Blog Tour: Poppy Takes the Lead – Leigh Russell

Steph Warren - Bookshine

January 27

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Crime & Mystery Club. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Blurb: The NEW cosy crime novel from million-copy-selling author Leigh Russell!

Emily and Poppy are living happily in the quaint village of Ashton Mead, where every household is friendly – with one exception.

Unlike the other villagers, Silas Strang and his mother have a bad reputation. Rude and aggressive, they terrorise their neighbours and no one stops them. That is until Silas sets his sights on Emily's beloved dog Poppy, which Emily won't stand for. After a public altercation, Silas is mysteriously murdered. To Emily's dismay, the police view her as their number one suspect.

Assisted by her friends, Hannah and Toby, Emily sets out to establish the truth and clear her name... but her enquiries have frightening consequences.

Page-turning and heart-warming, The Poppy Mystery Tales are perfect for fans of Richard Coles' Murder Before Evensong, Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, Ian Moore's Death and Croissants and SJ Bennett's The Queen Investigates series.

I really enjoyed being back with the defiantly cute duo, Emily and Poppy, for a bit more amateur sleuthing (you can find my review of book 1, Barking Up the Right Tree, here).

The plot has two main focal points: the death of exceptionally unpleasant Silas Strang, and poor Emily's isolation from her usual support network, as friends Hannah and Toby cut her off to focus on protecting their business and a new relationship respectively. Some friends!

I actually found myself getting really cross with Hannah especially in this book, as she seemed to turn into a real 'fairweather friend', turning on Emily (albeit sheepishly) at the slightest hint of trouble and constantly accusing her imagining things or making things up for attention when she appeals for help with the strange events unfolding around and upon her.

Luckily, Emily has puppy Poppy to rely on and the inseparable pair can tackle anything together. It is lovely to see how their relationship has grown since the start of the series - Poppy is definitely one of the best characters, paws down!

You can read this book as part of the series, but don't really need to have read the first two to easily catch up on this instalment and enjoy it as a standalone. It's good, light-hearted (if a little murdery!) fun in a cosy village setting, with a super-cute, intelligent canine sidekick. What's not to like?

Cosy mystery fans and dog fans alike will love this delightfully doggy adventure!

We stood for a moment, glaring at one another, until Poppy broke the uneasy silence with a loud bark. Silas spat on the ground, turned and stomped away. Watching his retreat, I felt a sense of triumph, but once he was out of sight Poppy whimpered and I squatted down to pet her.
'It's alright,' I reassured her, scratching under her chin. 'He's gone. He's nothing but a big bully. He can't hurt you.'
But I resolved to be especially vigilant with Poppy. I was afraid she might not be safe with Silas Strang around.

- Leigh Russell, Poppy Takes the Lead

Pre-Order Link: Poppy Takes the Lead on Amazon

About the author

Alongside her popular DI Geraldine Steel detective novels, Leigh Russell is the author of the Poppy Mystery Tales, a brand new cosy crime series set in an idyllic English village. The stories feature Poppy, a lively puppy who helps her owner solve mysteries. Leigh has an MA in English Literature from the University of Kent. She has been shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library, and the People's Book Prize. Keen to support new writers, Leigh chairs the CWA Debut Dagger Judges, and is a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Leigh lives in London, near her two daughters and granddaughter. One of her daughters has a rescue puppy who inspired the Poppy Mystery Tales.