Marty Wingate never fails to entertain. I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed reading this English small town mystery.

I am already a fan of Marty Wingate's books. Her latest Every Trick in the Rook, part of the Birds of a Feather Mystery series, makes me love her writing more. Julia works as the manager of a tourist center for a British estate. She is happy with her job and her boyfriend, Michael. Things begin to fall apart when her ex-husband is found dead on the estate. The mystery was interesting, but my favorite part of the book was the characters. Alfie the rook is the best character of all. This is a wonderful cozy mystery especially for bird and nature lovers.

I'd love to have a bird like Alfie to help with the chores, he certainly did a lot to solve the murder. But I did have to muddle through the British slang.

An entertaining cozy mystery.
A bit slow paced for my taste, but the author achieves to bring to life the scenery and the characters of this installment.

Every Trick in the Rook

by Marty Wingate

If you are looking for a fun, engaging read—a good mystery, but nothing to keep you awake at night, look no further than Every Trick in the Rook. The bottom line is that I had a good time with this book. The main character Julia is predictably at odds with law enforcement as she both finds herself in bad situations not of her own doing and also pursues investigations putting herself in harm’s way.

I especially enjoyed meeting the young Tennyson and her trained rook, Alphie, who plays an important part in solving the mystery. I kept wanting Julia to help Tennyson’s mother find a good job, but since it was hinted at a few times, perhaps it will happen in the next novel. Every Trick in the Rook is the third book in the Birds of a Feather Mystery Series, but I didn’t feel I had missed anything by jumping into the series with this book.

The overarching theme of Every Trick in the Rook is obviously birds, but you don’t have to be an ornithologist to enjoy it. It has the typical small town feel of a cozy mystery with the added interest of a special setting, a small village that is part of Lord Fotheringill’s estate. Julia (Jools) wears many hats as she manages the Tourist Information Center and promotes the village through public relations efforts to draw tourists to the village for hiking, birding, and special events. she is the daughter of a famous ornithologist, a former Cambridge professor, and is therefore well acquainted with “all things bird.” She has a busy, happy life until her ex-husband, Nick, shows up unexpectedly in the village after a five year absence—dead. And so the mystery begins…

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Alibi for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: Part of a series but works well as a standalone

Publication: March 7, 2017—Alibi

Memorable Lines:

Their leaves had only just begun to unfurl, turning the wood into a shimmer of fluorescent green that glowed in the last of the sun that peeked out from beneath the clouds.

For the first half of my journey back to Smeaton, I dutifully slowed down every time I saw a warning for a speed camera.

I marveled at how easy it was these days to throw up a website and toss out a load of lies.

Honestly, the rook sold the book in this new-era cozy by Marty Wingate. The timing was precise, the characters vibrant and alive, and the setting perfectly rural English life. The series has always been good, but for some reason this one struck me in the heart. Some loves are meant to last a lifetime, and others are not. You move on and hopefully find one that sticks.

What happens when a threat comes in the shape of an ex? Disturbing the fault lines of a new relationship still prone to nerves?

Like the kindergarten game telephone, a message gets rather garbled when it's passed from mouth to mouth. Things have finally settled down for Julia and Michael. However, receiving an email from her ex husband Nick agitates Julia, and finding out that Michael had received one as well was off-putting. What did he have to talk to them about? Why did he need to speak to both of them?

They were going to have to guess because Nick's body was found in the Summer House on the Fotheringill estate. Now Julia was going to have to solve two mysteries: what did Nick want, and who would ever kill him?

There's the usual kerfluffle about Julia poking her nose in police business, but there's also the paparazzi that show up, looking for a deliciously dirty scandal about a love triangle between Julia, Nick and Michael. Michael takes it on the chin and decamps to his old digs, hoping to lure the journalists away. Unfortunately this unsettles their relationship while adding the burden of filling in for Michael at her father's birding events.

Add in a delightful little girl with a pet rook that saves the day and you've got a mystery, a romance, and a sweet happily for now. Great series that I highly recommend!

When Julia's ex-husband is found dead on her boss's estate and her boyfriend Michael was said to be at the crime scene, Michael disappears. Julia has to help with her father's show and find a murderer. Really fun mystery series.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
I do like Marty Wingate. She has two series going that I enjoy each outing more and more. In this one, Julie's ex-husband lands in the village just long enough to be murdered and drop Julie, Michael and her family in the pot. After five years of no contact, he sent Julie and MIchael two emails asking to meet each one. That, and a witness who saw Michael near the crime scene around the appropriate time is enough to make him a person of interest. Being interviewed by police is bad enough but someone "sicked" the jackals on them.
Unscrupulous "journalists" stalk them until MIchael, in an attempt to divert them away from Julie and her family, moves out. Through the confluence of several things, Julie is left trying to do two jobs, hold it together and deal with the death of her ex.
Luckily, she has allies. Alfie, the rook of the title, is her primary assistant. No bird-brain he. He is very smart and capable and I hope that he and his human, Tennyson, become integral parts of the series.
As always, it is a tense and well written story. I confess I twigged to the culprit almost immediately but it did not spoil my pleasure in reading until my suspicions were confirmed. I really like the human characters especially Julie. She does not do stupid things that put her in harm's way. It takes more finesse to write a story where the heroine is in danger but not because she has done something colossally dumb. She understand the seriousness of the situation and tries to work with police.
I give this book a high flying five purrs and two paws up.

