Our protagonist, Jude Grey, is a younger, childless widow who now runs her massive sheep farm with the assistance of Noah, her shepherd, and her loyal canines, Pip and Archie – with reminiscences of her late husband by no means removed from her thoughts. When she met her husband Adam, he launched her to his life-long mates they usually accepted her into their heat fold. Now, it has been 5 years since Adam’s demise and she or he shares her dwelling together with her half-sister Lucy, Lucy’s fiance Noah, and Lucy’s 5 yr outdated son, Sebbie.

Jude cares for tons of of sheep, her Bantam hens, her Indian Runner geese, her pet Valais Blacknose sheep, her pet lamb ‘Pancake’, and Gertie, a golden Cheviot goat.

Jude is a loyal, empathetic and caring protagonist, whose private motto is ‘be type’. She has a robust work ethic and loves her farm, and the animals that inhabit it. She has a deep connection to the Malvern Hills space and walks the hills as a strategy to unwind and decompress.

Like most farms, Jude’s sheep farm is struggling financially. In a earlier e book she created a glamping web site and is now taking in paying visitors. Additionally, she is making an attempt her hand at organising a petting zoo to additional entice guests. This day out she has agreed for a movie crew to make use of the farm as a location for his or her Christmas particular present. Something to make monetary ends meet.

West Mercia policewoman Binita Khatri (Binnie), makes one other look on this, the sixth novel.  She has grow to be a private good friend of Jude, and retains her apprised of the police investigations. She has lately been promoted to Detective Inspector, and is simply again to work after an harm that required each bodily and emotional therapeutic.

Within the newest instalment of this pleasant thriller collection, Jude Grey is making an attempt to fulfill the monetary calls for of her farm with one more ‘facet hustle’. She has agreed for a movie firm to make use of her farm as a location for the Christmas particular of a well-liked program known as ‘Countryside Dwell’.

What she thought can be a ‘doddle’, seems to be a bit extra demanding of her than she initially anticipated. The present’s director is a sleazy man who feels he’s entitled to Jude’s time and a spotlight.  The 2 stars of the present, a a lot beloved married couple, have a wedding that’s not as excellent as their followers imagine.

Then, there may be an try on the feminine lead’s life, then one other member of the crew is murdered…

As soon as once more, Jude’s good good friend policewoman Binita Khatri is the lead on the homicide investigation, regardless of her formally being on medical depart…

To additional stress her out, Jude’s sister Lucy’s marriage ceremony to Noah will happen on the farm simply after Christmas, so there may be a lot to plan to make the day a particular one.

Since this was the sixth e book within the collection, I used to be delighted to fulfill up with Jude Grey and her household and mates as soon as once more. They’re strongly outlined characters which can be each properly drawn and memorable. I’ve learn all six books within the collection and the standard of the plots and the writing are maintained strongly all through.

Followers of this collection shall be happy that the entire ‘will they’ or ‘received’t they’ side of Jude’s relationship with Marco is resolved on this e book.

With themes of the rigours of contemporary farming, sustainable farming, adultery, manipulative behaviours, {and professional} rivalries, this instalment of the collection definitely was each pleasurable and entertaining.

The ending emphasised the contentment of Jude’s life, so it appeared like a heat hug. I’m eagerly awaiting the subsequent e book on this participating, cozy thriller collection. After six books, this collection is quick changing into one in every of my favourites.

This evaluate was written voluntarily and my ranking was under no circumstances influenced by the truth that I obtained a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Boldwood Books through NetGalley.

Publication date: September 3, 2025

ISBN: 9781836781493 – ASIN:  B0F4W5L2G6 – 322 pages

Kate Wells/Kate Poels is the creator of various well-reviewed books for youngsters, and is now writing a brand new cosy crime collection set within the Malvern hills, impressed by the farm the place she grew up. “Homicide on the Farm” is the primary e book in that collection, with “Stranger within the Village” being the second, and “A Physique By The Henhouse” being the third.

Kate started her grownup life coaching as a nurse earlier than re-training as a trainer. She has labored in a number of main faculties, each mainstream and particular wants, and continues to spend a lot of time in school rooms and faculty halls a technique or one other. When she took a break to have her two daughters she started writing and hasn’t stopped!

Having hung out residing and dealing on farms she developed a love of the agricultural life and sometimes dreamt of operating a sheep farm, particularly when she married the son of a farmer. It wasn’t to be although, so as an alternative, she lives her farming desires by way of researching and writing her books. Nowadays she will be able to usually be present in a area speaking to sheep, or out on the Malvern Hills strolling her border collie cross.

Join with Kate Wells through Twitter, Instagram, and/or through her web site.