Take a dash of Miss Marple's curiosity, add the self-assurance of a 77-year-old who doesn't mind swimming nude in the river near her house, and a brain that enjoys puzzles - and you have Judith Potts. When she finds her neighbor dead, she decides the police aren't taking the investigation seriously enough and begins her own sleuthing. She pulls in Suzie (the local dogwalker) and Becks (the vicar's wife) to help with her search for clues. Before long they are enlisting friends and acquaintances to give them details about the lives of their suspects, setting up appointments with the suspects at work to have the chance to ask them questions, and generally putting themselves in danger and driving the local detective sergeant to distraction.
There are impersonations, confrontations, a lot of gin being consumed (mostly by Judith), an adorable dog named Emma, and an overworked female DS who begins to suspect that the ladies may be onto the truth. The three sleuths are an odd mix of personalities and ages with Judith a fairly well off widower in a nice home, Suzie more of a free-spirit who stays busy with her dogwalking and dogsitting, and Becks determined to be the perfect housewife with a sparkling clean house and smartly turned out in her yoga outfit. But between them they know many of the residents in Marlow and can compare notes about what their questioning uncovers.
The story has the feel of a cozy mystery with its village setting, but the women seem more like Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club with its mix of members that each have a specialty that helps in the investigation. If you enjoy mysteries that include unlikely amateur detectives, female bonding, and small town settings, then you should pick this book up right away.
I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.
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