If you devour cozy mysteries faster than your favorites can write them, then here’s a new one to love! Armstrong is sure to gain her place right among the greats lining your shelf!

About the Book

Lose yourself in a world of beautiful gardens and delicious food with just the odd dead body thrown in.

There are few things Dee enjoys more than a salad, fresh from her veg patch, preferably served without a clown corpse.

Finding herself top of the suspect list, what is a self- respecting Taekwondo-loving granny to do but investigate?

It is at times like these that having a criminal psychology student for a granddaughter comes in handy. Clad in her trademark tutu and corset, Amelia fearlessly eats pink cupcakes and interrogates suspects while Dee’s daughter, Zara salsas her way through the case.

As the idyllic Cotswold village becomes littered with dead clowns, will Dee unmask the murderer before the murderer turns Dee into a garnish?

Indulge in this quirky and humorous cozy crime novel that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Set in modern-day England, amidst the charming British Cotswold countryside, “Corpse in the Chard” delivers a captivating blend of mystery and comedy. With its light-hearted atmosphere and engaging whodunit plot, this British detective series is a must-read for fans of cozy crime murder mysteries.

My Thoughts

A small town overrun with clowns AND murders? It’s just too much for their police force to handle. So, Dee Fitzmorris, who’s just a little too close to the situation, since the first murdered clown was found in her chard patch, has taken it upon herself to clear her name. I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do when the cops aren’t listening!

This one has some Miss Marple or Father Brown, real cozy vibes! I love a great cozy and this one fits the bill so well! The clowns aren’t super creepy, but they definitely add to the mystery and creep factor. The Miss Bim Ban is certainly a great cozy character. I’d love to see more of her in the future!

Our main character, Dee, is a sleuth worthy of the greats. Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, and others who might lead us to argument. But the addition of two generations of her female relatives – her daughter and granddaughter, is just a beautiful storyline. The different, sometimes clashing personalities, which we all know is as real a fact as mothers and daughters can be, is so well written. It jumped off the page, or pulled me into it, not sure exactly which, but it felt like I was in the room experiencing the angst and emotion between the ladies. Both Dee and her granddaughter Amelia were adorable interviewing the townspeople. They both seem a little oblivious about social graces. Being on the spectrum and raising a daughter on it, I did wonder if they might be neurodivergent. Of course, Dee wouldn’t know, at her age very few were diagnosed, especially girls. Amelia would still be unlikely, unless she was recently late diagnosed. Many of us in that category have survived as “quirky” and have only learned in recent years.

I was a little concerned when I saw clowns. I had read the blurb, and I thought yea, sure, that’s okay. Then I read some people’s comments and was like ahh!! But they aren’t scary. They’re super cute. But, if you’re just super scared of clowns anyway.. be warned.

I’m so grateful to the author and Love Books Tour for including me in this tour. I’m so excited to dig into the next one and can’t wait!!

Who’s It For?

If you’re a cozy mystery lover, you will absolutely adore this book. It’s the first in what is sure to be a new favorite among cozy fans. The sleuths in this one are an ensemble of classy, but hilarious ladies – a three (at least one reluctant) generation clan. Full of small-town charm, and a cast of colorful characters.

Content Warning: Violence, Murder, Death, Clowns, Elder Abuse, Emotional Abuse

About the Author

Anna A. Armstrong writes uplifting, cosy mysteries. Set in rural villages, they overflow with friendship, warm family relationships, delicious food, beautiful gardens and romance as well as the odd murder to spice things up. At the heart of her stories are her colourful characters who have their own varied foibles. There is nothing like a spot of murder for revealing who people are and what makes them tick.

Growing up in home counties England, Anna was surrounded with dogs and horses as well as the wide variety of people who make up village life. Her observation skills were further honed by studying Anthropology at university. Much to her family’s embarrassment, she often can’t resist pulling out a pad and sketching random strangers in a restaurant.

When not indulging her love of travelling, Anna divides her time between the quintessentially English village of Burford in the Cotswolds and the rugged Isle of Man, the jewel of the Irish Sea. She is passionate about food, her garden, her three dachshunds, family and latterly trick riding, just in case running off to the circus becomes an option!

Amazon US: https://a.co/d/fhJEt9D
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781739421700
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/iDDGrd0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199632670-corpse-in-the-chard

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