Marrow Jam is a Comedy Crime Caper
Five proper W.I. stars for a cozy mystery, Marrow Jam by Susan A. King. While I’m handing out stars, I may as well give the author her Best in Class rosette and her Best in Show trophy. This humorous and agreeable English country village mystery is a winner!
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Lightning Books for a review copy. I’m delighted to be on the blog tour!
JENA’S REVIEW
Marrow Jam by Susan A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five proper W.I. stars for a cozy mystery, Marrow Jam by Susan A. King. While I’m handing out stars, I may as well give the author her Best in Class rosette and her Best in Show trophy. This humorous and agreeable English country village mystery is a winner!
All the characters that a story, set in a small, close-knit village English village like Elmsebury, requires are here. Beattie is our heroine and she should be! She is the secretary of the Elmesbury W.I., a fastidious spinster who lives in a charming cottage, bakes delightful pastries, and monitors everything in a decorous way. Her best friend is Phyllis, a nice lady who is not the force of nature that Beattie is. The postmistress, hard of hearing, the Vicar, the small tavern, constables confused and inept, the classic and idyllic village green and the annual summer Fete are all delightfully portrayed.
The story is told, to the minute, during September, 1999 with flashbacks to the momentous events of the summer. It all begins In July, 1999 with Beattie and Phyllis at the annual Fete and Beattie’s entry in the Great Bake challenge, a Caribbean coffee gateaux with coconut butter cream and mango glazed coffee beans. Will Beattie win the coveted Fete trophy for Best in Show or will Douglas Sparrow and his prize marrow prevail…again?!
But the story really begins with Beattie being interrogated for hours by the Constable in September. Someone has been murdered. Beattie wasn’t involved in that, but as she eventually tells the Constable, she has been involved in plenty of other happenings. Happenings that alarmed the whole village, including Douglas Sparrow and other village men.
With plenty of details, such as a magical Walnut Loaf, the events of the Bring and Buy sale, and even agriculture and fertilizer, the charming details and well-told story will delight you. As will the happy ending, when we learn that even the redoubtable Beattie just wants to be loved.
Congratulations to author Susan A. King for a cozy visit to Elmesbury, and I hope there will be more Beattie stories forthcoming! Thanks to Rachel’s Random resources for a review copy. This is my honest review.
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Meet the Author- Susan A. King
Susan A King lives with her husband in a quiet suburb in Hampshire. Between them they have four grown-up sons.
The inspiration for her first novel, Marrow Jam, came from her long experience and observation of competitors at the local Romsey Show, where she regularly aspires to win Best in Show with her floral arrangements.
About the Author
