Dee MacDonald

Kate Palmer has relocated to Cornwall for a quiet life. Moving into picturesque Lavender Cottage with her sister Angie, the little village of Lower Tinworthy should be the perfect place for their fresh new start. But within weeks of their arrival, there's a death in the close-knit community... A woman is found dead in the village hall, with her own kitchen knife next to the body, covered in blood. Kate, a practice nurse at the local medical centre, begins to piece together the clues. Fenella was at the centre of village activity, and there seem to be plenty of people who had reason to dislike her. But did any of them hate her enough to kill her? As Kate gets drawn into life in Lower Tinworthy, she begins a close friendship with Detective Inspector 'Woody' Forrest, who is near to retiring - and determined to crack his last case. Together, they set about solving the mysterious crime. But when someone breaks into Kate's home and leaves a warning note on her pillow, it becomes clear the murderer is prepared to do anything to keep their identity hidden... Will Kate work out who's responsible, before she becomes the next victim? If you love murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin or Joy Ellis, then this page-turning novel will have you reading late into the night! Readers are loving A Body in the Village Hall 'With a likeable protagonist in Kate, a colourful cast of supporting characters, a potential love interest and a delightful setting this was thoroughly enjoyable, fully entertaining and exactly what I was craving... I am so looking forward to more in what I hope is a new series for this author.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'My first Dee MacDonald, but definitely not my last! Charming, well written, with excellent character and an intriguing plot, I adored my visit to this charming Cornish village! What a perfect read with some tea/coffee biscuits/cookies... I look forward to more books in this series and can't recommend it enough! I gobbled it up in a day and evening!!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Brilliant book like Midsomer Murders... Can't wait to read the next in the series.' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'Lots of sleuthing, suspects, great characters, misdirections, red herrings, and more. LOVED it!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'A very enjoyable read to lose yourself in with many threads to unravel before the murderer is revealed.' Netgalley, 5 stars 'This book was just what the doctor ordered!... it was a real treat to read this sweet, charming and cosy book... It reminded me a bit of all the Agatha Christie books I read as a kid.' Goodreads Reviewer

An Utterly Gripping Cozy Murder Mystery

A Body in the Village Hall

One morning, Connie McColl wakes up and decides to swap her ordinary life, for an extraordinary adventure… 

Connie McColl is finally free to make her own decisions for the first time in decades. And when she meets glamorous Gill and downtrodden Maggie, at a rather dull flower arranging class, it seems that she’s not the only one dreaming of adventure. The three very different women all agree it’s about time they had a holiday to remember. 

So they make a pact for this summer to be their best yet - and drive off into the sunset together… 

As they meander their way along the beautiful beaches of France and onto the glorious delights of Italy in their luxury campervan, the new friends have plenty of fun and frolics in the sunshine. But the vacation isn’t quite what they expected… 

Gill will do anything to have one last holiday romance, Connie has a surprise inheritance awaiting her in Italy, and Maggie has a secret that is going to catch up with them all… 

In the end, all three women discover that the journey they thought would be their last really is just the beginning… 

A hilarious feel good summer read

The Getaway Girls

A laugh out loud feel good novel about second chances

The Runaway Wife

Meet Ally McKinley: dog lover, guesthouse owner and accidental detective, as she tackles her next case in the beautiful Scottish Highlands!

Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the cosiest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water…

Before she knows it, Ally finds herself wading into the middle of a new investigation. Who was the mystery woman and why was she killed? Her enquiries take her all over the village: from the corner shop and the nearby hotel to the turreted castle, home of local earl Hamish Sinclair where preparations are underway for his upcoming – and much gossiped about – wedding.

The body in the loch soon has the rumour mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death the morning after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself…

Determined to uncover the truth and clear her name, Ally finds poison at the home of one of her suspects and thinks she might be on the right path to solving both murders. But with a killer on the loose in the Scottish Highlands, can Ally unravel the clues before the next person in a watery grave is her?

