The Marigold Cottages are nestled in a highly desirable area of Southern California. There are just a few occupied bungalows, owned and managed by elderly Mrs. B, who looks after each of her tenants in a motherly way.

When a tough-looking stranger is noticed sitting on a bench in their courtyard, Mrs. B befriends him and soon he is moving into a studio on the premises. Anthony is his name and he is an ex-con, just released from prison and trying to begin a new life.

Shortly after he arrives, a man is found murdered on the property and Anthony is promptly arrested. Mrs. B insists on his innocence and soon rallies the other residents to come to Anthony’s defense.

Full of lovable, eccentric characters, this mystery moves at a brisk pace and the residents all work together to solve the crime. The only drawback to the story was the somewhat confusing ending when they are putting forth theories of whodunit.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this to other readers and give my honest review.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery with quirky characters. The pacing was good and I liked how the characters' stories unfolded slowly throughout the book and the Marigold community grew closer and more supportive.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective
Author: Jo Nichols

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this read! I loved it and it was exactly what I needed for my mood right now. This is a hilarious murder mystery about a group of quirky tenants who band together to solve a crime. Each character is so unique and charming, which made the book feel really special. Their landlady truly cares for all of them, and when a new tenant is framed for murder, she takes the blame herself to protect him. Determined to clear her name, the rest of the tenants form their own little “murder collective” to get to the bottom of things. This was such a fun and cozy mystery, and what an amazing debut from Jo Nichols. Highly recommend picking it up if you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and clever.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

This was such a charming and clever cozy mystery—like a warm cup of tea spiked with just the right amount of danger. The residents of Marigold Cottages are a delightfully mismatched group of people, and watching them come together to solve a murder was half the fun. They’re quirky but not cartoonish, heartfelt without getting too sappy. It really struck the perfect balance.

Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective, which gave the story a fun, layered feel. I loved how distinct all the voices were—it was easy to keep everyone straight, and I found myself surprisingly invested in their little community. The mystery itself was well-plotted, with just enough red herrings and misdirection to keep me guessing. The final twist didn’t come out of left field, but it still felt satisfying and a little unexpected, which is exactly what I want in a cozy.

There were moments that made me laugh out loud, others that tugged on my heartstrings, and a few that genuinely had me flipping pages to see what happened next. I also listened to parts of the audiobook, and the narration was great—easy to follow and engaging, with just the right tone for the cozy genre.

All in all, this was a fun, feel-good murder mystery with a strong sense of community, a dash of humor, and just enough intrigue to keep things interesting. I’d happily return to Marigold Cottages for another round.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Marigold Cottages are adorable bungalows owned by Mrs. B. Anthony, an ex-con moves in and soon after, a body is found...but Mrs. B. is convinced that he is innocent and claims she committed the crime. Now, the tenants of the Marigold Cottages are on a mission to clear Mrs. B's name.

Overall, this was a cozy mystery, with a quirky group of characters. Even though it dealt with murder, nothing ever felt too dark or dangerous, which I appreciated as someone who doesn't typically read mysteries. There are a lot of characters, and at times it was difficult to keep track of them all. I loved seeing them bond as they worked together to solve the mystery. It was really endearing! The mystery component was interesting, but the ending felt abrupt.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the advance copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This is a cozy mystery of ragtag humans, all with their own personalities and families, coming together to protect one of their own. To me, this book felt most reminiscent of the Thursday Murder Club - except not all cranky seniors (I say this fondly as I love that series.) I appreciate the multiple POVs, as it feels like every chapter sheds a little more light onto who our character are, and how they grew up. An exciting new addition to the cozy mystery genre with a lovable cast!

I just finished writing a pithy review, and when I submitted it, Goodreads lost it! Harumph. I should have saved my review before hitting the post button! Live and learn!

In brief ---I did not love this book. There were too many tropes and a lot of cliches. The writing style of different characters being the 'star' of each chapter didn't flow well, in my opinion. I saw no humor in this book--about the only good part was that it took me a while to figure out what was happening.

This book speaks a little too strongly of political correctness; the author covers nearly all of the bases - the elderly yenta who owns the cottages, the divorced lesbian, a drunk/traumatized woman, a phobic, an ex-con, a bumbling detective, and more.


I don't think that I have ever rolled my eyes so much over any book I have read lately! Plenty of other reviews loved this book, so don't just go by me.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Minotaur Books, the author, and NetGalley

I adore this book. The characters, the murder mysteries, and the many subplots…the all work together to create a wonderful cozy mystery that is still worthy of being called literature. You should not miss out on this book and its cast of rotating main characters that all are just longing to belong and be loved, but you better not mess with any of their friends at the Marigold Cottages or you will regret it! Thank you so much for the advanced copy, NetGalley and Minotaur Books!

