The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson

 

After a disastrous encounter at work in London, Nova Davies has moved to a small village with her fiance which is his hometown.  It's quite an adjustment from London as they are living with his parents until they find a house.  There isn't much to do but she has Steven and his best friend Laura works with her.  Her new boss is wound tight but a good sort as well.

Nova works in community engagement and her job is at the village community center.  She starts a book club and only has a few members at first.  There is Phyllis, an older woman who insists on bringing her smelly bulldog everywhere she goes.  Arthur is another older member, a farmer who is a constant caretaker for his wife who has become housebound.  Then there is Ash, who is a teenager, basically loves sci-fi and not much else and doesn't say much.  Rounding out the group is Michael who has just started and whom no one really knows much about.

At the meeting, Michael gets a text and suddenly jumps up and leaves.  After the book club is over, it's discovered that the money the community raised to get a new roof has been stolen and suspicion falls on Nova who may not have locked the office.  The club thinks Michael may have taken it and when they track him down, they find that his mother has died and the police suspect it could be murder.  Who could have killed her?  They decide to find Michael and hopefully the money along with him.

Freya Sampson is a British author who worked as an executive producer in television before she started writing.  Readers will love Nova and cheer for her to straighten her life out.  Arthur is another sympathetic character while Phyllis provides the comic relief.  They each have secrets and as they get to know each other better, the secrets start to emerge.  I usually don't read cozy mysteries but this one was a delight to read and is recommended for mystery readers.