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The Supermarket Mysteries #1
The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery
Please note this book was previously published as The Cost of Living.
The little town of Kingsleigh is a place where nothing ever happens. Until . . . a young woman is attacked in an alley on her way home from the supermarket.
The headlines shriek ‘Kingsleigh Stalker!’ The locals just keep calm and carry on.
But then one of the women on the till at Costsave doesn’t turn up for work.
Checkout girl Bea Jordan is determined to find out what happened to her friend. The police don’t seem to be doing anything, so it’s up to her to get to the bottom of things.
And the only person who will help is Ant Thompson, the new guy. But he’s so useless he can’t even mop up a broken bottle of sauce . . .
The little town of Kingsleigh is a place where nothing ever happens. Until . . . a young woman is attacked in an alley on her way home from the supermarket.
The headlines shriek ‘Kingsleigh Stalker!’ The locals just keep calm and carry on.
But then one of the women on the till at Costsave doesn’t turn up for work.
Checkout girl Bea Jordan is determined to find out what happened to her friend. The police don’t seem to be doing anything, so it’s up to her to get to the bottom of things.
And the only person who will help is Ant Thompson, the new guy. But he’s so useless he can’t even mop up a broken bottle of sauce . . .
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2017
About the author
Rachel Ward
59 books646 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
May 10, 2024
"The Missing Checkout Girl" by Rachel Ward was a delightful read, engaging right from the first chapter.
Set in the heart of Kingsleigh, at your ordinary Costsave, this British novel follows the lives of a diverse cast of characters who work and run the shop while the “Kingsleigh Stalker” roams the dark streets.
While the central mystery of the missing checkout girl provides an intriguing backdrop, it is truly the characters and their intricate relationships that steal the show.
Can a charming and observant checkout girl and a floundering high school drop out find the lurker before another girl goes missing?
Ward's writing is vivid and immersive, painting a colourful picture of the bustling city and the people who inhabit it. I found myself invested in each character's story, eager to see where they would go.
The Missing Checkout Girl was a real treasure to discover, offering a fresh perspective on the mystery genre and showcasing Ward's talent for crafting compelling narratives.
And Rachel Ward wrote this while her husband was waiting and then recovering from a heart transplant. I don’t know how to say I’m in equal parts admiration, disbelief and sending lots of love!! Her ability to focus on creative pursuits (and do so brilliantly at it) during such a difficult time is a testament to her strength. Bravo!!
Set in the heart of Kingsleigh, at your ordinary Costsave, this British novel follows the lives of a diverse cast of characters who work and run the shop while the “Kingsleigh Stalker” roams the dark streets.
While the central mystery of the missing checkout girl provides an intriguing backdrop, it is truly the characters and their intricate relationships that steal the show.
Can a charming and observant checkout girl and a floundering high school drop out find the lurker before another girl goes missing?
Ward's writing is vivid and immersive, painting a colourful picture of the bustling city and the people who inhabit it. I found myself invested in each character's story, eager to see where they would go.
The Missing Checkout Girl was a real treasure to discover, offering a fresh perspective on the mystery genre and showcasing Ward's talent for crafting compelling narratives.
And Rachel Ward wrote this while her husband was waiting and then recovering from a heart transplant. I don’t know how to say I’m in equal parts admiration, disbelief and sending lots of love!! Her ability to focus on creative pursuits (and do so brilliantly at it) during such a difficult time is a testament to her strength. Bravo!!
October 18, 2017
Ha ha I really really enjoyed this one – probably that little bit more than most due to my day job – so much here about Bea’s life as a Supermarket checkout girl resonated and made me smile – but even that aside this was a right old trip of a read and I fell madly in love with Bea and Ant – two resoundingly lifelike characters.
I suppose you would call The Cost of Living cosy crime with a dark side – it is fast, often funny when it comes to its tales of Supermarket life – the regulars, the cliche’s that are not really cliche’s because they happen every day – I especially loved how the characters came to life, their interpersonal relationships and drama’s bang at the centre of a heartwarming story that then suddenly adds in a little death and destruction. And who doesn’t love a bit of death and destruction in their reading?
The mystery element is well imagined and I liked how the author kept it real – Bea is not a superwoman, Ant is definitely not a superman – their developing friendship was compelling and their amateur detection skills are just that, amateur and yet effective. Bea knows her town and the people in it – she is uniquely placed to see what the police might not but it could lead her and those she loves into danger.
This is JUST the type of novel I like to curl up with under a blanket with a cup of tea and a packet (or 3) of chocolate biscuits, immersing myself in the lives of fictional characters who in this particular case could easily be my own friends and colleagues (although I’m hoping life won’t be imitating art when it comes to certain aspects) – from the moment I started it I was engaged and enthralled. Very different to my usual dark and dastardly crime but really excellent and if Ant and Bea return I’ll be right there with them.
Definitely recommended.
I suppose you would call The Cost of Living cosy crime with a dark side – it is fast, often funny when it comes to its tales of Supermarket life – the regulars, the cliche’s that are not really cliche’s because they happen every day – I especially loved how the characters came to life, their interpersonal relationships and drama’s bang at the centre of a heartwarming story that then suddenly adds in a little death and destruction. And who doesn’t love a bit of death and destruction in their reading?
The mystery element is well imagined and I liked how the author kept it real – Bea is not a superwoman, Ant is definitely not a superman – their developing friendship was compelling and their amateur detection skills are just that, amateur and yet effective. Bea knows her town and the people in it – she is uniquely placed to see what the police might not but it could lead her and those she loves into danger.
This is JUST the type of novel I like to curl up with under a blanket with a cup of tea and a packet (or 3) of chocolate biscuits, immersing myself in the lives of fictional characters who in this particular case could easily be my own friends and colleagues (although I’m hoping life won’t be imitating art when it comes to certain aspects) – from the moment I started it I was engaged and enthralled. Very different to my usual dark and dastardly crime but really excellent and if Ant and Bea return I’ll be right there with them.
Definitely recommended.
January 27, 2020
4.5/5 Mazajā britu ciematiņā Kingsleigh nekad nekas nenotiek. Dzīve ir klusa un mierīga. Viens no nedaudzajiem pilsētiņas pārtikas veikaliem - Costsave - ir Bea darbavieta jau 5 gadus. Viņai patīk savs darbs pie kases, kontakts ar pircējiem un veikala darbinieki ir kā 2. ģimene. Bet tad ciematā kāds sāk izsekot sievietes naktī. Situācija kļūst vēl saspringtāka, kad kādu sievieti izseko no veikala un uzbrūk tumsas aizsegā! Sievietes ciematā vairs nejūtas drošībā! Lai atgūtu drošības sajūtu un kontroli pār savu dzīvi, Bea uzsāk pati savu izmeklēšanu. Vainīgais visticamāk ir kāds no veikala klientiem vai darbiniekiem!
Patīkams detektīvs ar interesantu valodu, labu humoru, inteliģenta galvenā varone, un man grūti paredzams sižets. Ir arī patīkams spriedzes elements, kas neļauj nolikt grāmatu malā, it īpaši tuvojoties grāmatas atrisinājumam. Labs lasāmgabals.
Patīkams detektīvs ar interesantu valodu, labu humoru, inteliģenta galvenā varone, un man grūti paredzams sižets. Ir arī patīkams spriedzes elements, kas neļauj nolikt grāmatu malā, it īpaši tuvojoties grāmatas atrisinājumam. Labs lasāmgabals.
November 19, 2021
Cosy-detective ir lielisks žanrs, kurā prasmīgajiem dažreiz izdodas nozvejot pa kādai pērlei.
Bea strādā mazpilsētas zemo cenu veikalā par kasieri, viņai patīk savs darbs, ir forši kolēģi un savi regulārie klienti, ar kuriem aprunāties. Bet tad pilsētiņas “Te-Nekad-Nekas-Nenotiek” mieru satricina uzbrukumi sievietēm vēlos vakaros. Bea gandrīz vai pati pret savu gribu kļūst par amatierdetektīvu, piesaistot tam arī savus draugus. Bet ļaundari arī nesēž, rokas klēpī salikuši, tā ka Bea vēl dabūs nožēlot savu hobija izvēli.
