4.5 stars

This was such a fun listen! I am so impressed with the narration, it was engaging, entertaining and upbeat throughout the entire story! Meg Price is amazing- I am still not convinced there weren't 5 narrators because each voice was so distinct and consistent with each character change; I am in awe of her delivery of this book! The pacing was on point with clear, easy to understand speech and the performance just added so much to an already great book!

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is a fun whodunit mystery with a combination of mystery, found family, humor and a touch of romance! Literally a little bit of everything and it was wonderful! I loved how we learned about each character primarily through the other character's point of view. The chapters are short and flow perfectly. We are given bits of information throughout, that are easily pieced together to form the bigger picture of this tightknit little community.

The characters are absolutely wonderful. Each one is easy to connect with, and each one brings something unique and messy to the story. They form the most unlikely yet perfect group of neighbors that you will instantly fall in love with and want more of! If you need a light, fun mystery; this is a definite read for you!

Mrs. B, the landlady of the Marigold Cottages, is charming and hilarious! She handpicks her tenants, and you better believe there is a good reason that each one is there! Once you're in her good graces, you can rest assured that you are loved and cared for and that she will have your back! When ex-con, Anthony, is invited to live in the cottages, the group is in shock. Mrs. B insists that they are all being ridiculous and she has all the faith in the world in him. She sticks to this even when a dead body is found outside one of the cottages shortly after Anthony moves in. Because he is the obvious suspect, Anthony is arrested, and no one will listen to Mrs. B when she insists that he is innocent. So, she takes matters into her own hands, and turns herself into the police, confessing her guilt to the murder. As the group works together to help Mrs. B, secrets and clues that will bring the story full circle, are unburied!

Expected release date for this gem is August 26.2025 and I cannot recommend it enough! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for these early copies. All opinions are my own.

What fun! A great bunch of characters live in a group of cottages. When a murder occurs outside the window of one, the police assume is it the new tenant who has spent time in prison. The group of the rest of them try to solve that murder, while other murders and attacks keep happening. One of the characters is trying to write a play and her chapters are in play form. Enjoyable.

So often a "cozy mystery" provides great entertainment, feeling of community, poignancy, and humor, but also in my experience this can be at the expense of providing a genuinely interesting and suspenseful mystery. The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols is a wonderful exception! I thoroughly enjoyed these rich (and oftentimes quite chuckleworthy) characters and the crisp dialog, I wish more mysteries had such authentic sounding characters. The storyline, the secrets, and the murders created an incredibly thrilling and suspenseful ride, putting me on the edge of my seat throughout - a real binge read to get to the exciting and surprising reveals!

Highest recommendation! I will look for other books by Jo Nichols and I really hope this becomes a series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jo Nichols for this audiobook ARC. The above review reflects my honest thoughts on The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective.

The Marigold Cottages Murder by Jo Nichols is a delightful audiobook experience from the Collective series. The intriguing cover caught my eye, and the narrative did not disappoint. It’s a well-crafted mystery that kept me hooked, making it a great listen for anyone who loves a good whodunit. Highly recommend!

If you love murder mystery, busybodies, and theatre, this book is for you!! There is a wide variety of characters but each one is extremely well developed and defined. I absolutely loved the audio version. There is a playwright (Sophie) as one of the main narrators and it makes the whole piece feel like a dramatized radio play. This audiobook had me talking back, laughing out loud, and absolutely HOOKED. 10/10 highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

“That was their first instinct, their strongest instinct, to work together to protect one of their own.”

One might think that the cozy mystery genre is saturated with quirky characters joining together to solve a murder mystery, but I gave this a try anyway. A group of Santa Barbara bungalows was an ideal setting for this new novel and I enjoyed the story but found the execution lacking in a cohesiveness I appreciate, especially in audio format. A lovable senior citizen ties together a diverse community of residents in a way I found heartwarming and how the players come together to solve a murder mystery was endearing, but I found this fairly predictable.

There is a reason a single character has a first person pov while others do not, but the flow felt choppy and the disjointed result was distracting. Maybe this would have worked better for me in print - in particular, the group text messages on audio misfired. I would definitely try another book by the same author in print format.

Thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley! This was such a fun and cozy summer read. The story follows a quirky cast of characters living in a charming cottage community who band together to solve a murder. I especially loved the character development. Each resident had their own unique personality, and getting to know them was one of the best parts of the book. It’s a heartwarming reminder of how community, connection, and embracing differences can lead to something meaningful. I really enjoyed this one!

🎧Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook

I REALLY enjoyed this book. It had a lot of troupes I really enjoy. Each POV had a unique voice. I laughed out loud at parts. Totally recommend.

Thanks NetGalley!

What sets this book apart is the cast of characters. The residents of Marigold Cottages are eccentric, clever, and surprisingly resourceful. Their banter is funny without trying too hard, and there’s warmth in their growing friendships. The author manages to balance humor with a thoughtful look at aging, community, and how people reinvent themselves later in life. If you like cozy mysteries that are character driven and a bit unconventional, this is definitely worth picking up.

I liked this audiobook and the community within it. I've been drawn a lot lately to books about friends and finding new friends - creating community. I liked the multiple POVS. Fun story... with murder. :)

The Marigold Cottage Murder Collective is a gripping and cleverly structured mystery that blends theatrical drama with a twisty whodunit. The story unfolds through multiple POVs, each adding depth and perspective to the central mystery while keeping the tension high.

