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Kathy Manos Penn
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Bells, Tails & Murder: A Cozy English Animal Mystery (A Dickens & Christie Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Kathy Manos Penn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,895 ratings
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She crossed an ocean to start her life over. Can she nab a killer before her quaint village becomes a graveyard?

Recently widowed Leta Parker desperately needs a change of scenery. Pursuing her lifelong dream of retiring to the Cotswolds, she leaves her soulless corporate hustle in Atlanta and moves to England with her talking dog and cat companions—Dickens and Christie. But she’s barely begun making new friends when she stumbles across her housekeeper’s body …

With several villagers pegged for the crime, Leta teams up with a retired English teacher and her sharp-as-a-tack octogenarian mother to track the killer before the trail goes cold. As the not-so-friendly local policewoman elbows them out and scandalous rumors plague the tight-knit community, it’s left to the ladies and their pets to sleuth for the truth.

Can Leta, Dickens, and Christie sniff out the culprit before the cute little town loses more than its charm?

Bells, Tails & Murder is the delightful first book in the Dickens & Christie cozy mystery series. If you like spunky literary women, amusing animal sidekicks, and inviting cultural backdrops, then you’ll love Kathy Manos Penn’s engaging page-turner.

Buy Bells, Tails & Murder to see the fur fly today!

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  1. Book 1 of 11
    A Dickens & Christie Mystery
  2. Print length
    237 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    February 17, 2020
  6. File size
    4896 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Glynn Young

TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars ★★★★★

A fun fusion of literary history, life in the Cotswolds, talking pets - and murder

Leta Parker has a rather unusual gift. Since childhood, she can talk with dogs and cats. Now, a lot of us are known for talking with dogs and/or cats, but Leta really talks with them. She understands everything a dog or cat will bark or meow, respectively. She doesn't advertise this gift; her family thought she was really strange, and she doesn't need other people thinking she's more than strange.

She's an American who's just moved to Astonbury in the Cotswolds in England. Leta is a widow; her husband Henry died from injuries when he was struck by a car while cycling, and Leta is not really over his death. His pension and life insurance gave her the financial freedom necessary to do something she always wanted to do - live in the Cotswolds. And she's made good friends throughout the town - the car garage owner, the bookstore proprietor, the innkeeper and his wife, and many others. One town resident everyone knows is Alice Johnson, who cleans houses (and the inn) and is an excellent cook.

Early one morning, Leta takes her dog Dickens (the pets invariably have literary names; Leta's cat is named Christie) for a walk near the town's memorial cricket pavilion. The walk barely starts when Leta and Dickens discover Alice's body. While her death appears accidental, as if she tripped and hit her head, her purse is missing. When Leta goes to find and feed Alice's cat, she discovers the home has been ransacked. Even worse, Leta sees a figurine that her late husband had given her; did Alice steal it? As it turns out, Alice had a penchant for pilfering, especially valuable books, like first editions of the worlds of J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan and who had strong connections to the Astonbury area.

"Bells, Tails, & Murder" by Kathy Manos Penn is the first mystery novel in the Dickens & Christie series, and it's a fun fusion of literary history, life in the Cotswolds, talking pets, theft and greed, and murder. It's officially classed as a "cozy" mystery, which means it's a clean story, with no bad language or R- or NC-17-rated scenes. It also includes a recipe for Greek salad, which plays a small role in the story. Penn also artfully keeps the reader guessing as to the villain's identity, and it's great fun to keep guessing as new clues emerge.

Penn is also the author of the second novel in the Dickens & Christie series, "Pumpkins, Paws, & Murder."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084X6546S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Manos Penn & Ink (February 17, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 17, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4896 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,895 ratings

About the author

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Kathy Manos Penn

Kathy Manos Penn

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Kathy Manos Penn lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia with her husband and her four-legged office assistants. When she dreamed of retiring from corporate America, she envisioned indulging in her favorite pastimes—reading, traveling, and writing columns for her local paper. Taking her bucket list trip to England was a top priority.

