I was offered the chance to read this cosy crime book on NetGalley and I enjoyed it. I hadn’t read any of the other books in the series so didn’t know anything about the main characters ahead of time but I don’t think that detracted from my reading. The plot was well-thought out and nicely puzzling to keep me guessing until close to the end. The characters were engaging and interesting. For me, it seemed to take quite a while to get going and get to the crime! It seemed to read a little like a tale of thwarted love at the start. Once the murder happened it picked up pace and focused more on that. An enjoyable and puzzling read and I would happily read more of the series.

It's 100 degrees outside, so the menu for today is a cozy Christmas mystery. The cover art of A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS portrays a perfect Christmas scene. So perfect, a reality TV show wants to film its Christmas special on Jude Gray's farm. Jude is happy to share her Christmas on national TV until a crew member is found murdered. To protect her family, friends, and the reputation of her farm, Jude will stop at nothing to find the killer.

This cozy is well-written, and the Christmas spirit is seamlessly woven into the story's fabric. Kate Wells builds a story with some well-placed clues, then throws a few snowballs into Jude's investigation. It's a fast paced, quick read for me and I'll think of Christmas as I mow the lawn and water the tomatoes.

A lot is going on at Jude's farm in the Malverns; it's December, and before Christmas, they have a wedding to organise and a TV show to host. Jude is unsure whether she will survive the influx of TV cameras, but the fee will help sustain the farm and its animals, which is always important to her. The celebrity couple are not as loved up as they appear on TV, but as she gets to know the behind-the-scenes people, she finds some are unlikeable and that there is a lot of discord in the team. When a suspicious death occurs, Jude is sure it's murder, and soon she is fulfilling her amateur sleuth role again. It's a good, cosy-style mystery with many suspects and false leads. The farm setting and the festive time of year provide a happy contrast to the murder investigation. I have read all the books in this series, and this festive edition is a lovely read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

In an attempt to keep the farm’s finances on track, Jude agrees to the nation’s favourite countryside programme filming for a week leading up to Christmas. But the cosiness viewers see on screen does not translate to reality. When one of the crew dies, it becomes apparent that seething tensions have moved into murderous territory. Who had motive to kill - and crucially - who had an alibi? Once again Jude finds herself investigating a murder on the farm. Can she solve the case before anyone else is killed?

I loved that this story was set around the Christmas period. It added to the drama and kept me reading deep into the night . There were some extremely unpleasant characters working for the tv show and I was guessing right until the end.

As with all the wonderful mysteries set on Jude’s farm, we get to see her working hand in hand with her policewoman friend Binnie, and her family and friends in the village. I love that. Each of them add knowledge and skills to the investigation.

A great mystery, with a warm cosy feel.

A big thank you to Rachel at RaRaResources and the publisher for issuing me with my review copy of the book and for inviting me to take part on the blog tour.

A Very Merry Murder is the next in the wonderful Malvern Farm mysteries which I have enjoyed since I first started reading them last year. We are now on book 6 and they still feel very fresh and new to me. This time we join Jude and family and friends in the build up to Christmas which is an exciting time in a number of ways – Jude’s sister Lucy and her fiance Noah are getting married and before the happy day, Jude has a TV show filming at the farm showing the British public what it is like to run and live on a rural farm! Jude is determined to make the best of this in the run up to Christmas but as always things don’t quite go to plan…..!

When a member of the crew is found dead, at first it is assumed it is carbon monoxide poisoning but Jude isn’t convinced and shares her thoughts with Binny, also the Detective in charge. When there is another death, Jude is determined to get to the bottom of matters.

A Very Merry Murder is a wonderful addition to the series, already one of my favourites, it is always a treat to be reunited with Jude, Lucy and her happy go lucky young nephew Sebby along with the menagerie of pets that Jude seems to have collected over the course of the books! Granny Margot is also back and hasn’t lost any of her sharp thinking or wit. Despite advancing in years, she is still able to make me laugh with her put downs! It was so interesting to learn about the behind the scenes of a nationally loved TV show and that although things look perfect on screen – this isn’t always the case when the camera’s stop rolling!

As with the other books, the author sets up events and little comments early in the book so that when you look back on you realise the hints and little red herrings were all there. I genuinely wasn’t sure how things were going to turn out and I was absolutely stumped when we had the big reveal – I guessed the wrong way!

