The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson
What does a youth worker, a retired farmer, a teenage computer hacker and a septuagenarian Miss Marple wannabe have in common? In The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson it is the St. Tredock Community Book Club.
Nova Davies, the youth worker, is an employee of the St. Tredock Community Center and the book club was her idea. She is disappointed in the low turnout but determined to make the club a success. Septuagenarian Phyllis Hudson is our Agatha Christie fan and loves to involve herself in every crime she can, much to the displeasure of the constabulary. Arthur Robinson, a retired dairy farmer, was not much of a reader until he became his wife’s eyes. Now he is Nova’s most enthusiastic participant. Teen-ager Ash tends to keep quiet but his sporadic observations make it clear he has read the book.
The selection for the evening’s meeting was Where the Crawdads Sing and discussion has already begun when another participant comes in, Michael. Michael appears to be miserable but does add to the discussion until his phone pings. After looking at the message he jumps up, knocking over his chair, and runs from the room. Michael hasn’t reappeared by the end of the meeting so Nova locks up and goes home.
Home is her fiancé parent’s house. She and Craig moved from London a few months ago and are having trouble finding their own place. Pamela, Craig’s mother, is delighted they are there and has completely taken over planning their wedding. Nora’s own mom is in Colombia but will be back for the wedding in just 9 days.
It is storming the next morning so Nova goes in expecting to spend the day mopping up from the center’s leaky roof. However, what she finds is her boss, her co-worker/friend and the police waiting for her. The money for the center’s roof repair, ten thousand pounds, is missing and Nova was the last one in the building. When they look at the security footage they see Michael running out of the building. Since the cameras are at the entrance they don’t know where he was in the building so he also becomes a suspect.
Without the money for the roof repair the cash-strapped village council is threatening to close the center so it is imperative they find the missing ten thousand pounds. Phyllis, who has eavesdropped on the conversation, is certain Michael is the culprit. Using Miss Marple’s cases as a guide she sets off with her trusty companion, bulldog Craddock, to find the thief.
Her first stop is Michael’s home where she sees a body being removed. His mother was found at the bottom of the stairs and the police think she was pushed. After a loud argument, Michael was seen running out of the house and Phyllis is now sure she is chasing not only a thief but a murderer.
To save Nova’s job and the community center, the whole book club becomes involved in catching the thief. But as the clues are uncovered, the club finds things are really not what they seem and life can take some unexpected turns.
This feel-good novel has a little humor and a lot of heart. Sampson creates characters with depth and this book is as much about the relationships and lives of the book club members as about the mystery of the stolen money. You will find this in the New Large Print collection at the library. Read-alikes are book related cozy mysteries, The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, and Charlaine Harris’ Sleep Like a Baby.
Review by Patty Crane, Reference Librarian