Grāmatas lielākie trumji ir autores lieliskā valoda, kas vislabāk redzama varoņu sarunās un ļoti pārliecinošajos personāžos, un prasme radīt daudzslāņainu stāstu, kur pamazām atklājas dažādas (dažreiz pavisam negaidītas) detaļas. Lielākoties šajā žanrā top “what you see is what you get” darbi, kas nemaz nav slikti, jo tieši tādu nesarežģītu atslodzi reizēm ļoti kārojas. Bet ir ļoti patīkami tapt pārsteigtam ar kaut ko vairāk.
Bea strādā mazpilsētas zemo cenu veikalā par kasieri, viņai patīk savs darbs, ir forši kolēģi un savi regulārie klienti, ar kuriem aprunāties. Bet tad pilsētiņas “Te-Nekad-Nekas-Nenotiek” mieru satricina uzbrukumi sievietēm vēlos vakaros. Bea gandrīz vai pati pret savu gribu kļūst par amatierdetektīvu, piesaistot tam arī savus draugus. Bet ļaundari arī nesēž, rokas klēpī salikuši, tā ka Bea vēl dabūs nožēlot savu hobija izvēli.
Grāmatas lielākie trumji ir autores lieliskā valoda, kas vislabāk redzama varoņu sarunās un ļoti pārliecinošajos personāžos, un prasme radīt daudzslāņainu stāstu, kur pamazām atklājas dažādas (dažreiz pavisam negaidītas) detaļas. Lielākoties šajā žanrā top “what you see is what you get” darbi, kas nemaz nav slikti, jo tieši tādu nesarežģītu atslodzi reizēm ļoti kārojas. Bet ir ļoti patīkami tapt pārsteigtam ar kaut ko vairāk.
November 20, 2018
What is it about?
Welcome to the town of Kingsleigh, where a whole host of characters work at Costsavers the supermarket. The story revolves around the supermarket staff, in particular, the main characters Bea and Ant. Bea has a heart of gold and she pays particular attention to make sure her customers are okay. She has a positive outlook even if all is not what it seems in her own life.
Ant is the rogue school drop out with a bad attitude, but with the help of Bea can he be a diamond in the rough?
When a host events make the town unsafe Bea and her accomplices take matters into there own hands. But are they just walking into the danger? You will have to pick up your own copy to find out.
My Thoughts
The first chapter really drew me in, Rachel Ward’s humour shines through and I was hooked. I like that the characters all meant something different to me. I really care about Bea and she could be the girl in the local supermarket. I think now if I was asked which six fictitious characters would you have at a dinner party, Bea would be on the list because she would be fun and I would love to meet her.
So halfway into the book, I had a wee wobble. The reason being is that I usually read gritty intense and at time gory crime fiction. So the pace of The Cost of Living was by no means slow, it was just different for me personally as the reader. But as a book blogger, I don’t want to be specifically linked to one genre. I want to test myself with varying genres. So I stuck in and I am so glad I did, it was brilliant.
I had no idea how it was going to end and that in itself is a marvellous sign of great writing. Rachel Ward covers an array of topics in the book beautifully. But especially the delicate way in which agoraphobia is handled. A lot of people will have never have heard about it. But not only does it affect the person but the people closest to them have to adapt too. I was blown away by how on point Rachel Ward writes about it.
So Rachel Ward’s The Cost of Living flies into my top five reads list of 2018. It has everything you could want from a read. Great plot with versatile and interesting characters. Fantastic writing with attention to detail. An accurate and sensitive portrayal of mental illness and real heart at its core.
I am delighted to say that there is a second instalment for me to get my mitts onto and a third in the pipeline.
Rachel Ward is one to watch, a writer with heart and a whole community of folks that are dying to meet you.
Next time you hear the beep you will be thinking of the fun you could have with Bea and Ant at Costsavers…….