Ally McKinley Mystery #2

Murder at the Loch

Kate Palmer is more than ready for the quiet life in Lower Tinworthy, Cornwall. But within weeks of her arrival, a woman is found dead in the village hall, stabbed to death with her own kitchen knife… The victim is Fenella Barker Jones: chairwoman of the Women’s Institute, doyenne of the amateur dramatic society, and reigning champion of the WI cake-baking contest. But whilst she may have been at the centre of village life, there were plenty who had reason to dislike her – as Kate is about to find out. As a practice nurse and one of the first on the scene, Kate can’t help but get drawn into the investigation. Her patients are only too eager to tell her about the victim’s extra-curricular activities and, the more Kate hears about Fenella, the more the list of suspects grows: it seems half the village wanted her dead. Kate’s sister Angie tells her to leave it alone, but Kate can’t resist piecing together the clues. Especially not if brings her closer to the handsome Detective Inspector ‘Woody’ Forrest, who is near to retiring himself and determined to crack his last case. But when someone breaks into Kate’s home and leaves a warning note on her pillow, it becomes clear the murderer is prepared to do anything to keep their identity hidden… Will Kate and Woody work out who’s responsible, before she becomes the next victim? If you love murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin or Joy Ellis, then this page-turning novel will have you reading late into the night! Readers are loving A Body in the Village Hall: ‘I found myself racing through this one, eager to find out who did what – and to who! A terrific read… a full house of sparkling stars.’ Grace J Reviewer Lady, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Charming, well written, with excellent characters and an intriguing plot, I adored my visit to this charming Cornish village! What a perfect read with some tea… I gobbled it up in a day and evening!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kept me involved till the end, turning pages as fast as I could… a great cast of characters and a lovely setting… The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and kept me guessing… an excellent and fun read that I strongly recommend.’ Scrapping and Playing, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Full of superb village characters… LOL humour and a good storyline, this book had me ‘there and part of it’ right from page 1 and I loved every word, just the right book for unsettled times when you can relax and be drawn into pure escapism.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved the characters… Kate was a standout and makes for a perfect lead… I was so caught up and entranced in the story that I was disappointed when it came to the end. Dee definitely had me under her spell and glued to the pages.’ Once Upon a Time Book Blog ‘This delightful book is a joy to read… I loved all the descriptions of village life… I can’t wait for Dee MacDonald’s next Kate Palmer mystery.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An ideal setting, a cozy village in Cornwall, and an incredibly likable heroine in Kate and a classic whodunnit mystery… the perfect weekend or vacation read.’ eBook nerd reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Lots of sleuthing, suspects, great characters, misdirections, red herrings… LOVED it!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A brilliantly written cosy mystery sure to have readers gripped... will delight fans of Faith Martin and Ann Granger as they find themselves completely glued to the page.’ Bookish Jottings ‘Just what the doctor ordered!… it was a real treat to read this sweet, charming and cosy book… reminded me a bit of all the Agatha Christie books.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘A really well written 'cosy' mystery with some great characters and a setting that makes you want to visit… loved this.’ THE Book Club, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An utterly gripping cozy murder mystery

Super sleuth Kate Palmer is Cornwall's answer to Miss Marple, but when the semi-retired nurse finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time can she prove her innocence and solve her most puzzling case yet? Kate Palmer thought spending the day at Tinworthy's annual summer party would involve sea air, sunshine and Cornish cream cake - how very wrong she was! After a showdown with her new nemesis Sienna Stone, Kate goes for a cliff-top walk to cool off. But she is horrified to spot Sienna's body on the sandy beach below. Rumours swirl around the close-knit Cornish community and all eyes are on Kate. Half the village witnessed her argument with Sienna. When Kate finds herself cast as a suspect and is accused of murder, can she solve the crime and clear her name? Kate knows that plenty of people disliked Sienna but would any of them go so far as to kill her and frame Kate? Could it be Sienna's long-suffering husband Irving? Her jealous younger sister Sally? Or Timmy Thomson, the local loner who was infatuated with her? Just as Kate thinks she's getting closer to an answer, Timmy is found dead in his own home. Does his untimely demise mean the other suspects, including Kate, are next on the killer's list...? With time running out, Kate needs to find out the truth. Can she solve the case and save herself? Or have her days of sleuthing come to an end? If you love cosy crime stories complete with quirky characters, twisty plots and plenty of suspects, A Body on the Beach will have you absolutely hooked until the very last page! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Clare Chase. Readers love the Kate Palmer Mysteries: 'Addictive... fabulous Cornish-set cosy mystery series... brilliantly plotted... full of clever twists and turns and surprises that keep readers guessing... a terrific British cosy mystery I read in a single sitting... top-notch British mystery!' Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Body on the Beach: A Totally Addictive Cozy Mystery Novel

