Although it did feel strange reading a Christmas novel in August, I really did enjoy this light reading book. The plot is involved enough to keep my interest but not so complex that my mind was struggling. I liked the craft references and the characters. Will read it again in December with a blanket and hot chocolate.

A fun, cozy read to unwind. I had enjoyed the first installment, and I find the series quite enjoyable. This new adventure, despite its overall qualities and festive elements, was a bit more uneven pace-wise. Regarless, I'd very much like to check out the next book in the series.

Rated 3.5

The writing was light, and gave the book small village charm vibes. It was an interesting mystery that had a couple of different elements to it.

The chapters were fairly long, which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on, plus you were able to get fully immersed in what you were reading.

The chapters each had amusing titles which gave a small hint as to what you were going to read next.

There was a good flow between the chapters, so I was happy to read it for long periods of time.

There was an interesting pace to the book. Whilst you felt like you were always moving forward, with more information being added to the initial theories, there were some interesting time jumps. What I thought was the next day was actually the following week for example. It was just casually mentioned which took me by surprise.

The characters were interesting. I didn't realise that this was part of a series, so whilst it was a good standalone, I feel that I would have appreciated the characters more if I had read the other books. That being said there was enough information that I was able to enjoy reading about the characters' adventures in this book without too much trouble.

Lastly the settings. I loved the shop and the small town. The Christmas setting was fun and I enjoyed reading about it. The descriptions were light as it was a character based story, but they were enough to make the story cosy and festive.

Overall a cute, small town read.

If you thought Christmas fairs were just about twinkly lights and overeating mince pies, "Death at the Village Christmas Fair" is here to ruin your cozy little bubble because someone dressed as Santa gets strangled with a stolen scarf. Yep, that’s the holiday spirit in Little Pride, a picture-perfect Cotswold village where charm meets chaos and knitwear becomes murder weapons. Alice Carroll, who owns a shop full of weird old stuff, suddenly finds herself knee-deep in murder, mystery, and a rare Japanese netsuke button that turns out to be the hottest thing since Christmas pudding. Add her swoony neighbor Robert, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a festive disaster with a side of detective work.

The whole setup is pure small-town chaos wrapped in a Christmas bow. Alice is trying to enjoy her first countryside Christmas, which should be all cozy vibes and twinkling lights, but instead she’s juggling her mum’s relentless knitting projects (I swear, the woman never stops), the village Christmas fair, and a murder investigation. The scarf with the rare netsuke button isn’t just a crafty conversation starter; it’s the clue that drags Alice and Robert into a tangle of museum thefts, secret pasts, and a whole lot of gossip that spills faster than the village’s Christmas punch bowl.

Here’s the thing though, while the charm and setting are on point, the mystery itself is a bit of a slow roast. I caught onto parts of the crime well before the big reveal, which made some sections drag more than a Christmas caroler who won’t quit. But I’ll forgive the pacing because the heart of the book lies in the village itself. Little Pride feels like that eccentric aunt’s house at Christmas where everyone knows your business but somehow still manages to make you feel like family. Alice’s mix of earnest curiosity and occasional cluelessness is endearing rather than frustrating, and Robert’s laid-back but loyal nature makes him a perfect partner in crime-solving and Christmas cheer.

The romance simmers sweetly in the background without becoming overbearing. No swoon-worthy declarations at every turn, just a realistic, slow-building connection that actually fits the story rather than distracting from it. Robert’s chill, down-to-earth vibe balances out Alice’s occasional scatterbrained energy, making them a surprisingly believable pair in a genre that often falls into over-the-top romance traps.

What really had me hooked was the whole knitting and button obsession. I never thought I’d get so invested in tiny Japanese netsuke buttons, but Debbie Young sneaks in all this quirky, crafty trivia like Christmas stocking stuffers you didn’t know you needed. Alice’s mum brings the perfect dose of sarcasm and wisdom with her knitting needles flashing as fast as her wit. Their banter alone could keep a winter fire burning on the coldest nights.

The village gossip is a character all on its own, mixing humor and suspicion in equal measure. Everyone’s got a theory, and nobody’s shy about sharing it. This makes the mystery feel like a warm stew bubbling on the stove, sometimes slow to develop, but satisfying once all the flavors come together.

So, what’s the bottom line? This book is like your favorite ugly Christmas sweater. It’s comfy, a little goofy, and full of heart. It won’t blow your mind with twisty plot turns, but it wraps you in a cozy blanket of festive vibes and small-town warmth that’s hard to resist. Perfect for a quiet night with hot chocolate where you want something light but still juicy enough to keep turning pages.

Sweet, sometimes slow, but undeniably charming, a festive little whodunit that’s more about warm feels and quaint village vibes than a complex mystery. 3.5 stars.

Whodunity Award: For Making Buttons Way More Suspicious Than They Have Any Right to Be

Big thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC, because nothing says “holiday spirit” like getting a murder mystery delivered straight to my digital doorstep. Seriously, you guys keep my TBR dangerously festive and my hot chocolate intake dangerously high. Keep ‘em coming, because I’m here for the cozy chaos!

