The Potting Shed Murder - by Paula Sutton

Book Synopsis

From the creator of Hill House Vintage and "Queen of Cottagecore" (Vogue), a fresh, witty, fun, and delightfully quirky cozy crime novel set in a seemingly sleepy English village for fans of Richard Osman, Parini Shroff, Benjamin Stevenson, and Anthony Horowitz.
"Miss Marple for the 21st Century." ―S.J. Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot

Welcome to the beautiful, bucolic village of Pudding Corner, where there's death amongst the dahlias . . . in this gripping, delightfully quirky mystery from the beloved cottage-core social media sensation behind Hill House Vintage.

Daphne Brewster has gladly swapped south London for Pudding Corner, a Norfolk hamlet full of quintessentially English charm. With a mix of stone cottages, Georgian architecture, and Victorian Gothic houses all nestled together and surrounded by fields of gold and green, Pudding Corner and its neighboring village of Pepperbridge seem as far from the bustle of city living as one can get.

For Daphne, joy at moving into beautiful Cranberry Farmhouse with her husband, James, and their three young children is tempered by some concerns about being the only Black woman for miles around. But within a few short months, Daphne becomes known as the parish's "Vintage Lady" and has set up her own shop. Business is thriving, and so is her family. As for Pudding Corner, it's rapidly revealing itself to be filled with complicated, intertwined lives on par with anything she left behind. Then the local school's headmaster is found dead in his allotment patch, unleashing a storm of secrets and scandal.

Even a sleepy village has its social hierarchy, and as her new friend, Minerva, becomes a target of whispers and speculation, Daphne can't resist getting involved. Fighting for the underdog comes as naturally as sourcing the perfect vintage piece. But there's more at stake than Daphne could have guessed, and a killer who succeeded once is all too willing to try again . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for The Potting Shed Murder

"Here's hoping for a return of Sutton's heroine with the same pizzazz." ―Kirkus Reviews

"The lovingly described setting; the charismatic Daphne, a strong Black woman in a mixed marriage; well-delineated, eccentric secondary characters; and plot twists aplenty blend into a satisfying series starter."―Booklist

"We hope that the publisher is sensible and Ms. Sutton will be back to delight us again with Daphne and Book Two. ―firstCLUE

"Miss Marple for the 21st Century." ―S.J. Bennett, author of The Windsor Knot

"A really fun, fast-paced, and atmospheric whodunnit. Perfect for fans of Agatha Raisin." ―Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

"A village of secrets, a cast of zany characters: this is a romp of a read that warms the heart." ―Orlando Murrin, author of Knife Skills for Beginners

"Delightful. . . . Charming and fresh." ―Kuchenga Shenjé, author of The Library Thief

"Perfect for fans of Richard Osman." ―Woman's Weekly

"Begs to be read in the cosiest of spaces." ―Tasha Coryell, author of Love Letters to a Serial Killer

"A great modern cosy." ―Ian Moore, author of Death and Croissants

"I absolutely loved it! Utterly absorbing. Daphne is such a brilliant protagonist, I couldn't help but love her. And that twist!" ―Lisa Hall, author of The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black

"Such a fun cosy crime mystery with a really exciting ending! I hope that we're going to see Daphne solving more crimes in the future!" ―Kate Weston, author of You May Now Kill the Bride

"A quintessentially English murder mystery. Paula Sutton brings a new voice to the cosy genre with her fresh take and witty twist on modern village life. Vintage crime!" ―Jo Furniss, author of Dead Mile

"An utterly delightful whodunnit unfolds in this pitch-perfect cosy mystery. Absolutely glorious!" ―Victoria Dowd, author of The Smart Woman's Guide to Murder

"Beautiful, mesmerising and immensely satisfying, The Potting Shed Murder shows us how even the most idyllic places can hide secrets. Rich in detail and bursting with warmth, I read this book well into the night, finding myself unable to put it down. Sutton is a master storyteller." ―Awais Khan, author of No Honour and Someone Like Her

About the Author

Paula Sutton is a vintage-hunting interiors stylist, author, columnist, television personality, and creator of Hill House Vintage. Ten years ago, Paula upended her glamorous London life, where she worked in fashion publishing, to move to Hill House, a manor in the countryside of Norfolk, England, with her family and Coco, a chocolate cross Labrador. Since then, her beautiful country home and personal aesthetic have drawn nearly a million followers to @hillhousehome, she has been named the "happiest influencer on Instagram" by Vogue, and she is featured regularly in national media, including The New York Times, TODAY, Oprah Magazine, The Telegraph, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country, and many more. Visit her online at HillHouseHome.com and on Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube @hillhousehome.