Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the chance of listening to Murder in the Village (A Belinda Penshurst Mystery Book 1) by Lisa Cutts, Narrated by Lucy Paterson, I have given my honest review.

They’re trapped in a hilarious off-the-cuff mystery so fiendish, only a genius could work out whodunnit. A story wrapped with humor, wit, intrigue, murder, mystery and a lot of intriguing interpersonal interactions between the two main characters as well as between each of them and the townsfolk. Belinda is the proprietor of the local castle and has the pleasure of living in such a grand place which she shares with her father and brother, Marcus.Just as the police are certain that they found the killer, Belinda digs even deeper, proving that she is the perfect person to solve the mysteries at hand. She is a long-standing friend of her immediate superior officer, 'Mellow' Mallow and enjoys a rather enigmatic relationship with the steely Superintendent Marcus Donleavy. I love how each book solves a specific crime (or two) while the overarching storyline of Hillary's scheming (and very dead) ex-husband continues to unfold.

Perhaps Sybil’s relationship with wealthy Italian count Massimo Falconi has something to do with it. Her team are a mixed bunch from Janine who is having a relationship with the Hillary superior to Frank who can’t really be relied on but has a good set of “nouses” to keep him informed. Belinda has invested in several local businesses as she understands the importance of village commerce, so when a suspicious dead body is discovered in the New Inn, the watering hole in which she is a stakeholder, she is of course concerned about both the murder and its impact on the pub. Hillary is pleased to be appointed Senior Investigating Officer in the murder of aspiring politician, Malcolm Dale, found bludgeoned to death in his kitchen but with few clues and several suspects her team will have to work hard to find the killer.And when someone is found murdered in the local church, it seems that there may be more danger hiding in their sleepy Cotswold village. A brand new cosy mystery series from the bestselling author of Murder at the Lighthouse, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Betty Rowlands and Joy Ellis. She has a finger in many pies but also has to deal with a brother, Marcus, who seems to be making his cash in less than honorable ways. Amazing… a top-notch cosy mystery… an engaging, intelligent and intriguing murder mystery that I found totally absorbing.