An English Garden Murder is the first of the Julia Bird Mysteries by Katie Gayle. Turns out this author is actually two people writing as one! Kate and Gail! It was a fun start (and two more books in the series are already out). Julia, recently divorced, (wait until you learn why!) has moved to a small town in the Cotswolds for a new start. When pulling out an old shed to make room for a chicken coop, a body is discovered. That, of course, opens up the proverbial can of worms as it is determined who it is and how long it's been buried. While walking her new (and as yet not well behaved) puppy she comes across another body. There is just one cop in this small town, so Julia, decides to investigate on her own (at least at the start). Nicely done!

I learned about new (to me anyway) category of books with I'm Going to Kill That Cat, by F. Della Notte. It's the first in the Housekeeper Mystery Series. It looked like something I'd like ... the housekeeper works for three priests! Do note that no animals were injured or hurt, in spite of the title. The opening was violent, and there were other such passages as well, and there's a stalker, so I was thinking 'this is a cozy'? Turns out there is a sub-genre called 'cozy thriller'. Isn't that a contradiction in terms? There were some good parts too, and I liked the characters, but for this reader, it was just too dark and violent to want to read the next book. Do check it out on Goodreads, though, it got excellent reviews by lots of readers.

Reading Hermit With Dog