I love this series and I love Julia Bird. the writing duo behind Katie Gayle have created such a brilliant character, a kind of Miss Marple for the modern age, a woman who really should be enjoying her retirement, and by and large she does, but who always seems to find herself caught up in a mystery or two. Oh, and more than her fair share of murders. And in Murder In The Winter Woods, Julia finds not just one, but two tragic victims of apparent hit and run accidents. Now, a more suspicious person might question how it is that Julia keeps finding so many bodies all over the place - and who knew the Cotswolds were so dangerous? - and if it weren't for the fact that she has an alibi in the shape of her significant other, Dr Sean O'Connor, we'd be expecting the police to banging on her door making an immediate arrest. As it happens, they do bang on her door, but more for input and expertise as Julia has quite the knack for assessing people's behaviour and unravelling puzzles.

And Murder In The Winter Woods presents quite the puzzle in deed. Victim number one is a well known local who, on first impressions, is a stalwart of the community and Berrywick's favourite taxi driver. But the thing about stalwarts in cosy mysteries such as this is that you always have to be suspicious, and the authors do a brilliant job of slowly revealing why he may have been a target for deliberate, rather than accidental, 'car trouble'. That doesn't explain victim number two mind, not does it give us any more clues as to why the villages RTC stats have increased so dramatically in such a short space of time. And at Christmas too, just as folks are meant to be spreading Christmas cheer. Is it a case of someone indulging in too much mulled wine, or something a touch more sinister?

I love the way in which the authors slowly lay out the clues in this fun and frosty fresh mystery. There are more twists and turns than in Berrywick's back roads, and quite a bit of misdirection. Investigations even take Julia and Sean to the slightly less picturesque streets of London, where some unexpected revelations about the victim's past open up a whole host of possibilities as to what might be happening and why. And I love that this story is not confined to Berrywick, even if the truth is rooted in the town's past. And the whole topic of road safety leads to what might be the most wholesome and middle class protest I have read. Brought a smile to my face anyway.

The books feature such a great sense of community, Berrywick being Katie Gayle's answer to St Mary Mead, and with brilliant supporting characters such as Julia's colleagues at the Charity Shop, police Detectives Hayley Gibson and Walter Farmer, even Julia's slightly crazy pooch, Jake, and even crazier chicken, Henny Penny, all add something pretty special to the stories which bring a smile to my face each time I read them. I love meandering back to Berrywick, knowing that when i open up a book I will be entertained, amused and kept completely engaged in whatever wicked mystery julia has found herself caught up in this time. A definite go to series for me when I want all the mystery but on the lighter side of the crime fiction genre. Well, as light as murder ever gets, anyway.

Oooooh this book was absolutely thrilling! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and it’s an absolute must-read in this fantastic series. You can totally enjoy it as a standalone, but honestly, why would you want to? The whole series is incredible. I can’t wait to dive into the next Julia and Jake adventure!

