'An English Garden Murder’ by Katie Gayle.

Published by Bookouture,
28 April 2022.
ISBN: 978-1-80314067-4 (PB)

Julia Bird a retired social worker has moved from London to a village in the Cotswolds.  Now in her early 60’s, following an amicable split with her husband Peter, she is starting a completely new life. Her cottage is cosy but surveying her garden she feels things need to be done. The first job is to demolish the old shed and create a chicken coup. She has always wanted to keep chickens and now is her chance. She calls up the village handy man to pull down the shed. His young nephew is quick to get the job done and in no time at all he appears at the back door to announce that the shed is down, but there was a dead body under it.

DI Haley Gibson of the local police arrives, and an investigation gets underway. Forensics establish that the body, is that of a young girl and has most likely been there more than two decades, which is a relief to Julia, but also a sadness that such a young girl was murdered.

So, Julia sets out to uncover the reason this young person was killed. In a small village the news of a dead body being discovered is the main topic of conversation and in no time, Julia becomes acquainted with many of the villagers, not least because it seems that everyone eats in the ‘The Buttered Scone’ which Julia had been frequenting since she moved into the village.

Within a matter of days in the village, the first friend she made was with Jake, a chocolate Labrador who was being trained to be a guide dog, but failed dismally, and somehow Julia ended up with him.  Of course, taking him for regular walks was also a good way of learning who is who in the village. Apart from her longtime friend Tabitha who also lives in the village, she has made the acquaintance of a rather attractive doctor, the village gardener and sees on all her walks, a dotty 90-year-old, who she has yet to identify.

Soon, Julia is convinced she has discovered the killer’s identity, then a second body is found, and Julia has to do a rethink.  During her sleuthing times she has shared her thoughts with DI Hayley Gibson, who is not receptive to her, and asks her to leave it to the police, but Julia is on the trail…

This is an enjoyable read.  Full of interesting well-defined characters. It is also a good tantalising mystery, and the identity of the killer was a shock. One I had not suspected. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel.