Title: Marrow Jam by Susan A King
Date Published: 27th April 2020
Publisher: Lightning books
Genre: Cosy Crime/Humour
Description:
As addictive & glorious as a scrumptious cream tea’ NICOLA MAY, author of The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay
MURDER, MYSTERY…AND MARROWS
Some people would describe Beattie Bramshaw as a pillar of the community. Many would applaud her numerous successes in the bakery competition at the annual village show. A small number might say, if pushed, that they find her a little on the bossy side. And one or two might just whisper the words ‘interfering’ and ‘busybody’ behind her back.
But no-one would have her down as a murderer.
So why is she being questioned in Dreighton police station after being found in the local allotments, at the dead of night, wielding a kitchen knife just yards away from where local lottery winner, Yvonne Richards, was found stabbed to death? And what does all of this have to do with Doug Sparrow’s prize marrows?
Marrow Jam is a comedy crime caper in the spirit of Agatha Raisin. It will have you chuckling all the way through many a cup of tea.
Review:
I want to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on this tour and providing me with a copy of Marrow Jam in exchange for an honest review.
Marrow Jam is a light hearted comic mystery with plenty of memorable, if not slightly mad, characters.
The story starts with Beattie being arrested trespassing on the local allotments. The police are convinced that they’ve got their woman after a body was discovered not far from where she was found. She takes them back through the events that lead to her arrest and tries to convince them of her innocence and find the killer in the process.
I loved the fact that the story was full of older characters and your typical granny types either. Beattie is one of those characters that you’re not quite sure if you like her but she grows on you eventually. She’s very competitive, fastidious and doesn’t suffer fools but as the story unfolds you see why she is the way she is. I also had a soft spot for her best friend, poor put upon Phyllis, who just can’t say no to her friend.
The story was also set in 1999 and I enjoyed some of the nineties references which took me back to my childhood.
Overall I would say it felt more like a humorous story than a mystery but that’s just a minor thing.
Marrow Jam is a fun filled story that’s the perfect escape from these trying times.
About The Author:
Susan A King lives with her husband in a quiet suburb in Hampshire. Between them they
have four grown-up sons, all of whom have now flown the nest.
The inspiration for her first novel, Marrow Jam, came from her long experience and observation of competitors at the annual Romsey Show, where she regularly aspires to win Best in Show with her floral arrangements.
Marrow Jam, was shortlisted for the Write Here, Right Now novel competition, Bradford Literature Festival and is published by Eye/Lightning Books.
On The Shelf Reviews 