Mrs. B rents out her rent controlled cottages to a collection of quirky characters, those of whom she has appointed herself their nosy grandmother. When a body shows up outside of one of the cottages and a resident arrested, Mrs. B takes it upon herself to be the savior of the day and admits to the crime. In order to keep grandma from facing jail time, the remaining residents must band together to solve the murder. Forming lasting bonds through community along the way.


I loved loved loved this book. Mrs B is the old lady we all aspire to be. The characters were all so different with unique quirks. I actually found the residents to be more interesting than the murder, which is rare for me when reading these kinds of books. The way that the author was able to use the fact that one of the residents was an aspiring play write to write part of the book in the format of a script was genius...especially when it came to the ending, but I won’t spoil. If I had to describe this book with one word, it would be fun! The characters and experience were all just fun. I would recommend this to anyone looking to have a good time.

I loved this so much! Perfect small town village murder mystery! Mrs. B and the tenants she rents her cottages too are mixed up in a murder investigation and must work together to find the murderer. A perfect blend of humor and mystery you won’t be able to get enough of these endearing characters!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

First, this takes place in California—for some reason, I was convinced it took place in England so I kept getting confused. Now on to the actual review. This was fun. I don’t always love a multi-POV (in any book but especially a mystery) as many authors retell the same events from different perspectives and it feels like the story takes forever to move forward. In this, there were a few moments that got rehashed, but it didn’t feel like filler or like it was slowing down the story. Additionally, the author managed to make every character’s voice unique and recognizable even without the note at the chapter beginnings listing whose turn it was to narrate.

I also really enjoyed the character development and the ways they learned to trust each other and work together. Looking forward to the author’s next mystery (and checking the backlist for others that sound fun)!

This book was a delight! Told from multiple perspectives, each character brought something special to the story. I love the way the author created a group that seemed to have little in common but grew into a loving community. 5 stars!

This was a campy, emotional, FUN time and I’m so happy to have read this book. Unsure if it’s going to be a series? But would LOVE that. It’s a cozy mystery at heart, with some deeply crafted characters that grab your heart from the first few chapters. It’s just a solid time, nothing too over the top or challenging, and sweet, not saccharine.

Overall, I thought this was a fun book with quirky characters and an interesting mystery. I liked how the chapters rotated through each of the characters, but ultimately I didn’t love the characters as much as I think I was supposed to.

Just wrapped up *The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective* by Jo Nichols and it was an absolute delight. Quirky characters, a charming setting, and just the right mix of mystery and humor. It felt like eavesdropping on a group of clever women solving a crime over tea—and I was here for it. Cozy mystery fans, this one’s a gem.

A handful of neighbors work together to try to prove their old lady landlord and the new ex con tenant are not guilty of the dead body discovered at marigold cottages. However, when one of their beloved tenants is attacked and can finally name the suspect, they come together to prove his guilt.

Review:
I really wanted to love this book! I was sold when I read cozy mystery, however I think “cozy” missed the mark.

I personally like to read to escape from our reality. This book served hidden bias throughout the investigation portion. While some readers don’t mind, it took away from the story for me.

The female characters all had personalities that stood out and made them unique. However, Hamilton and Vernon? Bore. I got them mixed up throughout the book.

There were multiple POV’s throughout the book. It didn’t take away from the plot for me, but I can see how some readers may not like this approach.

Oooh I love a good plot twist ending!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity and the ARC!

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective was an absolute delight! This charming cozy mystery had everything I love—quirky characters, a small-town setting, and a touch of intrigue that kept me turning the pages.

Told through multiple points of view, each chapter introduces a different neighbor, all uniquely odd and lovable in their own ways. I especially enjoyed slowly piecing together how each character was connected to the mysterious and unforgettable Mrs. B. The found family dynamic that emerged throughout the story added real heart to the mystery and made me care deeply about what happened to everyone involved.

It felt like the perfect mix of humor, suspense, and warmth—just the kind of book you want to curl up with on a quiet evening. If this turns into a series (and I hope it does), I’ll definitely be first in line for the next one.

Highly recommend for fans of cozy mysteries with character-driven storytelling and a generous dose of charm.

I love a good cozy mystery and this one had all the vibes plus a plot that keeps you guessing! I enjoyed the pacing and the short chapters from multiple points of view of the tenants at the Marigold Cottages. I loved the found family that Mrs. B and her tenants form plus the fact that I could never tell what was going to happen next. Based on the ending, I think there will be more in the series and I will definitely read it if that happens! Recommend to cozy mystery lovers and any one who enjoys a twisty plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early arc! All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! Jo Nichols created a funny and heartwarming cozy mystery with a quirky cast of characters (including one writing a play). Her vivid descriptions had me picturing the Marigold Cottages. I found myself wavering between wanting a little series about the MCMC or not. In the end it was clear it would be hard to recreate this into another story. It was the characters I was attached to and didn't want to leave when the book finished. I highly recommend for someone looking for a witty murder mystery with well-developed characters who definitely embody a found family. I had fun trying to put together my own theories as the book progressed and found the ending very satisfying.

Thank you to MacMillan/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective was a fun read, with quirky and intriguing characters and plenty of surprising twists. It used multiple viewpoints in interesting ways, including one first person VP that included Sophie's plans to write a play, with some stage directions included. It was set in Santa Barbara, my home town, and that pleased me, though I haven't lived there in almost fifty years.

This book made me anxious in good ways. It was hard to put down.

Each chapter is from a different character’s point of view and they were all quirky enough to make this interesting and fun. If it’s turning into a series, sign me up for the next installment.

Each chapter in this not-quite-a-cozy is told from a different character's point of view, and the story works. The characters were believable, and the landlady was delightfully eccentric. My favorite character ended up being Lily-Ann, which surprised me, because I didn't like her at the start.

I emailed a friend to grab this book when I was only 20% into it. If you liked the Thursday Murder Club or Louisiana Longshot, you should enjoy this one. If you need your cozy mysteries to be extra cozy (no thrills, no chills, no sex, drugs, or rock and roll), then maybe skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own.

I loved this book. It felt like a nice cozy mystery to me. I enjoyed the characters and the found family aspect of the book. I also enjoyed slowly finding out how each neighbor was connected to Mrs B. I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Cozy mysteries are quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. This one was one of the best I’ve read so far.

In Santa Barbara, everyone has a secret and will do anything to protect it from getting out. While protecting their own secrets, they also protect each other. When the owner of the marigold cottages turns up dead…the town will stop at nothing to solve the crime.

This one had a lot of humor in it, Easter eggs hidden throughout the story, and a full cast of unforgettable characters.

Is it possible this is turning into a series? If so, sign me up!

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely what I would consider a cozy mystery as opposed to it being suspenseful but it was well done. I thought the characters were great and liked the way the book was set up to tell the story from their different viewpoints. The way the end played out was perfect!

I love a good misfit murder story! Lol. But in all seriousness, this story was good. I love cozy mysteries and this one was exactly that and had all the cozy mystery points I love—a group of nosy people, community, curiosity, and nothing that jumps out at scares you reading in the middle of the night! This story was fun and I’d definitely read more by this author!

This was my first “cozy mystery” and I think I am obsessed now, this was everything. The vibes were off the chart, I will definitely be reading more by this author!