Cosy, light hearted mystery, in thousand vain as the Thursday murder club. Not too many twists but a lovely scenic read. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This is the seventh book in the Lady Marjorie series, and the author does her usual excellent job of handling the large cast of characters that are the result of having four sleuths rather than the usual two (or one and her cat). The four elderly friends seem to encounter dead bodies whenever they get together for holidays or other reasons, and this book sees them in Cornwall wondering whether a member of their bus tour suffered a fatal accident at Tintagel or was murdered.

Anyone who's visited Tintagel will know that the opportunity for fatal accidents is very real, but our four amateur detectives know better. As usual, they put their individual and collective sleuthing skills to good use and navigate the somewhat complicated plot before the police manage to get there. The wild and beautiful Cornish coast is beautifully described and is a real player in this story (as well as being something of a challenge for a group of four octogenarians). And as usual, the interactions between our four protagonists range from contentious to hilarious but are always a lot of fun.

Synopsis: Embarking with her three octogenarian friends on a bus tour of coastal Cornwall, Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe's holiday turns murder mystery when a fellow traveller implausibly falls to their death. But with so many suspicious travellers and motives abounding, can the "awesome foursome" uncover the truth before someone else gets hurt?

Review: Despite coming in at the seventh book in the series, this was easy to slip into. The book is led by strong characters supported by detailed insights into their relationship, setting this up for a long series. The mystery element was a little weak, with no real alarm bells behind the death for it to be suspicious, and so many lackluster motives. The plot heavily lent in one interesting direction but this was abandoned in the final hour for a mediocre solution.

With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on a bus tour follows four friends who are of retirement age. They are English and visiting a Cornwall on a bus tour. The setting felt historical until cell phones showed up in the storyline.
It might be because Lady Marjorie, Frederick and Horace are so traditional in their interactions and approach to things like clothing. Edna is a bit more out there with her colorful wigs.
The mystery is similar to Agatha Christie and other golden age mysteries.
I liked the story. I haven’t read any of the other books on the series, and I probably wouldn’t pick up another in this series. I think there will be lots of fans of this series but it’s not quite my cup of tea.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read the book.

Lady Marjorie and her friends Edna, Horace and Frederick are holidaying in Cornwall. One of my favourite places in the world so I obviously had to read it!

Our four friends join a bus excursion which goes well until a person falls (or is pushed) off a ledge at Tintagel Castle. Someone on the bus must be responsible - can our four feisty pensioners work out who it was before their whole holiday is ruined.

Written very much in the style of The Thursday Murder Club and great fun to read. Four stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dawn Brookes for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder on a Bus Tour coming out August 28, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I read the first book in the series. Somehow I missed all of the other books. But I was excited to revisit the series. I really enjoyed the mystery. I think the setting was fun. I enjoy the characters. I would definitely read more books by this author.

Murder on a Bus Tour was a light, cozy mystery with a charming premise and an entertaining amateur sleuth crew, but it didn’t quite wow me the way I’d hoped.

The setting is lovely—Cornwall’s coastline, a tour full of quirky characters, and of course, a suspicious death at a famous castle. I enjoyed the dynamic between the “awesome foursome,” especially Lady Marjorie, who clearly has a nose for mystery. There’s a comforting familiarity to the story that fans of traditional cozies will appreciate—lots of tea, suspicious glances, and red herrings.

That said, the plot felt a bit formulaic to me. I guessed the big twist fairly early on, and while the characters are fun, some felt more like caricatures than fully developed people. The pacing also lagged in parts, especially in the middle when it felt like we were going in circles a bit.

Still, if you’re looking for a gentle, Agatha-Christie-style read with an older, witty sleuthing team and a picturesque setting, this one fits the bill. It didn’t blow me away, but it was a pleasant enough escape for a weekend afternoon.