In this cosy mystery story we have Alice Caroll, shop owner, that with the help of Robert her love interest, try to solve the case of the murder that happened at the Christmas Fair.
Someone stole a scarf from Alice's mom stand, but some moments later they found a man in Santa's costume dead. And around his neck it is the same scarf, but missing a netsuke.
I enjoyed this story and liked it so much and made me curious about all the buttons, the netsuke and why the murder. And I also have enjoyed the sode characters. They were all interesting and charming.
This is my first read from Debbie and it was a good one. I like her style of storytelling, the book was fast paced and kept me reading it so easy until the end.
And the end was a very cute and christmasy one.
Really good for Christmas time to read it with a hot chocolate in hand.

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book in advance. This is my only and honest opinion.

This was a quick read full of drama and mystery, a perfect match. Alice runs her shop, but when she’s asked to do a stall at the village fair she asks her mum to knit some lovely festive pieces. While one piece becomes the weapon of a mans death, why did they pick that particular scarf? A fast paced thriller that’s easily readable in one sitting. A great 5 star mystery. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a great read this was. I’ve read the first in the series, but missed there was a 2nd! It was lovely to be back with the residents of Little Pride as they celebrate their annual fair and Santa Run, until a thief and an assault happened that no one saw coming.

Alice and Robert can’t help but get involved as the theft was from her mum’s stall and there was a link to her shop and buttons. Next thing, we’re learning about all things Japanese and visiting museums! It’s an interesting ride for sure with new and old characters that get better as the book progresses.

I love a cosy mystery and this ticks all my boxes, I’m going to get the 2nd now and indulge in that one, and keep my eye out for more from Little Pride in the future.

"Death at the Village Christmas Fair” the 3rd instalment in The Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series by Debbie Young set in the Cotswold Village of Little Pride, England. With the help of her charming neighbour Robert Praed, can Alice find the killer before the bells ring out this Christmas?

I devoured Debbie's latest novel, which expertly combines cozy mystery and heartwarming storytelling. Alice's character shines, and I'm eager to see her relationship with Bob Sponge unfold in future instalments. I also hope that her mum ends up moving to Little Pride.

The mystery is engaging, with clever twists keeping me on the edge. I enjoyed guessing and second-guessing the killer's identity.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming fiction. Debbie's writing is engaging, and her characters are lovable and well-crafted. I highly recommend this charming novel and look forward to the next instalment.

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A delightful cosy murder mystery with a sprinkling of romance.

The rural Cotswold setting and the buzz of a close knit community at Christmas time provides the setting to this story. The characters are nicely developed and the pace of the dialogue makes this a fun and quick read. The chapters are short and focussed and I particularly liked that each one had a title setting the scene for the next part in the puzzle.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be the last.

This was such a fun read! I love it when an author takes me away to another place when I'm reading. In Death at the Village Christmas Fair I was in a beautiful Cotswold village. I love that Alice gave her mom some crochet work to do to keep her busy. I love that the "button" she put on was involved in the mystery. The characters are interesting. I think it's great that Alice's love interest, Robert, lives nextdoor and is very rich. I like that his daughter is fine with their relationship and that his granddaughter is loved by all. I look forward to more of this dynamic in the next book. I also think her roommate is a great character and hope to read more about him as well. I definitely enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to all.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of ‘Death at the Village Christmas Fair’, by Debbie Young.

This is my first book written by Debbie Young, and it was a delightful change of pace from my usual British police procedural. Alice ( owner of the Curiosity Shop) and Robert (neighbor and current love interest) are faced with another murder in their quaint village. Since the police do not seem to have a handle on the case, Alice and Robert start investigating.

What more do you need? This story includes Christmas/the Cotswolds/and a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the mystery and a lesson on Japanese antiquities.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair is the third book in the Costwold Curiosity Shop Mysteries by Debbie Young. I've read the previous title in the series.

Our main character, Alice, is gearing up for a quiet Christmas with her new beau and her mum, until a Santa is discovered, wounded on the school playing field, and Alice immediately suspects foul-play. From here, the storyline moves fairly quickly (it takes a while to get to the actual 'death' at the Village Christmas Fair, but the same happened in the previous book, so readers will be used to this), as we follow Alice and Robert as they endeavour to determine why the man met his death. They also have to convince the police the man's death was indeed murder.

This is an engaging, light-read, stuffed with Christmas events and activities, in a picturesque location. The author does an excellent job of portraying a village gearing up for Christmas, and although I enjoyed the resolution of the mystery, I felt it was somewhat secondary in the storyline.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

When a knitted scarf is stolen from her mothers' Christmas stall, Alice Carroll, the new owner of the Curiosity Shop is on the lookout for a Santa.

Unfortunately it was also the Santa's fun run and it was going to take some investigating to locate the thief until a body was found with the scarf tired tightly around the mans neck.

With Robert, her neighbour and her mothers help to mind her shop, Alice is on the trail to find out what happened and who is to blame.

A great fun and witty read!

Murder she wrote meets Christmas in the Cotswolds.
Cotswolds is a perfectly picturesque region in South Central England.
Think iconic stone cottage villages among rolling hills. Add in a dusting of snow and some charming old world Christmas decor, and feel the cozy sweetness of the season seep into your soul.