Although Jude is the main character of the story – the farm and its beautiful surroundings play a huge part in making the story what it is. From the first book where Jude is struggling with keeping things afloat, it is wonderful to read about the progress she has made throughout the books, not just at the farm but in her life too. I will leave it at that but I loved how things FINALLY ended with Jude and hope things continue to go from strength to strength for her…..!

Highly recommended from me.

When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never thought she’d become so used to farm life, let alone be good at it! But now a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on her land, celebrating the charm of rural living and all Jude’s achieved so far. At least, that’s the plan… until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances. At first, it looks like a tragic accident, but when alibis start to crack, it seems like anything but.
Another well written, engrossing cosy mystery. I love Jude & have enjoyed getting to know her & how she’s settled to farm life. I love how the author combines the mystery with life on the farm & Jude’s family. The mystery is intriguing with plenty of red herrings as well as twists & turns so once again I was left guessing & failing to work out who the villain was. This is the sixth book in the series but its easily read on its own
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A Very Merry Murder is a festive mystery that delivers everything what I needed and made me smile.
The holiday setting is charming, the murder is messy, and the TV crew brings just the right amount of chaos.
The story moves quickly and kept me guessing. I enjoyed the twists and the way the tension builds without losing that cozy village feeling. I appreciated the clever style of writing and the atmosphere feels warm even when things get dark.
This is a perfect read for cold evenings with a blanket and something sweet. It has sparkle, suspense and just enough scandal to make it fun.
Read it and have fun,
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Jude is really excited for Christmas, she has a wedding to attend, that of her half-sister. But she’s not that excited about a film crew coming to her farm to film.

The husband and wife, both seem happy just as welcoming as they appear on screen. The same can’t be said for the director and another person who isn’t happy about not being given a chance to direct.

So, when a death happens, Jude assumes that it’s the presenter who is the one in danger.

When another person is found dead at the farm Jude is adamant that the culprit won’t spoil Christmas.

The story was well written and the plot was really good.

I highly recommend this book.

This is my first book by this author and I didn’t realise that this book is part of a series. Having said that I still really enjoyed it and it’s fine to read as a standalone too. I enjoyed all the characters and there were definitely lots of twists and turns to the story before you find out who the murderer is. I will definitely look out for this author in the future

A wonderful cosy crime book, part of a series set in the Malverns. What a great series of ideas for a book; a murder, a wedding and filming by a TV crew at the farm. Beautifully executed and inspires me to read more of the series from Kate Wells, who writes from great experience having been bought up on a farm. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

What would you do if you allowed a cast and crew come to your farm and one of the cast members ends up dead? Jude inherited Malvern Farms and when approached by a famous tv series with a famous couple to feature her farm she takes the deal because she needs the money. She wouldn’t guess that the cast isn’t what it seems on tv. How can Jude solve this case?

I enjoyed this book it’s ok it’s a festive cozy mystery

Blurb

When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never thought she’d become so used to farm life, let alone be good at it! But now a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on her land, celebrating the charm of rural living.

At least, that’s the plan… until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances.

At first, it looks like a tragic accident, but when alibis start to crack, it seems like anything but. With a growing list of suspects and enough behind-the-scenes drama to rival anything the cameras are capturing, Jude must dig deep to uncover the truth.

Because someone on her farm is hiding a deadly secret – and this year, the season of goodwill may come with a killer twist…

“A Very Merry Murder” by Kate Wells is a cozy 5-star mystery! Jude is back in the 6th installment at Malvern Farms, and this time her farm is the setting for a TV show’s Christmas special. The production brings a colorful cast of characters, from the insufferable producer to the ambitious camerawoman to the husband-and-wife stars of the show. As always, a dead body turns up, and Jude is determined to uncover the culprit before more innocent lives are lost.

This book, and the whole series, is warm, witty, and wonderfully written. I’ve enjoyed every word of these stories! Getting to know the people in Jude’s life is a delight, and even the animals bring their own unique personalities to the tale. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Kate Wells, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

What a treat to return to Malvern Farm—this time for the filming of the Christmas special of a popular TV series. I don’t think it gets much cozier than December in the English countryside: steaming mugs of hot chocolate, friendly farm animals, twinkling holiday lights, and even a wedding to add to the festive cheer.

