item.

Despite what the police say, Alice suspects there's more to his murder than meets the eye. She's determined to solve the mystery - including why, once more, a stranger thought something from her Curiosity Shop was worth killing for.

With the help of her charming neighbour Robert Praed, can Alice find the killer before the bells ring out this Christmas?

My Opinion

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third book in the Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series and I would highly recommend reading the series in the correct order. A cosy, festive mystery. Another charming novel by Debbie Young. Debbie Young has created a lovely village with some great characters.

Rating 4/5

Alice Carroll has become a fixture in Little Pride since taking over the Curiosity shop. Despite a few bumps along the way, she is looking forward to the festive season and the traditional Christmas Fair and Santa Run. Her mum takes at stall at the fair to sell her wonderful knitted creations, but when one of her items is stolen, and the thief is attacked outside the village hall, Alice is once more in detection mode. As some strange things have been happening in her shop too, she is determined to solve the mystery. Can she find the killer before anyone else is hurt?

I loved the community feel of this story as we once again spend time with Alice, her next-door neighbour Robert, and the villagers of Little Pride. There is a warmth to the tale and a lovely cosy vibe. I like that she has a group of people around her, as it adds to the continuity and familiarity.

The characters are such a huge part in my enjoyment of Debbie Young’s writing. She has invented people I feel I know. We encounter them everyday and feel at home with them. Nell is one such character. Although now living in a care home, her wealth of knowledge and experience is vital to solving each mystery. I also love the developing relationship with Robert. It’s a slow-burn romance, but beautifully written.

A heartwarming novel, with wonderful characters and a great setting.

I didn’t realize til after I had finished that this is the third in a series, so it can clearly be read as a standalone, although looking back there were some clues that there were likely some prior books but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this any. If you’re a fan of cozy mystery, you’re likely to enjoy this, especially as it’s set at the holiday season. All the characters are well written and well rounded which made it an easy read that I was able to finish in one sitting.
Alice loved her Curiosity Shop and as business has picked up closer to the holidays m her mum has offered to come and help and bring some of her handmade goods to sell as well,, which Alice gratefully accepts thinking she could set up a stall at the Christmas Fair after the Santa Run and boost sales. Imagine her surprise when someone yells that a thief has stolen something from her stall and two of Alice’s friends set off after the thief only to find when they catch up to him that he’d been killed. The police are called and an investigation launched but who who kill someone over a Knick knack from a curiosity shop and who was the man?
There’s lots more than meets the eye and some historical facts underneath the mystery to add some depth to it. All in all it’s a festive mystery loaded with suspense and even button collections!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I loved this book! It was such a cosy mystery and once I got started I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it made me want to live there. I loved the story and I loved the characters as each and everyone was unique in their own way but I loved how everyone knew each other and I loved how it kept me guessing right until the end. I was sad to have finished reading this book but I look forward to the next book in the series.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a cosy mystery with an amazing story and characters.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is book #3 in The Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mysteries series by Debbie Young.

It’s time for the Christmas Fair and Santa Run in Little Pride. This will be Alice’s first Christmas there and she’s looking forward to the events. Unfortunately, there is a murder. This was the first book I’ve read in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters are wonderful. I love the Alice is not written as a doddering old woman because of her age. The methods that Alice and Robert used for their investigation were thought out and they were not running willy-nilly into bad situations. I bought the first two books so I can catch up on the series.

Thank you to the author, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Christmas is coming and we're off to the Cotswolds. I love visiting Alice in her little shop to see what curios she's picked up since the last book...Netsuke anyone?

I would love to spend December in Little Pride, there's so much festive fun to be had, and I do love a good Christmas fair. I was looking forward to the Santa Run too until it took a darker turn.

It's a cosy mystery full of mystery and intrigue, and is my favourite of the series...I love anything Christmas after all!

