My Review: It’s no secret that I adore author Judy Leigh aka Elena Collins. Morwenna Mutton is a very special cosy crime character, she’s fun, sassy and loves to uncover crimes, murders in particular. We are reconnected with her ex Ruan, her mother Lamerna, daughter Tamsin and her very cheeky Granddaughter Elowen.
Seal Bay is still as endearing as ever, until something bad happens to Irina who was about to uncover a very dark secret.
The police try and discourage Morwenna’s sleuth antiques, but fail miserably. Jane, Rick and Blessed have their work cut out.
Pretty soon we are on the hunt for the Cream Tea Killer. Although lets be honest, imagining Morwenna dressed as a Prawn is hilarious, her and her bike take a humourful centre stage, as do her feelings for Barnaby and Ruan. There are fun song references, shots, people falling into water. It’s a light hearted and loveable read, easy to follow and then the pace really picks up 75% in, edge of your seat stuff as things start to become clearer. A recommended read.

When a friend, Irina, discovers nefarious goings-on in Seal Bay,
Morwenna Mutton can’t wait to learn more later that day.
However, for their meeting Irina doesn’t come or call
To what cruel fate did she befall?

Morwenna never expected Irina's body to discover
Washed up on the beach - was it an accident or something other?
Morwenna can’t resist looking to see what she can find
But if it was murder, will Irina's killer mind?

When a radio presented dubs the murderer The Cream Tea Killer
Will this prove to be another enthralling thriller?
Will Morwenna's family be safe if she continues to investigate?
Can she identify the killer before it is too late?

Another brilliant read that had me engrossed from the start
A murder mystery with community and love at its heart.
A fascinating read, with so many twists and turns, too,
I have no hesitation in highly recommending it to you!

For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

This is book 3 of the series, and Morwena and her family are trying to move on from the events in the last book, and she is thinking she was ghosted by her new doctor friend, and being ok with that, when he comes back to town, just when a new mystery arrives on her door step. Morwena isn't about to let her friend's death go undetected and is soon on the job, trying to find the clues the police are missing. A fun cozy, this one has a few red herrings as well, for an enjoyable quick read.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery with an older woman amateur sleuth. It is the third in a series but the first I have read. While there are some references to previous adventures, I feel it reads well on its own. The setting of a coastal fishing village is done well. Characters are developed well. I like amateur sleuth Morwenna, one of the Sunday morning swim group, braving the cold ocean water. And she thinks chamomile tea smells like cat pee. Her granddaughter, Elowen, is something else. Six going on fifteen, she says what she thinks, often to the dismay of adults in the room. The plot is good. There is a twist at the end, just when I thought everything had been settled. What fun.

This is a good cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Book 3 in the Morwenna Mutton Mysteries will not disappoint!

After the body of Morwenna's friend, Irina is found washed up on the beach she believes that something is amiss!

The residents of Seal Bay are not safe if there is a killer on the loose, so Morweena must try to find out who has done this before more people are hurt.

A witty and fun read, one that you will not want to put down until you uncover who is behind this and the reasons why!

I’m always on the lookout for new cosy crimes, and The Cream Tea Killer looked like fun, so I decided to give it a whirl.

It took me a little while to get into this book. It’s not the first in the series, so it just took a few chapters to get the hang of who everyone was, and how they related to one another. However, the story was most enjoyable once I had.

I liked the setting of Seal Bay, in Cornwall. It seemed like a lovely place, though like anywhere, it has its less salubrious areas. I also enjoyed getting to know Morwenna and her friends and family.

The plot was a good one. It seemed a little slow to start with, but soon got going, with small, mysterious events building up into more. It was fun to go along with Morwenna as she gradually figured out what’s going on, she’s much braver than I am!

Overall, this was a fun and interesting mystery. I think I’d have enjoyed it more if I’d read the previous books in the series, so maybe start with book one - Foul Play at Seal Bay.

When local DJ and investigative journalist Irina doesn;t turn up for a meeting with Morwenna to discuss her big story, it is first thought that that she decided to do something else. But when her body is washed up and discovered to a be a murder, Morwenna is on the case.
She is also trying to sort her personal feelings for her ex-husband and Barnaby, her possible new boyfriend.
This is a fun book that comes complete with a glossary of Cornish phrases used throughout the book. I really enjoyed it and will be looking at other books in this series.