Thank you Netgalley

I should have expected it from the title but it did come as a bit of surprise to find myself reading my first Christmas book of 2025 in August. Christmas Markets, Lights being switched on and festive jumpers all feature in this excellent 8th adventure for Julia Bird.
It might have a Christmassy setting but the murder mystery is anything but festive as first the local taxi driver and then Julia’s neighbour are both killed in hit and run accidents. As frequently happens, Julia manages to discover both bodies and it’s not long before her natural curiosity and ability to talk to people lead her to making connections between the two deaths.
This was another hugely enjoyable read in one of my favourite cosy crime series. The inhabitants of Berrywick are as engaging as ever even if an alarmingly high proportion of them end up being murdered. The Buttered Scone is the location for several of Julia’s encounters and the description of the food never fails to make me feel hungry,
What I love about this series is that Julia’s involvement never feels contrived. Yes, there are a couple of unlikely coincidences but mainly she finds out details by asking the right questions and because people are generally happy to confide in her.
Jake the labrador makes his usual star turn and provides light relief as well as the reason that Julia is out in the woods on a Winter’s evening in the first place. I loved the scene where Julia succumbed to an advert for a ‘paw washer’ and the subsequent chaos that ensued.
This was a fun wintry mystery complete with delicious hot chocolate and I am very grateful to Net Galley and the publishers Bookouture for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first Julia Bird Mystery I have read and it works very well as a stand-alone novel, but I will be going back to read the rest of the series! Julia and her friend Sean are taking the scenic route home when Julia spies a body alongside the road. The local taxi driver is a victim of a hit-and-run driver. When Julia’s neighbor is also struck and killed at the local market, the investigation gets more convoluted. There are multiple motives and suspects with a terrific twist at the end. The characters are all likable and the Cotswold setting at Christmas time is lovely.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love this series for the way the author blends a new murder mystery in with the ongoing lives of Julia and her family and friends. We get to follow Julia and Seth's relationship as it continues to grow and also to see how Jono continues to improve and find his place in life and the village. We also get to meet new characters to open up a whole new group of possible murderers. The reason behind the murders in this book was a bit darker than in previous stories and took me a little by surprise. The identity of the murderer was not a complete surprise once some of the clues were presented. As always, I enjoyed following along as Julia continuously found herself involved in the investigation even when she was genuinely trying to stay out of things. She is just the kind of person people tell things to without her having to do much questioning at all.

I thoroughly enjoy this series, and was excited to read this latest installment, which did not disappoint. Julia and Sean stumble upon the body of the beloved town taxi driver, only to discover another death a few days later killed in a similar fashion. But, connecting the dots on how they are related is baffling police, and of course Julia. When little pieces of information start to trickle in to Julia, she gets to sleuthing to see what else she can discover. But, what she finds is not at all what she expected.
I love these characters, and revisiting them is always fun. This plot was well written and flowed smoothly. Seem to be a few suspects, weirdly not many motives, and an unexpected conclusion. Looking forward to Book 9!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a quick read. The realistic characters moved the story quickly. Family and friends. Red herrings…secrets…enjoy. Curl up in front of a warm fire…grab a cozy blanket…get lost in the mystery…Thanks Netgalley

I think that I say this after every book, but these Julia Bird Mysteries just get better and better. This time, Julia manages to stumble across two bodies and it soon becomes clear that there is a link between the two deaths.
It's been beautifully warm here, which seems a little strange when you're reading a book set at Christmas, that doesn't really matter though. It might have even helped cool me down very slightly. I think if you can, though, this would be a great read on a cold day.
I was feeling quite smug, as I was fairly confident that I'd solved this mystery before Julia had managed to. I wasn't wrong, but I will admit that I wasn't completely right either and might have changed my a few times here and there before the end.
This was another great instalment in the Julia Bird series. I can't wait to see what she gets up to next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

I absolutely love this series of cosy murder mysteries (though I think this book could also be read as a stand alone). I love Julia, the social worker in her sixties who can’t help getting involved in crimes in the beautiful village where she moved to on retirement. And I’d love to have a coffee and cake in the Buttered Scone! I didn’t see the surprise ending coming at all. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in this great series.

