Hi! I’m Sassy, @3phibotticelli on Twitter/X. My momma reads about one hundred books a year *proud ears*. So today, I am gonna review one for woo that has a doggy, Craddock the bulldog, in it. Enjoy!

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson

In this fast-action mystery novel, Craddock the bulldog keeps a watchful eye as a woman gets murdered, money gets stolen from the community center, a wedding progresses rapidly, and new romances begin.

Nova is a lovely young bride-to-be. She works at the local community center and hosts a sparsely attended book club.

She shares a scary past with her fiancé and beau, Craig, and someone blamed her for leaving the Center’s door unlocked when thieves stole the roof repair fund money, ten thousand pounds, and suspended her from work.

The St. Tredock Community Book Club members rally to clear Nova’s name. They gather for an emergency book club meeting and examine the facts.

Phyllis recounts the situation. Many suspects exist, but Michael, the newest book club attendee, is foremost among them. At a recent book club meeting, new member Michael had plenty to say about the mother leaving her child behind in the book, Where the Crawdads Sing. After several negative remarks about the fictional mother, Phyllis says, Michael got a text, leapt up, and ran out of the book club.

Arthur, whose wife has gone blind, so he reads to her daily, feels the mother is getting a bad rap in Crawdads, and usually waits for the others to weigh in. Arthur cannot believe Michael would take the roof fund money.

Ash, a young, timid book reader, listens to the group. He knows he can help flush out the criminal.

But Phyllis Hudson is in charge. She is Craddock the bulldog’s momma. She is fearless.

Phyllis is an outspoken book club member and mystery crime aficionado. She loves Agatha Christie; in fact, she fancies herself as a novice detective. Miss Maple is her hero, and though she will not admit it, she is definitely not a fan of Hercule Poirot.

Pointing to Michael’s actions that evening, she proclaims her intent to recover the funds, locate the culprit, and preserve Nova’s employment and the Community Center.

Phyllis finds Michael rude and insignificant. Craddock agrees and shows it by tooting and asking for more treats.

Phyllis and Craddock set out to scope Michael’s house.

When they arrive, the police are wheeling a body out of the house, which Phyllis presumes is Michael. Michael’s wife, Cynthia, allegedly shoved his mother down the stairs.

At the funeral, Phyllis hides in a closet when Cynthia and another man appear to be canoodling in the bedroom. Cynthia then tosses Phyllis out of the house.

Phyllis pledges to solve this cash grab-and-files, Miss Maple style. Phyllis goes with Nova, Craddock, and Arthur to Michael’s home to pay their respects.

Cynthia, not amused, tells them to leave.

Ash and Arthur discover that the man Cynthia was canoodling with is a PI. They make an appointment under false pretenses and head to his office.

Phyllis and Craddock attend a meditation class at the center to distract themselves while they meet the PI, but after frequent and hilarious flatulence by Caddock, the instructor asks them to leave.

Phyllis begrudgingly leaves the session and sees Cynthia charging into the Community Center to complain about Phyllis and her so-called foul-smelling bulldog, and the others turning up at her mother-in-law’s and stalking her.

Nova seethes at Phyllis when she arrives. She then learns that Craddock is very ill. Phyllis had tied Craddock to the fence so she could intrude and eavesdrop on Nova and Cynthia. According to Phyllis, when she returned to Craddock, the English bulldog was horribly ill and shaking and had to be rushed to the vet. Phyllis thinks someone poisoned him!

Phyllis learned that the police brought Nova in for questioning because someone attacked Nova’s boss, Sandy, at the community center. The police say that someone wearing a red coat similar to Nova’s fled the scene.

Ash reports he has broken into the PI’s files and that the missing Michael is indeed his client and has paid the PI for stalking photos of none other than Phyllis.

One thing is clear: the book group is being warned.

This book has everything: theft, murder, romance, weddings, book clubs, and a beloved adopted dog!

I give it five paws up! Try it and enjoy your fall days.

See you next time at Meet Me At the Bookshelf.

Sassy Kisses