The Marlow Murder Club

When I think of small-town sleuths of a certain age, there’s no better example than crossword-puzzle writer Judith Potts who lives in the village of Marlow. She’s 77-years-old and physically active (she routinely swims nude in the river behind her house).

In my humble opinion, Judith has all the makings of a great amateur detective: she’s nosy, observant, and not afraid to ask questions of perfect strangers (qualities I quite admire!). I enjoyed this tale even more when Judith roped the vicar’s wife and a dog-walker into her investigation of not one murder but two. More nosy Nellies only adds… show more.

More murder, mayhem, and madness here, but with the slightest, coziest of touches.

Robert Thorogood is a fantastic writer for the screen too - his Death in Paradise series is beloved the world over. And I was absolutely delighted when I read the first of this terrific series. 

Cozy crime has the unique disadvantage in mystery fiction of not featuring graphic violence and sex scenes. Arguably, these are the best bits of the crime genre. So we writers have to come up with other ways of keeping the readers’ attention. 

That often comes down to character. And Thorogood is one… show more.

Who doesn’t enjoy a grumpy, demanding old lady with a mind of her own and a brain that sees through other people’s nonsense?

Judith Potts loves crosswords, and wild swimming, and she doesn’t need anyone else in her life, let alone a man. I adore her.

The other characters are equally well written and together the women use their minds and their friendship to solve what the police can’t  – it’s a cozy enough mystery but it’s really a puzzle-style crime, too.

Cracking read from the author of Death In Paradise.