4 Stars
One Liner: Early Christmas Mystery

It’s Christmas in Berrywick, and the village is decked up for the festival. When Julia and Sean find the body of a well-known taxi driver, Lewis Band, they think it’s a case of hit-and-run. This leads to a Road Safety Committee to spread awareness. However, Julia finds a pendant in the bushes, making her wonder if Lewis’s death was an accident or murder.
When there’s another incident, another local struck by a car, Julia knows it cannot be a coincidence. Was there a connection between the two, or is someone bumping off people at random and making them look like accidents?
It’s up to Julia to find the truth!
The story comes in Julia’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is the eighth book in the series and might work as a standalone since the personal track is steady and the focus is on the mystery. Of course, we still see more developments and happy times with loved ones. These are always welcome.
Jake, our chocolate Lab, makes a slightly late entry since he was left at home, as the humans enjoyed the Winter market. Unfair, right? Poor Jake! He lost the opportunity to run around and whack a few displays with his tail.
Given the festive vibe, the mystery feels a bit mellow. It works since the setting (Nov) has the same languid feel. Still, the book discusses important topics. The focal point is road safety, a very important aspect across the world.
The chickens are healthy, though they’ve slowed down due to the cold. Chaplin the cat is in his element and even occasionally displays his affection by bringing gifts. You can guess what kind!
The mystery starts simply. Then, new layers are added to it. Some are red herrings, but some are solid leads. Can you figure out which ones to follow? I guessed it right, and we actually get the answer at one point. Series readers will know it when they see it. ;)
The pacing felt a bit slower than usual, but no complaints. It suits the mood.
To summarize, Murder in the Winter Woods is a solid continuation of the series and a great read if you want a compact little cozy mystery set in winter.
Thank you, Sarah Hardy, NetGalley, and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Julia Bird adores a walk on a winter’s day. The crunch of fresh show under your feet and the promise of hot cocoa by a roaring fire afterwards… But she’s not expecting to find a body in the woods!
Book 8 in the series….! The storyline was very interesting, it sucked me in and had me glued to my Kindle! Definitely don't miss out on this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I absolutely love this series and the world building is great, I truly felt like I was in a cosy Cotswolds.

I did feel that something was lacking in this one though - Julia seemed so unbelievably grumpy and annoyed all the time, angry at everyone even her friends and I missed the cosy vibes.

Thank you for the arc. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

Christmas in the Cotswolds is postcard perfect with markets, carols, and festive fare for Julia Bird to enjoy. Unfortunately, Berrywick is experiencing a bit of a crime wave, and, once again, she has found herself right in the middle of it! With one of her close neighbours suffering a tragic loss Julia knows she has to look into what happened herself but clues are scarce and her fellow villagers are scared to the point there is even a demonstration in the high street! Can she find out what happened before anyone else dies and the Christmas spirit in Berrywick disappears for good?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. I do love a Christmas cosy, and this didn't disappoint even though I read it in June! Julia and Sean's relationship is explored in greater detail here, which I loved, and Jake once again stole the show. More please.

Another fun read in this series. It's late November when the book starts out, and Julia and Sean are attending the Christmas light-up in the neighbouring village. Driving home on a dark lane, they discover the body of the Berrywick taxi driver, Lewis. He'd been killed by a car. Then Julia's neighbour is also killed by car. The police believe the killer is the same in both cases.

These books are so comfortable and easy to read. My favourite chapters are Julia and Sean and their kids and friends simply having a meal together, either at a restaurant or at home. Good food, good company and lots of laughter.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the eighth book in Katie Gayle's highly entertaining Julie Bird series - Murder In The Winter Woods.
On the way back from a Farmers' Market, taking the 'scenic route', Julia and her boyfriend come upon the body of Lewis Band, a local man who operated a taxi service for residents of Berrywick. Who would have been so cruel to not only run him down, but back up and run over him again? And is there any connection to the later death - in a similar manner - of Julia's neighbour and beekeeper Matthew Hester?
The answer seems to lie in the distant past when both men, along with other current and past Berrywick residents were members of an up and coming rock and that almost made it big.
And is an attempted poisoning related? That is the question.
As in previous books, Julia Bird is on the case, and her insights become quite valuable to the local Detective who is charged with finding the solution to the cases.
This is the epitome of a cozy mystery and a great read for a lazy afternoon.
Recommended.

Julia Bird adores a walk on a winter’s day. The crunch of fresh show under your feet and the promise of hot cocoa by a roaring fire afterwards… But she’s not expecting to find a body in the woods! Great read! This book had chilling suspense, murder, mystery, intriguing, and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!