Setting the Scene: Retired and settled in the Cotswolds, Kate and Woody are shocked to find the body of a recently released felon, one that Woody arrested more than 20 years ago in his life with the Metropolitan Police. The body was hidden behind their garage, and the "extremely glamorous detective inspector" considers Woody her number one suspect.

What I Thought: This is a comfortable British mystery with intelligent mature characters set in the Cotswold countryside. I have not read the series before, and since this is the 6th book in the series, I am not invested in the characters as I normally would be by the 6th outing. Even so, I enjoyed the storyline with its share of quirky characters, plethora of suspects, and humorous moments. I recommend this book to lovers of British mystery, but suggest beginning with the first book and reading each in order.

One of my favourite series’ from a superb author so its fair to say I was expecting to love this book,and love it I did,Dee Macdonald knows exactly how to write about ‘older’ folk living their best lives and in this series it always involves solving a murder in the lovely village of Tinworthy in Cornwall…..Like meeting old friends now it was great to reacquaint with the characters and be back in village life,gossip,nosiness and find the local pubs/shops all reassuringly still there
In this book we have a dead body found in main characters Kate’s front garden,the repercussions of which start a whole chain of other killings,quite a lot for the village but nothing they haven’t dealt with before 😎
I could read this authors books day in,day out and can only recommend you try this book ( or indeed any of her wonderful books )

10/10
5 Stars

Community nurse Kate Palmer loves her home in Lower Tinworthy, its views, its character, and its welcoming atmosphere. Since buying Lavender Cottage with sister Angie, she has found herself investigating murders which have impacted on their new lives in Cornwall much to her amazement. Kate now lives with new husband, ex-Met dectective Woody Forrest, and life is near perfect, or at least it was until she found a dead body in her garden!

Once again Kate has to put her investigator's hat on as the police point their spotlight on her family and try to find the killer of the recently released prisoner, who was someone familiar to her husband from his past. Their lives have been put on hold and Kate realises it's up to her to help work out whodunnit but with her sister bewitched by a new arrival in the village and a work colleague's love life as complicated as ever it's going to be hard to find time to do everything she needs to.

Book six in this lovely series sees things move very close to home and I loved it. The newlyweds are great main protagonists and sister Angie, who I wasn't sure of to start with, is now one of my favourite characters and was on top form this time around. I did work somethings out but nowhere near all of it which is just as I like it. With hints at changes to come I'm looking forward to reading more Kate Palmer mysteries very soon.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed this book as I have the whole series so far and recommend it to cozy fans everywhere.

Nurse Kate Palmer is back and she is sleuthing like there is no tomorrow. 😊

Kate often stumbles upon dead bodies, but now it’s seems like they are delivered on her doorstep (well, her back garden to be more accurate but let’s not go nit picking 😉). It’s even more shocking when her husband, Woody, who is an ex police officer recognises the deceased. And it’s getting worse. It seems like they crossed swords in the past. Not everyone is as convinced that Woody is innocent except for Kate.

So Kate would not be Kate if she would not move heaven on earth in order to clear her husband’s and maybe her own name as soon as possible.

Woody, who is never a fan of his wife’s ‘hobby’ does not seem to have any problem with her diving into the case. It’s not as if he does not worry about her or does not think about her constantly, but he does not seem to mind as much now. Aren’t you happy now with a wife like Kate, Woody? You cannot really count on the police, can you. 😊

So Kate digs and Kate reveals, but the killer has no intention to go to jail any time soon. They have other plans. Will Kate be able to put a stop to that?

Sometimes people are dishonest, but they still can have their heart in the right place. Was it the right decision though? Maybe the culprit should not have come out scot free and than all this could have been avoided. On the other hand, us readers, would have missed out on this entertaining story.

As per usual, this is another great book in the cozy mystery genre and one I enjoyed very much. 5 stars

Thank you

Up The Garden Path…
The sixth in the Kate Palmer mystery series. Kate, and sister Angie, have relocated to a seemingly peaceful Cornish village. A departure from the hustle and bustle of London, Kate, a practice Nurse, is looking forward to a more sedate lifestyle. The last thing she expected was to become embroiled in murder and mayhem, dealing with dead bodies was most definitely not on her agenda. Naturally inquisitive, some would say interfering, Kate becomes determined to solve any crime she encounters especially of the murderous variety and much to the consternation of the perpetrators. This time, a body in her own garden leads Kate and Woody up the garden path. To her abject horror, the victim is known to Woody from his days in the Met and it’s not long before Woody is suspect number one and Kate is desperate to clear his name. When more bodies begin to pile, the situation becomes very precarious indeed. With a likeable protagonist in Kate, a colourful cast of supporting characters, and a delightful setting this is another enjoyable and entertaining read providing some gentle escapism.

