The storyline of the book is a solid one and the plot had lots of promise. Unfortunately the character development and interactions of the characters let the plot down. The characters do not interact or communicate with each other, rather they have rambling dialog at one another that doesn't always make coherent sense. I struggled to finish this book as it just didn't hold my attention as it rambled from one country to the next and back again. I often had to go back and reread sections as I felt I had missed an important clue or interaction to get the characters to the next point, but the logical steps were just not there. If you look at the individual characters such as Emily and Will, they were quite likable, but again the interaction between them was stilted and did not flow naturally.

The Secluded Village Murders
By: Shelly Frome
Boutique of Quality Books
Publication Date: September 01, 2018
2 Stars

Emily Ryder lives in Lydfield, Connecticut. There she runs her travel business which provides guided excursions to tourists to destinations in the UK including Lydfield’s sister village, Lydfield-in-the-Moor. Her mother is also in the tourist business and runs a Bed and Breakfast in Lydfield. Emily’s life is turned upside down when the Gordon Development Corporation comes to town with the intention of putting in an apartment and entertainment complex. Not only is Emily worried that the development will ruin the quaintness of the town, she is also worried about her mother’s bed and breakfast because it will be adjacent to the new development. A father-like figure to Emily, Chris Cooper, appears to be the only member of the Village Planning Commission openly opposed to this development. When Chris dies in a sudden accident, Emily immediately suspects that the development company had something to do with his death. Emily’s sleuthing take her across the pond and back in an attempt to sort through all the clues.

For me, Emily’s instant distrust of the Gordon Development Corporation’s deed seemed a little over the top for me. I can see why she would be wary of the company because it could have a direct impact on her mother’s livelihood. However, what was hard to believe, was how quickly she believed that they were willing to take out Chris Cooper to get him out of the way. Before anything even happens to him, Emily is rushing off to save him. It just felt like the action built too quickly.

Once the characters have a chance to realistically catch up with the action, the author builds a good story with interesting plot twists. The whodunit was a surprise, but looking back there were cleverly hidden clues throughout the story for the reader to catch.

The characters themselves fell a little flat for me. They seemed underdeveloped which made it hard to care for them and to understand their actions.

The ending of the book left it open for a follow up to this book. If the author improves on his characters, he may have a good series on his hand.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #TheSecludedVillageMurders

I just finished reading The Secluded Village Murders and I want to read it again! A well written "cozy" mystery with humor and murder, that odd combination fits this story like a glove. The writing style is similar to Rhys Bowen (which is VERY high praise!) and I do believe the Emily Ryder is my new favorite amateur detective.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I thought I’d love this book with the Midsomer Murders-esque title but I did not. The writing does not flow smoothly and the storyline is convoluted and confusing. I like the idea behind it though and perhaps future books by this author will be better.

This book was a disappointment. If you're looking for a few hours of escapism, without having to think too much, then the book's ok. At first, I found the basic plot to be intriguing, but ultimately, it was pretty predictable. The setting is good, with the twin locations, and all in all, the writing is good, and easy to read, although I did find that the author has a few pet words which became repetitive, and irritating ('slough' being the biggest culprit).

While the plot flows well, the characterisations are forced, stereotypical and some, such as Trevor, the English host, almost caricatured, but without the humour to go along with that. Not one of the lead characters acts in any remotely appropriate manner; they all totally lack any sort of interpersonal skills or empathy with each other. I get that for the story to happen, someone always has to do something stupid, but in this case, it all comes over as contrived.

This is just an okay cozy mystery involving an amateur sleuth. The plot seemed forced and the characters hard to believe. This could evolve into an interesting "travel" mystery series, however.