It’s Christmas in the Cotswold village of Little Beecham . . . a season to celebrate with caroling, mistletoe, and mince pies. In this sequel to UNDER AN ENGLISH HEAVEN, newlywed American Ellie Kent is looking forward to her first English village Christmas, but a missing Oxford student and an abandoned baby soon draw her away from the fireside into danger.When a body is discovered on Boxing Day, … Boxing Day, Ellie comes to believe that all these events may be linked through a group of teenage girls who identify with Shakespeare’s tragic Ophelia. The police scoff at her theory, so Ellie pursues her own investigation to identify their secret Hamlet, who may be a killer.
“Not only is Alice Boatwright a good detective writer, but a first-class storyteller as well. A great find.
– M.C. Beaton, author of the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mysteries
Don’t miss the first Ellie Kent mystery!
2016 winner of the Mystery and Mayhem Grand Prize for best mystery
In UNDER AN ENGLISH HEAVEN, life brings the skeptical American Ellie Kent to a village in the Cotswolds as the vicar’s new wife, but death keeps her guessing how long she’ll be there.
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Following the life of Ellie Kent her first year in England transports me to the Cotswolds!
A wonderfully cozy mystery. A+
I’m in love with this series. Once again I listened on Audible and the narrator is excellent. I love the characters and the plots and there was a subplot that concluded in an unexpected manner for me. I cannot wait until book 3! If you love cozy mysteries you will love this.
Another book in my area of England where I have lived. The story got me right away and it made itself very believable. I’m glad I found this book.
For me “What Child Is This” was an easy to read and entertaining book. Enjoyed the characters and plot. Comfortable ending.
Nicely done. The Cotswolds village comes alive as the California transplant finds her spot in a new family and a new country and , of course, finds the killer.
A new classic? No. But a pleasure.
One of the best new mysteries I have read. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The plot moves along much like an Agatha Christie story.
I liked these characters and the story line so much I read both books, and can’t wait for more!
This was a wonderful cozy mystery. I couldn’t put it down, so glad I discovered the series by this great author.
Ellie sees a missing child posted and gets drawn in. Very good story and story teller
Ellie is looking forward to her first White Christmas, but a missing girl and an unexpected chain of events make this a very un-ordinary Christmas for the residents of a normally quiet Cotswolds village.
A well written and easy to read mystery.
cozy-mystery, England, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation
A year ago Ellie was a professor, had an ex husband and an ex lover, and celebrated Christmas with her parents in California. This Christmas she is a vicar’s wife and amicable stepmother in a Cotswold village with a new assortment of friends including some of her friends’ teenagers. And she soon became involved in the second murder investigation and a missing person since taking up residence. The detective on the cases is predictably less than pleased with her involvement. There is a young woman gone missing nearly three months, an unknown tiny newborn in the creche during the Christmas Eve service, a young woman who did not commit suicide, and other linked mysteries. The mystery is well crafted and the characters are engaging.
I have it as Whispersync and Saskia Maarleveld proves to be a remarkable voice performer!
An enjoyable read and cleverly put together.
Liked it and will look for others by this author.
Easy to read Holiday must! Loved the who done it adventure! Great writing..
Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this one down. The characters are truly believable and the plot twists and turns are surprising. I was looking for something with a Christmas background and this is definitely worth the read and re-read!
Terrific book and characters! I loved it from beginning to end!!
I love this novella. It is a heartwarming Christmas story. I wish we knew what happens to these characters next.
A unique cozy and a fun seasonal read.
An excellent addition to the cozy genre. The setting and characters are unique enough to make it a stand out read. I very much enjoyed it and being able to read it over the Christmas holiday was an extra bonus.