Book Review: Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

Maureen Johnson (author) and Jay Cooper (illustrator), Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press, 2021. ISBN: 9781984859624.

 

Genre: humor

Subgenre: British mysteries, Anglophile

Format: e-book galley

Source: NetGalley

 

I picked this up because I like a good British mystery here or there. In addition, I've been binge watching Midsomer Murders now and then, which is a series about a police detective solving murders in the quaint English villages of Midsomer County. So this book was right up the alley. 

 

The book opens with a note to the gentle reader. Then it looks at the two major locations: the village and the manor. Within the locations, the author guides us through places, people, and event in both locations. To reinforce the guidance, you get a quiz at the end of each section. Your odds of passing the quizzes are slim. Remember, these villages really are murder central. You should have stayed in the city. 

 

The entries are brief, so this book is more like a glossary than a full guide. However, its entries capture the essence of a quaint English village. The book plays well on the cozy village mystery tropes and stereotypes. If you are fan of the genre, you will recognize the various elements and smile a bit. 

 

For me, this was a light, fun, and amusing read. It does not have much substance, but it has good humor. The art, reminiscent of works like Masterpiece Theater, suits the text well. The book can be a good selection for public libraries, just shelve it next to the cozy British mysteries. 

Overall I liked this one. 

 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

 Book qualifies for the following 2020 Reading Challenge: