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V.S Vale was born in Lancashire, England. With family connections to the textile and clothing industry going back four generations, she has worked in the fashion; interior and jewellery design world most of her life.
In addition to this, she spends much of her time writing. Her first book Murder Most Fowl is set in the fictional Lancashire village of Swansneck and involves murder amidst the tight-knit and gossipy community.
Having enjoyed the process of writing her first novel so much she decided to make it a series of books, all centred on the same village and featuring a host of rounded and enjoyable characters.
Living in a seaside resort on the Lancashire coast, when she isn't working or writing, she enjoys walking on the beach with her little terrier-cross dog, Pepper. She also walks in the pinewoods close to her home, hoping to catch sight of the elusive red squirrels in the treetops. When time allows she loves to visit some of the many heritage houses of England, and imagine the characters that once lived within those walls.
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
A village shop owner believes the police have arrested the wrong man for murder and resolves to find the killer in the captivating sleuth mystery Murder Most Fowl (A Swansneck Village Mystery) by VS Vale. To meet the requirements of her great-uncle's will, Jenny leaves London after a long absence and a costly divorce and returns to the small English village in which she was raised. She is on a three-year plan; her purpose is to meet the requirements of the will, sell her inheritance and return to London. However, life takes a drastic turn just a few days after her arrival. Jenny is fired from the family business, gets stuck with a coop of pigeons, gets roped into taking over the church newspaper, and the rogue who is dating her best friend is murdered. The police make an arrest, but Jenny is positive they have made a mistake. Because her statement to the detectives aided in fingering the suspect, Jenny feels responsible for the accused's unjust imprisonment. Determined to root out the real murderer, Jenny starts an investigation of her own. As she begins questioning her neighbors and friends, Jenny unearths some dramatic secrets. There is more to the little community Jenny grew up in than she had ever dreamed. Now Jenny is beginning to have some doubts about those she thought she knew. Could someone Jenny admired and grew up with be a killer?
Murder Most Fowl (A Swansneck Village Mystery) by VS Vale is a delightful cozy mystery that will satisfy the most die-hard amateur-sleuthing murder mystery fan. This spellbinding Noir instantly captivates the reader, drawing them into the enigmatic life of a village in northern England. The essence of the novel is deliciously authentic, and I was enchanted with the genuineness of the town and its inhabitants. Jenny's impulsive, risk-taking approach to life is engaging and brilliant. Jenny's shop, her journalistic endeavors, and her penchant for solving mysteries are fascinating elements to her character, and I am looking forward to finding out how they fare in future escapades. Jenny is an exciting new sleuth similar in style and disposition to Agatha Raisin, and I can hardly wait to read about her next adventure. Those who love spunky, tenacious heroines will not be able to resist this series!
