Kindle
$0.00
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$9.88
Kindle Price: $0.00

Save $0.99 (100%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $17.46

Save: $9.97 (57%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Katie Gayle
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

An English Garden Murder: An utterly addictive English cozy mystery (Julia Bird Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Katie Gayle (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,649 ratings
See all formats and editions
Meet Julia Bird: recently single, reluctantly retired, and… an amateur sleuth?

Julia Bird has left London for a fresh start in a picturesque Cotswolds village, and the rustic charm and cosy fireplaces of her little cottage are everything she’d hoped for. But when she tears down the old garden shed to make way for a chicken coop, she unearths much more than she’d bargained for… the body of a young woman, apparently buried for decades, thrusting Julia into a baffling mystery.

With only one copper on the case in Berrywick, Julia decides to solve the who and whodunnit herself, taking her wayward puppy Jake along for the ride. And so begins a whirlwind tour of the village – from the dotty 90-year-old to the delightful doctor and the village gardener, it seems everyone has something to hide.

Soon, Julia is convinced she has discovered the killer’s identity, until Jake, a true Labrador, finds a new love of the local lake’s waterfowl and instead ends up catching her chief suspect… drowned. Back at square one, with potential culprits galore, Julia – newly nicknamed the Grim Reaper – despairs at ever solving the murders.

But as Julia ruffles feathers village-wide, the clock is ticking. There is someone in the village who has killed twice already. Will they be prepared to make it third time lucky to keep their secret safe?

This totally addictive page-turning cozy mystery is perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands.

Readers love An English Garden Murder:

‘There just aren't enough stars for this one, so I can only give it FIVE!! I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series!!’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely LOVED this… Julia Bird was an amazing and lovable character… Once I started it, I couldn't stop until I had finished it. I will definitely be on the lookout for the second novel in this series!’ Goodreads reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this very English murder mystery, so reminiscent of Agatha Christie… I loved everything about this book.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fabulous… addictive… a witty and delightful crime novel full of delicious red herrings, rural mischief and bucolic charm that is impossible to put down.’ Bookish Jottings

‘Oh my, I loved Julia Bird… she is a delight!. I can’t wait for the next one! Please don’t let it be long! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended!’MoongloTexas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Really entertaining… I simply couldn't put the book down… Julia's life in the countryside with her newly adopted dog Jake was too enjoyable… I cannot wait to read for Julia Bird's next adventure!… five stars!’ Tropical Girl Reads Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant!… I really warmed to Julia and especially Jake, her errant puppy and loved the village life…’ Broadbean’s Books⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this first book in a new cozy, English countryside series and hope it continues for a very long run…’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I really enjoyed this… heartwarming… always entertaining read.’ Jen Med's Book Reviews⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this book! I am always thrilled to find a new cozy mystery/series to get stuck into and I thoroughly enjoyed this one…’ A Wordy Woman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I'm pretty sure I want to be Julia Bird when I retire. Charming little cottage in a village in the Cotswolds in England? Check! Best friend who works as a librarian? Check! Time to finally learn how to bake and cook delicious food? Check! Insta-love with an adorable chocolate lab puppy? Check! Distinguished village Doctor who could be mistaken for Sean Connery?… I really enjoyed this brand-new cozy mystery.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 6
    Julia Bird Mysteries
  2. Print length
    254 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 5, 2022
  6. File size
    4050 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Next 3 for you in this series See full series
Total Price: $7.98
By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of Use
More like An English Garden Murder: An utterly addictive English cozy mystery (Julia Bird Mysteries Book 1)
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  13. Dyeing Season
    Kindle Edition
    $4.99
Next page
Loading...

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09SQ8CD7J
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (May 5, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 5, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4050 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 254 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,649 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Katie Gayle

Katie Gayle

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Follow us on Twitter @KatieGayleBooks.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
3,649 global ratings
Perfect English mystery!!
5 Stars
Perfect English mystery!!
I absolutely loved this book! Read it in just a few days! It has everything! A mystery, tea, books, a library, fun characters, a bit of romance, and a surprising ending! I have already ordered book 2. Just what I was looking for. Perfect setting, the Cotswold! I will let you know about book 2, but yes, but this one and enjoy the read! 5 stars!!!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Cozy
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was a perfect cozy read for me. The mystery was interesting--not overly simplistic, but not too complex for a light, fun reading session. I loved the cast of village characters, which is virtually a prerequisite for a good cozy British mystery. There were enough descriptive passages to get a nice sense of place but it never felt excessive or caused a loss of momentum for the plot. It was a no-brainer for me to immediately order the next book.