The clues were sprinkled in so cleverly that I found myself playing detective alongside the main character, second-guessing every quirky townsperson. And while I had a few guesses, the reveal still managed to surprise me in the best way possible

A cozy mystery with four old friends who find themselves on a tour that feels just a little… off. They may have promised to leave their sleuthing days behind, but when a murder happens right in the middle of their trip, it becomes impossible to ignore the shadows of suspicion.

The pacing kept me hooked, and even though this is the 7th book in the series, I had no trouble following along or connecting with the characters. Lady Marjorie stood out to me—calm, composed, and quietly brilliant in ways that constantly surprised me. Her narrative voice felt both analytical and deeply caring. Edna, with her sharp tongue and impatience, somehow won me over too, especially when the story shifted into her perspective. I also appreciated the vulnerability woven into each of them, making their personalities feel layered and real.

It was a delightful read, whether or not you’ve followed the series from the start.

Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe is joined by there three friends on a bus tour round Cornwall's dramatic coastline. Whilst on a stop at Titagel castle, one of the party takes an unfortunate plunge to their death.
The savvy friends combine their instincts to solve the death and in doing so uncover a web of bitter vendettas.
Despite not reading the previous books in the series, there was enough information presented to fill in the backgrounds of the characters, so this did not detract from the story.
The plot was easy going giving a cozy mystery with enough twists to keep the reader guessing.

The title of the book tells you what is going to happen but it’s the storyline telling it that’s important, sadly for me despite the four main characters being nice, I just didn’t really get into this book as it wasn’t gripping enough for me. A pleasant enough read but not gripping to make me rate the book higher.

I did not read the first in the series, but we got enough details to know what happened. I loved this book! Can’t wait for the next. A kitchy mystery

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on a Bus Tour is the seventh book in the Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe mystery series, and once again we’re treated to a delightful cozy crime adventure with the “awesome foursome.” Lady Marjorie, her cousin-in-law Edna, and their friends Frederick and Horace set out on what should be a simple holiday—a scenic bus tour of Cornwall. But when a professor plunges to his death at Tintagel Castle, the friends find themselves in the middle of yet another suspicious “accident.”

The police are quick to dismiss it as an unfortunate fall, but Marjorie isn’t so sure. As the tour continues, tensions bubble among the eclectic group of travelers: an irritable married couple, a student with a grudge, a local artist, and a crime novelist in search of inspiration. With so many secrets in play, the suspects multiply and so do the dangers. When another attempt is made on a member of the group, it becomes clear that someone on this holiday is hiding much more than a sightseeing agenda.

What makes this series shine is the cast of characters. Marjorie is sharp, thoughtful, and determined, while Edna—with her flamboyant wigs, colorful makeup, and sass—often steals the scene. Frederick and Horace bring balance to the group with their calm wit and steady support. Together, they make for an entertaining, relatable, and surprisingly effective team of amateur sleuths.

The mystery itself is well-paced, with just the right blend of red herrings, clues, and twists to keep you guessing until the very end. And while it’s part of a series, this book works perfectly well as a standalone.

Cozy mystery fans will find plenty to enjoy here: a charming cast, a scenic setting, and a cleverly constructed whodunit. Murder on a Bus Tour is lighthearted yet suspenseful, and it proves once again that holidays with Lady Marjorie and friends are never as restful as planned.

I enjoy this author and have read all the books in 2 of her series. I like the characters and that they are in different locations in each book. I found this to be an interesting read with the mystery keeping me guessing. I look forward to more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe is on her way to Bude to join friends and do a bus tour around Cornwall. When she and her travelling companion are sat with a couple on the train for breakfast, they discover that they too are doing the tour. The couple don't seem to be very happy at the prospect, but Marjorie puts it down to a bad nights sleep.
When the tour gets to Tintagel, one of the tour falls to his death and initially it is thought to be an accident. Marjorie is not so sure and when there is a other incident, she is sure that it was murder, but how can she prove it. Her and her band of octogenarians use all their skills to discover the truth that the local Police are missing.
A fun read.

