Review by Sarah Erwin
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.
Spring is in full bloom in A Maypole of Deceit by Victoria Tait. This is book five in her Cotswold Antique Mystery series. This can be read as a standalone, but readers new to the series should not overlook Victoria’s delightful backlist.
Everyone is busy preparing for the annual May Day celebration, but when a body is found tied to the village maypole moments before the day of celebration is supposed to begin, the organizers must scramble. Keya and Sujin begin to process the crime scene, while Dotty and Zach work with the team to move as much of the festival to the grounds around Akemans.
 |
| Image Source Kanga Press |
I cannot say enough good things about Victoria Tait’s books and this one is just as wonderful as past entries. Every time I open a new mystery from Victoria, I feel like I am settling in for not only a puzzling mystery, but also a visit with friends in a setting I’ve come to adore. Traveling through the pages of a book to the Cotswolds in spring is a treat as the descriptions of the flowers and weather are vivid.
The more Keya and Dotty and friends learned about the deceased, the more names we could add to the suspect list. While violence is never the answer, this man was the worst. Having such an unlikable victim and a pile of suspects made for a fascinating reading experience – just who could have done it?!
As always, I loved being back with Dotty, Zach, Keya, Sujin, and Inspector Lynn Lockwood. I enjoyed seeing glimpses of these characters' lives outside of the investigation – Dotty and Zach are house hunting and Aunt Beanie is selling her farm and looking to move, and Keya and Sujin have some new developments in their married life.
This is a wonderful escape that I thoroughly enjoyed. And I’m anxiously awaiting the next bookish delight from Victoria.
To enter to win a copy of A Maypole of Deceit (ebook or print, winner's choice), simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "maypole,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 18, 2026. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!
You can click here to purchase this book.
Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director, and then a stay at home mom. Currently, she is working part-time in a local elementary school library and loving being back with kids and books. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband, two dogs and a cat. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Comments
Post a Comment