Want to say one more important thing! It was so lovely that the character was rebuilding her life after her ex-husband moved on with a man (not a spoiler as this is revealed right away) but instead of portraying this as a betrayal and cause for resentment, the main character enjoyed a continued friendship with her ex and his new partner. How refreshing!
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Blondie
4.0 out of 5 stars Murder and Puppies
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
Julia just moved to a new village, after a divorce and a retirement. Left alone to her own devices, she decides to build a chicken coop in her back yard, in place of the shed. Except there's a body under the shed. And then she finds a body at the lake. And the two are connected. Turns out, life in the country isnt as quiet as she thought it would be.

A cute story! And a great introduction to the characters.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Robert & Julie Grosch
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Cozy mystery
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is the best new series! I am picky about my murder mystery books. This one is unique and full of great characters. Kept me reading on until the end and a truly great cozy mystery!
Helpful
 Report
Jackie Houchin
5.0 out of 5 stars A Totally Entertaining Murder Mystery - keep them coming!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
AN ENGLISH GARDEN MYSTERY, first of three books in the Julia Bird cozy mystery series is another irresistibly written book. I don’t know what exactly it is that endows a book with a pleasurable stickiness that refuses to let the reader go, no matter how late the hour or how many of those hours it has held on to them. But Katie Gayle (two authors, really) has a great jar of that substance liberally applied to this book. I began and then read late into the night, with cliff-hanger chapters, appealing characters, including a miscreant dog and a gentleman who’s the look-alike and sound-alike of a Sean Connery James Bond. And the bodies, whoa! I mean dead ones (ha-ha).

When Julia Bird, a retired London social worker, moved to the small village of Berrywick, she thought life might become boring. Sure, the cottage was lovely, and the garden even more so. She could grow roses, make plum jam and scones, and…raise some hens. Of course, that is when and where the trouble began, because under the old shed which was set to be torn down to make room for the new chicken coop, was a… yep, a skeleton.

Within seconds (it seemed) the entire village knew of the find and gossip spun around like a whirling dervish. Julia was the talk of the town, in a bad way, and the lone village policewoman seemed too overwhelmed to investigate the find. Ah-ha! An opportunity for Julia to stick her nose into village life (and death, because there are more of those that occur). And it seems there was not a shortage of viable suspects. Good heavens!

It really is a jolly romp of a book, with the chocolate lab pup to add some sweetness and frustration. I LOVED this book! I promptly ordered the next two in the series for my Kindle. I dare say…YOU will too, once you read it. It’s a totally entertaining mystery book!
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Margo
3.0 out of 5 stars Intricate plot that unfolded far too predictably
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
I really wanted to like this book. I thought the protagonist has been developed by other writers much more authentically. Although, a social worker was an interesting choice of a career to transition into an amateur sleuth, but it was done much more successfully by another writer who developed a series based upon a recently divorced, London relocated, Obituary writer. This book was flat for me. I like her new lab puppy "Jake" but "Gus" the Dachshund, seems so much more suited. I didn't find that any great intellectual curiosity went into this book. I like to feel that effort goes into plotting out meaningful books. Especially if a series has been negotiated. This first book is a disappointment if that's the goal. Not enough meat on the bones to hold my interest. I found it flat, predictable and a certain shallowness in skirting beyond the circumstances that led Julia to the Cotswolds to start. The coincidences were beyond fantastical and the locals far too obvious and stereotypically contrived. I will not be moving forward with this series. I cannot say it wasn't ok, because it was. I just prefer a little more layers, color and texture in my British Cozy Mystery. I'm skipping the rest.
14 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable cozy mystery
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
I really liked the main character, Julia, who is over 60, but not frumpy or silly. I expect to read the rest of the series. I think it's not realistic that she would remain friends with her ex and his new partner, though.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Cozy mystery!
Reviewed in Canada on April 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very good mystery. A nice book to settle in with a glass of wine for an evening. The character is quirky and I love her animals!
Report
M. Vincent-Northam
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
Julia is a very likeable character; middle-aged she is divorced and new to village life. Hoping to settle in and make new friends she hires the local handman to build a hen coop and discovers more than she bargained for. A light-hearted read with a huddle of village characters.
This is the first in the series of Julia Bird stories and I'm looking forward to reading the second.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
MEGHNA
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in India on March 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
Flow of story was good and suspense was well kept till the end, making it a good read for light thriller category.
Report
CH new kindle owner
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
I immediately liked Julia Bird, slightly out of her depth and very much out of her comfort zone in her new life. Historical and new mysteries find her and she sets out to find the culprits.
Good characters, lovely setting, thoroughly enjoyable book
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Terri Talkin
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Cozy Read
Reviewed in Canada on August 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
If you love the "cozy mystery" type books then you are going to love this one! The characters, scenery, writing style ALL make you feel great! I have only read half so far and never have I laughed so much reading a book! Going to get more of her series!
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report