A perfect cozy mystery for the holidays!
I mistakenly thought this was the second book in this series but it's actually the third. However, I don't think you need to read the previous books to enjoy this one. The mystery in this was exciting but a little predictable at times, but I really loved Alice as a main character. I can't wait for the next installment!

Oh how I love this series! Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third book in the Curiosity Shop cozy mystery series, and if you enjoyed her other two books in the series, you are in for a treat.

In this installment, Alice is back for a new mystery. As Alice prepares for her first Christmas in her Cotswold village, she is looking forward to the Christmas fair and the Santa Run. When Alice decides to set up a stall at the Christmas fair, her mom agrees to sell her festive knitwear. Just when the fair and the Santa Run are underway, a runner pilfers something from Alice’s stall. As Danny (Alice’s roommate) and his partner Jack chase after the assailant, they soon discover he has fallen to tragedy. What was so significant about the stolen item that led to the runner’s unfortunate demise? Alice is once again on the hunt for the truth and enlists the help of her dashing neighbor and love interest, Robert.

I loved this cozy mystery book! It was well written and worked well as a standalone book, which is nice if you have not read the previous books in the series (do yourself a favor and read the other two book because they are just as wonderful). There is humor, a great cast of characters, knitting, and is a perfect mystery novel for the Christmas season or for those who love seasonal cozy mystery books.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This review was voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

Alice Carroll loves running her Curiosity Shop in the village of Little Pride This is her first Christmas in Pride, and she has arranged to have a stall in the local Christmas fair. Her mom has come to visit with lots of knitted items to sell in at the fair. A Santa has stolen a knitted scarf with a wooden toggle in the shape of a bear from the stall. The thief is found dead with the scarf around his neck, apparently strangled. Who and why was he strangled. Alice and her next-door neighbor friend Robert decide to investigate.

What a charming holiday story! I could not put it down. It had a great mystery that kept me guessing, lots of secondary characters who I would love to have in my friend's circle. I enjoy that Alice and Robert are older and enjoy being sleuths together. Alice's mom and Robert's granddaughter are great additions to the story. I hope we get more of them in the next one. My only complaint was I was sad it was over. but definitely
looking forward to reading the next one! May it come soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the chance to read this ARC and give my opinion.

Christmas is fast approaching, the first one in Little Pride for Alice Carroll, aged 50, who split with her lawyer partner of many years Steven and relocated to the village whilst simultaneously being made redundant from her job as Victorian expert at the Broadwick City Museum. An overlooked clause in the sale contract of her new home meant she had to continue running the business now known as Alice’s Cotswold Curiosity Shop and, aided by her best friend Danny from the museum, also now lodging with her after splitting with his partner Martin, she finds she has become surprisingly good at it. A great added bonus has been her blossoming romance with billionaire industrialist neighbour Robert Praed (he of the famous Eternal Sponge, hence his nickname Bob), and her relationship with her mother Wendy has also become stronger than it has been for years. One of the highlights of the festive season is the Little Pride Christmas Fair, and Wendy is hard at work producing a mass of knitted items to sell. The day of the fair dawns, as dozens of costumed runners line up for the famous Santa Run but soon tragedy strikes. A scarf is stolen from Wendy’s stall by a Santa and is found wrapped around the neck of the man as he lies dying outside. The little wooden bear shaped toggle has been ripped off and Alice is reminded of several strange “button” themed incidents that have taken place recently. Could there be a connection? With the local police uninterested in her theories, it looks like it is up to Alice and Robert to undertake a bit of amateur sleuthing of their own again.
Well it’s hard to believe I’m already reading Christmas stories in the sweltering August temperatures! There is lots of wit and charm in this lovely third book in a great series featuring a village full of some very likable quirky characters such as Nell, Coralie, Suki and Maudie. Alice and Robert make the perfect pairing, together with regulars Jack, Danny and of course little Tilly. This is a nice easily enjoyable cosy crime story with a smashing ending and I look forward to seeing what book four brings!