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Fiona Walker
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The Art of Murder: The charming cozy mystery full of twists and turns from Fiona Walker (The Village Detectives Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Fiona Walker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 888 ratings

Welcome to the beautiful English village of Inkbury. whose only claim to fame is the picturesque riverside that once appeared in a Richard Curtis movie. That is, until the MURDER…

Former stand-up comic Juno Mulligan has been suffering a serious sense-of-humour failure. Not only has she lost the love of her life, but she’s having to relocate to the (admittedly idyllic) village of Inkbury to watch out for her elderly mother, who she’s genuinely worried might be marrying a wife-killer.

She hopes that her old friend, disgraced-journalist-turned-novelist Phoebe Fredericks can help her crack the case of whether her mother’s perma-tanned, iceberg-smiled, three-times-a-widower fiancé is hiding a murderous past.

But before they have a chance, the local art dealer washes up distinctly dead in the village’s famous river. His lover is in the frame, but Juno and Phoebe suspect that there is a deeper secret… One that relates to Phoebe’s own past and Juno’s present.

Will the unofficial Village Detective Agency solve the mystery before the killer strikes again? In sleepy Inkbury, as they soon discover, living one’s best midlife can be murder.

An utterly gripping cozy crime mystery, from million-copy bestselling Fiona Walker, guaranteed to absolutely delight fans of Richard Osman, Janet Evanovich and the Reverend Richard Coles.

Readers love Fiona Walker:

‘Loved it!!!! Couldn’t put it down… Keeps you on the edge of your seat.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Witty, addictive, and with plenty of drama to sink your teeth into… Entertaining from beginning to end… Fantastic.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘There were times when I belly laughed so loudly I had to put my hand in front of my mouth to stifle it. (This would be during a binge read until 2 a.m.)!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I stayed up WAY too late gulping down the last few hundred pages. I simply could not put it down!… I thoroughly enjoyed the sparkling wit… Pure escapism, pages and pages of thrilling relationships, turmoil and love.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of my all-time favourite authors… Love the characters, the plot, everything about it.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THE WAY THIS UNFOLDS!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Walker writes with such vitality that all the characters are instantly brought to life. She’s funny, moving and not too OTT in her interpretation of life’s little eccentricities!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Laugh out loud funny!!!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this so strongly and with such enthusiasm that I became devoted to Fiona Walker for life.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I love, love, love this book.’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of my all time favourites. Laugh-out-loud funny in places, poignant and touching in others. This book really has it all. Incredibly well written’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Village Detectives
  2. Print length
    366 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Boldwood Books
  5. Publication date
    May 20, 2024
  6. File size
    5.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CSW311CB
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books (May 20, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 20, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 366 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 888 ratings

About the author

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Fiona Walker

Fiona Walker

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Thank you so much for visiting my Amazon author page. Whether you’ve been reading my books since Tash French found her mojo in the 90s, picked me up when the Cotswolds got naughty in the noughties, galloped through the past decade's Compton village romps, or you've just discovered my life of crime, it’s lovely to welcome you in.

My new series is the Village Detectives. It starts with The Art of Murder, followed by The Poison Pen Letters, and there's lots more to come. Set in the luscious Dunnett Valley, old friends Phoebe and Juno reunite to unravel mysteries whilst navigating midlife, family crises, stalled careers and late-blooming romance. As a lifelong fan of crime fiction – the warm, funny variety – I’m thrilled to be now writing it.

My passion is creating imaginary worlds into which readers can escape, filled with characters to fall in love with and plot twists to delight. Over the years, I've written at kitchen tables and chilly attics as well as a glammed-up garden shed and a converted garage, usually late into the night, too lost in my plots to look at the clock. It doesn't matter where I write as long as I have a head full of ideas, a mug full of tea (make that a wine glass through the saucy bits) and a dog or two to keep me company. Authors can be terribly unreliable beasts, and my family and friends are wonderfully tolerant, even when I put them in the books. The dogs and horses all go in too...

Please click the ‘follow’ button, and Amazon will send you an email whenever I have a new novel out or when there’s a deal on one of my books. You can find lots more information about me and my novels on my website, where I blog regularly. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and love hearing from readers (although you’re more likely to find me posting an accidental selfie of my nose than swapping witticisms with social media influencers).

***

Biography: Fiona Walker is the best-selling author of eighteen novels. Plucked out of the slush pile at twenty-three with her first novel, French Relations, Fiona’s unique brand of sharp-eyed romantic comedy and never-want-to-leave setting was an immediate hit, and her books have gone on to sell millions of copies worldwide. The sassy big sister of chick lit, dubbed ‘the Jilly Cooper of the Cosmo generation’, she’s grown up alongside her readers from nineties London party-animal to dog-walking country mum, and her knack for story-telling remains as compelling as ever.

Fiona lives in Shakespeare Country with her partner Sam, a dressage coach, their two daughters and a menagerie of horses, dogs and other animals.

Visit Fiona's website at fionawalker dot com and find her on social media searching fionawalkeruk

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
888 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an enjoyable read. However, the plot receives negative feedback, with one customer describing it as thin and overly dramatic.

