Murder At The Allotment (Whitstable Pearl Mysteries)

by Julie Wassmer

Murder At The Allotment is the tenth book in Julie Wassmer's popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan

'While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl' Daily Mail

Pearl's tiny garden of Eden is transformed into a battlefield when the out of towners come to Whitstable...

Pearl Nolan's coastal allotment has always been a quiet haven - somewhere for her to relax and cultivate special ingredients for her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. But a sudden clamour for allotments by the DFLs - Down From Londoners - causes tension in the local community when the council decides to accommodate them by dividing existing plots into smaller parcels. The harmony that once existed between holders of land previously blighted only by slugs and caterpillars, soon transforms into a bitter turf war as a pushy DFL tries to take over by forming an Allotment Association - with herself as its chair.

When anonymous complaints are submitted to the council about each of the local allotment holders -- apart from the DFLs --Pearl's services as private detective are called upon to discover the complainant but before she can do so, what began as a tiff among the turnips soon becomes a hunt for a killer when gardening tools are put to murderous use...




Praise for Julie Wassmer's Whitstable Pearl Mysteries...

'One of the best episodes in Wassmer's longrunning Whitstable saga' Daily Mail

'As light as a Mary Berry Victoria sponge, this Middle-England romp is packed with vivid characters' Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent

'All of the thrills without any of the gore' The Sun

'Wassmer tells a rattling good tale with a lineup of oddball characters who keep us guessing' Daily Mail

'This is a quality title...a very entertaining read' The Puzzle Doctor

'A wonderful way to explore Whitstable . . . if you love cosy mysteries, then get acquainted with Pearl (and her mum and her cats!) and enjoy a trip to Whitstable through the eyes of this very convincing author' Trip Fiction

'Proves she's mistress of her craft' John McGhie, author of White Highlands

'Good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea' Bec Stafford

Praise for the TV series...

'Scandi noir meets the English seaside in Whitstable Pearl, a murder mystery series based on Julie Wassmer's novels...' Drama Quarterly

'...explores all the murder and debauchery in the seemingly perfect English seaside town of Whitstable...' Washington Post

'...you never know what might turn up, either on the menu or alongside an oyster boat.' Wall Street Journal

• ISBN10: 1408719940
• ISBN13: 9781408719947
• Publish Date: 14 May 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Constable
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Murder At The Allotment is the 10th Whitstable Pearl mystery by Julie Wassmer. Released 14th May 2024 by Hachette on their Constable imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. Audiobook format released by Bolinda.

This is a long running, genuinely warm, and well constructed series with relatable and appealing 3 dimensional characters who are (mostly) realistically rendered. The latest installment sees escalating drama at the allotment when weekenders vs. locals heats up over the availability of the allotment spaces and not fitting the Down From Londoners' aesthetics. The ringleader of team DFL is soon found deceased in the hot composter, and Pearl (and her fiance, a DCI with the local police), try to untangle the mystery.

Although it's the 10th book in the series, the books are self-contained standalones, and readers can jump in at any point. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours 9 minutes and is beautifully read by Jennifer Kirby. She has a nuanced earthy voice and does a good job with the various and varied regional character accents. She's easy to listen to and enunciates very clearly. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Four and a half stars. Entertaining and well written cozy with appealing returning characters and a solid narrator.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.