Alice Carroll owns the Cotswold Curiosity Shop. She becomes embroiled in a murder mystery when someone from the annual Santa Run swipes one of her Mum’s homemade scarves at the Christmas Fair.
The thief is then murdered by an unknown assailant before he can be caught and questioned.
It’s then revealed that Alice’s Mum unknowingly sewed a button of extreme value onto the scarf.

As you can imagine, an eccentric cast of characters is then paraded throughout the pages, complicating the mystery and turning up the charm.

I got to learn something new! I had never heard of Netsuke before. It is a Japanese art form … a mini sculpture which originated in the 17th century and was initially used as a button fastener for small boxes. Now it’s a very valuable collectors item.

This novel is third in a series, but worked well as a stand alone for me. I loved it and I’ll be adding the others to my TBR.


Thank you to @theboldbookclub and @debbieyoungauthor for the advanced copy!
This is a great one to add to your Christmas collection.
It’s never too soon to start the stack! Happy reading! The Christmas countdown has begun.

In this third book in a cozy series featuring Cotswold business owner Alice Carroll, it’s Christmastime and Alice is gearing up for the festive season. Things aren’t initially festive as Alice’s Mum calls to say their dear friend, Mrs. Hardy, died and left her knitting shop’s inventory to Alice’s Mum. Given Alice’s Mum is an amazing knitter and crocheter, it’s a perfect opportunity for her to visit Alice and make lots of wonderful Christmas items for the shop.
Alice is also buying, sorting and planning uses for bags of old buttons as part of her shop’s inventory of specialty items. But things aren’t all wonderful as the annual Christmas Fair and Santa Fun Run for charity results in someone stealing one of Alice’s Mum’s scarves with an adorable antique bear button close. When the Santa is found dead with the scarf around his neck and the button missing, the situation doesn’t offer much Christmas cheer. Luckily, Alice, her new friend, Robert, and Alice’s Mum are on the case as they search for clues and the missing bear.
This is a lovely cozy and perfect for those who enjoy English settings, intrepid heroines and holiday mysteries.

An easy read with appealing characters. Just the book for a relaxing read without too much intensity.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair by Debbie Young

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Death at the Village Christmas has everything one could want in a holiday themed cozy mystery! A super interesting read with delightfully quirky characters, a wonderful small-town, and a determined main character who’s eager to solve the mystery!

Alice Carroll has been busy with her new shop, as well as two murders happening in her Cotswold village. She is excited for her first countryside Christmas, but then her mother’s knitting stall is stolen. The thief is found dead outside the village with the stolen item. Alice thinks there is more than meets the eye with this mystery. She's determined to solve the mystery with the help of her neighbor Robert. Alice is determined to solve the case before Christmas!

This story excellently balances heart, charm, and coziness with a mystery that’ll keep readers guessing to the very end. The small town brings warmth to the story overall, while Alice’s courage and focus on solving the case is evident. Full of holiday sparkle and clever twists and turns, this is an amazing cozy mystery!

Another cute read in this nice small-town British mystery series. I enjoy the characters, Alice, her roommate Danny, her neighbor and love interest Robert, his granddaughter Tilly and and her visiting Mom. We also got a holiday mystery, which added to the atmosphere and was definitely a cooling touch to the hot July summer days as I read it. This is a murder mystery revolving around buttons found in Alice's Curiousity Shop located in the small town of Little Pride. There are buttons, and then there are buttons, but this just adds to our mystery. When a scarf made by Alice's mom, Wendy, was snatched from the Curiousity Shop's booth at the Village Christmas Fair, then used to strangle the thief, can Alice, Robert and company figure out what is going on? Was the scarf stolen for its warmth or its special button? Can we get this all figured out before Christmas is ruined? Come along and help solve the mystery! Thanks to #Netgally, #BoldwoodPublishing, and the author for the opportunity to read. #Death attheVilliageChristmasFair #TheCostwoldCuriousityShopMysteries #DebbieYoung #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

This was a Christmas cosy mystery and I loved it!!! It kept me engaged the whole time and I had to get to the end. Thank you for an arc of this

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Murderously Merry Mystery
There’s nothing quite like a Christmas fair in a quaint Cotswold village… unless someone turns up dead in a Santa suit.

Death at the Village Christmas Fair delivers exactly what you want from a holiday cozy: quirky characters, small-town charm, and a curious heroine who just can’t help getting involved. Alice Carroll is settling into her new life with her curiosity shop and countryside routines—but when a Santa Runner turns up murdered outside the village hall, things get suspicious fast.

🧶 A stolen item from her mum’s knitting stall
🔍 A trail of clues wrapped in festive flair
💫 Sweet slow-burn tension with neighbor Robert
🎄 Coziness with just the right amount of danger

This one felt a little more layered than earlier installments, and I loved the way the village traditions added texture to the mystery. The pacing lagged a bit in the middle, but it all came together in a satisfying, seasonal reveal.

A warm cup of tea, a woolly blanket, and this book? The perfect cozy December night in. ☕📚✨