Death in the Hills by Kate Wells Book Review

About the Book:

This is no peaceful walk in the countryside…

When Jude Gray and DI Binnie Khatri join a local walking group, their expectations for a peaceful outing to the Malvern Hills takes a grim turn. Arguments abound, and the hike ends in tragedy when one of the walkers is found dead in her car.

Initially ruled as an accident, Jude's instincts tell her there’s more to the story.

As Jude and Binnie dig deeper, they uncover tensions and secrets within the group. From hidden affairs to longstanding rivalries, it becomes clear this death was no accident.

With each revelation, the danger grows. Can Jude and Binnie unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again?

My Review:

This is an entertaining cozy mystery involving rambling through the countryside. I liked learning a bit about how farm lands are open to those walking through on established trails. While private property is respected, historical walking paths are available. Jude is a capable amateur sleuth, investigating by talking to people and sneaking into residences to find evidence. The plot has a consistent pace, suitable for a cozy mystery set in the British farmlands. There is a good bit of suspense near the end. The setting of farmlands is good and feels relaxing. I really like the good descriptions of the rambling locations.

This is a nice cozy mystery, especially if you like dogs and sheep and good descriptions of the countryside.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Kate grew up in Malvern on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border and still spends much of her time there. It is her heart's home and the muse for a lot of her writing.

She began her adult life training as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital and then moved to Reading where she took a teaching degree.

When she took a break to have her two daughters she began creating stories and hasn't stopped writing since!

Having spent time living and working on farms she developed a love of the rural life and often dreamt of running a sheep farm, especially when she married the son of a farmer. It wasn't to be though, so instead, she lives out her farming dreams through researching and writing her books.

These days she's often found in a field talking to the sheep, or out on the Malvern Hills walking her border collie cross.

Boldwood Books, 350 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)