A wonderful debut for the series -- great characters and an engaging plot. The end was a little rushed but I didn't mind. I look forward to the next one.

"The Body in the Back Garden" by Mark Waddell is a gripping mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Set in the picturesque Crescent Cove on Vancouver Island, the novel weaves a tale of family, acceptance, and the haunting secrets of a small community.

Luke Tremblay, an out-of-work investigative journalist, reluctantly returns to Crescent Cove after inheriting his aunt's estate. The story takes an intriguing turn when a stranger makes wild claims about Luke's late aunt, leading to a chilling discovery in the back garden. Waddell skillfully crafts a plot full of twists and turns, making it a true page-turner.

The characters in the novel are well-developed and add depth to the narrative. Luke Tremblay, in particular, is a compelling protagonist with a painful past that unfolds gradually throughout the story. The dynamics between the characters, especially with the handsome Mountie leading the investigation, add an extra layer of tension and mystery.

Waddell's writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of Crescent Cove and its colorful inhabitants. The author masterfully blends Luke's personal journey of self-discovery with the suspenseful investigation, creating a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and thrilling.

One of the strengths of this book is its ability to keep readers guessing until the very end. The secrets buried in Crescent Cove are cleverly revealed, and each revelation adds a new layer to the town's history. Waddell skillfully intertwines the investigation with Luke's personal struggles, making for a well-rounded and satisfying mystery novel.

"The Body in the Back Garden" is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense. Mark Waddell delivers a captivating story with well-crafted characters, an evocative setting, and a plot that will keep you hooked until the final page. It's a four-star read that combines the best elements of a gripping mystery with a heartfelt exploration of identity and belonging.

Until a few years ago, queer characters in cozy mysteries—outside of a few series—were often relegated to friends of the sleuth or over-the-top villain roles. Thankfully, authors like Mark Waddell are changing the landscape.

In The Body in the Back Garden, Waddell introduces us to Luke Tremblay, a recently single journalist, whose estranged aunt has passed and left him both her antique shop and cozy cottage. Luke, still stinging from painful family memories, can't wait to sell everything and move on. However, when a pushy stranger is found dead in his garden, Luke must stick around to both clear his name and reexamine his past. Pretty standard fare for a cozy, right?

And yet Waddell has a few refreshing twists that have nothing to do with the mystery itself. Luke's return to a community he practically grew up in is marred by complicated feelings for his aunt who cut him off after he came out as gay. Waddell understands the need to balance this with plenty of levity, and there are a ton of fun moments stemming primarily from a really charming cast of secondary characters, but there's also an underlying sense of hurt throughout a lot of Luke's investigation. His identity resulted in an unrollable friction that he carries with him and Waddell masterfully explores those complicated feelings and how they influence Luke's actions.

However, it is a cozy, and the usual hallmarks are still there. Everyone seems to have a secret, and I found myself constantly changing just how I thought the mystery would unravel. Luke's investigative skills often put him in overly dangerous situations, though his antics remain entertaining without ever going too over-the-top. And of course, there's even a potential love interest in the form of a mildly grumpy and utterly handsome Mountie who also shares a connection with Luke's past. Normally I'm not a fan of cozies where the sleuth works too closely with law enforcement, but Waddell finds the right (and very sweet) balance.

Ultimately, The Body in the Back Garden is a cozy with a ton of heart. It's the perfect start to a hopefully long series.

The Body in the Back Garden is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Mark Waddell. It follows Luke an investigative reporter who returns to Crescent Cove on Vancouver Island after his Aunt has been killed. He hasn't been back to her town since he was a teen and had difficulties with his family after coming out to them.
I loved the setting and being from Canada I could relate to many of the cities/things mentioned. I also found it refreshing to read a cozy starring a male lead. There was some great insight into issues faced by indigenous peoples and issues surrounding coming out and feeling accepted.
Some fun twists to keep the mystery exciting and even a bit of romance. I did expect the killer reveal, but not the motivation behind it. Overall, I am looking forward to what happens in book two.

The Body in the Back Garden is a nicely written cosy mystery with some interesting characters. The mystery in itself wasn't exactly ground breaking and one can actually deduce who the culprit was early on if one is really familiar with this genre.

The setting was charming and the way it was described was pretty vivid, colorful and detailed. Luke as a character took a bit of getting used to and his back story with Jack was quite interesting. The trope of childhood friends getting estranged was something I really liked.