A Body at Lavender Cottage is the 6th in the Kate Palmer Mysteries series. Kate Palmer is the main character married to Woody Forrest a retired detective inspector. They live in Lavender Cottage in Lower Tinworthy Cornwall.. Angie is Kate's sister who owns the Old Locker a bar and bistro with her boyfriend Fergal.

Barney the dog has been barking constantly and is at the door. She lets him out and goes to take down the laundry that has been on the line overnight. As she is taking the laundry down she notices that Woody's Metropolitan police necktie is missing. Barney is still barking behind the garage. Kate goes to see what the dog is barking about. Kate finds a man dead behind the garage with the tie around his neck. She goes and gets Woody who says that he knows the dead man named Frank Ford whom he arrested and sent to prison 25 years ago for killing his wife. He had written to Woody saying he was coming to Cornwall and would like to see him. They call Charlotte Martin a detective inspector at the Launceton police station. Why was he dead in their garden? Charlotte tells Woody that if it is Frank Ford it will not look good for him. Kate tells her about the letter sent to Woody. Woody believes that Frank did not kill his wife Pauline. Sid Kinsella, his father-in-law found her. Woody believes whomever killed Frank did it before putting the necktie around his neck to make it look like it was Woody. He is later summoned back to the police station for questioning and retained there over night.. The forensic report shows that Frank was not strangled by Woody's tie and was killed 10-12 hours before being put in their garden. He was released but told not to leave the village. Des Pardoe. owner of the bar The Gull told the police that both Kate and Woody were at his bar until 10;30, their alibi.

Kate goes to tell her sister about the morning event and finds a large cat named Maximus on the bar. He is Angie's new pet. She tells Angie that Woody is a suspect and that she will find out who killed Frank. Kate works as a nurse at Tinworthy Medical Centre Mavis Owen along with her husband runs Sunshine Caravan Park tells Kate that the Fords have three caravans parked there. The caravans consisted of Wayne and his father in one, Damian and his wife Jackie in the second one and Jason and his wife Megan and their father-in-law, Sid Kinsella in the third one. That morning Wayne Ford, Frank's oldest son, comes to the police station saying that his father is missing. They were at the park on their way to visit their sister Sharon Mason in Crackington. Kate goes to the park to deliver Mavis's prescription. When she leaves she finds Sid in her car. He seems confused but tells her he wants to go home and that Frank did not kill his daughter. Megan comes looking for him as he had disappeared from their caravan.

At lunchtime, Woody and Kate decide to go to see Des to thank him for going to the police. Steve, Des's new barman arrived at The Gull in July. He lives in his camper on Potter's Hill. Tells them that Charlotte had been there asking questions. While there Kate and Woody have a drink. Damian Ford approaches them and introduces himself and tells them he has no idea how his father got to their garden. He tells them that they are all suspects and have to stay at the park.

Kate decides to go visit Sharon. She tells Kate that Damion owes their father a lot of money for their house in Spain. Wayne didn't care about his father. Only interested in chasing women. Jason hated Frank for killing his mother. She didn't want anything to do with any of them.

When at The Old Locker Kate notices that her sister is all spruced up. Angie tells her that a man named Clint who is an actor is making a movie in Upper Tinworthy has been flirting with her. Kate asks Angie what about Fergal. Kate eventually meets Clint at the bar. and he is very handsome.

Sid is missing again. Kate helps looking for him. Kate and Woody decide to look at the cliffs behind their house. They take Barney who gets excited and they find Sid dead with his head smashed against the rock. Kate tells Chalotte about her meeting with the Ford's. That she could see only 3 going to Upper Tinsworthy. Where was the fourth person? Someone had killed Sid.

When at work Denise, the receptionist tells Kate and Sue, another nurse, that she has met someone. He is a writer named Lloyd Bannerman who is staying at the Wayfarer Guest House writing a book. Her description of him sounds like Clint.

Father Dominic Monagham, an elderly priest comes to their house and wants to speak to Woody about Frank. He met Frank at prison. He had come to see how Frank was doing but one of his sons told him about Frank's death. He got to know Frank when he decided to become a catholic. Frank confessed that he did not kill his wife as one of his children did. Frank mentioned that Woody was a good cop and he never forgot him. Frank did not tell him which son it was. Told him that if anything happened to him he was to come to see Woody. Ad he was leaving he mentioned that Frank was planning to get married and maybe he told her., Sharon unexpectedly arrives at their house and asks to see where her father was found..