What Fun to spend time with our favorite senior sleuths," The Awesome Four." Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe , her cousin in law Edna and their friends Frederick and Horace are ticking off a bucket list trip for Edna, a bus tour of the Cornish cost of England when a professor has fallen off one of the cliffs, was it fallen or pushed? He as not well liked by several of their companions and something is bothering our foursome about the whole thing, especially since the police seem to be in a hurry to write it off as an unfortunate accident. Marjorie thinks the only way justice will be served if they investigate and prove this was no accident.

I love this series. It's like a hug on day you really need one. You can lose yourself in this story. Our seniors are a hoot, and how can you not love Edna and Marge and their companions Hoace and Frederick. You laugh with them, empathize with them and sometimes see yourself in them. The characters are so well developed, and the mystery was top notch. If you're a Golden Girls fan, you will love this series. My only complaint is it was over too soon.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read this ARC and give my opinion.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

four friends are off on a coach trip two travel down by car and the other 2 travel by night train and its where they meet up with some more travellers on their coach trip

to say the other couple were friendly was an understatement and marjorie only hoped the rest of the travelling companions on the trip were going to be a bit better.....

after meeting up with their friends they travel to the hotel where the tour guides were meeting them

when one of their groups goes over the cliff at tintagel and at first its seems like its an accident after all they were all warned about getting to close to the edge.... but its the attack on another one in their group that has everyone up in arms....

a british whodunnit with a touch of miss marple... its not a bad read ...i guess a sunday chilled read would be when you would read it

Lady Snellthorpe (just Marjorie) and her friend Frederick Mackworth (never Fred) along with cousin-in-law Edna and friend Horace are heading to the English coastal town of Bude, in preparation for a bus tour of Cornwall, led by their friends Faith and her partner/driver Nick. The tour totals ten, including our foursome and a historical crime author, a PhD student, artist, a professor and an annoying married couple.

The bus tour begins and stops at Tintagel Castle where Professor Miller shares historical details about the castle as they walk on a windswept path overlooking the Atlantic. As the group separates to explore, tragedy strikes as Professor Miller falls (or was he pushed?) to his death onto the sharp rocks below.

Marjorie ponders "What had started as a simple tour was shifting into something more complex. Were they really a group of strangers happening on a holiday, or players in an unknown game of chess?" Cambridge seems to be a common denominator among the group, and as hidden relationships and past disagreements rise to the surface, there are plenty of suspects to the murder.

We are kept guessing until the last minute as the quartet undercovers clues and motivations, fueled by afternoon tea and scones. For me, the story seemed to lag around 70% through but overall I appreciated the quartet of older characters and their various ailments and personal quirks (loved Edna's hatred of "sensible shoes").

Although this is the seventh book in the series, this was my first introduction to the series and felt that the author brought the reader up to speed very quickly and it worked well as a stand-alone. I look forward to delving into the series and reading more of the adventures of Marjorie, Frederick, Edna, and Horace. 4 stars.

Another good entry into this lighthearted cosy mystery series that sees a group of octogenarian friends stumble over yet another dead body on one of their group holidays. The characters are good (if sometimes a few repetitions of traits like the joint snort laughing, or Edna being blunt), and it’s a fair mystery with some twists and turns.

If you like a light and easy read with the amateur sleuths saving the day, this is right up your bus tour.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and Storm publishers, in return for an unbiased review.

A scenic tour of Cornwall’s dramatic coastline should be the perfect getaway for the awesome foursome – and it is – until the tour’s history expert takes a fatal plunge from Tintagel Castle. Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe has seen enough suspicious deaths to know an accident when it isn’t one. While the local police write off the victim’s demise as a tragic mishap, Marjorie and her three unlikely companions – sharp-tongued Edna, charming Horace and methodical Frederick – start digging deeper. This was a fun and humorous read. Interesting characters, good dialog and a well-described scenic location. Looking forward to more in this series.