The build up of the story was a bit slow, but eventually hit its stride. The climax though a bit predictable was worth the ride.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

The Body in the Back Garden
By Mark Waddell
Crooked Lane Books
September 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

Former investigative journalist Luke Tremblay plans to stay in Vancouver Island’s Crescent Cove only for as long as it takes to sell his late aunt’s cottage and antique shop. He hadn’t ever planned on returning to the place where he spent his summer vacations, as his beloved Aunt Marguerite had abruptly cut off contact with him at the same time he was disowned by his parents. The unexpected inheritance of her entire estate after her death by a hit-and-run accident has Luke back in Crescent Cove though, and things immediately go sideways when he is abruptly confronted by his aunt’s dissatisfied customer. An infuriated Joel Mackenzie demands entry into Marguerite’s property, asserting that she was still holding an item he bought. When Joel’s combative demands turn physical Luke is forced to push him down the stairs, something he later regrets when he finds Joel’s body facedown in his aunt’s ornamental pond.

Luke’s welcome back to Crescent Cove doesn’t improve when it turns out that the investigating Mountie is Sergeant Jack Munro, who still feels the resentment from being abandoned by Luke’s abrupt departure from the island years ago. So Munro’s warning to Luke to not leave town feels very personal, even though he was already the main suspect due to the fight with Joel being witnessed by a grocery delivery girl. Even if Luke wasn’t being forced to stay he would be determined to know who left Joel’s body on his aunt’s doorstep, especially when Luke learns that her death may also have been an act of murder. Clues to finding those responsible may lay within the Forget-Me-Not Antique shop, although Luke’s going to have minimal assistance from the jealous staffer Barnabus Delacruz. It doesn’t long for Luke’s investigative journalist instincts to kick him, resulting in a little light breaking-and-entering, impulsive trash stealing, and possible evidence tampering. It’s only with the very reluctant aid of Jack Munro that Luke may manage to keep himself out of prison – or worse - as it’s looking as though a killer is becoming ever more desperate to keep secrets hidden. Permanently.

This first in the series does an outstanding job at introducing readers to the very likable and relatable character of Luke Tremblay. While his coming out to his parents devastatingly resulted in their complete rejection of him from the family, the Luke we meet seems confident in his sexuality and his identity. What he’s less certain of is his readiness to enter into another relationship, something very much understandable considering that he was cheated upon by his last boyfriend. So it’s a little ironic that back in his tiny hometown he now has two suitors vying for his attention, although only one truly appeals to Luke. Readers will be charmed by the rom-com movie moment when Luke is forced to don a tuxedo to investigate suspects at a gala, with the results sparking attraction and igniting rivalries. There is a slow-building romance that promises so much more in the future, while the well-crafted mystery delivers with a genuinely surprising conclusion. Humor, engaging characters, and an appealing lead character should place this at the top of cozy readers’ to-be-read-next pile.

I have really enjoyed a lot of the cozy mystery books I have read in recent years. So I was looking forward to starting a new series. However, I was not at all impressed with this one. There are a few positive notes. For example, the author mentions the specific type of policemen in Canada. That was something of which I was not aware. Another point is the descriptions of Crescent Cove where the book actually takes place. They are well done.

I don’t think I’ll be reading any additional books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I received an advanced copy of The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell from the publisher Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Luke Tremblay has returned to Crescent Cove, a small hamlet on Vancouver Island that he spent some of the best times of his life until he became estranged from his family, when his aunt passes unexpectedly. All Luke wants is to get it cleaned up and move on from his troubled memories, but when someone is murdered in the garden, Luke is forced to stay in town. Things get worse when the local Mountie, someone who Luke has a past with, suspects that Luke is the culprit. Now, Luke has to clear his name.

What I Loved: This cozy was a lot of fun! Here are some things I loved about it. The location! This makes me want to go stay in a cottage on Vancouver Island and just take life easy. It reminded me of Maine so much which was nice (I’ve never been to Vancouver but also small coastal town is more my vibe). I loved that this was a queer cozy, I think a lot of time cozies are very heteronormative so I’m glad to read a different perspective! This book also handles real trauma very well. I also found the mystery not entirely obvious which made it fun!

What I Didn’t Like: I sometimes get annoyed by the investigating, but that’s cozy mystery life, sometimes I didn’t fully understand the motivation. The one thing it didn’t need was the love triangle, it felt quite awkward.

Who Should Read It: People who are looking for a cozy mystery in a picturesque setting.

Summary: After a body is found in his deceased aunt’s garden , a man is forced to find the killer.

I was unable to read the ARC because the font settings made it impossible to read in dark mode. I can’t read on bright settings.

An interesting new cozy mystery with a male main character is well thought out, wonderfully plotted and the characters are very well crafted. I must say that I quite enjoyed reading this mystery with a male lead for a change of pace. It was fun to get to know him and the other characters of the quaint town that he has arrived in to prepare his aunt's properties for sale after inheriting them. There is a unique depth to the characters as Luke and Jack reconnect and both share the bullying that they each experienced as children and later as they came out to their friends, families and townspeople of their respective homes. The author depicted the bigotry that people endure making the books feel more realistic without making it the central theme of the story. I am quite intrigued by the characters and look forward to seeing where the author and these characters take us in future books!