The plot was strong and well-paced, with enough twists to keep me invested from start to finish. I really enjoyed the theatrical play aspect, which added layers of intrigue and drama sets it apart from other mysteries. The characters were distinct and well-developed, and the multiple points of view worked seamlessly to tie the story together and provide a fuller understanding of the events.

The audiobook, narrated by Megan Price, was fantastic. Her voice work was engaging, and I loved how she brought each character to life with unique voices that were easy to distinguish. It enhanced my overall enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

This cozy-ish mystery is packed with eccentric characters, beachside vibes, and just enough murder to keep things interesting. The tenants of Marigold Cottages are an oddball bunch, but their loyalty to their landlady makes for a charming (if chaotic) found-family story. Some characters shine more than others, and the plot juggles a few too many threads at times. Still, the humor, heart, and twists kept me turning pages. Perfect if you like community-driven whodunits with a little mess and a lot of warmth.

3.5 stars with a 14+ rating

Mrs B owns the Marigold Cottages and rents out to those her pass her “vibe” test. The cast of characters are the perfect mix of misfits! The most recent tenant is an ex con and few of the bungalow renters are not sure what to think about the newest tenant. A few weeks pass by and a dead body is found on the property. Here is where we get to know our cast of characters and start to decide if one of them could have committed murder.

I did not l know what to expect when I received this book - it was a fun cozy read and I will read it over and over it was so much fun!

A charming, cozy mystery with a colorful cast of California characters. The plot revolves around Santa Barbara real estate, a late husband’s legacy, and otherwise damaged people brought together by an eccentric older woman who can see the good in people, even when they make questionable life choices. Entertaining and enjoyable, and a well narrated audiobook. Similar to “Only Murders in the Building.”
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheMarigoldCottagesMurderCollective for review purposes. Publication date: 19 August 2025.

This cozy mystery is full of charm, wit, humor, lovable neighbors and unexpected twists. All the eccentric neighbors form an unlikely crime-solving crew when a local death raises suspicion near their homes.

The narration is pitch-perfect—warm, expressive, and perfectly suited to the cozy-meets-clever vibe of the story. It overall, brings the quirky cast to life. The only odd bit was how the text messages were read—they felt a little jarring compared to the rest of the smooth delivery.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to listen to this book early.

Review: The Marigold Cottage Murder Collective by Jo Nichols
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

The Marigold Cottage Murder Collective was an absolute delight! Give me a cozy mystery with a dynamic found family and a dash of romance—yes, please! Each character brought something unique to the story, and their personalities played off one another in such a fun, engaging way. I genuinely enjoyed spending time with this charming, quirky cast.

The setting was equally lovely. I’ll forever be wishing there were a vacant cottage waiting for me—ideally without the occasional murder, of course.

A warm, witty, and satisfying read. Highly recommended for fans of cozy mysteries with heart!

Was it Sophie in the garden with a rake? Ocean by the garage with a car? Similar to the game of Clue The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective gives us a cast of suspects and possible motives and invites us on a kooky journey to find out who the body in the yard was, why was he there and who killed him! This was such a lighthearted fun adventures told through the pov of the occupants of the marigold cottages. The story moves at a nice pace and does a great job introducing each resident in a way that you get to know them and could see how they could be to murderer. I really enjoyed this book, the narrator did a good job with all the characters and I was quickly absorbed in the story.

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective is a delightfully eccentric collection of memorable characters and stories. The narration was fun and fit the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.

THE MARIGOLD COTTAGES MURDER COLLECTIVE by Jo Nichols is a fun and charming cozy mystery that had me cheering on the quirky group of neighbors-turned-friends. First off, I adored the Santa Barbara location since I grew up 30 miles from the city, and the story reminded me of many wonderful memories I had of the city. Her strong descriptive skills brought the setting and the characters—and oh what characters they are!—to life. I loved the POV rotating between the core characters so that the reader gets a better sense of who they really are. Mrs. B, the mother hen owner of The Marigold Cottages, has a heart of gold. She is the one instrumental in bringing her tenants together to solve a murder that happened, and as they worked together forming The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective, friendships grew. There are twists and turns aplenty that kept me turning pages in this well-plotted whodunit. I’m hoping that this will turn into a series because I’d love to spend more time with this delightful group of friends!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance audiobook copy, narrated by Megan Price. She did an amazing job of capturing both the voices and the personalities of the characters.

One of the best books I’ve read. Ever!

Jo Nichols has taken a familiar setup (a tight-knit group of neighbors, a cozy coastal setting, and a sudden murder) and turned it into something truly special and unique. This isn’t just a quirky mystery; it’s heartfelt, emotionally rich, and beautifully layered.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked. I told myself I’d listen to just a little before getting back to work, but hours later, I was still going. Not once did I feel the urge to skip ahead or take a break. Every moment in this story had weight, charm, or purpose (sometimes all three).

The characters are messy, complicated, and real, and the way their lives intersected made my heart ache in the best possible way. There’s humor, grief, love, chaos, and, above all, a sense of found family that stayed with me long after I finished.

And can we talk about the narration? Megan Price absolutely nailed it. Her performance gave every character depth and personality, making the audiobook a completely immersive experience.

I still can’t believe this is Jo Nichols’ debut. The writing is sharp, tender, and confident. I didn’t want the story to end. I kept hoping for one more chapter, one more conversation, one more moment with these characters.

The ARC was an absolute gift. Thank you, NetGalley. I can’t wait for everyone to meet the residents of Marigold Cottages when this gem comes out in August.