Favorite Quotes:

Hayley’s sigh held all the tragedy of the world, and the weight of her chosen career path– a choice that she sounded like she might regret at this precise moment.

...not one to mince her words. Or swallow them. Or even think about them too much. She was one to let them run freely out of her mouth and into the world, unchecked.

Henny Penny was the Houdini of chickens, and perhaps the Einstein of chickens, too. She mysteriously managed to get out of the coop often...

The Guide Dog School dropout had been the terror of Berrywick and surrounds. Chasing geese, stealing ice creams and biscuits from small children, threatening to topple the elderly.

Chaplin tended to be entitled and supercilious, but Julia had never seen or heard him hiss at anyone. Was this some kind of sign? Was Chaplin some kind of savant cat who could detect evil the same way as those people who could find water with twigs?


My Review:

I adore this clever pair of authors known as Katie Gayle, they keep me guessing in a must amusing and entertaining manner with their wry wit. Their comical descriptions seem to jump off the page and effortlessly play across my gray matter like a movie reel. Their murder mysteries are well-honed, easy to follow, smartly paced, well-nuanced, and authentic. I hope they keep Julia Bird going into perpetuity as I will never tire of her meddling and quirky fellow villagers, despite their unusual propensity for bloody murder.

A Village Theatre Murder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ At the end of Berrywick’s amateur theatre’s latest production, a shot rings out amongst the rapturous applause. But when Julia Bird peeks through the curtain, she sees lead actor Graham is lying still on the stage, his co-actor Oscar looking down at his prop gun in shock. She knows that Graham has been murdered, but with nearly everyone in the village helping with the play, anyone could have tampered with the props. And why was a beloved family man the target?”

Another great addition to the Julia Bird series! I love the little town of Berrywick and want to visit and hang out with Julia and everyone. Such a good story and mystery in this addition to the series. I would recommend this series and this book. Can’t wait to see what happens to Julia next.

4.5 Stars
At the end of Berrywick’s amateur theatre’s latest production, a shot rings out amongst the rapturous applause. Lead actor Graham is lying still on the stage, his co-actor Oscar looking down at his prop gun in shock. Graham’s wife Jane collapses in a puddle of tears as Oscar is comforted and led away from the stage. Meanwhile, the aptly named director, Roger Grave, wants the show to go on. The play is up for a local award, and this might just be Roger’s big break. Then another member of the crew is found dead and Julia discovers there’s a dark secret at the heart of Berrywick’s local theatre society & she too is in danger.
The seventh outing for Julia & co & another well written cosy mystery. I love Julia & how she’s forged a new life after divorce & retirement, she is supported by a strong cast of secondary characters Tabitha her best friend, Sean her partner & Hayley the no nonsense detective inspector, not forgetting Jake the chocolate lab & Chaplin the aloof cat. There were plenty of twists turns & red herrings, there were also plenty of secrets which were gradually uncovered. Jono Sean’s son had been having a hard time & he returns home to live with his Dad, he has a way with dogs & even Jake obeys. An engrossing murder mystery which kept me guessing, roll on book eight
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

It was the night of the amateur theatre performance in Berrywick, and Julia Bird, along with her partner, Dr Sean O'Connell and a filled seated area of townsfolk, were all in attendance. When the final scene took place, the gunshot was loud; the curtains coming down saw Julia and Sean happy with the entertainment. But a call from the stage for a doctor, had Sean immediately make his way forward. The gunshot had been real - the player was dead.

With DI Hayley Gibson on the case, plus PC Walter Farmer, Julia kept her suppositions to herself - but not for long. Doing her usual sleuthing, Julia found some things out that Hayley hadn't known. But then a second person died, also connected to the theatre society. Who was killing cast members, and why?

A Village Theatre Murder is the 7th in the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle and once again it was lots of fun. I love Jake, Julia's mischievous chocolate labrador, and Leo, who is Sean's dog. Together they play and do doggy things, but when Jono, Sean's son, commands, the dogs obey. He has a gift. Another entertaining story in this cosy series which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

Once again Julia Bird is caught up in murder, this time at the am-dram society. We follow Julia as she traverses the whispers and clues towards the perpetrator. The characters are getting to be familiar and comforting as we proceed through the series. It is gentle and gentile even though it's about murder. The setting of the Cotswolds is evocative, very picturesque in representing the area and inhabitants. Another is a winner in the genre. A magnificent telling of the tale of murder and suspicion. Very enjoyable stories which are a pleasure to read. With thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley.

This is the first book I read in this series but it won’t be my last! I love cozy mystery that set in the villages with tons of characters and this one had exactly that! Here we have our MC Julia who is a retired police officer. Even though she is retired but seems she keeps finding herself surrounded by new mysteries of this village. This time it takes her to the amateur theatre group where one of the actor is killed and another actor seems to be blamed. It isn’t what it looks like, the victims wife is seen kissing the ‘ alleged ‘ perpetrator. Then another murder happens! This book was very enjoyable and I would love to read the backlogs of this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for proving me with this eARC. All the opinions are my honest opinions.

