Book Review
The Potting Shed Murder by Paula Sutton
Cozy Mystery
When it comes to cozy mysteries, there is no setting better suited than that of an English village in the country. In the first of a new series by Paula Sutton, The Potting Shed Murder gives us all the quintessential elements of the genre with a curious amateur detective, a cast of quirky suspects and side characters, and a delicious small-town setting as backdrop for the murder.
Daphne and her husband James have had enough of life in London. Relocating their family to the sleepy village of Pudding Corner, Daphne settles into rural life, planting gardens and refurbishing vintage pieces in between school runs with the kids. But when the headmaster is found dead in his potting shed, Daphne’s natural curiosity and desire for justice lead her to uncover an abundance of motives and suspects — and perhaps, unmask a killer.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery. While the story is primarily told from Daphne’s perspective, we get multiple points of view from various suspects and community members — and this all flowed smoothly, adding to the reveals and slow-building tension of the story.
The writing style is quite description-heavy and occasionally leans toward run-on sentences (particularly in the first few chapters). Initially, this made it a little more challenging to fully immerse myself in the story. However, once I got into it, this cozy, conversational vibe lent itself well to the charm of this quaint English-village setting, and I really enjoyed the writing as a whole.
The Potting Shed Murder is a slower, leisurely read. The setting is an absolute gem, and the author does an excellent job of capturing the charm of this village, complete with the hierarchies and drama within. While certain aspects of the plot were a little predictable, I always enjoy the final reveals to see if my deductions were correct. There were a lot of fantastic characters here, and I look forward to getting to know the inhabitants of Pudding Corner (such a delightful name for a setting!) further in future stories.
Recommended for:
Fans of slow-building cozy, cottagecore mysteries
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(From the publisher): Welcome to the sleepy village of Pudding Corner, a quintessentially English haven of golden cornfields, winding cobbled lanes … and murder.
Daphne Brewster has left London behind and is settling into her family’s new life in rural Norfolk, planting broad beans in raised beds and vintage hunting for their farmhouse.
But when the local headmaster is found dead in his potting shed, amongst his allotment cabbages, the village is ablaze: Who would kill beloved Mr Papplewick, pillar of the community? Daphne soon comes to realise perhaps the countryside isn’t so idyllic after all…
When the headmaster’s widow points her finger at Minnerva, Daphne’s new friend, Daphne vows to clear her name. Sneaking into the crime scene and chasing down rumours gets her into hot water with the local inspector – until she comes across a faded photograph that unearths a secret buried for forty years…
They say nothing bad ever happens in close-knit Pudding Corner, but Daphne is close to the truth – dangerously close…