Welcome to Murder Week

Another Cozy Mystery I Couldn't Pass Up..."Welcome to Murder Week" is about a week-long staged murder mystery in a quaint village in England's Peak District, a mostly absentee mother who passes away before she can surprise her adult daughter with tickets to attend this event together, and a daughter who is intrigued by her mother's secret purchase that turns into an unexpected journey she didn't know she needed...In typical cozy fashion, this tale starts slow, but immediately draws you into the mystery of not knowing which characters are who they claim to be, and which ones are playing a part. The entire village has come together for this staged event, keeping you guessing.The main character, Cath, who lives in Buffalo, NY, is fun and wicked-smart, but she also has a quiet, contemplative side, especially when thinking about her mom, Sky. As the story progresses, little nuggets start dropping, and a second mystery develops —one that's closer to home. Cath and her two cottage mates, whom I love, now have two mysteries to focus on, and they're all about solving both."Welcome to Murder Week" is a fun and creative cozy mystery that explores themes of relationships, taking risks, and discovering one's identity, with likable-to-lovable characters from both sides of the pond, and set in a charming village in the English countryside. What's not to love, I ask you?4⭐Thank you to Scout Press and Karen Dukess for a physical ARC of this book through Shelf Awareness GLOW. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Raised by her grandmother for most of her life, Cath has mixed feelings about her mother, who recently passed away. Her mother flitted in and out of Cath’s life throughout her childhood, deeply disappointing her every time she left for a a new adventure. When going through her mother’s things, Cath discovers a pre-paid vacation for the two of them for a murder mystery week in a small village in England. Unable to refund her ticket, she goes. While there, she gets out of her comfort zone, makes new friends, finally has some fun, and discovers a secret past her mother hid from her all these years.Although there’s murder in the title of this book, it’s not a murder mystery. It’s really a heartfelt journey about grief, forgiveness, and understanding. I also really enjoyed the vacation aspect and the murder mystery game.

Welcome to Murder Week was a joy to read. I was especially impressed by the way the two mysteries were woven together so seamlessly that my interest never once wavered. The events unfolded with a natural rhythm, striking a perfect balance of backstory, red herrings, and romantic tension.For a book with a large cast (including villagers impersonating potential suspects), the variety was remarkable. Each character felt like a miniature portrait—distinct, vivid, and carefully drawn. Because neither the reader nor the sleuths know who is genuine and who is performing a role, the experience becomes uniquely immersive. It feels as if you're part of the investigation in a way that sets this story apart from most mysteries.I was caught off guard by my reaction to the ending. Up until then, the read had been engaging, comfortable, and thoroughly enjoyable. I’d grown genuinely fond of the three main “detectives” and appreciated how their distinct strengths and perspectives complemented each other. I expected the story to conclude with the same steady hand that guided most of the novel. But when the plot began to twist and turn—lifting my hopes, dashing them, then lifting them again—I realized Karen Dukess had crafted something far more intricate than I first understood. She had drawn me in so subtly, with such grace, that I hardly noticed how fully I’d been engaged. And when the ending came, it was perfect.

A wonderful, fun summer read! Loved it.

Three American strangers meet in a small English village for a week-long immersive murder puzzle. One of them, Cath, is there because of a bizarre gift from her recently deceased, absent mother. While Cath, Amity, and Wyatt are pursuing the village mystery, Cath finds herself on a discovery of who her mother was, why she gave Cath this gift, and the nature of grief. And the three strangers become the key nd of friends who enter your heart and never leave.This is an easy book to carry around to read on the train or plane. You won't feel like you have to drop everything to finish in one go (if you're a murder or thriller reader, you'll know what I mean.)