This is an easy read cosy mystery with a touch of gruesome goings on, to add to the sense of suspense!
The story is set on a farm, run by Jude who is recently widowed. Jude is a capable woman who enjoys her friendships, joining in with community groups and events.
Jude adds detective to her list of jobs when she finds a body, she is convinced that a murder has taken place. Working with her trusty dog Jude works her way through secrets as the suspects add up.
I enjoyed the feeling of comfort and farming community characters who blended into the story seamlessly.
Will the clues lead to the murderer being revealed, with Jude’s questions being answered?

Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Murder on the Farm is a cozy mystery and the start of a series! Kate Wells was a new to me author and I was very impressed! Excited to continue the storyline.

Young widow Jude Gray did not expect to be singlehandedly running Malvern Farm, the sheep farm she and husband Adam had established together. But she is working (with some hardworking help) to keep their legacy going, despite the obstacles. And now it’s lambing season, which means even longer hours, more work and extra stress. And that’s before she finds the body of Adam’s friend in one of their fields.

While the police seem to believe the death was suicide, Jude is motivated to find out what really happened…and that leads to more danger.

This is the first book in a new series, and the author is off to a good start. She has created a community with multi-faceted characters, an intriguing mystery with lots of twists and turns and set it in a lovely country setting that contrasts with the plotting of the villain nicely. The writing style is easy and casual and draws the reader into getting to know Jude, her sister, friends and acquaintances.

An excellent start to the series. It had me hooked and left me wanting to read the next book in the series.
I felt a lot of empathy for Jude as she struggled to run her farm and cope with the grief of losing her husband. Her story is quite poignant at times. But, throwing in a murder, a dog, and a murderer hiding in plain sight creates a dramatic and interesting cozy mystery.
I enjoyed this book immensely.

This book was very good! I loved the mystery and the characters! I would definitely recommend and I’m excited to read other titles by this author!

This was a bit disappointing. Reading the synopsis I thought I was going to love it, but it ended up being the totally opposite. I originally DNF'd pretty early on because I just couldn't get into it. After a bit of time passed, I still didn't feel drawn to finish but I wanted to get it off my TBR. The second time around was not any better. I just couldn't stay focused and honestly did fell connected to any of the characters to care what happened to them. It was just not for me. With that being said, I did find it to be well written, and the setting was great, it was just the overall story that didn't entice me. I would still consider trying this author again.
Thank you NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

Loved this cosy mystery! The farm setting is really lovely and comforting and contrasts well with the MURDERS. The characters are great and very relateable. Will look out for more by this author.

The only reason I said that I wouldn't use this book at school is because I work in a primary school!

I read this book for my own enjoyment and because I have enjoyed Kate's books for younger readers.

This is a good murder mystery story with believable characters and a well written plot. It has lots of twists and turns and is murderous but not too gory! As someone who grew up in the countryside it has the added appeal of the setting being a familiar one to me. It is a real page turner and I couldn't put it down for long!

A good crime book. Very readable and it kept me interested all the way through. A new author for me and one I'll be looking out for in the future. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A cozy murder book set on a farm. I liked the characters, thought the investigation was OK, though the plot was told from the farmers point of view rather than that of the detective. Set in Worcestershire, the descriptions of farming life and the countryside were spot on.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

I don't read many adult books but I was drawn to this book because I love murder mysteries, I really enjoyed the Yorkshire Farm series on TV and I know the author also writes for children.
Despite the subject matter, this instantly felt like it was going to be a cosy read because of the setting, which immediately set it apart from other murder mysteries. I was drawn into a compelling plot with characters I cared about and I couldn't work out the ending because it was so cleverly planned. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the working farm and the characters were relatable and well-rounded. Would definitely read more.

This is a fantastic book, full of twists and intrigue.

The setting is exceptional. Some thrillers are set somewhere interesting for the sake of a setting - but the farm is woven through this novel, and to a city-dweller at least, feels entirely true to life and realistic.

I was kept constantly guessing - and I read the book in a couple of sittings because I needed to know what had happened!

Jude is a sympathetic and complex lead character, and we see her evolve as the book goes on.

I would highly recommend this novel to all fans of crime, cosy or otherwise!

A cozy mystery that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. The perfect book for a rainy day in front of the fireplace.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc n exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this new mystery series from Kate Wells which is set in the picturesque Malvern Hills. It has all the ingredients of a cozy mystery: a range of characters with dark secrets, a high body count, lots of red herrings and a denouement which ties up all the loose ends. Jude Gray is busy in the lambing shed when the story begins but she is running late for her dear friend Ben's wedding. We discover quite quickly that she was recently widowed and is running the farm with support of the taciturn shepherd Noah. Jude's good friend Sarah reveals at the wedding that she is struggling with debt and doesn't know what to do. As the evening continues, Sarah becomes more drunk and eventually leaves with another old friend Charlie. The following morning Jude is out with her dog and discovers Sarah's body but Jude cannot believe that she took her own life and so begins her own investigation.