A second career as an author was never part of the plan—until someone uttered the fateful words, “You should write a cozy mystery.”

Nine books later, readers can’t get enough of the Dickens & Christie mystery series. Kathy adheres to the adage to write what you know and populates her mysteries with well-read, witty senior women, a loyal dog, and a sassy cat.

Her two four-legged office assistants inspire the personalities of Dickens & Christie. Why is Dickens a fiend for belly rubs? Because Kathy’s real-life dog is. The same goes for Christie’s finicky eating habits and penchant for lolling on top of the desk or in the file drawer. She gets it from the calico cat who rules the roost.

How does Kathy describe her life? “I’m living a dream I never knew I had.”

Book I in the series, Bells, Tails & Murder, won a 2020 Readers’ Favorite Gold Award, and Pets, Pens & Murder, Book VII, garnered a 2023 Georgia Author of the Year nomination.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,895 global ratings
Get cozy for a few hours with this charming cozy mystery
5 Stars
Get cozy for a few hours with this charming cozy mystery
Need a break from your shelter-in-place? Travel to the Cotswolds section of Great Britain with Dickens and Christie and a memorable cast of characters in Kathy Banos Penn's new book, Bells, Tails, and Murder. What a fun, creative story which truly lives up to its designation as a "cozy mystery." I was cozy under my blanket for one whole glorious afternoon as I read this charming book from start to finish. I'm smiling now just thinking about it. Thanks, Kathy, for the escape. I already bought the next book and am looking forward to another enjoyable afternoon.
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Top reviews from the United States

Judy Emig
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun book to read
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
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I really liked that all of the characters were listed in the beginning of the book, as well as how they related to other characters. The map was also helpful. The story was always interesting with a lot of twists and turns. It was fun having the cat and dog talk. My cats always seem to be trying to talk to me, but I don’t always understand!
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Mrs. Brunke
4.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and Delightful
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2021
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This is a light mystery and a quick read. But the characterization is very good. Unlike so many so-called "cozy mysteries" this one has characters that I could picture going about daily life in a realistic way. I loved the animal characters and the little quirky twist of Leta being able to understand her animals. I liked that it was presented so matter of factly and then we just moved on. Take it or leave it! The plot kept me guessing or at least suspecting quite a few people before it was resolved. I didn't read it in one go but it was so entertaining I wish I had been able to take a day, brew up some tea, have my cat snuggle up next to me, and just read to the end. I look forward to reading more by this author.
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June Price
5.0 out of 5 stars Am I underestimating my dog
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2020
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When I first saw the blurb for this book and it mentioned that the main character talked to her dogs, I think my eyes involuntarily rolled. As much as I love my furry friends, I have never quite been able to get into books where they are treated as and act like humans. I also thought, well, I talk to my dog, too. Maybe that's what they mean. Not quite, but as it turns out, author Penn does an excellent job of using animals natural abilities to observe and, yes, speak to us, while still treating them as animals. Dog Dickens and cat Christie are both well rounded characters on their own but their ability to communicate with main character Leta Parker is softened by, say, Dickens' love of belly rubs and instinctive desire to sneak human goodies off a table. In other words, they're given a big role in the book but from the standing that they are animals, not humans, much as Leta's chats with them fill her days and aid in the discovery of the killer.

Okay, that said, the story is great and moves right along. I won't ruin the plot for anyone aside from my hints at the role of Dickens and Christie above, but found the characters both likeable and believable. As a book fan from way back, ie a time when Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan were familiar parts of my nightly routine, it was intriguing to see how the author makes J. M. Barrie, in particular, and integral part of the plot. It's a story you will want to be true, one that offers the realm of magic and imagination while meshed solidly in reality. Heck, I found myself heading to a search engine to read up on Barrie almost before I had finished the book. Again, I won't say more and ruin the plot for anyone, just that you'll find yourself liking and rooting for the characters. There's even a hint of romance in the air for all us closet and not so closeted romantics.