Meet Kate Palmer! A semi-retired nurse with a sweet tooth for cake and a talent for solving crimes. Kate Palmer is most disappointed when renovations at her sister Angie's new tea rooms are derailed after a body is discovered in the cellar. She was looking forward to clotted cream teas with a seaside view. Instead she has another murder mystery to solve... If the village gossip is to be believed, the unfortunate man was connected to the wealthy Hedgefield family. Kate is reluctant to get caught up in the investigation but a curious card in the victim's jacket pocket sparks her interest. Not to mention the ridiculous rumour Angie is somehow involved! Keen to clear her sister's name so she can finally eat cake in the charming tea rooms, Kate teams up with handsome retired Detective 'Woody' Forrest to untangle the baffling case. After quizzing the locals over copious cups of tea, Kate begins to realise the Hedgefields, who live in a grand mansion and own half the village, are not as perfect as they make out. They're hiding a long-buried family secret and plenty of people have a grudge against them, including a number of their ex-employees. But who could have murdered a member of Lower Tinworthy's most enviable family? Was it the old gardener? The seemingly sweet cook? Or the bitter maid? Just as she inches closer to the truth, Angie goes missing. Does amateur sleuth Kate have what it takes to get to the bottom of this extraordinary puzzle and save her sister at the same time? If you love murder mysteries with a brilliant cast of characters, twisty plots and plenty of cake, A Body at the Tea Rooms will have you hooked until the very last page! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis. Why readers love the Kate Palmer mystery series: 'Fantastic murder mystery, a charming whodunit, really, with lots of red-herrings to keep you guessing until the last page!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brilliant mystery... I found myself racing through this one, eager to find out who did what - and to who! A terrific read.' Grace J Reviewer Lady, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Body at the Tea Rooms: A Totally Addictive English Murder Mystery Novel

‘I ended up reading until the wee small hours of the morning… Certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, the happiness and sadness, the laughs and the sobs.’ Ginger Book Geek ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tess and Simon Sparrow may have a few more grey hairs than they used to, but that doesn’t stop them being swept up in a whirlwind romance and starting over. Swapping their city lives for an escape to the Cornish countryside, they fall in love with a crumbling hotel and impulsively buy it to renovate as their forever home. But soon the newlyweds have had their first fight (and their second and third…) and building costs are spiralling out of control. Their families think they’re mad and Tess is starting to agree – she just wants to escape back to civilisation. Doing up the glorious, wisteria-clad property was meant to be a delightful retirement project. But the electrics are faulty, there’s no central heating, and the kitchen ceiling’s fallen in: the dream has become reality and things only get more chaotic when the first guests arrive… Mysterious Celia, hapless romantic Dominic and tarnished, lovelorn actress Titania are all looking for a fresh start. Everyone in this eclectic group has their own reasons for being in Cornwall, but the summer is full of secrets and surprises. As plans go awry and truths are revealed, Tess and Simon realise that they’ve taken on a bigger challenge than they intended to: can their happily-ever-after survive the chaos or will this end up being the biggest mistake of their lives? From the bestselling author of The Runaway Wife and The Silver Ladies of Penny Lane, this is a completely uplifting page-turner about embracing new friendships, finding love and making each day count. Perfect for fans of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village. Why readers are loving The Golden Oldies Guesthouse: ‘Five golden stars for Dee McDonald’s latest… charming… The Golden Oldies Guesthouse features humour with a deft touch, charm, fun, love and romance.’ Jena Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly charming!... It’s gentle, humorous, heart-warming and packed full of characters that you will remember long after the book is finished. I adored every word and my only complaint is that the story ended!’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely loved everything about this book. It was charming and fun. I loved the characters and settings. Will be recommending.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this book, the characters, the setting. A really special read one I didn’t want to end. I will be recommending this.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book, it was a perfect summer read and it made me laugh loud more than once. I loved the quirky and well written characters and the plot. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Highly recommended!’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A hilarious romp… larger than life characters…Told as only Dee Macdonald can tell these stories of ‘older folk’ having another swipe at life and all that follows this book is funny, heart-warming, makes you feel good… a joy to read… 10/10.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An absolutely delightful read… If you want a book to snuggle up with and totally enjoy then this is it… totally enchanted with this one.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book has everything in it. Romance, humour, mystery and some unlikely friendships... An engaging, fun and heart-warming read.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘How this book made me laugh and made me realise that at the age of 63 life is not over for me. Whopping 5 stars’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The perfect feel good novel about second chances