Kate while walking Barney she runs into Damian sitting outside of The Gull. They talk and then after he leaves Steve comes out and warns her to not trust the Fords. Later she wishes she had questioned him further as Steve was hit by a hit and run coming out of The Gull and died. Fergal was sleeping in his car and said a white car silently backing up into the lot. Kate told him to go and tell Char;lotte. Charlotte comes to the house and tells Woody and Kate that Damian and Jacqueline Ford tried to run. The police upon going over Steve's camper they find bundles of money stashed there. How did he have so much on his salary.

At work Denise tells Kate and Woody that she has decided to give Lloyd Bannerman money so he can open his own publishing house. Both of them try to dissuade her as she doesn't know him very well. Kate also hears that her sister, Angie is planning to expand her building with the help of Clint. who wants to invest in her bar. She is going to give him $10,000.00.

Kate decides to go to London to speak to the priest and to find out the name of Frank's fiancé. She goes and finds out her name is Rose Gerard. She goes and speaks to her and finds out the son who killed his mother was Wayne. She goes home with the info and tells Charlotte about the info but Charlotte does not believe her.

Cate and Angie go out to The Tinners for a girls night out. .Denise is to be there with Lloyd. When she arrives she goes to introduce him to Kate. This is a great scene when Angie realizes that he is Clint. She and Denise get into a cat fight. As he departs Kate calls out his name. and yells that he is a con man. She tells both of them that they were lucky they didn't give him any money. The next day both of them go to the police and report him as a con artist. Wayne is picked up and put in jail. Kate goes and tells Sharon and later Damian about Wayne being the one who killed their mother.

This is where the story builds up into an exciting ending with Megan coming to see Kate and drugging her and taking her to the camp. When Kate awakes she overhears Megan talking to Wayne. She hears her say that there are new passports under the name of Davidson and they are flying to Costa Rica. While talking to Kate Megan admits that she was the one who killed Frank, Sid and Steve. He was blackmailing her. She admits that she and Wayne are in love, When Wayne arrives he and Megan lock Kate in the caravan and set it on fire. Kate desperately tries go get out,

Later Kate hears voices and finds out that she is in a hospital. Woody is there. He tells her that Des was outside the Gull and sees a white van. He notifies the police. Kate tells Woody about Megan and Wayne having passports with new name and flying to Costa Rico. They were caught at Heathrow. Airport.

Kate is happy to be home and swears to herself she will no longer be a Miss Marble.

It was a fun book to read and quite entertaining.. You get to know all the characters that make up the town along with all the new characters that are added. I plan to read the first five books. I look forward to the next book with Kate and Woody and their next adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Good book !! This book was definitely a mind game mystery.! It had suspense, intrigue, and a who done it! The storyline was very interesting and flowed nicely! I will definitely recommend reading this one! It was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Book six in the series.

Dee MacDonald returns to Tinworthy In A Body at Lavender Cottage, the sixth in the captivating Kate Palmer series. Now married, Kate and Woody are peacefully living in the cottage in Lower Tinworthy that she once shared with her sister Angie. The peace is shattered when Kate finds a body behind the garage, a dead man strangled with Woody’s necktie. DI Charlotte Martin, Kate’s nemesis, immediately suspects Woody and when he and Kate discover another body, a man related to the first victim, Kate knows she has to investigate to clear her husband. Her investigation leads her to an old case of Woody’s, a disreputable family, a delightful old priest and her sister’s newest fling. It also leads her to danger.

This series just gets better. The well described characters feel like friends, especially Kate, Woody and the gin tippling Angie. I want to visit all the Tinworthys, Lower, Middle and Upper. A Body at Lavender Cottage is very well written, with carefully plotting. I look forward to the next in this excellent series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Dee MacDonald for this ARC.

When Kate Palmer finds a body it turns out her husband’s rival is pushing up daisies in their garden. Kate knows her husband is no murderer, but a second murder that ties into Woody makes it clear someone is out to frame him for the murders. Now Kate has to hope she’s as good at digging up clues as she is her garden or her husband will be plowed under in no time!

I love British cozies and this series is a must read for all fans of them. This is the second book I have read by this author and the first four in this series are on my to be read list. Gosh, how I love being taken away to Cornwall for awhile as I read one of these books!

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy. Cozy mystery…intriguing characters who come alive on the pages. The man character is married, works part time yet finds time to solve murders. She gets into so much trouble. This is a quick fun read about small town living and murders…the author has written a cannot put down cozy mystery. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Enjoy…