When a quirky group of cottage dwellers discover a body in the hedge surrounding their small neighborhood, they coalesce to protect a new resident from a murder charge to become a community. Each chapter of this book is written from the viewpoint of one of the residents of the Marigold Cottages and the police detective charged with finding the killer. I found this book a challenge to get into because with all of the varied residents and their differing viewpoints it felt disjointed and difficult to follow. It took me the first third of the book before I really felt that I knew who the characters were and could "hear their voices" as I read. I never truly identified with any of them, even now I cannot tell you who the main protagonist of the book is. This is a gathering of a group of weird people who truly only become functional as a group. Each person adds a strength the others need with owner Golda orchestrating them all. One of the characters, Sophie, is an aspiring play write. When the investigation begins, she is the self-assigned secretary of the Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, as the residents have christened themselves writes her entries (chapters) as notes. As the book progresses her chapters become more a quasi-scene in the play she is working on, based on the current events and people surrounding her life at home. It becomes more difficult to know what are really her notes versus what she is writing for her play.
On a positive note, once I actually got into the story, I had to keep reading, The plot is curiously complex filled with twists and red herrings. Every time I thought I knew who the killer was, I realized I was wrong. After resident Lily-Anne is attacked and a second body is found at the cottages, she realizes who her attacker is and orchestrates the gathering of evidence the group presents to the detective. Later, as Sophie presents her "play" to the collective, the reader is left wondering if the real murderer was actually locked up or not!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and honestly review this book.

3.5 stars

A fun, cozy murder mystery told in short, sharp chapters changing in viewpoint from an ensemble cast of characters. I really liked how the tenants become a found family as they all try to investigate the real culprit.

However, at times I felt that the pace dragged a bit, and some chapters just felt like they weren’t really pushing the action forward enough. Sophie’s chapters in first point of view compared to the rest being in third point of view made no sense and her romance sub-plot since they didn’t really have any chemistry. Also, it takes until over halfway before Mrs B decides to turn herself in to protect Anthony, so it felt slow waiting for that action to happen given the synopsis gave it away. Vernon’s point of view was also just one too many and didn’t serve the story.

That said, this was a charming escapist mystery featuring a group of misfits cum unlikely friends. I loved take charge Lily-Ann and artistic Ocean. The ending told in the style of a play script was also a brilliant twist. This would make a fabulous TV series.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I approached The Marigold Cottages Murder with high hopes, especially after its opening paragraph grabbed me with the kind of punch that would’ve made me snatch it off a bookstore shelf. Unfortunately, the promise of that first page didn’t hold up, and this debut left me disappointed and unlikely to revisit this author’s work.

Set in the picturesque Marigold Cottages in Santa Barbara, the story centers on a quirky group of tenants curated by their idealistic landlady, Mrs. B. The cast includes Sophie, a playwright with a shadowy past; Hamilton, an oversharing agoraphobe; Ocean, a queer sculptor raising two kids; Lily-Ann, a perfectionist; and Nicholas, a secretive finance bro. The idyllic community is disrupted when Anthony, a quiet but intimidating ex-con, moves in. When a body turns up in the neighborhood, Anthony is arrested, only for Mrs. B to confess to the crime herself, prompting the tenants to form “The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective” to clear her name.

I love a classic mystery with a tight plot, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes, but this novel fell short on all fronts. The premise had potential, but the execution leaned too heavily into silliness, undermining any sense of stakes or suspense. The characters felt like caricatures—lacking depth or believability—and their dialogue often came across as forced. The plot, while initially intriguing, unraveled into a contrived mess, weighed down by what felt like a heavy-handed sprinkling of contemporary social commentary. This “woke ideology,” as some might call it, felt shoehorned in, detracting from the story rather than enhancing it.

I’m a firm believer that timeless storytelling avoids overt references to specific cultural moments. A 2020 Facebook poll by another author revealed that 95% of readers prefer books to be an escape, not a reminder of real-world issues like the Covid pandemic. I share that sentiment, and the ideological undertones here made the book feel dated and preachy rather than entertaining. While the Santa Barbara setting was vividly described, it wasn’t enough to salvage the experience.

The Marigold Cottages Murder might appeal to readers who enjoy light, quirky mysteries with a modern social lens, but for those seeking a classic whodunit with substance, it misses the mark. I wanted to love it, but this one just wasn’t for me.

A charming, quick-witted mystery with heart.
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is a delightful cozy mystery that blends humor, heart, and just the right dash of suspense. The residents of Marigold Cottages are quirky, endearing, and surprisingly resourceful when a murder shakes up their serene little community. As secrets unravel and friendships deepen, the mystery unfolds with warmth and wit.

Jo Nichols has a knack for balancing character-driven charm with a satisfyingly twisty plot. The alternating points of view and unexpected clues kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s not just about whodunnit—it’s about the joy of solving it together.

Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club or Only Murders in the Building, this one left me hoping for a return visit to Marigold Cottages.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Whodunit Meets Heart in This Cozy California Caper

Jo Nichols’ The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is a warm, witty, and endearingly eccentric mystery that blends the intrigue of a classic whodunit with the emotional depth of a found-family dramedy. It’s an easy four-star read that will charm fans of Only Murders in the Building, The Thursday Murder Club, and anyone who’s ever longed to live in a cozy bungalow community where your neighbors help you bury both your secrets and your suspects.

At the heart of the novel is Mrs. B, the kind of landlady everyone wishes they had—nosy, nurturing, and unafraid to storm into a police station and confess to a murder she (probably) didn’t commit. Her motley crew of tenants includes an anxious playwright, a socially awkward finance bro, a queer sculptor mom, an agoraphobic gamer, and a perfectionist hiding behind her planner. Their peaceful Santa Barbara enclave is turned upside down when a new tenant—an ex-con with a mysterious past—is arrested for murder. That’s when the Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is born.

The novel’s greatest strengths lie in its ensemble cast. The shifting POVs offer a rich sense of interiority, with Nichols balancing humor, trauma, and redemption in equal measure. While Sophie’s first-person narration stands out as an odd stylistic choice compared to the third-person framing of the others, it mostly works—especially as her arc mirrors the story’s broader themes of confronting past wounds and rewriting your narrative.

The mystery itself is solid—not overly twisty but grounded in character motivations and emotional logic. There are a few predictable beats, but the pleasure here is less in solving the murder and more in watching the characters evolve, connect, and occasionally collide.

A few pacing issues crop up in the early chapters, and the tonal shifts between zany neighborhood antics and more serious emotional revelations might not be to everyone’s taste. But once the ensemble finds its rhythm, the pages fly.

Bottom Line: A delightful and big-hearted cozy mystery that’s as much about community as it is about crime. With its sun-soaked setting, lovable oddballs, and sharp observational humor, The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is an ideal summer escape—best enjoyed with your feet in the sand and your heart a little open.

Recommended for:
Fans of Only Murders in the Building, cozy mysteries with depth, character-driven stories, and tales of unlikely friendships.

Not recommended for:
Readers who prefer tightly plotted thrillers or minimal character backstory. This one leans hard into the charm and chaos of community.

What a great cozy mystery! Mrs. B owns a collection of cottages and rents them out to people who mean something to her. Mrs. B is rather eclectic herself, and surrounds herself with people who are unique, as well. The mystery begins with a body being found near one of the cottages early one morning. The police seem more concerned with closing the case than actually solving the crime, so the race is on for the residents of the Marigold Cottages to clear the name of the newest tenant. But maybe he did it?

I loved all the quirky characters in this book, and I whizzed through it in a couple of days. I did guess the killer fairly early, but there were still some surprises in store that I did not expect and solving it early did not affect my enjoyment of the story. Highly recommended if you dig loveable weirdos and whodunits.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Jo Nichols for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy Only Murders in the Building or Richard Osman’s books, you will thoroughly enjoy Jo Nichols’ The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective. The title definitely has the sound of a cozy mystery, but is more robust and amusing than most traditional cozy mysteries. The collective consists of Golda, aka Mrs. B, who owns the cottages, and her tenants, longtime off and on tenant Ocean, a lesbian artist and her two children Riley and Miles. The plus-sized workaholic Lily-Ann, who hasn’t figured out how to end things after four years and divorce her husband Piotr. The understandably neurotic Sophie, who was stalked while she was in college and is now drinking to cope. Hamilton, a video gamer and purveyor of random facts who refuses to leave his home, Nick, “the normal guy” who wants nothing to do with the rest of them but is keeping a mighty big secret. And last but not least, Anthony, a ex-con that Sophie dubs Serbian Thug #2, who becomes the lead suspect of bumbling detective Vernon when a man is murdered outside Sophie’s door shortly after he moves in to one of the cottages. Looking as he does, Anthony is a natural primary suspect for Vernon and he promptly arrests him to Mrs. B’s utter indignation. This prompts what started as a group chat to become a full fledged free Anthony and prove his innocence campaign that also includes Mrs. B confessing to the murder. Some of the characters have something to hide, some have personal obstacles they need to overcome, but they’re all enjoyable and somehow work perfectly together as a quirky and dynamic group that makes the reader wish for their own closely knit neighborhood community. The twists are interesting and satisfying and there’s no major violent scenes within the book. I feel like it’s kind of weird that Nichols tells Sophie’s POV from first person, whereas the rest are told in third person, but I love how she challenges the reader’s preconceptions about a character like Anthony. All I have to say is whales and flowers. This was a great lighthearted and easy read that provided an escape and multiple bouts of laughter. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. I love mysteries and when it is so well done I cannot recommend it enough. This will definitely be one of those times. The plot was well written and the characters felt so real!

I found there to be too much exposition at the beginning of the story, as well as it felt a bit slow. After the first 100 pages it definitely got better and I found it more enjoyable. While many of the characters were compelling, the narrative flipped between POV's too much. I think it would have been better if there was only two POV instead of how many there were. Otherwise, I found this story very entertaining and would recommend it to others.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Eccentric Golda Bakofsky, better known as Mrs. B, is the landlady for six Marigold Cottages that an eclectic group of tenants called home. Ocean and her children, Nicholas, Hamilton, Lily-Ann, Anthony . . . they were Mrs. B’s family.

