Murders at the Winterbottom Women's Institute

By: Gina Kirkham

Narrated by: Julia Franklin

It's a quiet English village—except for one crazed murderer—in this delightful romp by the author of the Constable Mavis Upton series.

Librarian Prunella Pearce has left heartbreak behind to start a new life in the village of Winterbottom, where there's little social life to be had aside from the meetings of The Winterbottom Women's Institute at the parish hall.

But a bit of excitement ensues when the group is about to elect a new president—and the nominees for the position begin dropping like flies. One is found facedown in a lemon drizzle cake, stabbed with a crochet needle. Another nearly dies spectacularly in the revolving doors of a Harrogate hotel. When Pru and her friend Bree agree to do some undercover snooping to help the police, little do they know that one of the Winterbottom women is hiding a scandalous secret . . .

©2022 Gina Kirkham (P)2022 Tantor

Unpleasant

Another reviewer commented that this wasn’t a cozy mystery. They didn’t say why, and at first I thought it was because of all the sexual innuendos, which didn’t bother me, so I kept listening. But it soon became clear that there was worse to come. The overall lighthearted/cozy tone is in stark contrast to the point-of-view of a serial killer. Other listeners might be fine with hearing the thoughts of someone planning and executing multiple murders, but not me. I stopped listening and am glad I did.

Not for me

This doesn't seem like a cozy mystery me. I didn't like the characters or storyline.