Read more of my reviews and follow my blog at www.LoveBooksGroup.com
Welcome to the town of Kingsleigh, where a whole host of characters work at Costsavers the supermarket. The story revolves around the supermarket staff, in particular, the main characters Bea and Ant. Bea has a heart of gold and she pays particular attention to make sure her customers are okay. She has a positive outlook even if all is not what it seems in her own life.
Ant is the rogue school drop out with a bad attitude, but with the help of Bea can he be a diamond in the rough?
When a host events make the town unsafe Bea and her accomplices take matters into there own hands. But are they just walking into the danger? You will have to pick up your own copy to find out.
My Thoughts
The first chapter really drew me in, Rachel Ward’s humour shines through and I was hooked. I like that the characters all meant something different to me. I really care about Bea and she could be the girl in the local supermarket. I think now if I was asked which six fictitious characters would you have at a dinner party, Bea would be on the list because she would be fun and I would love to meet her.
So halfway into the book, I had a wee wobble. The reason being is that I usually read gritty intense and at time gory crime fiction. So the pace of The Cost of Living was by no means slow, it was just different for me personally as the reader. But as a book blogger, I don’t want to be specifically linked to one genre. I want to test myself with varying genres. So I stuck in and I am so glad I did, it was brilliant.
I had no idea how it was going to end and that in itself is a marvellous sign of great writing. Rachel Ward covers an array of topics in the book beautifully. But especially the delicate way in which agoraphobia is handled. A lot of people will have never have heard about it. But not only does it affect the person but the people closest to them have to adapt too. I was blown away by how on point Rachel Ward writes about it.
So Rachel Ward’s The Cost of Living flies into my top five reads list of 2018. It has everything you could want from a read. Great plot with versatile and interesting characters. Fantastic writing with attention to detail. An accurate and sensitive portrayal of mental illness and real heart at its core.
I am delighted to say that there is a second instalment for me to get my mitts onto and a third in the pipeline.
Rachel Ward is one to watch, a writer with heart and a whole community of folks that are dying to meet you.
Next time you hear the beep you will be thinking of the fun you could have with Bea and Ant at Costsavers…….
Read more of my reviews and follow my blog at www.LoveBooksGroup.com
December 7, 2021
Man jau šķiet, ka cozy detective ir ideāla lasāmviela atslodzei. Šī patiešām piesaista ar labo valodu, interesanto sižetu un reālajiem varoņiem. Nekādu super nopietno detektīvu, bet gan ierindas cilvēki, kuri tiek ierauti neikdienišķās situācijās.
October 7, 2022
First in a new series!
It's a refreshing change to read a 'home-grown' cosy mystery - so many of them come from American authors. I have noted that the second in this series is now available and I've added it to my list. As always with a first book, it took me a little while to get to grips with the characters but this is a good read, packed with the daily problems people face. I was surprised to find it set now - to me, the cover suggested more of a historical mystery (Miss Marple sprung to mind). Now the scene has been set and the characters set in place, I expect I shall get on better with the second one. An interesting one - I had my suspicions as to 'whodunnit' but, not for the first time, I was completely wrong! 4*.
It's a refreshing change to read a 'home-grown' cosy mystery - so many of them come from American authors. I have noted that the second in this series is now available and I've added it to my list. As always with a first book, it took me a little while to get to grips with the characters but this is a good read, packed with the daily problems people face. I was surprised to find it set now - to me, the cover suggested more of a historical mystery (Miss Marple sprung to mind). Now the scene has been set and the characters set in place, I expect I shall get on better with the second one. An interesting one - I had my suspicions as to 'whodunnit' but, not for the first time, I was completely wrong! 4*.
November 25, 2017
Can I give this more than five stars? This book is delightful, from start to finish!
I adored the characters: they are so thoroughly realized, I could swear I've met them. Not just the main characters, Ant and Bea, but all the peripheral characters too. The author describes it as "Cosy Crime," but I felt more tense reading parts of this than I did Girl on the Train or Gone Girl - who cares what happens to those people? Everytime Bea (BAE!) walked home alone my heart was in my mouth and my pulse was racing along with hers. I loved the setting too - Kingsleigh is the sort of town we've all lived or worked in and makes for a modern twist on the usual quaint village detective. And the mystery is compelling, just the right amount of red herrings to keep things interesting.