But amid the holiday hustle, Jude finds herself juggling farm duties, wedding prep for her sister Lucy, and, of course, helping her friends in the police solve a string of murders. The extra dose of coziness doesn’t take away from the mystery one bit—if anything, it makes the suspense sharper. With plenty of suspects among the film crew, I was happily kept guessing right until the final reveal.

The countryside setting is as charming as ever, and the relationships between the main characters continue to shine—especially the always-delightful Granny Margot.

If you love rustic whodunnits with a festive twist, this is one to add to your holiday reading list.

The Malvern Mysteries Book 6

When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never thought she'd become so used to farm life, let alone be good at it! But now a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on her land, celebrating the charm of rural living and all Julie's achieved so far. At least, that's the plan.... until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances. At first, it looks like a tragic accident, but when alibis start to crack, it seems like anything but.

This is the first book in the series that I've read, in fact, it's the first book by the author too. This is a well-written cosy murder mystery. None of the characters seem to like each other. We get twists and red herrings to keep us guessing. It has been descriptively written.

Published 3rd September 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #KateWells for my ARC of #AVeryMerryMurder on exchange for an honest review.

No issues with reading this novel out of order in the series. The small-town charm and festive setting were nice, but the story leaned a little too on the cozy side for me. It will make for a great holiday read during the season.

This is the first installment of the Malvern Mysteries I’ve read, and I really enjoyed the festive cozy mystery atmosphere. I especially loved the setting in the English countryside, it gave the whole story such charm and made it perfect for a seasonal read. Jude was a fun character to follow, and while some parts were a bit predictable, it was still an engaging and light mystery. I’d be interested in reading more from this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC of A Very Merry Murder by Kate Wells.

A Very Merry Murder is the sixth book and based in a town called Malvern in Worcestershire, England. Although I have not read the previous five books, I felt like the storyline worked well as a stand-alone. This book had a wonderful mix of romance, festive and cozy mystery.

The book begins with Jude Gray’s husband passing away, leaving her to run Malvern Farm as a young widow with her two collies (Pip and Alfie). A television production company received her approval to use the farm as the base for their very first Christmas series that would be directed by Dean Dickens, who directed another series called Countryside Lives. The production company filmed on the farm during the three weeks before Christmas day, and while Jude helped plan her sister (Lucy) and future brother-in-law’s (Noah) wedding. Unfortunately, one of the crew members was found deceased and there’s a ton of different suspects, motives, and suspicions. The storyline was at a very good pace and never felt drawn out or rushed.

This was a very fun read and great for the upcoming holidays for other mystery readers.

A Very Merry Murder by Kate Wells takes the reader back to Malvern Farm, and the chaos of a visiting television show in book 6 of the Malvern Mysteries series.

Jude Gray, owner of Malvern Farm has allowed a television series to be a base for filming in the weeks leading up to Christmas while also trying to assist her sister in planning her Christmas wedding. To add to the problems, the crew members seem to have some problems with each other, and when one of them dies and it's determined that their death is suspicious, it appears that someone is attempting to do away with one of the stars.

I have not read the entire series, but I have read at least one of the previous books in this series and I really enjoy the relationships between the returning characters. I especially love the relationship between Jude, and her sister, nephew, and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

I did guess the ultimate culprit, I think it would be easy to miss if the reader isn't paying close attention. And even though I did guess the guilty party relatively early, it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story. There were a number of surprising twists along the way, some of which had me scratching my head and questioning what was going on, but they served as decent red herrings which had me wondering if my initial guess was the correct one.

I think any lover of cozy mysteries, but especially of those set in the English countryside, will enjoy this book. I hope to go back and read the books I've missed in this series because I have enjoyed these characters and would like to get to know the characters better.

A Very Merry Murder is a charming and atmospheric festive mystery, with just the right balance of holiday spirit and intrigue. This has the perfect inviting small-town setting full of warmth, seasonal detail, and a cast of characters that feel both relatable and engaging. The main mystery is well-plotted, with enough twists to hold interest, and the pacing allows the story to unfold steadily without ever feeling rushed.

I feel that it was more cozy than dark, but I felt this suited the Christmas vibe and actually made it a highly enjoyable seasonal read. The resolution was perhaps a little gentler than readers of darker thrillers might expect but still an excellent read that I’d highly recommend for anyone looking to add to their Christmas tbr.

Overall, this is a delightful festive whodunnit, perfect for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with strong characterisation and a touch of Christmas!