Rounded up to 3.5 stars

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publishers Boldwood Books and author, Judy Leigh for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for January 04, 2025.

So, this is my first Judy Leigh read and I didn't have any preset expectations but chose this one purely because of the cute cover, title and blurb, and, well, because I'm a cozy mystery devotee.

The Cream Tea Killer is the third book in the Morwenna Mutton Mystery series and I've come in cold. The reader learns that Morwenna is regarded as the town's amateur sleuth, having helped police solve some previous mysteries.

Morwenna Mutton lives in Seal Bay, a small seaside town in Cornwall. Aged 63, sexagenarian Morwenna works as a part-time librarian and waitresses at her family's tearoom. Three generations of Mutton women work to make the Proper Ansom Tearoom a success – daughter (Tamsin), mother (Morwenna) and grandmother (Lamorna).

When Morwenna's good friend, Irina, who works as a journalist and local radio presenter, is found dead on the beach, her death is initially thought to be accidental drowning. Morwenna, though, is not so sure. For one thing, Irina was a strong swimmer – both she and Irina were members of SWANs (the Seal Bay Wild Aquatic Natation) – who met weekly as a group to ocean swim. When Morwenna learned that Irina had fresh water in her lungs, she was confident that her death was as a result of foul play.

For this reader, The Cream Tea Killer rated high for its characters. Brilliantly crafted and totally engaging. You will easily fall for all the Mutton women. Morwenna is hard working, empathetic and doggedly diligent in her efforts to find out what happened to her friend. Morwenna's six-year-old granddaughter, Elowen, is the granddaughter we'd all love to have! If I could, I'd give five stars to Elowen alone!

Morwenna looked at the child with affection. 'And being grown up is when you can make the thunder and lightning be quiet and you use your brain to think through the problem sensibly. The way of peace is best. The way of violence never works'.
'Never?'
'Never'.
'But I felt better when I thwacked him'.
'Did Billy feel better?'
'No – his nose bled a tiny bit and Miss Parker sent me outside to calm down, but I was calm because I hit him. Grandma? Does that mean I can't have a dog?'
'It might mean you're not quite ready for one yet.'…'But you can practice being calm and grown up on Brenda until you are ready'.
Elowen nodded furiously. 'I'll try the way of peace. I'll do my best.'

However, the mystery thread was this book's weak spot. In the story, the 'local newspaper' dubbed Irina's murderer "The Cream Tea Killer", in honour of Cornwall's famous delicacy – but this reader failed to see the connection. The plot for the murder was intriguing, however was not executed to its best advantage – the devil is in the details and this reader just couldn't join all the dots. The pacing was well done, but the action is a bit over the top and at times unbelievable.

But in true cozy mystery style, the reader will be drawn to the characters; the close-knit community of Seal Bay and the love and affection they have for each other. The author's use of fun, wit and humour did not go unnoticed and this reader would easily give this series another go just to spend more time with the people of Seal Bay and the Mutton family.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Publishers, Boldwood Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this third book in a series.

The story had plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.

Morwenna is going through some personal issues as well as hekp the police when another murder takes place, and this time it’s someone she knew very well.

I highly recommend this book.

This is the third book in the series and, as seems to be the case so often nowadays, I haven't managed to read the first two yet. Saying that it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book, it is a cozy mystery with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way to the end. There are also some domestic issues that Morwenna, the main character and amateur sleuth, is dealing with alongside her helping the police investigating a murder. A very enjoyable book and I will certainly have to read more of this author's books.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Morwenna is a busy lady. She's old enough to be retired but she's working at the library and her daughter's tea room. She regularly meets friends for wild swimming, babysits her granddaughter and helps her elderly mother. She even manages to fit in dating - but, her amateur detective work supersedes everything else. When her good friend, Irina, a journalist and local radio personality, is found dead on the beach the death is initially thought to be accidental drowning. Morwenna knows Irina was a strong swimmer and her sleuthing antennae alert her to foul play. Irina had told Morwenna that she was close to breaking a big story that would shock the town and that may be why Irina died. On the hunt for clues Morwenna discovers suspicious activity at a rundown campground. She knows she's close to the truth when she's thrown overboard while on boat birthday event and receives verbal warnings from two goons. The danger escalates when the goons break into her cottage and hold her mother hostage. This is an exciting cozy with tense moments involving not only crime but Morwenna's romantic life. Characters are strong and the plot comes to an exciting conclusion.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This was so good! I loved the little twists and turns! And the main character is really likeable. I’d definitely read more in this series ☺️
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This is book 3 in the Morwenna Mutton Mysteries. Morwenna, 63, part time librarian and waitress in her family's tearoom, is an amateur sleuth in Seal Bay, a small seaside town in Cornwall.