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3 customers mention "Enjoyment"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one describing it as a fun romp.

"I truly enjoyed this book. At first it seemed like a lot of characters to remember, but it settled down & kept me guessing almost to the end...." Read more

"...Can’t wait for the next “Village Detectives” book. Delightful, enjoyable read." Read more

"This is fun romp with intriguing new characters. I look forward to more stories about the Squad from Fiona Walker." Read more

3 customers mention "Plot"0 positive3 negative

Customers criticize the plot of the book, describing it as thin and overly dramatic, with one customer noting it was told in a boring way.

"...That being said Juno comes off way to much of a flimsy cliché. The plot is thin and the whole murder reveals everything at the end is just lazy..." Read more

"The book had a clever idea but told it in a boring way. It simply never really engaged me. I also disliked most of the characters...." Read more

"Juno and her mother Judy are carbon copies of each other. Overly dramatic, silly and nonstop talkers. Judy acts like an Immature 15-year-old...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • gotsol
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I truly enjoyed this book. At first it seemed like a lot of characters to remember, but it settled down & kept me guessing almost to the end. Ready to read the second book in the series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jane
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great cozy mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
    This is a cozy mystery with colorful characters, plenty of twists, and a quirky English village as a backdrop. Former comic Juno has returned to England to care for her elderly mother who is engaged to a smarmy man who may or may not be a wife-killer. She hopes her friend Phoebe, who is a disgraced journalist turned novelist, can help her figure out if her mother's fiance is hiding a murderous past. But before the duo can get into that mystery, an local art dealer washes up dead on the village's famous river bank. Thus is the origin story of The Village Detectives.

    The book is written well and flows easily, although it did get a bit bogged down in the middle. Since this is the first book in the series, it's understandable since the author has to introduce the characters and build the world in which the rest of the series will live. Selfishly I was hoping there would be more colorful characters in the book, but there is room to grow in future books. Juno's mother and fiance are a hoot and I suppose it would have been overkill to have more than them providing comic relief.

    The mystery was intriguing and the author provided plenty of red herrings to confuse the reader. I admit it took me awhile to figure out the culprit, which is testament to the author's skill. I think this series is going to be fun to explore and look forward to reading future books.

    I was provided an e-copy of this book from Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books. All opinions are my own.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Victoria Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Murder, amazing
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant beginning to a new series. Reading a book written by Fiona Walker is like visiting an old friend. Lots of good memories and wanting to make more. Can’t wait for the next “Village Detectives” book. Delightful, enjoyable read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Lotma
    3.0 out of 5 stars Love Fiona Walkers early characters are back
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I love that Fiona Walker has brought back two of her previous heroines from her early books. It's like meeting up with old friends.
    That being said Juno comes off way to much of a flimsy cliché. The plot is thin and the whole murder reveals everything at the end is just lazy writing and unelegant.
    It seems like Fiona Walkers way of writing works best for long books.
    That being said I did enjoy reading it because sometimes you want something easy. And I will also read the next since I am happy to rekindle with Phobe and Juno.
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  • Naomi
    4.0 out of 5 stars Smart, Contemporary Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2024
    The Art of Murder is a smart, contemporary mystery. Friends Phoebe and Juno are unwittingly sucked into the death of an acquaintance, but quickly determine that it was actually murder. Along the way, you find some awesome character development, an engaging story, all while set in the countryside of England. What more could you ask?

    I heartily enjoyed this book. The characters have some flaws, but I was willing to overlook these. There are some immoral behaviors, but nothing graphic so I was able to ignore it. Some of the main characters are gender bending but it seems like every single book has to have their token character these days.

    I did guess who the murderer was by the middle of the book but I had no idea about their motive so it was still a satisfying read for me. I really enjoyed the unique voices of the main characters. This book is told from multiple perspectives and the author did a great job of differentiating the characters unique way of communication. The two main characters are absolutely loveable and you are rooting for them the whole time.

    I am getting so tired of all new books having to include a token LGBTQ character. I wish this fad would end.

    All in all, I really enjoyed this book and will watch for more works from this author. I recommend this book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • katie garlock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful new series
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is fun romp with intriguing new characters. I look forward to more stories about the Squad from Fiona Walker.
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  • Mother of Scotties
    4.0 out of 5 stars First in a new British Cozy!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2024
    Juno Mulligan has gone from making people laugh to having live hand her more than a few situations that could put less people into such severe depression. They couldn’t even cope. However, Juno returned home to England to take care of her beloved mother and get back to herself. When our mother becomes engaged, wonder whether her mother is engaged to a serial killer connecting with old friends and following the clues, Juno hopes her mother won’t be another loss she has to suffer.