I was really looking forward to this book/new series; unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. Although most Cozies are similar in nature, there was nothing original about this for me. I was not a fan of the cast. I found Luke to be way too whinny for my taste. I did really like Jack though. I am not sure if I will continue on with the series.

I received a free ecopy from the publisher through Netgalley and an audio copy from Tantor Audio. I decided to listen to the audio version.

The Body in the Back Garden caught my eye when I first saw it on Netgalley. It's been interesting to see some queer cozies pop up recently and I wanted to give this one a try. The Body in the Back Garden was a solid start to this new cozy mystery series, but didn't fully hook me. It still very much reads like a typical first book in a cozie series and something was missing to fully pull me in.

This book follows Luke who returns to Crescent Cove to settle the affairs of his aunt who recently died, he wasn't been back here since his his high school years and he's planning to put the cottage and shop up for sale and get back to Toronto. Ofcourse things don't go according to plan when he gets involved in a murder mystery.

The set up was pretty typical and while it worked here, it also felt like it lacked that little bit of freshness or extra to pull me in. I thought the setting in Canada and the fact Luke was gay were interesting bits as I haven't read about either often in cozies, but besides that it just felt very typical. I am not a fan of the whole one foot out of the door vibe that Luke had as he wants to go back to Toronto, while it's obvious he's going to stay here. Therefore he didn't feel fully immersed in the town and at home there or connected to the people who live there.

I thought the mystery was a solid one, there was enough to keep my itnerest and I liked seeing how Luke helped with the instigation and even tagged along with the sergeant a few times. There were a few interesting twists and turns as well as a few red herrings. I wasn't quite sure who had done it, but I was thinking in the right direction and wasn't surprised when the murderer came to light. I liked how everything falls on it's place toward the end and makes sense.

Luke was an okay enough main character. I liked how he got involved in the mystery and stood his ground that he would stay involved and keep investigating instead of wavering. I didn't really feel his connection with the town people as much, except for Jack. Although his connection with the town and how he missed his aunt was clear. I hope he feels a bit more at home in the second book. There is a bit of a second romance set up with Jack the sergeant as they used to be friends as kids. And now grow closer again once they clear the air, which luckily didn't take as long as had feared.

The narrator worked well for this book, although I thought he did the male voices better than the female voices. There was enough variation, even though I didn't like the voices for some of the side characters, it was always easy to distinguish who was talking.

To summarize: This is a solid start to a new cozy mystery series. It didn't fully hook me in and had quite the typical first book cozy feel, but with a few unique touches like the gay main character and Canada setting. I didn't like how Luke was planning to go back to Toronto while it was obvious to me he would decide to stay here, this led to him feeling not quite at home in the town and connected to the people yet. I thought the mystery was well written and had enough twists, secrets and reveals to keep things interesting. I wasn't surprised at who the murderer was and everything fell nicely on it's place at the end. Luke was a decent main character, I liked how he stood his ground and was determined to keep investigating. There's a bit of romance with the sergeant as well and I liked how they knew each other as kids.

Another good quozy aka queer cozy mystery. Well plotted, entertaining and gripping.
The solid mystery kept me guessing and I liked the characters
Can't wait to read the next one
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Loved it! I love seeing a male character as the lead in a cozy. Luke was quirky but inquisitive & fun to follow as he rediscovered the town he loved, an old friend and tried to solves the murder. Can’t wait for this series to develop more!

I loved the setting of a small town in Canada, something I don’t see very often in cozies. However, the characters were just so-so. I didn’t really connect with any of them and I found that, for a journalist, Luke wasn’t very believable, particularly in his lackluster skills when it came to investigating. The romance wasn’t very believable, either, despite them having known each other in the past; it seemed forced and wasn’t really necessary for the story. I will read the next in the series and hope that some of these first-in-the-series kinks are worked out.

All the best things about a cozy are present in this debut- a charming setting, interesting and developed characters, and a solid plot. That this is a well done cozy with a queer main character and several other LGBTQIA+ characters is icing.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the beach setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

This cozy mystery was entertaining, although I was no fan of Luke. It is no easy feat being the main suspect in a murder you didn’t commit, especially on your second day in town. It had an engaging and intriguing storyline.

