This book had lots of interesting characters, many red herrings and a quaint village setting. It felt like a tangled web that eventually became clear. Enjoyable read!

I had not read anything by this author before and was happy to get an advance copy based on the description. It was an enjoyable read, with a quick moving mystery and some interesting characters and connections. You get a real sense for how the police in this book gathered their information and tied it together. The narrative style is as if an all-knowing narrator is describing the events and people, which I found a little off putting as it meant multiple things and people were just described factually rather than developing a sense of them as events went on. It also meant that you end up knowing the thoughts and reactions of multiple different characters at different points, which as a personal preference is just not my favorite. Again, though, it’s an enjoyable, quick read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

Shadey Cove is all abuzz over the sudden and unexpected death of Aunt Jane, who acted as everyone’s confidante and safe space. It’s almost unbelievable, although still more believable than the thought that anyone would want to hurt her. Everyone loved Aunt Jane.

The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane was not what I expected. The title made me think of Miss Marple, and I am a hard-core Christie fan. However, this story was more Midsomer Murders/Death in Paradise, minus the tropical paradise. It’s cinematic in a curious way; it feels like I read a TV episode — a complicated one. There is no one main character. Even the main cast — Wally, Adam, and Fern — are utilized in a rather casual manner. It was confusing to begin with — there are a lot of characters introduced right off, with almost no physical description. Yet, they stuck with me; their voices and thought patterns, once learned, set them apart.

This is not a restful mystery; the pacing offers few breaks, and without a distinct main character to hang your hat on, it makes for brisk reading. It isn’t rushed, but it is unrelenting. In a curious twist, this story’s peculiarities become strengths. This was utterly unlike anything I’ve ever read, although nestled in the quintessential English village.

The mystery is compelling; it’s unexpected, yet realistic. The thread of romance is the picture of restraint, yet follows a clear and natural arc. Wally is a delight, and the police tactics, culture, and procedures — including buzzer envy — made me feel like I was eavesdropping at police headquarters. The relationships felt old, weathered, habitual. Lived-in.

I’m still trying to define what S. E. Rayner did here, but it was successful. The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane would be best for those who like their mysteries to be challenging — not just in the puzzle of whodunnit, but in the narrative style itself. This will keep your brain reeling. It’s crisp and satisfying.

The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane is exactly the kind of cosy mystery that feels like settling into a comfy armchair with a cup of tea—right before someone in the village turns up dead.

Fern Cassidy, the bookshop‑owning amateur sleuth of Shadey Cove, is instantly likeable. She’s observant, funny, and has that delightful small‑village insider knowledge that makes her perfectly placed to notice when things in town stop adding up. And things definitely stop adding up.

When the local bank manager dies under suspicious circumstances and, months later, the beloved Aunt Jane is found at the bottom of her stairs, Fern’s curiosity kicks in. By the third death, she’s fully in detective mode—and honestly, who wouldn’t be? Shadey Cove might be a sleepy coastal village, but the bodies piling up suggest otherwise.

The dynamic between Fern, the fatherly police inspector, and the rather handsome young detective adds a fun spark to the story. Their mixture of banter, mutual respect, and tiny hints of romantic tension keeps things light even as the stakes rise. And I loved the twist of their investigation leading them out of the cosy village and straight into the shadows of London’s underworld—an unexpected but enjoyable contrast.

The mystery itself has just the right amount of intrigue without ever losing that cosy vibe. It’s humorous, engaging, and filled with quirky characters who make the village feel alive.

If you enjoy charming mysteries with strong characters, gentle humour, and a touch of danger, this one is a delight. Perfect for fans of village whodunits and amateur-sleuth tales with personality.

with thanks to SE Rayner, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

What a fun and enjoyable book. It has great characters and lots of twists and turns. This story has murder, romance, chases, and so much more. Highly recommend

"The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane" is trying to do about five things at once, some of them successfully, some of them like a cat chasing a laser pointer through a murder scene... but I had so much fun watching it try.

This is S. E. Rayner’s debut, and baby, she came out SWINGING. We’ve got Fern Cassidy, who runs a cozy little bookshop in Shadey Cove and is approximately five minutes away from turning into the cardigan-wrapped, murder-sniffing menace of my dreams. There’s just something deliciously competent about her. She clocks when things start going sideways and doesn’t hesitate to get nosy with a purpose. She’s smart, charming, and exactly the kind of accidental detective I’d want leading my village watch party slash criminal investigation unit.

And the vibe? Chef’s kiss. It starts full-on cosy... tea, gossip, dead banker. Then Aunt Jane dies (rude), then someone else dies, and suddenly you’re knee-deep in secrets, side-eyeing that sweet old man who feeds the ducks because honestly, what does he know?

But THEN, just when you’re settling into your sleepy seaside chaos, the plot throws you in a van and drives you straight into gangland London like it’s auditioning for season two of "Happy Valley." It’s a bold move, Cotton. And while it made me feel like I accidentally changed the channel, I kind of loved the audacity of it? This book is like, “Plot twist? You want ten? Buckle up.”

Yes, it’s messy. Yes, the POVs change faster than a "Bridgerton" scandal. And yes, sometimes it felt like Fern got shoved to the side while other characters elbowed their way into the spotlight like, “Hi! I’m important now!” But I stayed up past midnight finishing it, and that counts for something.

