4 stars

One Liner: Well done!

Jude Gray’s farm is getting better with good bookings for the camping site even as her neighbor is not happy. She is finally relieved that the troubles of the past are behind her.

However, the hen party that arrived for the weekend seems to bring danger to Jude’s farm again. The group of friends has internal conflicts which spill over resulting in a disappearance and death.
Can Jude and DI Bennie solve the case before it is too late?

The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:

Book three of the Malvern Farm Mystery is possibly the best until now. The pacing is steady. There are enough twists to keep the reader guessing about the culprit and the reason.

The ‘murder’ doesn’t happen for a long time. However, one of the characters disappears. This adds to the drama as we see the undercurrents between the women almost from the introduction.

However, the book is not limited to a mystery. It also deals with the difficulties of farm life, be it the rising expenses or crop damage due to various factors. The work is never-ending on a farm.

Lucy and Sebbie are, of course, a part of the book. Little Sebbie is four (already!) and adds the much-needed humor to the mystery. We get a few insights into Jude’s thoughts and uncertainties about the future.

There are five women in the hen party, which can be confusing but doesn’t. Each of them has a distinct personality. They are flawed, some more than others. That means it is easy to take sides (and want certain characters to be bumped off).

DI Binnie has a lot of work to do in this book, which I really . Though it is Jude who connects the dots, Binnie has an active role and provides some vital information. I love how assertive and steady she is.

Jude’s arc is much better in this one though she still jumps to conclusions at times. However, that makes her real instead of perfect, so no complaints. Seems she did learn her lesson after what happened in book two.

The other side characters Granny Margot have small but important roles in the plot.

To summarize, A Body by the Henhouse is an enjoyable mystery with enough twists to keep you hooked. The ending offers two surprises, so I’m excited to see where it goes next.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #ABodyAtTheHenhouse

***

P.S: Some sheep are poisoned but don’t worry. They are all alive and healthy. I appreciate that. 2024 2024-net-galley-challenge arcs ...more24 s12 comments Kelly1,656 74

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a Malvern Farm mystery, the third book in the series. I was interested in reading it because I remembered enjoying the previous book in the series.

I think that Jude is a able and relatable protagonist, so I was pleased to read about her again. There were some other characters that struck me as instantly unable, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the story itself.

I felt there was a lovely peaceful atmosphere, brought to life by charming imagery of the countryside setting, and I always enjoy murder mysteries in this type of setting.

This was an entertaining cosy mystery that kept me guessing. It was light enough to read in one sitting, and the type of book that I might choose to relax with. I would probably to read more of this series in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.2 s Janet4,395 48

Jude Gray’s farm is going from strength to strength, and even though her grumpy neighbour has concerns about the new campsite in the lower field, she is undeterred. When a hen party arrives for a weekend away, she does her best to cater for their celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgent care – an accidental mishap or something more nefarious? – she finds herself consulting the group, which coincidentally contains four vets. When one of the hens goes missing, it becomes clear there are more sinister forces at play, and someone is targeting her farm. With the help of close friend Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri, Jude once again dons her amateur sleuthing hat.
The third outing for Jude & her farm the series is going from strength to strength. Strong characters & a well paced story had me finishing this cosy mystery in two sittings. I really Jude who annoys others especially Binnie because she puts herself in danger repeatedlyThe obligatory twists, turns & red herrings plus secrets all added to make this a very enjoyable murder mystery
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
1 Curt Dunnam42 5

"A Body by the Henhouse" is a 5-star cozy mystery by Kate Wells! This is the third book in the Malvern Mystery Series, and once again, we find ourselves back on the farm with Jude, Noah, Lucy, and Sebbie, right in the middle of a police investigation. When a group of vets comes to town for a hen do, you would expect it to be good for the farm, but instead, they bring a whole bunch of trouble.

