Tamsin Kernick is our guide to the Farmers’ Market in her Malvern Hills town. Whether it’s goats’ yogurt, crafted cider, buttery scones or carefully hand-knit shawls, the English crafters provide plenty. But an ominous series of events is under way, in MA-AH, MA-AH, MURDER! The title comes from the goat farm.
The troubles begin with contaminated products in the latest Tamsin Kernick English Cozy Mystery, set during high summer. Tamsin from Top Dogs and her friend Emerald are enjoying the market in between dog training classes. When several people complain about the yoghurt and scones, the two ladies investigate on behalf of the small business folks. Their good friend Susannah runs the goat farm and shows them all around her sterile work environment, while letting them bottle-feed snow-white kids. It’s hard to think who would want to harm this place, or the cider farm or knitters. But the crimes suddenly escalate when a local person consumes the products and dies. Murder or unfortunate coincidence? Tamsin sets out to find the truth.
As well as insights to the strictly regulated home production scene, we feel the waves of heat and taste scrumptious scones. The slightly mystical aspect of the previous book, Barks, Bikes and Bodies! is absent, replaced by discussions of chemicals and suppliers. But the dog training theme of the series continues, with scent tracking being taught to smart Banjo the collie. Great Malvern is popular with tourists as well as local business, and journalist Feargal of the Malvern Mercury gets involved with providing information.
This cosy English mystery tale might feature a few too many slightly batty elderly ladies for easy reading, so I recommend focusing on the major characters, as the others are side characters to provide information. The local network is small and active, the police are not prominent during this case. As always, I love the dogs and other animals. Some readers will feel the goats steal the show. Lucy Emblem demonstrates that she enjoys visiting farms and markets, and MA-AH, MA-AH, MURDER! shows the best of times and the worst of times for the independent crafters. The book is suitable for readers from teens to adults.
She’s happy teaching her dogs scentwork and playing with her pal’s enchanting goat kids, but when someone seems set on destroying her friends’ craft businesses in the Malvern Hills, Tamsin jumps to action.
Tamsin Kernick, passionate dog trainer, has three priorities in life: her three dogs. justice … and cake! In the Farmers’ Market the goats’ yogurt is off, the hand-knitteds are causing a rash, and a tearful baker’s delicious scones are tasting awful.
And when contaminated yogurt is implicated in a mysterious death, Tamsin fears her favourite café may be next on the list, and now she’s catapulted into investigating a murder.
With many wrong turns and false scents, can she and her dogs nose out the suspects and bring the culprits to heel, and save the creatives’ livelihoods?
Ma-ah, Ma-ah, Murder! is the fifth book in the growing Tamsin Kernick English Cozy Mystery series. If you like country town markets and handmade products, the smell of hay and the sight of capering kids, and well-trained dogs keeping crafty malefactors at bay, you’ll love this latest flavoursome escapade!
Buy Ma-ah, Ma-ah, Murder! now and work your way through the twists and turns, the frisky kids, and the scrummy baked delights.
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