A Body in a Cornish Village

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first when the plot hinged on a TV crew descending on Tinworthy—*how many times have we seen that setup?* But MacDonald flips the trope by making the film crew’s arrival feel less like a catalyst and more like a pressure cooker for tensions already simmering. The murder isn’t just a disruption; it’s the logical explosion of years of clenched teeth and forced smiles. Kate’s investigation unfolds with a satisfying mix of doggedness and dark humor—like when she “accidentally” spills tea on a suspect’s designer shoes to buy time. It’s these moments, where the absurdity of village life collides with genuine stakes, that make the book sing. Jane McDowell’s performance is *almost* flawless. Her Kate is warm but weary, the voice of a woman who loves her home but isn’t blind to its flaws. The supporting cast shines too, particularly her take on the victim’s bereaved (and suspiciously calculating) widow—every syllable drips with honeyed malice. My only gripe? A few male voices veer into caricature, especially the gruff detective, who sometimes sounds like he’s auditioning for a pantomime. The pacing stumbles slightly in the middle when subplots about the TV show’s behind-the-scenes drama threaten to overshadow the murder, but the final act tightens like a noose. And that ending? Brutal in the best way—a reminder that cozy mysteries can pack a punch without sacrificing charm. If you love your whodunits with a side of social satire and a narrator who could read a grocery list and make it compelling, this is your next listen.