Review: Bob and Shirley’s Guide to Murder by Suzy K. Quinn — cosy pub mystery with laughs

# What the book is about Bob and Shirley's Guide to Murder centres on Bob and Shirley, the married couple who run the Goose and Gander pub in the village of Great Oakley. Great Oakley is described as a very English, small community — hanging baskets, tearooms, riverside walks — and it has a reputation as "Britain's safest village." That reputation is challenged when Bevvy Hogg, a local who runs the Waist Watchers group and is unpopular with many, is found dead in the pub garden with an empty plate of treacle tart beside her.

# The mystery and stakes

# Tone and style The review describes the novel as "warmly funny" and "gloriously British." Humour is a major component: the narrative leans into village gossip, pub banter, and comical contrasts between characters, such as a teetotal, quietly spoken police recruit and an older, boisterous former officer. The reviewer compares the book to Agatha Raisin and The Thursday Murder Club, signalling a blend of lighthearted character-driven comedy with a genuine whodunit.

# Characters to watch

• Bob and Shirley: central sleuths and pub owners whose relationship provides rapid-fire dialogue and comedic interplay. They alternate viewpoint narration in places, which gives readers both perspectives.
• Bevvy Hogg: the deceased whose habits — weekly fish and chips and treacle tart — and role as the local Waist Watchers leader make her an object of village speculation.
• Local police: a young woman in training who is eager but physically squeamish, and the older male officer who provides contrast.

# Reader experience and verdict The reviewer gives the book four stars and calls it "hilarious, enjoyable and hugely entertaining." It's positioned as a pleasing read for cosy crime fans who prefer light humour paired with mystery. The pace is described as gripping enough to keep readers turning pages while also delivering laugh-out-loud moments. It's the first in a new series, so it functions as a standalone introduction and an invitation to follow more cases involving Bob and Shirley.

# Extras and availability The blog post includes author links (website and social channels) and a link to order the book. It also promotes a giveaway: an international prize of an e-copy of Bob and Shirley's Killer Cuppa Puzzle. The post is part of a blog tour and appears on a book-focused site that covers crime fiction, thrillers, and reviews.

# Who should read this If you like cosy mysteries set in small English communities, with a comic tone and amateur sleuths who are more endearing than dangerous, this book is likely to satisfy. Fans of light, character-driven whodunits will find the combination of pub-life detail and investigative curiosity appealing.