Katie Gayle’s A Village Theatre Murder is the seventh in the series of Julia Bird Mysteries. It has the usual cast of retired social worker, Julia Bird; her beau, Dr Sean O’Connor; her bestie, the village librarian, Tabitha; and several other villagers. As the title suggests, the village am-dram society is putting on a play and, as we are told in the publisher’s blurb, someone substitutes the blank in the gun for a real bullet.

As always, Julia picks up snippets about the cast’s relationships that she feels she must share urgently with Detective Inspector Hayley Gibson. A running theme throughout the series is Hayley telling Julia to stay out of the current investigation and Julia completely ignoring the instruction. I confess that my sympathies lie with Hayley but when the detective allows Mrs Bird to give her a lift to a suspect’s house – and then doesn’t prevent Julia from walking to the front door and co-finding a dead body, that sympathy diminishes!

I really enjoy the series, but I do find that I have to suspend disbelief in order to accept Julia’s ability to overhear conversations and to inveigle her way into police activity. This is a classic “cozy” mystery: a crime takes place in a close-knit village community where everyone knows everyone else and thus the murderer must surely be one of that community, creating suspicion and mistrust everywhere. The characters are suspected one by one, with reminders of normality and safety such as the tea shop and the library and meals with friends/family relieving the tension. Please don’t misunderstand me: this is an excellent cozy, if that’s what you seek – and I am always staggered how well the two South African authors who comprise Katie Gayle can nail the conversation and thoughts of a middle-aged English woman - but I did feel that aspects were more predictable (perhaps formulaic would be a better description) than I wanted this time round.

A Village Theatre Murder is an entertaining trip back to Berrywick in the South Cotswolds and time with Julia Bird, a retired social worker, and her friends. This is an interesting series with great characters in a lovely setting. Julia is prone to getting involved in murders and finding bodies. This time she is helping out with the local play production, working props with her friend and the play's writer, Tabitha. A tragic event happened on opening night when a fake gun goes off and kills one of the actors. Julia does her thing and tries to find answers. With lots of suspects, red herrings, another murder, and twists, this is. great addition to the Julia Bird Mysteries.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.

Our seventh visit to the small town of Berrywick as another of the local inhabitants meets an untimely end. A replica gun in an amateur dramatic performance is the weapon in this story. When the leading man is shot dead onstage D.I.Hayley Gibson is kept very busy investigating multiple suspects.

Julia Bird is busy too of course. Julia is a great character. She is retired but likes to be active and at the centre of village life. She is friendly and caring and dare I say nosy. I think that is a prerequisite for an amateur sleuth. I enjoy reading about her life with her cat, dog, chickens and close friend Dr.Sean O'Connor.

A very entertaining read and I hope there will be more of the same.

Julia Bird is back at it again. Playing detective, that is. But this time she even makes the suspect list. Who knew volunteering with a local theater group would pull her into the center of a murder investigation?

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

Julia has signed on to help with props for the Cotswold amateur theatre production. Opening night finds cast and crew excited and nervous. Those emotions quickly turn to shock when one of the actors is fatally shot with a supposedly, blank prop gun. Despite warnings from DI Gibson Julia finds herself once again putting together clues from overheard conversations and village rumors. When the plays director is found dead in his home several days later, Julia is the one who discovers his body. While there had been small disagreements among the cast , no one considered them to be grounds for murder. Julia broadens the search and discovers secrets that may have a bearing on the killings.
This is the seventh in the Julia Bird series and like it's predecessors. it's delightful. Realistic characters, village atmosphere, Julia's chickens and crazy dog, Jake, lighten the darker side . A treat for anyone who enjoys British cozies. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Another enjoyable book in this series. Great to see the dogs at the heart of the story too with the new addition to the village. Was kept guessing to the end of the story as to who the murderer was.

This is a great cosy murder mystery. Being a similar age to Julia, I felt a real connection with her. I loved the village setting, the high profile of the dogs,, and how the characters continue to develop as the series progresses. I haven’t read all the previous books but I think you get more from this book if you have read a couple of them, for the backstories. I’m looking forward to further investigations by Julia, and to catching up on the books I’ve missed.

Funny, poignant, endearing characters, a good spattering of relatable everyday truths, a few unexpected plot twists . . . everything a good book should be! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This series deserves all of the praise. I'm a huge cozy reader and this is one of the best. It can be a little nerve wracking to dip into the next book in a series you really love, in case it doesn't go as well as you hoped, but this author never let's me down!