This is a great book; this is the third book in the Birds of a Feather Mystery series written by Marty Wingate. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This is just a wonderful series! You don't need to have read the first book to thoroughly enjoy this well written and entertaining novel. Tannie Maria is only one reason why this is so charming- Andrew gives you a terrific sense of place. The characters are well formed, the mystery just twisty enough, and the recipes delightful. This is the sort of novel that you can relax with and find yourself transported to South Africa. I loved reading about the Karoo. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. I'm really hoping that there are more of these books to come.

LOVED it! Every Trick in the Rook by author Marty Wingate (@martywingate) takes us back to the quaint English village of Smeaton-under-Lyme, and unfortunately for our heroine Julia Lanchester her ex-husband, Nick Hawkins, has been murdered on the Fotheringill estate whilst Julia and Michael are off on a weekend getaway. To add to Julia's distress, both Vesta and Willow are away, and she must manage the TIC all by herself, as well as helping her famous father with his television show, all while trying to discover the murderer. Oh, and did I mention Alfie, the very clever rook?!? :-)

Another wonderful installment in the Birds of a Feather mysteries, and if you haven't started this series yet, and are a fan of cozy mysteries, I highly recommend it.

Welcome to the latest chapter in the trials and tribulations of Julia Lanchester, otherwise known as the Birds of a Feather series.

I put it that way because Julia’s very amateur mystery solving keeps getting itself tied up in Julia’s romantic life as well as Julia’s relationship with her famous father, Rupert Lanchester. Rupert just happens to be a well-known ornithologist (read bird watcher) on the BBC, and producing his weekly TV program used to be Julia’s job.

Now it’s the job of her boyfriend, the much put-upon Michael Sedgwick. Or at least it’s Michael’s job when Julia’s past, Rupert’s present, and dead bodies don’t turn up and get themselves in everybody’s way.

Especially Julia’s. Especially because the dead body in this mystery is the body of her ex-husband. Not that there seems to have been much life in Nick Hawkins, or in their marriage, when they were together. A time that is now five years in Julia’s past, and not missed at all. And neither was Nick.

Julia just wishes he’d stayed out of her life, and on his extremely remote island birding sanctuary where he belonged, instead of turning up dead on the grounds of the local estate where she runs the Tourist Information Center. Even in death, Nick Hawkins manages to snuff all the joy out of Julia’s life. One last time.

Escape Rating B: My teaser/summary of the plot above feels just a bit sarcastic, and reflects some of my mixed feelings about the book.

I like Julia Lanchester as the heroine quite a bit. She seems both real and relatable, except for the way that dead bodies and mysteries keep inserting themselves into her life. But we wouldn’t be reading about her if they didn’t.

And her ex sounds like a complete piece of work. We are never sorry that he’s dead. And neither is Julia, which provides a great deal of angst in her story. His death brings up all of her negative feelings about him from their unhappy marriage, and she feels guilty for not feeling more grief. Mostly she’s angry, and mostly at herself. I’ll admit to being able to relate. Many of us probably have a couple of exes that we firmly believe the world won’t miss.

The behavior of the paparazzi is utterly hateful. Again, something that we all currently believe is all too possible. The gutter-press seems willing to insinuate anything and everything dirty, salacious and malicious in the hopes of getting a reaction. Their story will then be the reaction – none of them seem remotely interested in the truth. And doesn’t that feel all too familiar?

But what made this outing in the series less entertaining than particularly the first book, The Rhyme of the Magpie, has to do with Julia’s, as well as her boyfriend Michael’s, reaction to the ensuing mess.

Many long-running mystery series have either a romantic subplot, or a will they/won’t they romantic dilemma in them somewhere. Julia and Michael resolve their romantic quandary in the first book. But unlike the author’s other series, the Potting Shed mysteries, Julia and Michael have not (or at least not yet) become true partners in solving the murders that Julia trips over. Instead, the murder investigations in Empty Nest and now Every Trick in the Rook drive a wedge between them. Once seems plausible, twice starts to stretch coincidence.

I sincerely hope this doesn’t happen again in the fourth book, which is another way of saying that I also sincerely hope that there IS a fourth book. I still like the series.

