Cosy Crime

Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Murder by Amy Lillard is a contemporary cosy crime novel that I enjoyed. It is the first book in A Main Street Book Club Mystery which promises to be entertaining.

The reader enters small town America where a murder of one of their own has been committed. The clues all point in one direction – to a quiet, unassuming local despite the fact that strangers are in town. Local residents come together and begin amateur sleuthing looking for answers.

As I read, I was very much reminded of both Miss Marple; and also, Midsomer Murders, if both were set in America. Everyone knows each other; the police chief is a friend to all, and there are a trio of octogenarians plus two younger people, all trying to solve the crime.

I loved the inclusion of a traumatised cat, and also a noisy parrot who provided light-hearted entertainment with his random comments.

This was a fun, light-hearted read. It would translate perfectly into the afternoon or early evening cosy crime slot on television. I shall look forward to more books in this series.

JULIA WILSON