I didn't love The Bingo Hall Detectives when I finished it, but I thought that was because I went into it with incorrect expectations. However, despite my adjusted expectations, I didn't love The Village Hall Vendetta. The constant tethering between whether or not they should (Jason or Amita) look into the murder was annoying. That said, I was surprised at who the murderer was. It was an interesting direction to take the story in. I'm glad I gave both books a try, but if there's another book in the series, I don't think I'll be picking it up.

Another great novel in the Bingo Hall Detective series. I loved the hilarious and growly amiable relationship dynamic between mother-in-law and son-in-law duo Jason and Amita. In this novel, the two are back and on the case of the mysterious death of a local businessman after he bought a famous painting. Loved this truly cozy mystery. So much fun to figure out the "who dun it."

So excited to read more novels by Jonathan Whitelaw.

I must first thank NetGalley as well as the publisher for me eARC in exchange for my honest review.
A fun, cozy, english, who done it, built on the strong characters of the previous The Bingo Hall Detectives. Jonathan Whitelaw continues with the same humor and fun that could only be found when Jason and his mother in law Amita stumble through their sources to once again solve a crime linked to a multi million pound masterpiece.

There’s a fine art to penning cosy crime and Jonathan Whitelaw has it sussed. Village Hall Vendetta, his follow-up to Bingo Hall Detectives, is another fun chase around the Lake District.

Hal Mulberry has bought the masterpiece, Buttermere at Dawn, and plans to bring it back to the Lakes where it belongs. He’s going to turn Penrith Village Hall into a cultural mecca with the painting as the main attraction.

Journalist Jason Brazel is delighted to get the inside scoop, until things take a turn for the worse. So, he and his mother-in-law, Amita, are back on the hunt for some answers… and only the truth will do.

A pacy ping pong ball of a book, it bounces you back and forward, from one suspect to another, with a wealth of well-drawn characters. Can you guess who put Hal out of the picture, and why?!