All in all, a fun read, full of what ifs and suspects and, yes, a hint of magic. Give "Bells, Tails, and Murder" a read. I have to go have a chat with my dog right now, however, so I'll say no more.
35 people found this helpful
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Jerri C.
5.0 out of 5 stars I'm on my way to the Cotswolds to see Leta, Dickens and Christie!
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2022
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What a wonderful start to a series! The book has everything I enjoy in a cozy - a keep you reading mystery, supporting characters who are interesting and well-written, humor, cozy descriptions of the Cotswolds and it's charming villages, a bit of romance and two of the most unique "sleuthing" partners I've met - Dickens and Christie.

Leta, a retired American banker who relocated to England after a tragic accident left her widowed, finds herself embroiled in mystery and murder in her cozy village. What makes this book so much fun is that Dickens (a mini Pyrenees) and Christie (a sleek black cat) ... no - I can't reveal the twist but I guarantee you'll enjoy the crime solving trio!

I'm getting the second book and can't wait to settle in for a cup of tea and go back to the Cotswolds!
One person found this helpful
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Jolie Z
5.0 out of 5 stars Really entertaining and enlightening
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2023
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I wanted to read this book as I am a cat and dog lover and it sounded cute. But I found a good mystery full of interesting well researched background on J.M. Barrie who wrote Peter Pan! It has been labeled a “cozy” mystery - I assume due to the fact that Leta, the main character, can communicate with her dog and cat, but Leta is an educated former English teacher who is quite the sleuth. She has just retired and moved from Atlanta to the Cotswolds in England and I enjoyed reading about that area having visited England myself. Now I’m going to read the rest of the series, and check into finding out a bit more about J. M. Barrie.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Kim L.
5.0 out of 5 stars Leta, Dickenson and Christie become amateur sleuths.
Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2023
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This was the best of all lot of my favorite mystery writers and story tellers. Leta and her dog and cat moved from the USA to the UK and became friends with many of the small village residents. Leta and Dickens discover the body of the lady who cleaned many of the homes in the village. Well Leta who loved mysteries and her best friend decided to try to figure out what happened to their friend who's body Leta had found. This was an excellent mystery and very well written as a great story should be. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Can't wait to see what Leta and her pets get up to next.
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Kindle-klant a
5.0 out of 5 stars Double mystery
Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 4, 2023
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An amazing book, not a dull moment in it. I read the prequel too and had imagined Christie's character to be different. I really am curious how she will develop in later books. The road to the discovery of the killer kept me on edge. So did the possible loss of books and letters.
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Nikkib
5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous mystery series, very enjoyable...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2023
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A new to me series and author, light-hearted nystery series, which includes a talking cat and dog!

Set in the Cotswolds, Leta has relocated from the USA after being widowed; she has brought her dog Dicken and cat Christie with her, the unique thing about them is she can understand them, and all animals. It makes for some humorous scenes in the book.

When a villager who was a housekeeper to several of the other people who lived in the village is found by Leta and Dickens, they get involved in finding her murderer. Along the way, Leta learns more about the villagers and their long history there.

I really enjoyed this book and can see it will be a series I will binge read!
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Zalewski Valerie
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down
Reviewed in France on March 30, 2020
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I felt a little apprehensive when finding out that Leta could talk to her cat and dog. However, after getting further into the book, I found that this gift becomes almost a natural thing and doesn't spoil the story at all. On the contrary, it adds a nice touch of whimsy. I loved this book. The characters are fun and likeable. The literary theme is very interesting and well portrayed.The clues to the murderer were subtly laid before the reader, with a red herring or two to make the answer not too easy. I have just started reading the second book in the series and hope that there will be many more.
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Toots Sullivan
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing & good
Reviewed in Australia on September 5, 2020
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I enjoyed this book as it has interesting characters in a lovely setting with a good plot and plenty of action. It was enjoyable in the relaxing sense as it was more cerebral sleuthing. Very well done
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