A Cotswold cozy mystery with a hidden body, a ticking clock, and a quietly determined amateur sleuth.
Tea, Mysteries and a Spoonful of British Charm
The Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery Series
Classic British cosy crime
Set in English villages, these cosy mysteries follow Dotty Sayers, a hard-working amateur sleuth who solves crimes through careful observation and steady deduction. The stories combine antiques, clues hidden in plain sight, red herrings, and character-driven puzzles with a strong sense of place in the English countryside.
The Waterwheel Café Mystery Series
Cotswold cafe cosy mysteries
Sergeant Keya Varma balances her role as a community police officer with running the Waterwheel Café in the English Cotswolds. Each mystery unfolds in a close-knit rural community, where local gossip and quirky characters fuel her logical investigations, leading to a clear, satisfying resolution.
The Cotswold Antique Mystery Series
Village cosy mysteries
In the English Cotswolds, auction house manager Dotty Sayers and café owner Keya Varma find themselves drawn into mysteries rooted in antiques, auctions, and village life. These British cosy mysteries follow their investigations at community events and village gatherings, where friendships deepen and secrets surface among familiar Cotswold characters.
Cozy Mysteries set Beyond the Cotswolds
The Treasured Journey Mystery Series
Travel cosy mysteries
After personal tragedy, antiques expert Georgina Carey embarks on a journey of healing and self-discovery, traveling to distinctive international locations. Drawn into mysteries rooted in cultural traditions, historical legacies, and community intrigue, she uses her keen eye for detail to discover the truth in these armchair travel cosy mysteries.
The Kenya Kanga Mystery Series
African cosy mysteries
Set in a vibrant Kenyan town and the surrounding savannah, these cosy mysteries follow Mama Rose Hardie, a silver-haired community vet whose sharp observation and practical reasoning draw her into local murder investigations shaped by wildlife conservation, everyday life, and close community ties.
As a child, I loved mysteries far more than the usual classics. I devoured Enid Blyton’s Famous Five before moving on to Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple. Later, I discovered Dorothy L Sayers and P D James, and I still enjoy the antics of M C Beaton’s Agatha Raisin.
Victoria
Meet the Sleuths
Meet three intelligent women whose work and lives intersect around the Cotswold village of Coln Akeman. Dotty has led a sheltered life, Keya is an overlooked junior police officer, and Georgina is an antiques expert rebuilding her life after tragedy. They’re observant, hardworking, and drawn into mysteries whether they like it or not. They share friends and support each other, and together they seek truth and justice in their close-knit community.
Dotty Sayers
An antiques expert with a sharp eye for detail.
Young and recently widowed, Dotty seeks a fresh start in the Cotswolds, working at a local auction house. Having led a sheltered life, she learns to trust herself as she’s drawn into mysteries, growing into a confident investigator alongside her loyal cat, Earl Grey.
Keya Varma
An overlooked community police officer.
Keya is an enthusiastic junior police officer who dreams of opening her own cafe. Quick-thinking and observant, she balances rural policing with solving local mysteries, her logical mind uncovering truths best served with cake and tea.
Georgina Carey
An antiques expert drawn into mysteries abroad.
Georgina is an accomplished antiques expert who steps away from running Akemans auction house after her husband’s death. Searching for renewal through travel, she’s drawn into mysteries rooted in heritage and secrets, proving that broken beginnings can lead to second chances.
Where to Buy Victoria Tait’s Books
About Victoria Tait
Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, where she discovered a passion for mystery fiction and storytelling. Inspired by the works of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Midsomer Murders, she writes British cozy mysteries infused with her signature British charm.
Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. With intrigue, surprises, and gentle humour, Victoria’s page-turning stories offer engaging whodunits, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
Victoria’s books avoid graphic content and profanity, focusing on character, logic, and the steady work of uncovering truth.
Victoria has recently been exploring the world, drawing inspiration for her books from remarkable places including the Azores, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Morocco, and Malta.
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