This is a well written traditional mystery in the style of a good Agatha Christie story. Wells provides a selection of possible suspects and there are also word puzzles and physical clues. I found myself solving the murder alongside Jude and although I worked out the who I wasn't clear on the why until the end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book. I'm looking forward to the next in the series

Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells is the story of Julie Gray who discovers a dead body on her farm. As she investigates, more bodies appear and the investigation becomes more dangerous and closer to home.

Setting a murder-mystery on a quaint English countryside farm felt refreshingly different but at times, forced.
The plot is well-crafted with sufficient clues to keep the reader intrigued and invested in the ‘puzzle’ of the mystery. The characters are mostly well-created and credible to give the whole story a high degree of credibility.
I enjoyed reading this book but there was an underlying feeling that the setting didin;t really match the crimes.

I only knew this author as the children's author Kate Piels so I was interested in reading this book. Pacy, with a good plot, it keeps you reading but i had worked out who the culprit was quite early on. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable read .

Jude Gray is running her late husband's farm
Doing her best to keep everything safe from harm.
His friends have proved support that's great
Now one of them is marrying - she mustn't be late!

Going to the wedding, catching up with folks she knew,
Having fun together is what she expected to do.
However, surprising revelations that she learns
Raise her worries and leave her with concerns.

Next morning on the farm, she's shocked to find
The body of a friend - she didn't think she'd suicide in mind!
She can't believe she killed herself, though it looks like it is true,
So Jude decides to investigate just what she was going through.

A helpful police officer supports Jude in her quest
As they work together to put theories to the test.
But who else should she trust with what she uncovers
As she seeks the killer's identity to discover.

A fascinating crime thriller with farm life insights,
Family drama, friendships and animal plights.
A story which shows you don't always know for sure
What friends are doing or having to endure.

This is the first in a new series, I'm happy to say,
I look forward to reading future additions some day.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

It was a very slow start to this book I actually read a few chapters and put it down again for a few days because it was such a slow start I didn't have that want to keep reading that I usually have with crime/thriller books.
It was a well-written book but I felt it lay a little flat, I kept reading but I had no want or need to know what was going to happen. Even in the bits where Jude was in jeopardy, I didn't feel worried if she would be fine, I had no sense of concern for her.
I did enjoy the puzzles throughout the story and the subplot of the stolen goods, I liked following that throughout the book. And I did like that the ending tied everything up nicely, we got everything explained and any loose threads were woven back in it felt like a good ending to what had happened.

What a delightful introduction to a new mystery series! With a picturesque setting and personable characters, this novel was a very enjoyable read.

Our protagonist, Jude Gray, is a young, childless widow who now runs her large sheep farm with the help of Noah, her shepherd, and her loyal dog, Pip – all the while missing her late husband dreadfully. When she met her husband Adam, he introduced her to his life-long friends and they accepted her into their warm fold. Now, one of Adam’s friends is getting married, so she sheds her farming clothes and goes to the wedding where she sits with Sarah, now one of her best friends. The morning after the wedding, Jude is shocked to discover Sarah’s dead body in one of her sheep fields… It looks like suicide and that is what the police believe happened. Jude however, believes that Sarah was murdered and she vows to discover exactly what happened.

Jude’s investigation leads her into danger, but she won’t desist until the truth is revealed and justice is served.

This novel portrayed a working sheep farm, in all its messy, arduous glory. Jude was a strong character that I am eager to follow in subsequent novels. In this book her sister and young nephew visited the farm adding some levity to the serious tone. Jude was loyal, empathetic and caring as was shown by her regard for Sarah’s Granny Margot, and by her rescue of a lamb she named ‘Pancake’.

Another favourite character was West Mercia policewoman DS Binita Khatri (Binnie), who risked her career to help Jude. I enjoyed the growing camaraderie between the two women and I hope Binnie returns in future novels as well.

The use of codes and word games within the plot was a winning factor in my opinion, as I am a huge fan of both.

The writing was compelling and made for an easy, enjoyable reading experience. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in this engaging mystery series.

What a fantastic start to a new cozy murder mystery series. Set on a working sheep farm a young widowed Jude is thrown head first into some murder mysteries. They all start when ger best friend is found dead and jude decides to investigate. Helped alonv the way by several strong women characters including a di and judes sister.
I love the style of writing each character arc and backstory was dripped in. The research done into the workings of a sheep farm made sure it was penned on reality. I loved the way jude interacts with everyone and stays true to her arc especially her dead hubby. I loved the way puzzles were made part of the mystery and how it all lead to a bigger reveal which was explained in such a way it did seem good. The nand of women solving the case rings throughtout ghjs nivel. Its a faurly quick read which hooks you in
I did care about tge main characters even noah.
Thank you netgallery and publisher for a fab 5 star arc look forward to book 2