All in all, an excellent read! I finished this afternoon and have already ordered 2 copies to give as Christmas gifts. I really hope we see more of Ant and Bea.
I adored the characters: they are so thoroughly realized, I could swear I've met them. Not just the main characters, Ant and Bea, but all the peripheral characters too. The author describes it as "Cosy Crime," but I felt more tense reading parts of this than I did Girl on the Train or Gone Girl - who cares what happens to those people? Everytime Bea (BAE!) walked home alone my heart was in my mouth and my pulse was racing along with hers. I loved the setting too - Kingsleigh is the sort of town we've all lived or worked in and makes for a modern twist on the usual quaint village detective. And the mystery is compelling, just the right amount of red herrings to keep things interesting.
All in all, an excellent read! I finished this afternoon and have already ordered 2 copies to give as Christmas gifts. I really hope we see more of Ant and Bea.
May 15, 2019
Not my usual reading, a light crime story set in contemporary suburban England, with a young supermarket checkout girl as the lead character, Bea, who does some amateur sleuthing. The writer turns out to be a neighbour of mine so I suppose I’m being nosy!
I quite enjoyed it. In some ways it revels in the mundane aspects of everyday life: Bea and her housebound mum’s evening meal and TV viewing habits, the routine of supermarket working life, etc. But it has a charm in the companionship of work, the banter between staff and customers. Just a bit of grittiness concerning customer hardships, dodgy boyfriends and husbands, and the ‘breaking in’ of a new, young and difficult, staff member (Ant).
The plot concerns a stalker in the community, and the nuisance, and worse, caused by this unknown individual. Bea is pretty smart and decides to do her own detective work in her spare time.
The author writes well. Gets you interested in the characters. And I even burnt the midnight oil to find out ‘Whodunnit’ in a climactic ending.
Overall it wasn’t so much the crime plot that grabbed me personally but the sketching out of the everyday lives in the story. Perhaps Bea was just a bit too nice and kind for my tastes in lead characters! And I suspect working life, and staff relations with customers in a supermarket, can be tougher for the staff than shown here.
But I’ll read any follow ups in the series and tell my neighbour truthfully that it was an enjoyable read.
I quite enjoyed it. In some ways it revels in the mundane aspects of everyday life: Bea and her housebound mum’s evening meal and TV viewing habits, the routine of supermarket working life, etc. But it has a charm in the companionship of work, the banter between staff and customers. Just a bit of grittiness concerning customer hardships, dodgy boyfriends and husbands, and the ‘breaking in’ of a new, young and difficult, staff member (Ant).
The plot concerns a stalker in the community, and the nuisance, and worse, caused by this unknown individual. Bea is pretty smart and decides to do her own detective work in her spare time.
The author writes well. Gets you interested in the characters. And I even burnt the midnight oil to find out ‘Whodunnit’ in a climactic ending.
Overall it wasn’t so much the crime plot that grabbed me personally but the sketching out of the everyday lives in the story. Perhaps Bea was just a bit too nice and kind for my tastes in lead characters! And I suspect working life, and staff relations with customers in a supermarket, can be tougher for the staff than shown here.
But I’ll read any follow ups in the series and tell my neighbour truthfully that it was an enjoyable read.
February 10, 2020
This was a nice one
A murder mystery set in a small town focusing on a supermarket and the employees.
I enjoyed the supermarket setting a little more than I thought
Ant was a quiet a good character, I liked them both together, Ant and Bea
And I didn’t guess the murderer at all.
Will definitely try and read the next one
A murder mystery set in a small town focusing on a supermarket and the employees.
I enjoyed the supermarket setting a little more than I thought
Ant was a quiet a good character, I liked them both together, Ant and Bea
And I didn’t guess the murderer at all.
Will definitely try and read the next one
October 30, 2017
4.5 stars!