When Luke’s aunt, Marguerite, was killed in a hit-and-run accident, she left a thriving antique business and her cottage to him. Luke was surprised that he was her sole beneficiary because he hadn’t talked to her in over 20 years. Not wanting the business or cottage, Luke plans to visit Crescent Cove, settle his aunt’s estate, sell everything, and head back to Toronto. But that is easier said than done. Luke is assaulted at the cottage by a man who insists that his aunt is holding a box for him. The following day, that man is found dead in the back garden of the cottage. Luke is forced to stay in Crescent Cove while the Mounties investigate the death. But, when the antique shop is broken into and an employee is hurt, Luke decides to look into what is happening. Using his skills as an investigative journalist, Luke soon discovers that Crescent Cove has secrets, and someone doesn’t want their secrets uncovered. What secret is so life-altering that someone is willing to kill for it? And will Luke realize that Crescent Cove might be the perfect place for him to be?

The Body in the Back Garden was one of the last books I downloaded from Crooked Lane Books. I discovered that I needed to improve in the cozy mystery department and decided to download a few Read Now books on their NetGalley page. I got a variety of books, and I enjoyed reading most of them. The Body in the Back Garden was in the category of mysteries I enjoyed.

The Body in the Back Garden is the first book in a queer mystery series (the NetGalley and Goodreads pages didn’t state what the series name is). Because it is the first book, you can ignore what I usually write in this section.

The Body in the Back Garden was a medium to fast-paced book set in Crescent Cove on Vancouver Island. The pacing for this book did suit the storyline (the storyline took place within a week or so of Luke’s arrival). I did not have to go back and reread chapters, which was a massive plus for me (I don’t particularly appreciate doing that).

The main storyline centered around Luke and the murders. This book has a well-written storyline. The author focused on the murders and the investigation (Luke and the Mounties). Sometimes, it slipped, but the author quickly returned the focus to where it belonged (for example, the date with Kieran).

I wasn’t a big fan of Luke when he was first introduced in The Body in the Back Garden. He was rude and wasn’t particularly nice to people. I didn’t get it. But then the author started explaining things (and I wished he had done it earlier in the book). Luke caught his ex cheating on him with an intern at work and threw him out. Shortly after, he finds out that his aunt was killed in an accident, and he inherited everything. Luke also has trauma from his family throwing him out and disowning him when he came out to them as a teenager. Once all of that was shared, I understood why he was so defensive and prickly. Once all that was out in the open, I started to understand him better, and then I started to like Luke. By the end of the book, I loved him.

I also liked that Luke was an investigative journalist. He had contacts and knew how to help (or not help) in an investigation. I liked that he worked with the Mounties (sharing his knowledge) on the case. It was a refreshing read from the cozy mysteries I have read where the people bumble through the investigation and don’t share the information with the police.

The mystery angle of The Body in the Back Garden was terrific! There were three different mysteries in the book: the murder of Joel (the stranger), Marguerite’s accident, and (this was introduced much later in the book) the mystery of the box. I liked how the author connected everything. I also loved the twist at the end of the book. Not only was I not expecting the killer to be who it was, I didn’t expect that person to be involved with Marguerite’s death and the reason why that person did everything. It was a huge shock and left me shaking my head.

The romance angle in The Body in the Back Garden was very subtle but there. The chemistry between Jack and Luke was nonexistent at first (because Jack was salty about something that Luke had no control over as a teenager), but the author started to amp it up. They were sparking by the middle of the book (the scene at the Collingswood manor). I also liked that the author didn’t have sex scenes. But he did have Luke thirsting over Jack in his Mountie uniform (and that did give me a chuckle; who doesn’t like a man in uniform?)

The end of The Body in the Back Garden was your typical cozy mystery ending. I liked how Jack and Luke put two and two together about everything. I did feel bad for Luke when the killer was confessing everything. I also liked what Luke decided at the end of the book and what he said to Jack. It made me very excited to read book 2.

I would recommend The Body in the Back Garden to anyone over 16. There are no sex scenes, but some very mild kissing scenes. There is also violence and some mild language. There are trigger warnings, too. They would be cheating (off page and mentioned), bigotry (off page and explained to Luke about the town at one point), racism (off page and explained to Luke during the same talk with the bigotry in it), and homophobia (off page, Luke gets thrown out of his house as a teenager and his family cuts off contact with him).

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Mark Waddell for allowing me to read and review The Body in the Back Garden. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

There is so much that is unusual in this cozy mystery. The author is a male and he is making it a queer cozy mystery. I found it very delightful to have a new approach to this genre plus to place it in a small town on the beautiful Vancouver Island and many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book. and to give an honest review. Luke has returned to settle the estate of his aunt that he has not seen for years and he can’t get the house and antique shop sold quickly enough. Unfortunately a dead body has been found on the property-a person he had run off the person just hours before the discovery. Guess he isn’t leaving town as he had wished particularly when a certain Mountie wants to make him the main suspect.