Just the other two books, this one really makes you feel what it's to be on the farm. I found myself using Google to learn about the different animals that Jude and Noah are purchasing. There is, of course, a mystery, and there are several twists along the way. Jude really wants to be a detective, but she keeps making decisions based on personal feelings and is always on the edge of getting into trouble herself. The group at the hen do gave me a reality TV type of vibe. Overall, it's a great book, and I can’t wait for #4.

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Kate Wells, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.1 M.J.Author 90 books218

A Body by the Henhouse is the third book in the A Malvern Farm Mystery series. I've read book 1, and I really enjoyed it.

We return to Malvern Farm with summer on the horizon, and our main character, Jude, keen to make her camping site work, even while busy with the arable and pastoral aspects of her farm. But her current guests are not quite the bunch she's expecting, and with tensions running high, it's not long until Jude is trying to find out who's been tampering with her sheep and why the group of Hens are so uneasy with one another.

This is a really well-written mystery. I love a book where I don't guess 'who did it,' and this certainly falls into that category. There are lots of twists and turns in the storyline. There are many potential suspects, and the story is well woven together between Jude's daily life and her determination to find answers to the problems she's encountering with the aid of her police friend.

An enjoyable contemporary mystery, easy to read and really engaging. I look forward to more in the series, and will be reading book 2 as well:)blog-tour cosy-crime1 Melisa Broadbent178 14

A Body by the Hen House is the third in the Malvern Farm series and one that I have really enjoyed reading. We are reunited with Jude and her sister Lucy and loveable little nephew Sebbie who are now living with Jude at the farm. Shepherd, Noah from the previous books also returns and his romance with Lucy is still as strong as ever. The farm is also going from strength to strength now that Jude as branched out into other ways of keeping afloat and if you have read the second into the series, the campsite is now fully operational complete with its first paying guests! Despite protests from a neighbour, she is determined this will be a success.

A group of friends, (handily they are vets!) book into the campsite for a hen do and straight away you pick up on tensions within the group. When one of the group disappears, the rest of the guests aren’t too worried to begin with but soon change their mind. When the groom turns up unexpectedly and there is a murder, it isn’t long until things turn sour and Jude’s friend DI Binita Khatri is called to investigate.

A Body by the Hen House is another welcome addition to the series that I have raced through. It is lovely to follow Jude’s progress from a young widow, unsure if she can cope with the farm life on her own to slowly becoming an assured farmer, confident in her work and future plans. Her close group of friends have helped her confidence and also make her realise that her life isn’t just about the farm, although it does take up a lot of her life!

I really enjoyed the plot in the book and the unexpected twists with the first murder – not at all what I thought was going to happen. This isn’t all about murder though and I really d the potential romance at the end – we have only ever known Jude as a widow so I’m looking forward to how this potentially develops in the next book….!

A wonderful series that I highly recommend for cosy crime fans!1 Alyson Read978 46

After two exciting but gruelling amateur investigations and a very wet start to the year on the farm, Jude Gray is hoping for a more peaceful time. The campsite is going well and she hopes to set up a petting corner, first stop being the farmers’ market for the purchase of four Kerry Hills ewes. However, nothing stays quiet for long and the following morning she discovers the new animals have been poisoned. Fortunately, four of the six ladies forming a hen party at the site are vets and one provides some much-needed emergency treatment, saving the sheep. As if that’s not bad enough, a tent has been sabotaged during the night and Jude immediately suspects her neighbour, the constantly complaining Mike Trout. After all, it was only the previous day he tried to smoke out the campers with a bonfire. Jude reports this all to her close friend, newly promoted DI Binnie Khatri, but there’s not much the police can do without evidence. Things go from bad to worse when one of the hens, the woman who has caused upset and discord amongst the group, goes for a walk and disappears. There’s certainly no shortage of people who would want something nasty to happen to her, and Jude finds herself joining forces with Binnie to get to the bottom of these rather dark and disturbing events at the farm before anyone gets seriously hurt.
There are some great characters in this lovely series, and I have a real soft spot for Granny Margot, Binnie, Noah, Sebbie and all the animals. Jude is smashing, having had to become a tough cookie and a hard worker after the death of her husband but still has a lovely caring side to her and keeps everyone together. I really have my fingers crossed that a certain artist brings her happiness to match that of her sister Lucy and shepherd Noah. Although it’s filled with an ever-increasing number of furry farm animals, there are some very dark goings-on in the quaint village of Malvern End, and the tangle of lies, deceit and underhand tactics surrounding her latest guests provides plenty of surprising twists for the reader. With a lovely ending, I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Anna565