Cute cozy mystery. Enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and their quirks. Auepeised by the ending.

This book made me want to pick up and go move into the Marigold cottages - which is saying something given the book starts with a murder. A quick read told from the perspective of each of the quirky tenants as they uncover secrets and make connections. Love the friendships built and the sense of community. It took me just a few chapters to be fully captured but once I was, I didn’t want to put the book down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

When a diverse group of neighbors join together to save their eccentric landlady, they become a family with one goal. Save Mrs B. The group of characters is so well developed, you have a vivid picture of the "collective". Each of them brings a unique piece to the puzzle that forms around the neighborhood. A cozy mystery that I'd love to see become a series.

This book offers a fun read with delightfully eccentric characters, a well described setting and an interesting plot. It is a perfect book for a bit of escape.

I love the idea of renting out homes only to people that one likes and then REALLY standing by them, even including a (false) confession.

Watching this group of folks solve a case was very enjoyable.

I do hope that this novel is just the first in a series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.

A quirky, eclectic bunch of people who became a family give a look at how well a family that's not blood can love and support each in the worst moments of life.

This quirky and entertaining read follows a group of misfits who gradually form a close-knit family. Despite the numerous characters, the author does an excellent job of making it easy to keep track of who’s who. The chapters are named after the characters, which simplifies the reading process. Initially, I wasn’t a fan of the “play scenes,” but they gradually grew on me. The ending was priceless and provided a satisfying conclusion to the story.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

I just finished The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, and it was… okay. It’s a cute, cozy mystery with a charming vibe, but honestly, it felt way too long. I think the story could’ve been trimmed by about a hundred pages and it would’ve been much tighter. Still, it wasn’t a bad read — just a bit drawn out. Overall, I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols was a thoroughly enjoyable cozy murder mystery that features lovable neighbor's who live in small cottage community in Santa Barbara, California.
What a totally engaging and entertaining read.
I had a blast reading it, and laughed out loud at some of the witty and hilarious dialogue from these beloved characters.
This book starts at a quick pace and never lets us. It was so much fun to read and try to keep up with this quick witted group.
A charming, cozy mystery, overflowing with likable and relatable characters.
Absolutely loved it!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7850408428

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-marigold-cottages-murder-collective-jo-nichols/1146167649

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

In an strong bid for the best 'found family', THE MARIGOLD COTTAGES MURDER COLLECTIVE (or MCMC) was a delightful mix of quirky and lovable characters, a jaunty murder to solve, with just a dash of sentimentality to make this book a real winner in the cozy mystery category. I loved each and every member of the MCMC, and truly enjoyed reading the small ways this collection of random people came together to form a community. And Mrs. B? Truly an icon.

I think my favorite part (of which there were many) was the ending-- it was just enough to leave me wondering, but by no means dissatisfying (I'll let you figure out what I mean on your own!).

While my ARC was originally for the e-book version of the book, I did end up getting access to an audio version and loved the narrators. It also helped me keep track of the ever growing list of POVs and distinguish between each of them. I did see that some of this book is printed in the style of a stage play script, so keep that in mind if you don't enjoy books written in various styles.

All in all, if you're a lover of the found family trope, cozy mysteries, and diversity in your books-- look no further!

I had such a hard time at first getting into this story. But I am so glad I stuck with it. The book changes POV between the different residents of the Marigold cottages, each character perfectly flawed. Together they decide they need to solve the murder that occurred on their property, especially when one of their own is accused of committing the crime.

This was a delightful story of found family and what we would do for those we love. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a fun cozy mystery focused on a small group of people all living in cottages leased by Mrs. B. She is fiesty and definitely someone you want on your side if you're in a bind or in trouble of any kind.
We do follow multiple POV's, and it was fun getting to know everyone's from differnt points of view, and slowly uncovering the mystery of who the killer is.

Thank you SMP/Minotaur
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is a quirky, twisty cozy mystery that delighted me far more than I expected. Set in a community of eccentrics, misfits, and second-chancers, the novel brims with humor, heart, and just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. I loved the short chapters told through multiple POVs, which gave each character a voice and brought the whole cast closer to the reader. The banter, nosiness, and offbeat sleuthing antics of the “collective,” all held together by the formidable Mrs. B, made for an irresistible blend of charm and mischief. While the pacing lagged in spots and a few plot conveniences softened the tension, the overall mystery was layered enough to keep me guessing, and the conclusion was a satisfying surprise. Equal parts cozy and clever, this one is perfect for fans of Richard Osman or anyone who loves a detective club story reimagined with sass, warmth, and a dash of skullduggery.