4 stars

Jude Gray’s farm is getting better with good bookings for the camping site even as her neighbor is not happy. She is finally relieved that the troubles of the past are behind her. 

However, the hen party that arrived for the weekend seems to bring danger to Jude’s farm again. The group of friends has internal conflicts which spill over resulting in a disappearance and death. 

Can Jude and DI Bennie solve the case before it is too late? 

The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV. 

Book three of the Malvern Farm Mystery is possibly the best until now. The pacing is steady. There are enough twists to keep the reader guessing about the culprit and the reason. 

The ‘murder’ doesn’t happen for a long time. However, one of the characters disappears. This adds to the drama as we see the undercurrents between the women almost from the introduction. 

However, the book is not limited to a mystery. It also deals with the difficulties of farm life, be it the rising expenses or crop damage due to various factors. The work is never-ending on a farm. 

Lucy and Sebbie are, of course, a part of the book. Little Sebbie is four (already!) and adds the much-needed humor to the mystery. We get a few insights into Jude’s thoughts and uncertainties about the future. 

There are five women in the hen party, which can be confusing but doesn’t. Each of them has a distinct personality. They are flawed, some more than others. That means it is easy to take sides (and want certain characters to be bumped off). 

DI Binnie has a lot of work to do in this book, which I really like. Though it is Jude who connects the dots, Binnie has an active role and provides some vital information. I love how assertive and steady she is. 

Jude’s arc is much better in this one though she still jumps to conclusions at times. However, that makes her real instead of perfect, so no complaints. Seems she did learn her lesson after what happened in book two. 

The other side characters like Granny Margot have small but important roles in the plot. 

To summarize, A Body by the Henhouse is an enjoyable mystery with enough twists to keep you hooked. The ending offers two surprises, so I’m excited to see where it goes next. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

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P.S:

Some sheep are poisoned but don’t worry. They are all alive and healthy. I appreciate that.