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for the opportunity to read "A Body By The Henhouse" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was book 3 in the Malvern Farm Mystery series. We find Jude Gray getting ready to host a hen party at her new campsite. Neighbour Mike Trout is not happy about her new venture. Since moving next-door all he has done is complain about the smell, noise, farm vehicles and dust.

The bride is Shaznay, her little sister Tanisha, bridesmaid Khadija (who is full of attitude), Ellie, Seren and Ash. 4 of the group are vets. All of them have secrets, some of them are resorting to blackmail and threats.

The favourite characters are back Jude's sister Lucy and her son Sebbie (who turns 4 in this book), Noah the shepherd and Jude's best friend Detective Inspector Binita Khatri.

Jude keeps her friend very busy in this story. First she has 4 new sheep who are promptly poisoned by someone. Then someone releases the ropes on Khadija's tent collapsing it on her. Then Shaznay's fiancé Joe arrives - he is entitled, superior to everyone, looks down on Jude as the "female farmer". Arriving with Joe is Dex - Tanisha's boyfriend.

Jude gets into a lot of intrigue in this story. She doesn't help foster good relations with her neighbour Mike when she tries to swipe is phone to look for clues or when she breaks into his shed. Binita gets frustrated with her wanna-be amateur sleuth friend in this story because she puts herself in harms way too many times. Then she finds a body, and then another one. It seems that Malvern Farm is a magnet for murder and mayhem.

Once all the pieces fall into place, many more secrets are revealed and lives torn apart. This addition to the series will keep the reader on the edge of their seats with this wonderful new story.

Helen HollickAuthor 56 books520

This is the first of the Malvern Farm series that I have read - there have previously been two more. As a standalone it was easy to follow the story and get to know the main characters, with enough back story to piece together the previous episodes.

Jude Gray is a widow, trying to keep her farm running efficiently after the death of her husband, with the aid of some loyal friends and workers, all of whom came across as good, able characters. I live within a North Devon farming community and my daughter's partner is a local farmer, so I was very much interested in the farm-side of the story, which came across as an interesting sub-plot and was accurately written.

Jude, as with many farmers, is struggling to keep going so expands into running a campsite business, complete with pre-erected tents and a shepherds hut all with mod-cons. The next group of visitors are due to arrive, a hen party, celebrating the future wedding of one of their group. The women are vets, which is presumably why the location of a farm was selected for their short holiday.

Things start to go awry when an unpleasant neighbour of Jude's starts making a nuisance of himself, the farm animals seem at risk, and trouble starts brewing among the camping guests. Then, of course, there is a murder...

I d the main farm characters very much, but found it difficult at first to remember who was who among the campers, but maybe this was because I didn't particularly any of them. Some of the plot, I thought, was a little contrived but this is fine for a light read, cosy mystery.

Working out 'Whodidit' was kept as a surprise, with the red herrings adequately pointing to assumed suspects.

A good, entertaining read.
April Brown143 3

This is the third book in this series but my first time reading the series and the author, Kate Wells, is new to me as well.

Jude Gray is trying to keep her late husband's family farm going with the help of her sister Lucy, 4-year-old nephew Sebbie and resident shepherd, Noah. One of the ways she has come up with to bring in extra income is to host camping getaways on the farm. This bring four female veterinarians who have been friends since vet school to the farm to have a bachelorette getaway.