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July 4, 20233.5 stars
I have no memory buying this book but I gave it a try. Picture an Eastenders murder mystery. I really enjoyed Ant and wanted to spend a lot more time with him. Bea was a very interesting woman. I was impressed she was able to deal with her mother, her problems were difficult, to say the least. The mystery itself well, I started to get an inkling of who the murderer had to be but it was well handled. Like EastEnders there was a lot of gossip, a lot of interesting neighborhood characters and a lot of day-to-day life that was interesting. I get the feeling one would have to really commit to the series to really get more invested into the world of Ant and Bea like the T.V. show itself.
I have no memory buying this book but I gave it a try. Picture an Eastenders murder mystery. I really enjoyed Ant and wanted to spend a lot more time with him. Bea was a very interesting woman. I was impressed she was able to deal with her mother, her problems were difficult, to say the least. The mystery itself well, I started to get an inkling of who the murderer had to be but it was well handled. Like EastEnders there was a lot of gossip, a lot of interesting neighborhood characters and a lot of day-to-day life that was interesting. I get the feeling one would have to really commit to the series to really get more invested into the world of Ant and Bea like the T.V. show itself.
August 27, 2024
This was a very different location to centre a mystery series around, but an interesting closed community nonetheless, and I liked the realistic and believable characters in it (because, let's face it, people can't be sweetness and light all the time!)
Although marketed as a cosy, you might want to avoid this is you're offended by swearing.
Although marketed as a cosy, you might want to avoid this is you're offended by swearing.
September 15, 2023
The audiobook version is included in the Audible Plus catalogue but it’s called The Cost of Living. 2nd & third books also have audible titles that don’t match the kindle version 🤷♀️
October 18, 2022
A Most Unusual Cozy Mystery
I really really liked this book. Take a cozy mystery and add some spice and humor and you have a very different style of cozy. The three main characters, turned detectives, are anything but your run-of-the-mill Miss Marples. I fell in love with Bea, Ant and Dot and look forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something suspenseful, yet different and fun.
I really really liked this book. Take a cozy mystery and add some spice and humor and you have a very different style of cozy. The three main characters, turned detectives, are anything but your run-of-the-mill Miss Marples. I fell in love with Bea, Ant and Dot and look forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something suspenseful, yet different and fun.
November 17, 2020
Imagine a warm snuggly hug in book form and you get The Cost of Living. A book that will have me looking at the Tesco checkout ladies in a different light, a book that was not only a good cosy crime but was also funny, sad and a little creepy in places. Yes, can you tell I enjoyed it a lot? I’d better tell you what it is about.
Supermarket checkout girl Bea loves her job, she loves talking to her customers, and she loves (most of) the people she works with. Recent start Ant does not share the same view, he hates the job and seems to make a mess of everything he does but something about him endears Bea, and she takes him under her wing.
The small town they live is unremarkable in every way until reports of someone stalking women start to come in and when someone Bea knows is brutally attacked, she takes is personally. Using her daily observations at work she starts to make a list of possible suspects and with the help of Ant and her friend Dot they do a little digging. Can they succeed where the police have failed?
I’m not going to tell you if they do! This is a unique read also in the fact these are proper working class characters, there aren’t any fancy cars, designer clothes, expensive bottles of wine and posh food. There are numerous mugs of tea, lots of chocolate and looking out for one another especially those nearest and dearest.
This is a gem of a book, it kept me guessing till the end and it has made me add the next two books in the series to my list of books to read.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Supermarket checkout girl Bea loves her job, she loves talking to her customers, and she loves (most of) the people she works with. Recent start Ant does not share the same view, he hates the job and seems to make a mess of everything he does but something about him endears Bea, and she takes him under her wing.
The small town they live is unremarkable in every way until reports of someone stalking women start to come in and when someone Bea knows is brutally attacked, she takes is personally. Using her daily observations at work she starts to make a list of possible suspects and with the help of Ant and her friend Dot they do a little digging. Can they succeed where the police have failed?