During a a Sea Shanty Festival, radio journalist Irina is found drowned even though she was a strong swimmer, and after she told Morwenna she was in the process of uncovering a huge scandal.

The tone of this book is lighthearted and humorous, with equal importance given to Morwenna's private life as to the murder mystery. There are four strong feisty generations of Mutton women, of whom I liked little Elowen the best. She just has a comeback for everything!

I had previously read Judy Leigh books but only the romance for the older gal ones. This has the same airy writing style and it's a joy to see an older woman getting to grips with murderers in her close knit community, while actually being respected and consulted by the local police force.

I read this as a standalone and had no trouble understanding the dynamics. Recommended if you like a cosy murder mystery with mature characters in a Cornish setting.

The Cream Tea Killer is a charming and engaging cozy mystery set in the picturesque town of Seal Bay, Cornwall. Judy Leigh delivers a delightful mix of suspense, humor, and warmth as librarian-turned-sleuth Morwenna Mutton investigates a suspicious death that shakes her tight-knit community. The setting is vividly described, adding a comforting backdrop to the intrigue, and Morwenna’s wit and determination make her a standout protagonist.

While the story is filled with twists and memorable characters, the abundance of subplots and secondary figures may feel slightly overwhelming at times. However, fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the lighthearted tone, clever clues, and the book’s quintessential charm. A perfect read for those who love mysteries paired with tea, community secrets, and a dash of Cornish flavor.

Morwenna Mutton is such a fabulous character! This is the third in the series but can easily be read as a standalone ( although I’d highly recommend the others!) Morwenna arranges to meet up with local DJ Irina who says she has information that she wants to share with the amateur sleuth. However Irina doesn’t turn up……..then her body is found washed up. Morwenna is determined to find out if this was an accident or did someone want her dead? Brilliant characters and I loved the interactions between them. This has a great storyline that keeps you guessing and is definitely cozy crime at its best. Very entertaining and with so many different topics covered this is a read I’d definitely recommend. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This was a great cozy mystery set In a beautiful costal seaside town in Cornwall. Morwenna is a retired lady who loves a mystery. When a dead woman is washed up she knows she has to help solve the mystery. It’s a quick read filled with a great storyline, really enjoyed reading about Morwenna. It’s a packed filled fun mystery. A 4 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Twist and turns and lots of coziness. I don’t know how she does it. She’s very smart and has a particular way about her.

Another wonderful book by Judy Leigh third in the Morwenna Mutton mystery series.Characters that come alive a mystery that kept me guessing.Really interesting enjoyable read. #netgalley #boldwoodbooks.

I've read several books by Judy Leigh but this is the first I've read in Morwenna Mutton Mystery series of which this is the third. I don't think it matters not having read the previous two, at least I didn't find it a problem, they are alluded too but not about what happens thereby tempting readers like myself to seek them out and read. A light enjoyable crime story with a touch of humour as Morwenna gets involved in events in her local coastal town Seal Bay in Cornwall. Lovely well depicted and strong female characters with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure. It may be a bit predictable in places but this doesn't detract from the enjoyment overall.

Author Judy Leigh takes us for an incredible ride with this latest Morwenna Mutton Mystery. There were so people who could have killed the victim and I wasn't able to figure out the mystery at all until nearly the end and even then I didn't get it all correct.

I also loved the continuing "will they or won't they" of Morwenna's relationship with her ex-husband Ruan and the fun and quirkyness of her mother and granddaughter.

I think this is my favourite in the series so far! I can't wait to see what she will get up to next time.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy and this is my honest review.