3.5⭐️ This was an OK cozy. I didn’t know who the villain was until the end, but the story was kind of blah. The talking animals don’t really fit in the story but have the potential to make the series more entertaining if better integrated. I will definitely continue with the series for now. The narrator was wonderful. Their voice was fitting for the characters.

This was a fun cosy mystery. While I wasn't expecting the main character to be able to carry on a conversation with any animal she met and at first it did seem strangers it soon became just one of the many high lights of the book and some how it worked. The author nailed the personalities of both the two main animals, being both a cat and dog owner I can imagine that is exactly what they are thinking and I had a few chuckles over there antics. The number of literature references, especially to detectives was entertaining, as was the mystery itself. There was a number of suspects and like Leta I was on to the wrong one. I liked the characters and although I did think we were introduced to too many all at once and it became confusing keeping them straight, I soon got a handle on who everybody was. It's a very English murder mystery just like the cats name sake Agatha Christie would have written and I can't wait for the next book.
After the death of her husband Leta Parker picks up her car and dog and moved them to England for a simple, quite life one with out any sad memories. Well as quite a life as one can get when you can talk to and understand your four legged companions. Instead she stumbles over the dead body of her cleaner. It quickly becomes apparent that non of her clients knew her as well as they thought and it's up to the three who knew her best, Leta, Wendy, a retired English teacher and Wendy’s elderly mother to get to the bottom of her murder. The more they discover the closer they come to danger. Will they uncover the motive for murder like there fictional hero's or will a killer get away with more than taking a life?
I did like the narrator as she had a pleasant sounding voice, however I did find the more characters we were introduced to the more they sounded a like and it wasn't always to tell them apart.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Bells, Tails & Murder is the first book in the Dickens & Christie series by Kathy Manos Penn, and what a treat this book is!

Have you ever thought about talking to your pets? What about them responding? Well the main character Leta can do just that à la Dr. Doolittle style.

The quirky characters of both Dickens (pupper) and Christie (cat) give more to the story as Leta isn’t just solving the crime on her own but bouncing ideas back and forth with the pets. They also help by finding clues!

Although this book does deal with some heavy topics such as loss of a spouse, a friend, and an attempted murder it does have its simple day to day life events that help bring the group together.

Also wish the Greek salad recipe was included because that sounded delicious!

I love a cozy mystery, so I requested this one without digging too deeply into what it was about, and I was thrown for a loop when I realized that our main character, Leta, could communicate with animals. At first I worried it would be too cheesy, but I ended up loving it. I thought the conversations with the animals was cute and that Leta's new life in England was fascinating - I enjoyed seeing her form new friendships and uncover secrets. It was a really fun book, and for those who like a little bit of fun with their cozy mysteries, I think it's a great pick!

'Bells, Tails and Murder' is the first book in the 'A Dickens and Christie Mystery' series. The book is about a widow who moves to England with her dog, Dickens, and her cat, Christie, but, after a murder in her new community, ends up investigating the crime.

The book has some cute characters, and it was interesting that the main character could hear the animals around her, as we could all experience the sassiness of her two pets! Also, the small community created the perfect background for the story, which included an intriguing mystery. In addition, the nods to famous authors and book characters were interesting and whimsical.

Moreover, the mystery was fast paced and had an unpredictable ending, though, some times, it was a bit too fast paced.

Finally, the narration and production of the audiobook were all great.

This is definitely one of the best murder mysteries that I have read! I can not wait to read the others in the series. It seriously exceeded the expectations I had for it. Everything was done perfectly in my opinion and was everything that I look for in a murder mystery and then some.

I loved the fact that Leta is able to communicate with her 4 legged companions Dickens and Christie. They both have such different personalities and it was so much fun getting their input during the book. They are quite the helpers also when it comes to solving things and being protective of Leta. Not only can she communicate with her own animals, she can communicate with all animals. It was a bit sad when Tigger was alone for a couple of days and expressed how he was terrified and lonely after his owner had passed away. I felt relieved that Leta could provide him some comfort by being able to communicate with him.

The narrator did an amazing job and my favorite part was hearing Dickens and Christie. I felt like hearing their thoughts spoken gave them so much personality and you can imagine what they would actually be like if you were there with them. Each character was voiced so well and you could tell the difference between them all easily.

I liked that the author didn't include too many characters as some mysteries do because then things start to get confusing and complicated. Each character was distinguishable and when the murderer is announced you aren't like "oh it was that one character that was there for one chapter." I also liked the not so subtle names like Peter and Wendy considering the plot of the book. The theme of the book was enjoyable and the reason for the murder was understandable. I am so glad that there are nine other books in this series. Thank you to Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and Kathy Manos Penn for an ARC of this audiobook. This review is my own honest opinion.

Bells, Tails, and Murder is the exciting new first book in Dickens and Christie cozy mystery series by Kathy Manos Penn. This series has a sad beginning, but it allowed for the protagonist, Leta Parker, to retire early to the Cotswolds in England. You might think that she would be bored out of her mind, as she had been in the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, but she instead got to know her British neighbors, and Miss Marpled her way into their minds and hearts.

I loved the little Easter eggs that Penn left us to find, with all of the classic British mystery characters and authors names hidden throughout the book.

The cozy mystery began as Leta’s own housekeeper’s lifeless body was found and led to a tangled web of secrets, lies, and half-truths that involved everyone in the village. This led Leta to suspect and reject as persons of interest almost the entire town.

With the help of her cat, Christie, and her dog, Dickens, Leta investigates in the background. Did I mention that Leta can converse with all pets? This was a cute quirk that made this story even more unique.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this cute and cozy audio ARC!!