There seems to be some tension and secrets between the bride and her friends. One of the women disappears, the groom and his best friend show up to help with the search. There is a murder, and her guests are there for an extended stay until the police, headed by Jude's best friend, DI Binita Khatri are able to determine how and how much the remaining friends are involved. Add in some vandalism and damage to her farm, a grumpy neighbor who may also be involved and Jude feels she needs to try and find answers.

The Author has built quite the mystery with several twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Sebbie who is adorable. My only criticism is that Jude seemed fixated that her neighbor Mike was involved to the point of possibly missing some early clues. It is a small criticism and did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I look forward to the next installment of this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read this story. Mackenzie Busalacchi199 10

A Body by the Henhouse is a delightful and intriguing cozy mystery set on a sprawling farm in the English countryside. Jude's new campsite on her farm has become a huge success, and she is now hosting a bachelorette party for a group of close friends. However, as the hen party gets underway, strange things begin occurring, starting with Jude's recently acquired animals being poisoned. After one of the bridesmaids disappears, Jude calls her best friend, who happens to be a detective, to investigate. The odd occurrences don't stop there and soon a body is discovered. Jude doesn't know who to suspect. Could it be her grumpy, always-complaining neighbor or could it be one of the hen-do? Until Jude and Binne can solve the mysteries, Jude's campsite is closed and her farm is a crime scene.

A Body by the Henhouse has absolutely everything one would want in a cozy mystery: a fabulous set of lovable characters, a charming setting, and a super intriguing mystery with plenty of twists. I really enjoy that the police/detective character in this series isn't a love interest or someone with a bit of an attitude; rather, it is a very likable best friend. All of the characters are well-developed and an enjoy to read. I even have a soft spot for Mike Trout. I can't wait to continue this series and follow Jude and her family and friends on their next farm adventure! Kathleen908 26

The clamping project at Malvern Farm is a success, thanks to Jude Gray’s hard work and her glamping project. A hen (bachlorette) party is scheduled for the weekend and Jude wants everything to be perfect. It is until one of the women disappears. Then she and shepherd Noah try to run the farm as the search continues for the missing women. The farm seems to be a target after some of her sheep are poisoned. An ever complaining neighbor is a natural suspect. To add to the confusion, the demanding groom to be arrives. After a murder, with the bride still missing, Jude begins to piece together the complicated web of jealousy, blackmail and criminal activities that surround her campsite guests. She and her close friend DI Binnie Khatri must find the killer before there is another victim.

A Body by the Henhouse is the third in this excellent series. Familiar characters are joined by new, and Malvern Farm remains a character itself. The tedious, daily work of farming blends with quiet moments of joy watching her nephew, four year old Sebby, learning to be a young farmer and dog trainer! And a teaser in the final pages left me eager to read the Kate Well’s next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Kate Wells for this ARC. Kitty McIntoshAuthor 10 books50

Now that a campsite is in operation on the farm, Jude Gray hopes that business might start to pick up at last. A hen party settles in for the weekend, but things don’t go according to plan. A problem with her beloved sheep, and a missing hen causes Jude problems. But is there more to it? Is someone targeting the farm? Once more, Jude becomes involved in an investigation. With the help of her Detective Inspector friend, Binnie, she is determined to find out the truth.

I’ve come to look forward to joining Jude and her family and friends on Malvern Farm. I can be assured of a fantastic story, with plenty of twists and turns - and a whole lot of heart. This time Jude doesn’t have to go far to find suspects. As the tale unfolds, we find out that everyone has a secret. And where there are secrets, there are reasons to silence those in the know.

The characters are so well drawn, with the empathetic and caring Jude, her no-nonsense friend Binnie, and the lovely pairing of Noah and Lucy. The unsavoury characters are perfectly written. In fact, they are so well done, that I hadn’t a clue whodunnit right until the end.

A cracking story that kept me guessing. british-culture cosy-mystery cozy-mystery ...more3 s Jane HuntAuthor 3 books108

The third book in the Malvern Mysteries series shows the farm now diversified with a campsite experiencing some success but tinged with neighbour problems exacerbated when a hen party comes to stay at the farm for a weekend. Animals get sick, tents collapse, and a camper goes missing, but when someone dies in suspicious circumstances, Jude and Binnie, her detective friend, race against time to find the culprit. This cosy mystery has many suspects, unclear motives and a cast of mainly unable characters, all with secrets. I enjoyed the farm setting, which gives this cosy crime story a unique edge. Jude is courageous, determined and able but impulsive when pursuing a lead despite the watchful guidance of Binnie, the local detective inspector. I the suspense building, the character development of Jude and her family and friends and the intriguing mystery.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.2024-book-tours netgalley-reviewed Jan5,507 78

Widow Jude Gray is trying to save the farm that she and her husband ran until his untimely death. One thing she is trying is the expansion of a camping/glamping aspect to the farm to help the finance base and that is also the reason for the addition of a few animals, including sheep. This matters because there is a group of young women veterinarians staying in the tents and one was a great help when four of the sheep were poisoned. Jude is certain that her unpleasant neighbor was to blame. Then the obnoxious guest went missing, some incredible things revealed, and a despicable man was murdered. Then things really got sticky! I loved this one just as much as the first two!
Did you know that only girl ducks can quack? Or that rhododendrons are poisonous to sheep?
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. Thank you! campground camping farming ...more Lorraine1,276 32

Another enjoyable book in this series. So much going on on the farm, and then a group of "hens" arrive for a bachelorette party. They're a lot of trouble for Jude, especially the one who complains about everything and has to have a tent put up for her when she breaks up with her girlfriend. Then the next day she goes missing, leaving her cell phone and her asthma inhaler. Binnie, now a DI, comes to investigate and then the bride's intended and a friend come to the camp. Joe is a braggart and also demands attention from all there. Jude can't get much farm work done trying to deal with these guests. But then bodies are found on the farm - it's a deadly place! But I was glad to read the last paragraph and hope that Jude will find some comfort from it. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for an advance copy of this cozy mystery.2024 cozy mystery ...more Annarella13.3k 144

I thoroughly enjoyed all the novels in this series and this one was no exception. I assume it's the first time I started a novel and thought about sheep I met years ago.
I need to read realixing and heartwarming story and this one, even if the mystery is solid and twisty, kept me hooked and surprised me with each twists.
There's plenty of twists, there's changes in Jude's behaviour and life. There's a quite realistic description of country life and, as I spent quite a lot of time in the country, I noticed two things: human beings are similar in every country and some lovely places can be full of darkness.
I read it in one sitting and it made me smile and relax
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mineblogtour cozy-mystery netgalley zoe Hitchen396 3

Jude’s farm is doing well she has plenty of bookings for her new campsite , even though her grumpy neighbours voices his concerns (frequently!)
A hen party are due to arrive and Jude is prepared and eagerly anticipating their arrival.
Some of the group are vets and this comes in handy when Jude finds her sheep in distress , they’ve been poisoned but who can have done it?
Jude believes it’s her neighbour, but would he stoop so low?
The dynamics in the hen party aren’t working well , and when one of them disappears a web of deceit and lies begins to unravel.
A well written cosy mystery with plenty of twists and turns that kept me hooked .
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.netgalley-arc Katherine Hayward Pérez 1,370 74

This is my first book in the series. The farm is so atmospheric and the characters are quirky. All seems well and then suddenly it’s not. There’s a sense of unease quite early on in the book because of the guests.

The book is well written and I’m interested in catching up with the series.

Thanks to Kate Wells and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars mystery Yvette Salmon357 16

The 3rd in the series and boy what a series it is. Thank you to @theboldbookclub for letting me read this book. I’m loving the series and I how each one is in a different setting. Please read the series. Tracy Searle1 review

Autor del comentario:
=================================