Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Victoria Walters

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

3.5 *.

Third (and final?) in this series, but the first one I’ve read. Although the characters are quite well established, it does work as a stand-alone for the most part, so it wasn’t too much of an issue getting started.

The writing was easy to read, although I hope it got one more round of copy editing before release - there were a few instances of grammar mistakes (bought/brought, drunk/drank, etc) - and it just needed a little tidy up in that regard. Dialogue also included a lot of using people’s names, which ended up sounding unrealistic in places, and sometimes felt unnatural.

It also carried on an awful lot longer than I anticipated once the murderer(s) were discovered.

I guessed the murderer initially, and had my suspicions confirmed about the Big Baddie, too, but it was still an enjoyable read for the most part and kept me entertained for a couple of days. The organised crime aspect was a bit darker than a typical cosy read, but it was done well enough.

Nancy Hunter is on a mission to find her mother. She has heard that her mom Samantha Hunter was spotted in the village after leaving suddenly twenty years ago. But where is her mom now?
The arrival of a convicted criminal Sebastian Holmes leads to further mysteries. He seems to have information about Nancy's missing mom but is unable to share details.
When someone is murdered at the local church, Nancy, her grandma Jane and family friend Jonathan face unexpected dangers. And the mystery and danger only deepens.
I enjoyed the dynamics of the relationships between Nancy and Jane and Nancy and Jonathan. And the bookstore setting is a winner.
Even though this is book three in a series, it can stand alone. The author includes plenty of references to past storylines.
The writing is mostly showing but some telling in places. And the story ending is predictable rather than surprising. The story is cute and cozy, though.

This book is very cozy mysterious! It is intriguing, full of twists and turns, gripping, and so much more!

This is the first book I have read in this series. While I do think it works as a stand-alone, I think reading the other books first would help me understand the depth of some of the relationships throughout, and some of the backstories better. With that said, I so look forward to going back and reading the others, and then reading this one again!

The characters throughout this novel are all so clearly written, and feel like such real people that jump right off of the page.

(Possible Spoilers!)
I could truly envision the village of Dedley End from the first page to the last. When a murder occurs, Nancy, Jane, and Jonathan try to solve what happened and who is responsible. Nancy is also wanting to find out what happened to her mother many years ago. Are the mysteries connected? This book kept me guessing along the way, and some moments had me shocked. You will just need to read to find out what happens!

If you enjoy Cozy Mysteries, I recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hera for the ARC of this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love Nancy and Jane they are a great crime fighting team. They delve into the mystery of discovering where Nancy's mom. It was a fun and eventful mystery I am looking forward to the next adventures.
#MurderattheVillageChurch #NetGalley

Great conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable series! Engaging and entertaining throughout, this definitely kept me guessing and has a few surprises in store. Part of a series but could easily be read as a stand alone, all the ends are tied up neatly. Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley

Murder at the Village Church is the third Dedley End cozy mystery by Victoria Walters. Released 13th April 2023 by Canelo, it's 330 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is an enjoyable and fun British village cozy mystery set in the Cotswolds. The mystery (and romance subplot) are fairly obvious from early on, but it's well written and quirkily engaging. There are a number of whimsical/eccentric village characters, an appealing amateur sleuth, her best friend/romantic interest, and her grandmother.

This is definitely one for fans of light cozy mysteries. The settings, spelling, and vernacular are UK English, but it won't pose a problem for readers in the US. The language is squeaky clean and the violence isn't unnecessarily graphic. There's an odd twist at the very end of the book that seemed, frankly, tacked on, and some of the denouement and resolution will require a substantial suspension of disbelief, but overall it's appealing and well written.

Three and a half stars. The story is (mostly) self contained in this volume and it can be read as a standalone without any problems. It seems to possibly be the final installment in the series, and neither the author nor publisher have teased further volumes.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The third book in the Dedley End series and I enjoyed Murder at the Village Church just as much as I had the previous books. A fun, interesting read that’s fun and keeps you guessing.
Nancy is trying tp solve the mystery of her missing mother when we see the arrival of well-known criminal Sebastian Holmes. His appearance and a murder in the locked village church sees Nancy, Jane and Jonathan put their detective skills to use once more.
A story is filled with twists and turns that leaving you guessing right to the end.

