The five members of the St. Tredock Book Club disagree on everything, from the books they read to the biscuits they eat. But when one of the group suddenly disappears and a dead body is discovered at his house, these bibliophiles must put their differences aside to solve the mystery.
Having recently moved to Cornwall, Nova Davies started the book club to impress her new colleagues at the community center, but so far it’s a disaster. To make matters worse, six thousand pounds is stolen from the community center during one of her meetings, putting both her job and the whole center at risk.
Suspicion for the theft falls on book club member Michael, especially when a dead body is discovered at his house and Michael disappears. The police think he’s simply run away, but the other members have their own theories. Agatha Christie superfan Phyllis is determined to prove he’s a murderer as well as a thief, while secret romance reader Arthur believes Michael’s eloped with his mistress, and teenage sci-fi fan Ash thinks dark forces are at play.
While trying to find Michael and recover the money, each book club member has their own secrets to protect. With inspiration from their favorite fictional sleuths, they won’t rest until they’ve cracked the case and everyone is safe at home where they belong.
I don’t usually gravitate toward cozy mysteries—if this even fits that genre—but I have to say, this was a surprisingly fun read.
The story centers on a newly formed book club made up of five very different individuals, each with their own quirks, secrets, and backgrounds. What unites them is their shared love of reading—though not everyone is thrilled with every book pick, the meetings are more about connection than the literature itself. (The blurb gives a good rundown of who's who.)
Things take a dramatic turn when a large sum of money goes missing, and Nova finds herself accused. That accusation sets off a chain of events involving a dead body, long-buried secrets, and a determined effort by the group to clear Nova’s name—and save her job in the process.
The Busybody Book Club is ultimately a heartwarming story about unexpected friendship, healing old wounds, and solving a pretty compelling mystery along the way. The characters are delightfully quirky, easy to root for, and the plot had enough twists to keep me engaged throughout. It was a genuinely enjoyable ride.
