Honest Review: The Body at St. Edmunds – Atmospheric Cozy Mystery with a Supernatural Twist That Didn’t Work for Me

 

I had high hopes for The Body at St. Edmunds. The premise sounded like the perfect blend of cozy mystery and historical intrigue—exactly the kind of escapist read I usually devour. Photographer Georgina Drake is documenting the restoration of historic St. Edmund’s church when a young craftsman, Liam Jacobs, collapses and dies after eating homemade banana bread. What first appears to be a tragic allergic reaction quickly spirals into something far more sinister. As DI Colin Bradshaw leads the official investigation, Georgina finds herself drawn into a chilling parallel with the church’s Victorian past: the mysterious deaths of a vicar and his sister, rumors of hidden treasure, a legendary tunnel beneath the building, and a dusty diary full of dark secrets. Throw in a podcast stirring up local treasure hunters, and you have a story rich with present-day danger and centuries-old secrets.

 The setup is genuinely compelling. The dual timeline—modern murder investigation intertwined with 19th-century tragedy—gives the novel layers and keeps the pages turning. Georgina makes for an engaging amateur sleuth: creative, resourceful, and deeply connected to the historic building she’s photographing. The author does a nice job evoking the atmosphere of an old church under restoration, with its dusty corners, stained glass, and sense of hidden history waiting to be uncovered. Fans of cozy mysteries with strong historical threads (think a lighter version of books by Elly Griffiths or Kate Ellis) will likely find plenty to enjoy here. The series’ popularity is easy to understand—this is the eighth installment, and the recurring characters and setting clearly have staying power.

 Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the book. The element that tipped it over the edge for me was the introduction of a ghost communicating through a woman’s hearing aid. While I tried to reframe it in my mind as a psychological twist (perhaps paranoia or mental health issues manifesting as voices), it ultimately felt too far-fetched and pulled me out of the story. The blend of grounded murder mystery and full-on supernatural elements didn’t quite land for me, even though the rest of the plot had real promise.

 Final Verdict:

The Body at St. Edmunds offers an atmospheric, treasure-laden mystery with strong historical echoes, and it will likely delight readers who are more comfortable with ghostly interventions in their cozies. For me, however, the supernatural angle was a step too far, preventing full immersion despite a very promising start. I’d still recommend giving the series a try if you enjoy lighter historical mysteries—earlier books might suit your taste better if this one’s ghostly twist is the outlier. Three stars for concept and setting, but ultimately DNF for this reader.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If this is your kind of mystery, you can order a copy here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

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