And one of the reasons that I like the series is that the author usually does manage to fool me into not solving the mystery too soon. I got my inklings of the solution about the same time that Julia did, and the resolution kept me turning pages briskly, especially at the very end. And if that wasn’t enough, Tennyson, the rook of the title, absolutely steals the show – along with the shortbread!

If Julia hadn't already been well-known to the police I wouldn't have realized there had been other books in this series, the characters and setting are so well introduced. Told in the first person, you gather clues at the same speed as our heroine as you are introduced to a rich cast, both human and avian, in this deliciously satisfying tale. I had sussed out some of the answers (part of the game of spot the killer!) but by no means all. No, of course I'm not going to drop any hints; you'll want to figure this out on your own!

When I spotted this book in the Netgalley library I recognized the author as one whose work I'd enjoyed on another occasion ("The Bluebonnet Betrayal: A Potting Shed Mystery") which is from another series. I will be watching for other titles from Ms. Wingate!

Let's visit Smeaton-under-Lyme, a lovely English town
where Julia Lanchester the daughter of the famous birder,
Rupert Lanchester lives with her boyfriend, Michael
Sedgwick. Michael is Julia's father personal assistant.
Julia manages the town's Fotheringill estate tourist center
Julia and Michael are off on a holiday when they get a call
to return to the village. They both had gotten an email
from Nick Hawkins, Julia's ex-husband. Both ignored the
emails planning to attend to them upon their return. Their
vacation is interpreted, calling them back to town.
A dead body has surfaced on the grounds of the Fotheringill
estate.
The body is Nick Hawkins!!! He has been stabbed to
death!!!
The star of the book is rook, named Alfie. He was found as
a fledgling then raised by a young girl named Tennyson.
Alfie is essential in solving the murder!!
Great cast of characters with an array of suspects. All the
characters were well-developed, colorful, some quirky but
each bringing their own flavor to the mix.
Mix together birding, danger, intrigue, mystery, a well
plotted book with humor plus romance and this cozy
mystery gives you a captivating read.
This is book # 3 in A Bird of a Feather Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thank you to Alibis
via Net Gallery for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.

English village skulduggery!

Julia Lanchester, manager of the Tourist Information Centre in Smeaton-under-Lyme in Suffolk, is looking forward to spending some time away with her partner, Michael Sedgwick. Michael works for Julia’s father, Rupert Lanchester, the eminent ornithologist and presenter of BBC 2’s ‘A Bird in the Hand’ show. Michael has also just created the Rupert Lanchester Foundation, whose first grant is soon to be awarded.

Whilst away enjoying some free time with Michael, Julia and he receive a summons to meet with DI Tess Callow. The news that they receive is disturbing. Julia’s ex-husband, Nick Hawkins, who had submitted a project for the first Foundation grant, has been murdered on the Fothergill Estate.

The rest of the story gently trundles on with Julia poking her nose into places she would be better off avoiding. But this is the essence of the storyline – Julia playing the part of the amateur sleuth whilst going about her normal business at the TIC. We are also introduced to a young girl, Tennyson, who is accompanied by a tame and very intelligent rook called Alfie. Hence the title of the book.

If you like gentle storylines and a feel of the English countryside, then this book is for you. Personally, I found it all a little twee and idyllic, even with the murder and minor mayhem.

I also found it slightly irritating that a story about a typical postcard English village, even though written by an American author, would have American spellings such as ‘center’, ‘colored’ and ‘program’. Surely the script could have been run through an English (UK) spell checker.

However, as a calm crime story it does hold up reasonably well.

Sméagol

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

This is book #3 in the Birds of a Feather series. I haven't read the first two but plan to do so since I enjoyed this one so much.

The setting of the story was a small village in Britain that I'd love to visit. The author brings the village and its people to life. When Julia's ex-husband was found murdered, the press descended like vultures after Julia and her boyfriend, Michael.

My favorite characters in this book were a little girl, Tennyson, and her pet rook, Alfie! A bit quirky but lots of fun! I love birds and this was one smart bird who actually helped solve the mystery.

I would recommend any of Marty Wingate's cozy mysteries.

* I was provided an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. This review is voluntary.

I’ve read all of the books in this series and, while I think this book is perhaps a tad weaker than the others, I still found that I enjoyed catching up with Julia’s latest doings. As usual, she is always rushing headlong into situations and suffers the consequences (emotional and physical.)

I found it somewhat weak because I was able to figure out the whodunnit very early on in the book. It was due to the clues that were left a little heavy-handed. Otherwise, the story was engaging and progressed Julia’s relationship with Michael.

I especially enjoyed the antics of Alfie, the very talented rook (mentioned in the title.) If rooks are half so smart, they are pretty amazing. His human friend, Tennyson, a young girl new to the estate, is a charming and fun addition to the cast of characters in this series. I definitely hope to see more of girl and bird in future books.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

What's it All About, Alfie?