I love this series for its cosy murder mystery theme, how easy they are to read and yet keep you completely hooked.

Victoria Walters' "Murder at the Village Church" is a delightful and gripping mystery novel that seamlessly blends an idyllic English village setting with a chilling murder case. Packed with secrets, suspense, and a cast of intriguing characters, this book will keep readers guessing until the final page.

Set in the picturesque village of Abbot Cove, the story unfolds around the unexpected murder of the town's beloved vicar, Reverend Thomas Harrison. As the tight-knit community reels from the shocking crime, it quickly becomes evident that everyone has something to hide. With an abundance of potential suspects and a motive lurking in every corner, the author expertly crafts a web of mystery that will challenge even the most astute armchair detective.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its vividly depicted characters. From the suspicious housekeeper to the secretive choir director and the enigmatic churchgoers, each individual is skillfully developed with their own unique quirks and hidden agendas. Walters excels at portraying the complex dynamics within the village, showcasing the tangled relationships and unresolved tensions that make each suspect all the more intriguing. The protagonist, Detective Inspector Evelyn Hart, is a relatable and determined investigator whose personal struggles add depth to her character, making her a compelling presence throughout the narrative.

Walters' writing style is accessible and engrossing, effortlessly drawing readers into the heart of Abbot Cove. The quaint village atmosphere is vividly described, creating a cozy backdrop against which the tension of the murder investigation unfolds. The pacing is well-calibrated, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged without overwhelming them. The author skillfully unravels the clues, skillfully planting red herrings and building suspense, ensuring that the true culprit remains a tantalizing mystery until the end.

While "Murder at the Village Church" is undeniably captivating, there are a few minor areas where it could have been further enhanced. Some readers may find the resolution slightly predictable, as elements of the denouement may be familiar to seasoned mystery enthusiasts. Additionally, a few secondary characters could have benefited from more development to add depth to their roles within the story. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise engrossing narrative.

In conclusion, Victoria Walters' "Murder at the Village Church" is a compelling murder mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its charming setting, well-drawn characters, and a plot brimming with suspense, this book offers an enjoyable and immersive reading experience. If you're looking for a cozy yet suspenseful whodunit that will keep you guessing until the final reveal, then this is the perfect book to add to your reading list.

Love being reunited with Nancy, her grandmother Jane and best friend Jonathon as they solve another mystery in their little small town. The small little bookshop setting as their central location just makes me happy!

If you love Cozy Mysteries, check out this sweet little series.

Ever since Nancy's mother disappeared when she was a child she has longed to find out why & what happened to her. Maybe that's why she & her grandmother, Jane, run a bookshop devoted to crime both fact & fiction. The pair of them have gained a reputation as sleuths, having solved some mysteries in the past. Although Nancy has never given up looking for her mother, the trail seems to have gone cold- until she finds a picture of her at an event. This quest is never far from her mind. When a renowned jewel robber buys a house in the village after being released from jail tongues wag. He seems charming though & appears to have some information as to the whereabouts of Nancy's mother. When a body is found inside a locked church Jane, Nancy & her friend Jonathan are once again on the hunt for a killer.

This is the third book in a trilogy. I haven't read the others but it didn't really matter. I enjoyed the setting & the characters. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Please ignore the star rating! I don’t give ratings to books that are a DNF as I feel that it is an unfair reflection of the book. However I can’t post my feedback without giving it a star rating, sorry :(.
Please continue reading to get an understanding of why it was a DNF for me personally.

Sadly this was a DNF for me as I wasn’t enjoying the writing style. I also didn’t realise this was part of a series and as I haven’t read any of the others I feel like it hampered my experience of reading this one as I didn’t know the backstories etc.

I love cosy mystery/murder mystery books so I will definitely give the first one in the series a go and if I enjoy it then maybe I’ll pick this one back up in the future.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this arc copy.

Murder at the Village Church by Victoria Walters in the third installment in her The Deadly End Mystery series.

This series relies on character development as well as the mystery. In each new book we find out new information about both main and side characters. There is also a set of recurring individuals who appear in every book and I think it is what separates this series from others of its genre.