I’m not going to tell you if they do! This is a unique read also in the fact these are proper working class characters, there aren’t any fancy cars, designer clothes, expensive bottles of wine and posh food. There are numerous mugs of tea, lots of chocolate and looking out for one another especially those nearest and dearest.
This is a gem of a book, it kept me guessing till the end and it has made me add the next two books in the series to my list of books to read.
Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2020
A funny, easy read full of weirdly likeable characters led by checkout girl Bea and (far from ably) assisted by trainee Ant, who has an uncomfortable secret.
Life at Costsave is hilarious but personally I found there was far too much use of 'f**k" in the dialogue. It is interesting and different that the setting is a supermarket and from Store Manager Gavin, deputy Neville, fellow checkout operative Dot, Bob the butcher and Dean the shifty lad in stores, to all the various regular customers and Bea's agoraphobic mum Queenie this is an entertaining if often daft look at a small community in crisis because of a series of attacks on girls in the area, one of which results in murder.
Bea is determined to be detective and find out who is responsible and bring the reign of terror to an end. Talk about hapless! Mostly the story is about lots of unrelated events which happen, such as the store spinathon, date night at the store, Tom the PC who could be a possible romantic diversion for Bea and the bedroom antics of Dot, that it is a wonder anything is solved! But it is and I was so amused that I would definitely like to read the next Bea and Ant mystery Dead Stock to brighten my day, smiling at the humour. Refreshing!
Life at Costsave is hilarious but personally I found there was far too much use of 'f**k" in the dialogue. It is interesting and different that the setting is a supermarket and from Store Manager Gavin, deputy Neville, fellow checkout operative Dot, Bob the butcher and Dean the shifty lad in stores, to all the various regular customers and Bea's agoraphobic mum Queenie this is an entertaining if often daft look at a small community in crisis because of a series of attacks on girls in the area, one of which results in murder.
Bea is determined to be detective and find out who is responsible and bring the reign of terror to an end. Talk about hapless! Mostly the story is about lots of unrelated events which happen, such as the store spinathon, date night at the store, Tom the PC who could be a possible romantic diversion for Bea and the bedroom antics of Dot, that it is a wonder anything is solved! But it is and I was so amused that I would definitely like to read the next Bea and Ant mystery Dead Stock to brighten my day, smiling at the humour. Refreshing!
March 10, 2019
I picked this up at the library not expecting to like it so much (quite often I take cosy crime back after not reading more than a couple of chapters). This is quite different from the typical crime novel, the main character, Bea, doesn't fall over dead bodies and insert herself into investigations, and Ant seems like a hopeless loser in the beginning. The characters are all well-drawn, and Bea is very sympathetically portrayed. She works as a check-out operator in the local supermarket, and copes with looking after her agoraphobic mother, while being genuinely caring about her customers and most of the other staff.
The author is good at building tension, and showing how a stalker who has escalated to murder affects a community.
Spoiler alert: you may wish to skip reading about Bea's "date" with Tom, the policeman, on Guy Fawkes Night, as essentially it describes date rape.
The author is good at building tension, and showing how a stalker who has escalated to murder affects a community.
Spoiler alert: you may wish to skip reading about Bea's "date" with Tom, the policeman, on Guy Fawkes Night, as essentially it describes date rape.
June 10, 2022
This book was okay, I guess. I usually love books with murder and that kind of thing, but this really felt like the author just added whatever they wanted to for fun and focused too much on things that aren't too important to the main plot. I think this would have been better if they had it in more than one perspective, or just with a general narrator instead of focusing on the main character who just really annoyed me. It also focused so much on who she is that the actual plot was lost sometimes
I think this would be good for a lot of people, but I personally am not into it
I think this would be good for a lot of people, but I personally am not into it
April 12, 2023
It was fine. but also i thought that a r/s might fester between ant and bea but ig not. Dot and ant having a r/s was weird. Lost interest in plot 2/3 of the way so yea. The fact that Ant "disappeared" 1/2 way into the book was sad
April 15, 2023
Loved this book! Great characters who were well described. Fresh sounding dialogue. Gripping story. Excellent!