Marty Wingate is to be highly commended for the latest in her Birds of a Feather series, ‘Every Trick in the Rook’! I eagerly look forward to new novels in her cozy mystery series, especially this one, as I am a bit partial to birds. I always learn something fascinating in this author’s cozy mysteries.

A mother-daughter family recently moved to town, and the precocious Tennyson, the ten year old daughter visits Julia at the Tourist Information Center after school with Alfie. Alfie is a rook, a bird native to Europe and Asia. I enjoy looking up new-to-me birds in England, the setting for this novel. Alfie visits Julia when Tennyson is in school, is protective of Tennyson and now, Julia. This is intriguing; I didn’t know that any bird has the various abilities of the rook.

Julia works for the Earl of Fotheringill at the Tourist Information Center (TIC) on the Fotheringill Estate. She manages the Center, pamphlets, maps, and historic information that the many tourists look for, and oversees the event planning. Julia had worked as a production assistant for her father, Rupert Lanchester, a renowned ornithologist with a regular television program about birds and their habitat. Her replacement is Michael, with whom she is now in a relationship with. Or was, until the dead body of her ex-husband Nick is found in the summerhouse at the Estate, and Michael was seen going in the drive that led to the long-unused building. Michael and Julia had each received an email days ago from Nick, wanting to meet with them; Michael had never met Nick, and Julia had not been in contact with him for years.

Michael, the main suspect, is followed by news crews. He wanted to protect Julia, Linus and his estate, and Rupert and his business. He moved out of Julia’s Pipit cottage temporarily until the murderer is found and news people leave. Julia to cover Michael’s job, do her job at the TIC, and complete the arrangements for the upcoming Farmer’s Market on the Estate.

I like Julia and young Tennyson. They are goal-oriented with above-average intelligence. They are also fascinated by and very knowledgeable about birds. They have depth and dimension, as does Michael. All of the characters are as well-defined as their roles require; I enjoy Rupert and his new bride Beryl, Linus, Julia’s brother and sister, and the various hard-working people on or near the estate. Whether or not they have book learning, they have knowledge of many things, depth of character, and hard-won wisdom.

This has been an intriguing mystery, including twists that would keep a seasoned armchair sleuth on their toes, as well as a couple red herrings. Nick lived and worked on an island so private that he was often the resident. Julia couldn’t imagine why he was in England, much less murdered in an unused building where she worked; it was not a place visited when they were still married. Alfie plays a crucial role in this tale. Tennyson and her mother also have somewhat significant roles. I really like how the birding theme is used throughout; the author does have substantial knowledge of various birds and their habitats that I envy. Determining who the bad guy/ gal is was quite an adventure, was finding the motive. It is, however, well worth the journey! I highly recommend ‘Every Trick in the Rook’ to anyone who enjoys the lush setting ‘across the pond’, birds, and very well written cozy mysteries!

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

A Talented Rook Helps Solve a Murder

Julia Lancaster, manager of a tourist center in a charming English village, feels life is finally working out. She loves her job, and she’s looking forward to a weekend away with her boy friend, Michael, who has her old job as assistant to her ornithologist father, Rupert Lancaster.

The lovers make their getaway, turn off their phones, and have a blissful weekend. However, when they return the village is in an uproar. Julia’s ex-husband is found murdered on the estate, which is the main tourist attraction in the village. Michael was seen near the place where the body was discovered before they left for the weekend. Now the press is hounding Julia and Michael, sure that Michael is the murderer.

To protect Julia, Michael disappears, but that leaves her on her own to deal with the reporters. It also makes her feel that she has been abandoned and her love affair is over.

The best part of this book is the description of the village and the people who live there. My favorites were Tennyson, a budding ornithologist, and her rook, Alfie. Alfie’s clever antics keep the story moving and assist in uncovering the murderer.

I was disappointed in Julia’s character. She spends most of the book feeling abandoned although there is not a good reason. It seemed she could have tried a little harder to trust Michael.

The mystery is fair. Picking out the murderer was relatively easy. However, I enjoyed the sleuthing and getting to know more about the backstory of the characters, including Julia’s father. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with an English background, you’ll like this one.

I received this gook from Alibi for this review.

This is a strong entry in a very enjoyable series. Julia Lanchester is doing well -- she runs the tourist information center on a British estate and still dabbles at helping her famous ornithologist father with his TV schedule and many appearances. She and her boyfriend Michael run into trouble when the body of Julia's ex-husband is found on the estate where she lives and works. Julia's life is turned topsy-turvy between police investigation, tabloid journalists, and trying to do several full-time jobs at once. The fact that Michael was seen in the area where the body was found only adds to the tension.

Lovely characters and an interestingly unusual setting. I received an ARC via Net Galley in return for my honest review.