‘A Body by the Henhouse’ by Kate Wells

Published by Boldwood Books Ltd
12 June 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-78513438-8 (PB)

Jude Gray is enjoying a day at the farmers’ auction. After the death of her husband Adam she had taken over Malvern Farm and made a success of it despite the odds staked against her. When her first batch of lambs sold Jude felt a glow of pride. Driving home she stopped and checked the honesty box at the entrance to her Farm. There were no eggs left but the money box was full. Climbing back into her lorry she was she was accosted by her neighbour, grumpy Mike Trout, a retired head-teacher who’d chosen to move to a cottage that backed onto her farmland and spent his life complaining about the smell of the farm, and the noise of the farm. 

To bring in a bit of much-needed income Jude had decided to turn one of the lower fields into a campsite. She was expecting that day a group of women on a hen party. Mike’s face is puce as he rants about being disturbed by crowd of loud women. 

The hen party duly arrives for their weekend away. Jude does her best to cater for the party celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgent care after an accidental mishap, she ends up consulting the hen party, which coincidentally contains four vets. 

Whilst Jude becomes aware that someone is targeting her farm, she also becomes aware that all is far from well amongst the hen party. Then one of the hen party goes missing, and it becomes clear there are more sinister forces at play. 

Jude calls in the help of her close friend, Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri. Can they between them uncover a web of deceit, affairs and rivalries, but will they find the perpetrator before someone is murdered. 

This is the third book in this series. I have already purchased the next two and cannot wait to see what happens next. Recommended.  
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Kate Wells grew up in Malvern on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border and still spends much of her time there. She began her adult life training as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and then moved to Reading where she took a teaching degree. Having spent time living and working on farms she developed a love of the rural life and often dreamt of running a sheep farm, especially when she married the son of a farmer. It wasn't to be though, so instead, she lives out her farming dreams through researching and writing her books.