February 17, 2018
Cost of living
Excellent first novel looking forward to the next one by this author highly recommended if you enjoy light mystery books
Excellent first novel looking forward to the next one by this author highly recommended if you enjoy light mystery books
February 28, 2021
A slow book but a super interesting read, I loved the dynamic between Ant and Bea and am really looking forward to the second book!
January 28, 2022
Not too gripping, not too interesting, but I read it till the end to know who was the bad guy after all.
April 25, 2022
A good whodunit likeable characters.
May 1, 2023
Loved it!!! Read until I fell asleep in my chair. Woke up at 3 a.m. and finished it. Great story, great dialogue, fast paced mystery.
April 16, 2023
Beatrice is a checkout girl in the Costsave store in the small town called Kingsleigh, then a shop customer gets assaulted and one of their own is murdered on her way home, so begins this tale.
This is a whimsical murder mystery, you will not finds lots of forensic detail or tons if twists in this story, but you will find lots of simply but effective characters, and an exploration of small town activities and the personalities, which most of us can relate to.
The story has a nice pacing to it, introducing each element at the right time. It’s one of those books that you just need to absorb and enjoy, not be too critical or over analyse things, just go with the flow and you will find an enjoyable read.
This is a whimsical murder mystery, you will not finds lots of forensic detail or tons if twists in this story, but you will find lots of simply but effective characters, and an exploration of small town activities and the personalities, which most of us can relate to.
The story has a nice pacing to it, introducing each element at the right time. It’s one of those books that you just need to absorb and enjoy, not be too critical or over analyse things, just go with the flow and you will find an enjoyable read.
November 22, 2023
This was a prime read. This story of Bea, a checkout girl at the local supermarket, and her Miss Marple investigations into a murder was entertaining enough. The complex relationships of the characters were well done, and I didn't see the culprit until near the end. However, I was less convinced by Bea. On one hand she was a girl trapped by her mother's illness and had the capabilities of doing more. However, her actions with her potential beau were less convincing. For someone who comes across as self assured she shows no sense when confronted with questionable behaviour.
I'll keep it brief...it was OK, mostly held my attention, but I won't be following the characters into future adventures.
I'll keep it brief...it was OK, mostly held my attention, but I won't be following the characters into future adventures.
October 1, 2023
This is the first time I have read a book described as 'a cosy murder mystery" and I have to say this just isn't the sub genre for me. I struggled to keep going but got to the end. I also felt that the title didn't fit the plot.
I didn't guess who the killer was, and they seemed to give up very fast when Queenie had a benefit review. I also found that casual assault was totally minimised at times - maybe Bea needed to recognise it for what it was? But then she did recognise abuse customer went through so I don't think it was lack of insight.
I gave it a go but it just isn't the right book for me.
I didn't guess who the killer was, and they seemed to give up very fast when Queenie had a benefit review. I also found that casual assault was totally minimised at times - maybe Bea needed to recognise it for what it was? But then she did recognise abuse customer went through so I don't think it was lack of insight.
I gave it a go but it just isn't the right book for me.
June 7, 2024
A cozy murder mystery
Bea has enough on her plate with looking after her agoraphobic mum and her supermarket job, when she believes she is being followed by a man who has already attacked one girl. Angry at feeling vulnerable she embarks on her own investigation with the help of her best friend and a new employee of the store.
Lots of red herrings, the manner of investigation’ is a bit sketchy and lots of things left unfinished along the way. The end reveal was a surprise and a bit of an anti-climax with the most tension unrelated to the murder mystery. Don’t think the title was particularly accurate.
Bea has enough on her plate with looking after her agoraphobic mum and her supermarket job, when she believes she is being followed by a man who has already attacked one girl. Angry at feeling vulnerable she embarks on her own investigation with the help of her best friend and a new employee of the store.
Lots of red herrings, the manner of investigation’ is a bit sketchy and lots of things left unfinished along the way. The end reveal was a surprise and a bit of an anti-climax with the most tension unrelated to the murder mystery. Don’t think the title was particularly accurate.
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