    While this is the first in a new British cozy series by Fiona Walker, it’s not the first time we’ve seen Phoebe Fredericks. So those of you who are thinking she sounds familiar, you’re not losing it! This is going to be a great British crazy series that I am going to be following and reading for a long as Fiona Walker is writing them!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sara Oxo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Take me to Inkbury and leave me wander
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2024
    Take me to Inkbury and leave me wander. This is the first story in the Village detective series and I am so excited to see where we will go next, this group will keep you on your toes. Phoebe will keep you guessing, what’s going on there, something old or something new? Her husband Felix rubbed me the wrong way for chunks of the story. Juno will captivate you and the story will keep you going, it does wobble in a couple of spots as it gets a little long, but honestly the overall was worth it, when everything falls together, you are left like aaagghhh fair enough. There is a great world building aspect to this, and you know the second story will be stronger as you already know everyone. This is going to be a great series, as it’s a great author who keeps everything together.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Miranda V
    5.0 out of 5 stars A witty whodunnit with a big heart
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    What a great find! I took a chance on this because I loved another book by the author, and hoped she’d bring the same warmth and wit to crime fiction, and I wasn’t disappointed. The Art of Murder is a delightful blend of old-fashioned sleuthing and modern midlife. This beautifully written ‘cosy’ murder mystery is clever, fun and absorbing.

    The story switches perspective between the two main characters, both of whom I grew to really like. Phoebe is as introverted and clever as Juno is bouncy and impulsive. It’s refreshing to find middle-aged female characters who are this authentic and well developed from page one. Flawed and relatable, they are a joy to get to know, along with their ‘intern sidekick’ Mil, the rugby-loving pub landlord.

    The plot twists and turns so much I couldn’t second guess it, although I enjoyed trying, and when my top suspect went from the character that I disliked most to one I loved, it was a great moment. The setting is gorgeous too. Pretty Inkbury might be the archetypal English village, but nothing is quite as it seems.

    This is a satisfying and addictive whodunnit, with the perfect blend of laughs and clues. I look forward to the next instalment in The Village Detectives series. Highly recommended.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great mixture of mystery and fun
    Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Nice tight mystery with interesting characters and a satisfactory solution. Some characters are a bit over the top but still believable. Great fun!
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  • Debby Hannaway
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fiona Walker terms murder mystery writer
    Reviewed in Australia on December 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve always enjoyed Fiona Walker’s book, and her her foray into murder mystery is just as good as her previous books. I like the way she takes characters from precious books and weaves them into her new books. I find it really connects you to the chararacters.
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  • Sarah S
    4.0 out of 5 stars Funny Whodunnit!
    Reviewed in Australia on August 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book was so funny! I expected a cosy mystery with a couple of laughs from the cover and the blurb, but I got so much more bang for my buck than that!
    The characters were such... characters! Each could not be mistaken for each other. My favourite being the ever masculine, living corpse that was Mil! They each had their own tragic/full back stories and flaws and quirks but they complemented each other magnificently.
    I can see myself in parts of Juno and Phoebe, and their growth in the book was lovely to see.

    I found that Phoebe's back story was quite slow to come out and I found in most of the book I was thinking that she despised her cheating, money losing husband. That was not the case and I must have read those comments differently to intended. I also didn't quite understand the leap in their thinking when they first correctly identified the killer.

    The full backstory of Juno is yet to come out but I appreciate the effort and sheer research that must have gone into her song list and musical knowledge.

    All in all, a first read of Fiona Walker but it definitely won't be my last!
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  • Yvonne McD
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cozy, Witty Mystery
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    “Turning off her torch, she glanced anxiously around in case there were other people here and her side entrance was actually a dogging spot for Hogwarts fetishists, although that seemed unlikely in sub-zero temperatures at five-thirty in the morning.”

    Welcome to the quintessentially charming village of Inkbury, best known for a fleeting cameo in a Richard Curtis film—until a murder disrupts its peace. Enter Juno Mulligan, a former comedian whose life has taken a nosedive, now grappling with heartache and the unnerving suspicion that her mom's fiancé might be a serial spouse-killer. Teaming up with her old pal, scandal-ridden journalist-turned-author Phoebe Fredericks, they dive into the murky waters of village intrigue. But when a local art dealer turns up dead in the famed river, suspicions shift, secrets unravel, and the unlikely duo must untangle a mystery that intertwines their past and present. Amidst this picturesque chaos, solving crimes in midlife proves to be murderously entertaining.

    Walker as always, deftly blends humour and mystery, crafting a story that’s as cozy as a cup of tea with a sharp twist of lemon. Juno’s partnership with her old friend Phoebe Fredericks, a journalist-turned-novelist with a past, adds depth and wit to their amateur sleuthing.
    When the local art dealer ends up dead, the plot thickens faster than clotted cream, and Juno and Phoebe must unravel the secrets lurking beneath Inkbury’s postcard-perfect surface. "The Art of Murder" is a delightful page-turner that proves even in the sleepiest of villages, living one’s best midlife can be murderously entertaining. Walker’s sharp, engaging prose ensures readers are both captivated and chuckling till the very end.

    Fans of authors like Agatha Christie, M.C. Beaton, and Richard Osman will find much to love in Walker’s latest offering. The book will appeal to those who enjoy light-hearted mysteries with strong, relatable female protagonists and a touch of romance and wit. Whether you’re a seasoned mystery fanatic or new to the genre, "The Art of Murder" provides an entertaining escape into a world where solving crimes is just part of the daily routine in an otherwise idyllic village.
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