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse

Practice nurse Kate Palmer is ready for some peace and quiet in her little Cornish village, but there's soon to be a murder on her doorstep... Kate's retirement in Cornwall hasn't quite gone as planned - Lavender Cottage is in need of substantial repairs and her sister Angie's fondness for gin does rather stretch the purse-strings. So when Kate is asked to do some nursing at the luxury retirement flats in Seaview Grange, she jumps at the chance. The old Victorian house has stunning views of the sea and the retirees are a peaceful bunch. That is, until Edina Martinelli, a glamorous ex-opera singer, is found poisoned in her home. Edina's death is ruled an overdose by Digoxin, the same medication she had been on for years. But Kate is sure the woman she met was not suicidal, and with the reputation of her practice on the line, she decides to do some digging. Luckily she's got the newly retired Detective Inspector Woody Forrest to help her... It's not long before Kate discovers evidence of foul play, and there's no shortage of suspects. Was it the besotted vicar? The ill-tempered stepson? Or perhaps Edina's neighbour finally had enough of her constant warbling. It seems everyone had a motive, but who amongst them had the stomach for murder? And will they kill again? If you love murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, Faith Martin or Joy Ellis, then this page-turning novel will have you reading late into the night! What readers are saying about the Kate Palmer series: 'Looking for a cozy, British mystery novel? You've got to read A Body in Seaview Grange by Dee MacDonald... You'll immediately be drawn to the relatable and superb cast of close-knit seaside village characters... It's a fantastic murder mystery, a charming whodunit, really, with lots of red-herrings to keep you guessing until the last page!' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Some surprising suspects, red herrings, and some really colourful characters. Loved it!' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Thoroughly enjoyable, fully entertaining and satisfied a craving for some gentle escapism. Looking forward to more in what is a new series for this author...' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Body in Seaview Grange

‘Dee MacDonald’s books are so heart-warming. They make you laugh-out-loud one minute, and then have you crying the next… they’re really emotional and tug at the heart strings but are fun, life-affirming reads!’ Stardust Book Reviews Tess and Orla have been best friends throughout most of their adult lives. So when life gave them lemons and their loved ones let them down, they pooled their resources and bought a dressmakers shop on the corner of Penny Lane. And they’ve been doing just fine ever since. But one day, while studying her tired eyes and shapeless figure in the mirror, sixty-two-year-old Tess realised that she doesn’t want her life to be just fine anymore. She wants it to be extraordinary. For as long as she can remember she’s put everyone else first. Now she wants to rediscover herself – and experience the kind of whirlwind adventure that will have the power make her smile when she’s confined to the armchair of a retirement home. With the encouragement of fun-loving and quirky Orla, Tess joins an over-the-hill dating agency and the two friends book a singles cruise around the Mediterranean. And that’s when their adventure of a lifetime really begins… A totally uplifting, heart-warming, hilarious page turner about embracing the moment, learning to love again and the joy of second chances. Perfect for fans of The Kicking the Bucket List and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. What readers are saying about Dee MacDonald: ‘OMG!… It made me howl with laughter and it made me sob my heart out… I absolutely adored every single step… had my jaw dropping!!… one of my favourite books of the year.’ My Chestnut Reading Tree, 5 stars ‘5 Fabulously FUN Stars… such a delightful and fun book from first page to last!... An absolutely perfect summer read that I would strongly recommend to all!’ Audio Killed the Bookmark, 5 stars ‘I was laughing out loud… totally did not see the ending coming! WOWSERS! 5 stars for me!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Made me laugh and cry and laugh again, especially at the end. That was a little bit of genius!... beautifully written and the characters are lovingly drawn to make them come alive. I absolutely loved the ending, that really had me chuckling…’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘This is an adventure with a difference!... absolutely brilliant… I felt quite emotional… very touching and extremely poignant…. A thought-provoking, energetic, promising, and huggable read… another delightful treat from Dee MacDonald!’ The Writing Garnet ‘Delightful!… a wonderful summertime story!.. the fun begins NOW!... hilarious… love this story about strong women!!’ Escape With a Book, 5 stars ‘A fabulous and entertaining read that I didn't want to end… a heart-warming and fun filled story that every woman should read. It's an uplifting story that makes you realise that you are never too old to go after what you want in life. Loved it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Made me laugh out loud one minute and then hit me with an emotional bombshell the next… hilarious, delightfully different… warmed my soul…’ My Chestnut Reading Tree ‘Had me laughing out loud, getting emotional and taking the main character to heart… if I could give this book more than five stars, I would.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Dee MacDonald

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