But when one of her precious tenants is charged with murder, Mrs. B steps into save him . . . by confessing to the crime herself.

But who is responsible for the murder?

=========

Well-defined characters are one of the strengths in the telling of this cozy tale. Told from several points of view, the narrative gives readers insight into each of the characters. When they band together to solve the mystery of the murder and to save Mrs. B, the rag-tag group of misfits come together and create their own found family.

As everyone works together to save Mrs. B, there are several surprising plot twists that come to light as secrets are revealed and backstories are woven into the telling of the tale. They are emotional, vulnerable, loyal. And their story, which belongs on everyone’s must-read list, keeps readers turning the pages as fast as possible.

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries and tales of found families will find much to appreciate in this clever, unputdownable tale.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheMarigoldCottagesMurderCollective #NetGalley

Thank you netgalley for the gifted copy. In The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, Jo Nichols crafts a delightful cozy mystery set in the sun-soaked community of Marigold Cottages in Santa Barbara. The story follows a group of eclectic tenants who band together to clear their beloved landlady, Mrs. B, after she confesses to a crime she didn't commit. The ensemble cast, including an anxious playwright, an agoraphobic over-sharer, a single mom sculptor, a perfectionist, and a secretive finance bro, adds depth and charm to the narrative.

The novel's strength lies in its character development and the found-family dynamic that emerges among the tenants. Their quirks and interactions create a warm, engaging atmosphere that propels the story forward. The multi-POV storytelling provides insight into each character's perspective, enriching the reader's connection to the narrative.

While the mystery unfolds with intriguing twists and turns, the true heart of the story is the community's journey toward unity and understanding. Nichols' writing is both witty and heartfelt, making this a compelling read for fans of cozy mysteries and character-driven stories.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Many thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


This cozy mystery book was so cute. You will laugh and cry while reading this book. The author really makes sure that you are invested in the story and characters and giving each character a story line where you root for them, if you love Only Murders in The Building you will love this too. You can’t help but fall in love with the characters especially the more into the story you get. I also really enjoyed the plot twist. Mrs. B is an eccentric woman who fills the cottages around her with equally eccentric people that fell like family to her. That’s another reason why I loved this book so much is the found family aspect and how much Mrs. B is loved by the other members of the Marigold Cottages. Mrs. B is the one who forms the Marigold Cottage Murder Collective after the newest resident is arrested for murder and when Mrs. B confesses to the crime everyone decides to do whatever it takes to save their beloved Mrs. B while becoming good friends and other relationships evolve while they work to solve not just one murder but two

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set i na small neighbourhood of cottages in Santa Barbra with a group of diverse neighbours, who at the start of the story have no relationship with each other, however after a dead body is found on the property they slowly come together to solve the murder.

The setting of the small cottages give very small town cozy vibes, and the characters, all though all very different, form a found family while discovering each other’s secrets. Learning about these characters and their secrets and back stories was as intriguing as the mystery.

I would recommend this to cozy mystery fans and those who love stories of found families.

I love cozy mysteries and I wanted to love this book but I couldn’t get into the characters (except for Mrs. B). The POV kept changing and bounced around too much. The book just had to many characters and too many side stories. I had to dnf this book at Chapter 23 (24%).

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very cute misfits-become-family novel. Loved the fact that it's told in texts and other modern epistolary methods.

This was a great cozy mystery. It was really funny and made me laugh. The characters were amazing and I loved how they got closer to each other. A great read!

This book felt like sunshine and secrets bundled into one irresistible package. The way the story balanced humor with mystery and real emotional depth made it feel like a cozy hug with a bite. I love how it never rushes the reader but still manages to stay sharply paced. And while the murder mystery definitely kept me flipping pages, it was the characters, their eccentricities, their vulnerabilities, their loyalty that made me fall in love. The whole thing reads like a love letter to community, and resilience. Now, I want ten more books about these people immediately.

Gotta love a cozy Californian mystery!! It's a multi-POV book - where all but 1 is told by 3rd person. The one that was first person was a bit jarring, and of all the characters I kinda of wish she wasn't our narrator, though as a want to be playwright it does make sense.

Everyone should have a Mrs. B to look out for them, and I found myself really rooting for our rag-tag cast of characters. The mystery is as entertaining as the characters and kept me guessing for a bit. If Jo Nichols were to turn this into a series where we learn more about the residents of the Marigold Cottages, I'd happily check in on them to keep me entertained.

This quirky little book falls somewhere between a Miss Marple mystery and Only Murders in the Building. It took me a little bit to keep track of the characters, but once I did, I really took to them. They all have different excentricities, but they create a loving and protective community of misfits. The found family vibes are vibing for sure! I also found the plot line a little wonky. It bounces a little, and some of it just wasn't believable, but all in all, it had great humor and kept me entertained. Would definitely recommend this if you're into OMITB!
3.5/5⭐️