And let’s be real. For a debut, this is wildly promising. The tone is already fun, the murder is juicy, and the core trio (shoutout to Hot Detective and Kindly Inspector Dad) is weirdly endearing in that “crime-solving found family who might also have sexual tension” kind of way. I would absolutely read the next book just to see Fern roll her eyes while cracking another case and maybe, just maybe, kiss someone with her whole chest.

So yes. 3.5 stars. Is it a little chaotic? Sure. But it’s also clever, funny, ambitious, and full of potential... the literary equivalent of a chaotic-good D&D bard who occasionally sets off fireworks indoors but gets the job done. And honestly? I’m already rooting for whatever S. E. Rayner does next.

Whodunity Award: For Getting Murdered in a Quaint Seaside Town and Somehow Ending Up in a Gritty BBC Crime Drama

Thanks to Troubador and NetGalley for the ARC. Y’all gave me murder, a meddling bookshop owner, and British men with emotional walls... which is basically my love language.

The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane is a fun cozy mystery book told from the perspective of third person omniscient, or more-so an all knowing narrative following different characters around as they try and solve the mysterious deaths in town.

Personally, I found the writing lacked depth since we didn’t get much emotion behind the actions of the characters. We observed what they did and said but not the reasoning behind it. This is just my personal opinion though. It could just be that I am not used to this type of point of view in the type of books I normally read.

All in all, I enjoyed the twist and the journey. It was a 3 star read for me because it did keep my attention and I was able to finish it despite my initial feelings with the writing.

Wow…this was convoluted. I had trouble keeping track of everyone. It was a decent book, but it felt rushed and sporadic. It needed to slow down and have more character development.

This came across as quirky and different (plus that adorable cover) so I signed up for the ARC. Overall, I enjoyed it. It was on the quirky side although not as much as I anticipated it to be. The writing style is different, more matter of fact, less descriptive. If you like that I think you'll love the book. If you prefer different it might not be a top pick for you. It typically isn't my style but I'm glad I stayed with it. It was a good story but I would have loved the added visual level of the quirky little town.

Fern is the type of leading female protagonist.I really enjoy connecting with. This was an original creative, cozy mystery taking place in a little idyllic town with a bookstore setting. I thoroughly enjoyed it

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A delightful page-turner with just the right amount of suspense. It’s comforting, clever, and absolutely enjoyable from start to finish.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this story. Highly recommended to pick this up!

This was a fun read, thanks to the author SE Raynor , NetGalley and the publisher.. A bookstore,, mysterious death of Aunt Jane.. what could vibe happening I this small town.. the detectives were fun too.. lots of turns but a delightful read..

Shadey Cove. Where nothing ever happens...

Fern Cassidy own the bookshop.

So when the bank manager is found dead after being investigated for embezzlement, everyone is shocked.

But that's not the only corpse in Shadey Cove...

Fern is happy to help the police with her local knowledge. But nobody ever imagined where this investigation would lead...

Excellent - I hope this is the start of a brilliant series

This was just ok for me. There was way too much going on. I don't think I have ever read a book where two murders have already occurred before it starts, and then a third murder takes place. The police are trying to solve all three murders, and also some mob money laundering and fraud on the side. Again, way too much going on, but I did like the characters.

This was a fast, easy mystery filled with steady twists and well-timed reveals that kept the story moving. The unfolding secrets and shifting connections between characters made it an engaging read from start to finish.

The writing felt a bit amateur at times, and the all-knowing narrator style made some characters and events feel more told than shown, which kept me from fully immersing in the story. Still, it was an enjoyable and quick read overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Troubadour for the ARC.

Fun mustery complete with quaint villages, quirky characters, and plenty of twists. Could easily see it as a movie.

The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane by S. E. Rayner is an intriguing premise with plenty of classic mystery elements—family secrets, suspicious circumstances, and a cast of characters who all seem to have something to hide. The setup pulls you in right away, and there are moments where the tension and curiosity really shine.

That said, I found it to be a bit uneven overall. Some parts of the story felt slower than they needed to be, and the pacing didn’t always keep the suspense building. I also wished for a bit more depth in the characters, as it was sometimes hard to fully connect with their motivations.

Still, there are some clever twists and an interesting central mystery that kept me reading to the end. It’s an okay read for fans of lighter mysteries, but it didn’t fully deliver on its potential for me.

Thank you for the advanced copy of The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane by S. E Rayner. I really enjoyed reading this book about dear Aunt Jane and finding out what happened to her as well as Gary and Shadey Cove background made for an interesting place I could imagine myself in.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and S. E. Rayner for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Mysterious Death of Aunt Jane. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a new author for me. I love cozy mysteries. I love the quaint countryside setting. It was good. I would check out more books by this author.

A well written fun book to read full of red herrings twists and turns.Enjoyed the characters and the setting..#netgalley #troubador

Cons:
-Too many characters introduced in the beginning of the book, made it had to keep track of everyone. After a while it wasn't much of an issue, but initially it was.
- inconsistent plot/ time frame. A death at the beginning of the book kept being written as having occured after a party in the evening and discovered the next morning. Time of death was repeatedly referred to as occurring between 12:30pm and 4am.

Now to the good:
I live a good mystery/who done it, The Mysterious Death or Aunt Jane definitely fit the bill. There are a lot of moving parts and characters in the story. Anyone could be a suspect.

Within the first three chapters there are three deaths that have occurred. Two before the book begins, and one that is followed throughout. We get to follow along with the detectives as they follow where the case leads them. There was enough mystery/suspense to keep me wanting to see where it all ends. I will definitely be reading more books by S.E. Rayner, especially if they are mysteries.