This is the fifth book in a well written series set in one of my favourite parts of the world, Cornwall.

Kate Palmer is a nurse in a local medical practice who fancies herself as a sleuth. In A Body on the Beach she unfortunately discovers said body and for various reasons becomes one of the suspects for the murder. Of course she sets out to clear her own name as well as to discover 'who dunnit'.

I am enjoying this series very much. The characters are well written, the setting is beautiful and the stories are no more outrageous than most cosies. One minor disagreement I had with Kate in this book is that she felt it was okay for her to use the Medical centre's records to find out her son's girlfriend's home address. I would have thought that was very much not okay.

Anyway it was a small thing in what was a very good book. Well worth reading.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.3500-202239 s Mark1,290

Book 5 in the Kate Palmer series and I loved it as much as the previous 4 ( and the authors other work ) the books are so easy to read, the characters, regulars in the series ( now feels I know them ) as well as some new faces, wonderful and the setting in Tinworthy, Cornwall always great to read about and imagine going there for a holiday
This time we have a ‘celeb’ death in the village and many a suspect and Kate cant resist trying to solve the mystery, even more so than usual as she is ‘Prime Suspect’….
There is a TV wedding, a village fair, trips to Bristol and Exeter, a returning son to the fold and many a gin and tonic with Kate’s Sister Angela, all of which for fans of the series will be music to their ears, if you haven’t tried these books give them a go, this can be read as a stand alone but the series is so good I would start at Book 1
Enjoyable, humorous, relaxing read from a fabulous author

10/10
5 Stars 14 s Yvonne G360 235

“Can she solve the case – and save herself? Or have her days of sleuthing come to an end?”


Oh Dear – It’s over already!

I finished this lovely book in just a couple of sittings, and yet still managed to immerse myself in its pages, savouring every single word.

As an avid follower of this series, I feel as though I have got to know the resident characters of fictional Tinworthy quite well, so reading a new chapter in the life of the village always feels ‘going home’ to Cornwall, one of my most favourite parts of the country, even if there does seem to be a disproportionately high number of murders for such an intimate location.

But have no fear! You don’t need to have read this series from the beginning to feel part of the village life, as all the books work great as stand alone stories, with author Dee MacDonald having honed the knack of bringing any new readers up to date with necessary back-story details, to perfection, with just a few cleverly placed sentences and as a seamless part of the current storyline, all without ever making her regular feel short-changed.

At this point in my , I usually try to provide a short, no spoiler overview of the storyline. However on this occasion, the premise provides just about all the relevant facts of the case, so to add anything further would certainly be information ‘too much detail’, for anyone planning to read the book. Suffice to say that my suspect list was every bit as long as Kate’s own, although I felt quite pleased with myself that in addition to Kate’s many names, my own list included that of the eventual murderer, although I had no idea about a motive, just a strong feeling that I didn’t or trust them. There are always plenty of red herrings and twists in any case with which Kate is involved and this one proved to be particularly tricky, with the final sting in the tail being totally unexpected by just about everyone. When the reasons for the murders were revealed, I was really surprised at just how clever author Dee MacDonald had been in weaving together two seemingly unrelated strands of the storyline, one of which Kate herself had unwittingly been a party to. The police were definitely barking up the wrong tree completely, so it’s a good job Kate had ignored all their warnings about getting too involved in the case, as on this occasion, she herself had been one of the prime suspects!

This time Kate not only almost broke my fourth golden rule for what makes a great fiction storyline – that the main protagonist shouldn’t end up dead – but she also almost took Woody and Jack down with her, although I have to say that they were as ‘up for the chase’ as much as Kate herself was. In fact, all three of them were willing orchestrators of the final showdown, which almost inevitably wasn’t going to end well, so is Woody still really unhappy about Kate’s constant sleuthing, or is he secretly beginning to come round to the idea of ‘keeping his hand in’ with the occasional police investigation. After all, Kate really does need a calming influence when it comes to an ongoing situation, as her thought processes can end up all over the place, despite the many suspect and motive lists she makes, which often makes Woody smile. He also has the knack of knowing when Kate is about to dash off and follow up a new lead, when he really doesn’t think it is such a good idea. However, as much as he tries to keep her in check, even down to actually making her promise not to follow up on a particularly risky lead, she will always find a way to outwit him, or change a detail or two, so that she can say that she honestly never disobeyed his specific request.

Well structured, multi-layered and highly textured, this storyline is fluently written in short, easy to navigate chapters, which keep the pace of the action non-stop and ever evolving. Plenty of wonderfully assured observational and descriptive narrative, together with some excellent conversational dialogue, offers a really good sense of time and place, making it all too easy to follow events as they unfold, whilst still not being able to spot the real villain of the piece. In this story, revenge is definitely a dish best served cold, although past traumas do have to be allowed for, as no one really understands the fragility of the human mind, despite the outward show of bluff and bravado.