In this volume Nancy finds out new things about her mother from most unexpected source and they reveal mind shattering facts that completely change everything she thought she knew so far.

I like these novels because they feature smart, sensible and easily relatable, down to earth people and situations.
I adore their bookstore and how heavily it features in each and very book,
They are steady paced, the language is easy to read and mysteries are always intriguing and endings satisfactorily compleated.

The third book in Victoria Walter’s Dedley End series Murder at the Village Church is just as good as the first two and had me hooked from the start.

Nancy is on a mission to solve the mystery of her missing mother after twenty years. But the arrival of known criminal Sebastian Holmes and a murder in the locked village church sees Nancy, her grandmother Jane and best friend Jonathan put their detective skills to use once more. As they dig further could they all be related, her mother, the murder in the church and Sebastian Holmes’ arrival in Dedley End.

As with the previous books in the series, this story is filled with twists and turns that leaving you guessing right to the end.

I love this series for its cosy murder mystery feels (think Midsummer Murder), how easy they are to read and yet keep you completely hooked.

This series has introduced me to genre of book that I wouldn’t typically read but have found I have enjoyed more and more.

I hope there’s more to come from Victoria.

Locked Room Mystery at its Finest!

Murder at the Village Church by Victoria Walters is an exceptional, and not to be missed, locked room mystery and third entry in the Dedley End Mysteries series. Typically, I do not read books out of order because there tend to be spoilers from previous entries and I don't want to spoil the series. So, reader beware, there are spoilers in this book that give away the outcome of some themes in the first two. Given this, I highly recommend that you buy all three books in the series and dive in…yes, the series is that good! The tension, the twists and turns were almost non-stop. I felt like every other chapter was divulging another part of the mystery that our dear amateur sleuths Nancy, Jonathan and Nancy's Aunt Jane were unprepared for. The imaginary murder board in my head couldn't keep up with the shifting suspicion and rich cast of characters, and red herrings…and I didn't mind one bit! In fact, there was one point when I decided to pull an all-nighter to finish the book because I couldn’t settle my mind enough to go to sleep. I kept thinking about the story and questioning how Nancy would get out of a particular situation, or if she would ever find her mother Susan Hunter. Would Sebastian Holmes reveal the real reason he was in Dedley End? And if he did, could he be trusted? This is a substantial story with real mystery teeth! Even if I had not been given an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in exchange for my honest review, I would encourage you to buy this book—actually, no I wouldn’t. I would encourage you to buy the whole series!

This is the third in a series with the same characters but can be read as a stand alone, I read the second in the series without reading the first.

Nancy and her grandmother Jane along with Nancy’s best friend Jonathan get to solve a new crime. They think they are in for a quiet time after solving the previous mysteries but a well know gangster fresh out of prison comes to live in the village and suddenly there is a death in the church, but who did it, how did they do it as the victim was alone in a locked church? Along with solving the mystery of the dead body Nancy is also searching for her mother who walked out on her as a child after someone tells her they have seen her recently. Will all the mysteries be solved and will family secrets finally be revealed?

A cozy mystery , Ok but I found the plot a bit too convoluted and unrealistic and the tendency for the characters to do everything together (and tell each other everything) a bit irritating. I had not read the other books in this trilogy so found myself wondering who these people were in the first chapters of the book . The action picked up in the last couple of chapters.
Fine if you like this genre, not really the book for me . Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

It's always a pleasure to catch with Nancy and grandmother, travel to Dedley End, and relax while reading these well plotted and solid mysteries.
There's a lot going on in this book and I think it's the best in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A fun cozy with good characters. Nancy and Jane, grandmother and granddaughter, have a great connection and work well with Nancy's friend, Jonathan to solve mysteries. This one hits particularly close to home because it involves the disappearance of Nancy's mother from two decades before. Cozies don't usually involve organized crime but this one pulls it off with lots of action while staying true to the cozy feel and has a heart-warming ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Enjoyable cosy crime, with a warm and friendly detective trio.

If this is the last of the Deadly Village stories, then it ends tied up neatly.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this story in exchange for my review.