4 Stars
One Liner: This was fun!

This seventh book in the series can work as a standalone. The official blurb reveals too much, so don’t read it beyond the first two paragraphs.
The mystery is decent and has quite a few suspects as more truths come out. This keeps the reader guessing, though if you are a fan of this genre, you’ll guess the killer after 50%. Still, there are a few surprising twists.
Things are steady between Julia and Dr. Sean even with the new development. In fact, I like the way Joan’s track progressed. Positive and hopeful.
As if Jake (the adorable bumbling chocolate Lab) and the hens with a bossy Henny Penny weren’t enough, Julia now has a cat named Chaplin. This cat is from the previous book. Though Chaplin doesn’t have much space, he establishes himself very well, in a way only cats can!
There’s a teeny development for Hayley too, though you’ll have to wait to know more. She is overworked as always, what with so many murders happening in the series, lol.
Despite the murder and stuff, the book has quite a few humorous moments. My favorite is the description of Hector’s audition; I really laughed at that one.
Nicky appears a few times since she’s a part of the theatre group but her cutie son Sebby doesn’t show up even once. I miss that kid and his interactions with Jake-y. Jake is his naughty self as always, though this might change a wee bit as he calms down. But where’s the fun in that?
To summarize, A Village Theatre Murder is an enjoyable and short mystery with a few laughs and some thoughtful themes. There will be another book, so I’m excited for it.
Thank you, Sarah Hardy, NetGalley, and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I really do love travelling back to Berrywick and into the world of Julia Bird and her friends. Okay, so it always ends up in a murder or two, but isn't that half of the fun. Less fun for Julia this time around admittedly, as she finds herself well and truly listed in the 'suspects' pool after the murder of one of the stars of Berrywick's amateur theatre production. Live. During the opening night performance. Talk a bout putting the dram in am-dram. The reason Julia is a suspect? Well she helped to assemble the props for the show, and was one of the last people to handle the murder weapon, although that information will be a source of some puzzlement to the police, as will be clear when you read the book. But who would want to murder one of the budding thesps, and why? Well, you'll have to read the book and find out for yourself, won't you?

One of the real draws for me in this series has to be Julia herself. A retired social worker, she has a real knack for reading people and situations and has found herself caught up in more than the occasional murder investigation. To be honest, for a sleepy village in the middle of the Shires, Berrywick seems like a terribly dangerous place to live. But it is entertaining too. I love the dynamic between Julia and her livewire dog, Jake who has calmed over the course of the series, but is very much a personality that adds something special to the books. Add in matriarchal chicken, Henny Penny and new resident cat, Chaplin, and you'd think she had her hands full enough without becoming Berrywick's number one amateur Detective. Julia is a brilliant character, kind hearted, determined and really at the heart of village life with connections everywhere. It's hardly surprising she is caught up in it all once again, much to the annoyance of her friend, Detective Inspector Hayley Gibson.

This is a really addictive story, combining the over the top performances of the Am-Dram society with the wonderful mystery I have come to expect from the authors. So many suspects, so many red herrings uncovered in the course of the investigation, that the killer remains wonderfully concealed until nearly the end of the book. Having been around amateur theatre a lot in my formative years, the politics of the production made me chuckle, as did some of the personalities that are portrayed on the pages. Definitely the kind of characters that are easily recognisable. And it is that special blend of humour and intrigue that really ensures the books hit the spot with me. Larger than life characters and that sense of everyone knowing everyone's business add that touch of country life authenticity to the books, whilst the murders have echoes of the dastardly deeds of a Midsomer Murders style investigation.

I tore through this book, loved every minute of it. It's complete and utter entertaining escapism and I look forward to each new book in the series. There is an enduring appeal to Julia Bird and her friends. Long may the series continue. Definitely recommended.

Cotswolds, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, small-town, dogs, retired, labrador-dog, situational-humor, mild-humor, murder-investigation, twisty, friends, friendship, amateur-sleuth, amateur-theatre, cozy-mystery, small-business, charity-shop, jurisdiction*****

Who put a live bullet in the prop gun AFTER it was checked by a policeman?
Julia Bird is a sixty-something retired social worker now living in a (mostly) friendly village in the Cotswolds. I always enjoy the stories in this series because of the engaging characters and the nicely bendy plots with just enough pleasant humor. Great addition.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Mar 11, 2025
#AVillageTheatreMurder by @katie_gayle01 #JuliaBirdMysteriesBk7 @bookouture #NetGalley @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #Cotswolds #whodunnit #cosycrime

I love this series of books and this instalment is not disappointing. The cosy vibe and colourful characters make this a joy to read. Working out ‘who done it’ also gives the grey cells a work out. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley

This is one of my top 3 favorite cozy series, and I'm always sad when each book ends. In this case, I'm extra sad due to the waste of human life. That scene where the killer is revealed...it's replayed in my head several times since finishing the book.

The characterizations are sharp, and the clues are clever, as always. I just really like Julia and her community. The subplot with Sean and his son in this book is really engaging, too. Generally, this title and the others in this series always feel like a story cut from whole cloth, a real village filled with real people. I hate putting down my Kindle at the end. Sigh...

I highly recommend this series!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.