Dee has created a multi-faceted, well drawn and defined cast of characters, who I could clearly visualise in my minds eye, especially Kate’s elder sister Angie, and her current partner, Irishman Fergal – as soon as you meet them, you’ll see what I mean about them being memorable and they are certain to raise a smile or two. Whether they are on the side of good or bad, all are authentically realistic and genuinely believable in the individual roles which have been created for them. Theirs is collectively a strong voice, with which they tell their own story, although some are more reliable witnesses, easy to connect with and relate to than others. The core cast of characters are old friends and such are the dynamics between them, I almost feel that I could knock on any Tinworthy door, or visit any of the businesses and receive a warm welcome, so long as Kate or Woody were with me to break the ice a little first. Each episode generally features a couple of ‘outsiders’, who really don’t fit into village life at all and seldom tend to stick around, especially if they end up dead or in custody!

Kate Palmer decided not to take her husband’s name on marriage, well would you, when your surname is already a very fitting anagram of ‘Marple’. The similarities don’t stop with the shared name either, and even though there is quite a substantial age difference between them, Kate is definitely a modern day version of that famous amateur sleuth, even right down to some of her personality traits. With each passing story, I am growing more and more confused as to whether Kate reminds me more of Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. I suppose it rather depends on which side of the pond you live, as to where your loyalties lie!

Now that Kate and Woody have made their joint home in Kate’s charming cottage, her dog Barney gets double the walks, double the love and no doubt double the treats! He makes great cover for Kate when she is off on one of her ‘fishing’ missions for clues, a ploy which Woody has just cottoned onto and one he will no doubt be watching out for in the future!24 s Robin Loves Reading2,356 429

Kate Palmer is a busy woman. Newly married, a part-time nurse, a mother who sees her son after he had been away for a while, and a super sleuth. She always finds herself in a position to solve a murder. This time, however, the reason is very personal. She finds out that she is a suspect in the murder of Sienna Stone. Not only did she find the body, but she was seen having an argument with Ms. Stone.

Kate’s argument with Sienna was seen by more than one, and this makes her a suspect In Sienna’s murder. Therefore, Kate, along with new husband, Woody Forrest, is determined to prove her innocence while also finding the actual killer. It comes as no surprise that there are many ly suspects, and they include Sienna’s husband and even her younger sister Sally. So Katie looks for the motive and the killer, even though this may put her in a place of danger.

Meanwhile, Kate hopes to reconnect with her son and their lies another layer to an already enjoyable story. If you have read the series from the beginning I have, you will come to love Kate, Woody, and others in this truly engaging series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please also enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/1PHfL6FY6F4
2022-reads cozy-mystery kindle ...more8 s Kitty McIntoshAuthor 10 books49

’A Body On The Beach’ by Dee MacDonald is book 5 in her Kate Palmer Mystery Series. This is the second one I’ve read and I’m quickly becoming a big fan.

The whole village looks forward to the Tinworthy summer fete, but this year it turns out to be a lot more interesting and deadly. When a body is found on the beach, Kate is the first on the scene, and due to an earlier spat with the victim, becomes prime suspect. She’s not the only one in the frame though. Sienna Stone was a singularly unpleasant individual, and the list of those who could have killed her grows and grows. But Kate is determined to get her own name removed from that list, and with her new husband Woody, takes on the mantle of amateur detective once again.

Dee MacDonald writes delightful cosy mysteries, with wonderfully picturesque settings. This book is no exception. Her characters feel people we all know, and the scenarios extremely believable. Kate is a caring and inquisitive person, with an understanding of how people tick. She can also be reckless and puts herself in some very dangerous situations. Her relationship with Woody is ideal, as he is the sensible and measured foil to her more elaborate plans. ‘Body On The Beach’ is a very good story, with plenty of twists and turns - and the odd red herring to spice things up. I really enjoyed it.

I was given this Arc to review.british-culture cosy-mystery cozy-mystery ...more5 s Lyne 335 5

A Good Easy Read! Well Worth it!!

Once again, Ms. MacDonald has outdone herself! This is the fifth in the “Kate Palmer”, cozy mystery series and I absolutely loved this one. Kate has finally matured and is coming into her own. It has taken me a few books to warm up to Kate. I found that, for a nurse, she was not very discreet and talked way too much. Now, I am much more comfortable with her as she is much more mature.

all series, I recommend that you read them in order. The series is set in Tinworthy, Cornwall. It is a pleasant and easy read. The characters (at least regulars), I have come to know and understand.

This time we have a celebrity, murdered on the beach. Each of the suspects has a good reason for wanting to kill her… even Kate. For once, my suspicions on who the murderer was, was correct. However, I didn’t figure out the “Why” until it was explained. Good one! I was glad to see that Kate was not the token “Damsel in distress” and require her husband, a retired Detective Inspector, to save her. Way to go Kate!

A good, easy read. Well worth it. I highly recommend.4 s Bookworm86 1,611 124

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'A Body On The Beach' by Dee Macdonald.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Dee MacDonald, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 28th April 2022.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in the 'Kate Palmer' Mystery series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read 'A Body In Seaview Grange' (book 2 in the series) , 'A Body At The Tea Rooms' (book 3 in the series) and 'A Body At The Altar' (book 4 in the series) which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase. ' I am a huge fan of all three of those authors so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Dee and if this is half as good as 'A Body In Seaview Grange', 'A Body At The Tea Rooms' and 'A Body At The Altar' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 38 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Cornwall, England
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