Reviews

Mrs Sidhu's 'Dead and Scone' by Suk Pannu

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sharalc's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

beriboo's review

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3.0

Review: Mrs Sidhu's 'Dead and Scone' by Suk Pannu

Rating: ★★★☆☆

I recently read Mrs Sidhu's 'Dead and Scone' by Suk Pannu and I'd give it a solid 3 stars. Although I hadn't heard of Mrs Sidhu before picking up this book, I ended up enjoying both the character and the story.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing, and I was often wrong with my predictions, (but then so were Mrs Sidhu's!!) which made the mystery all the more engaging. The guessing game added an element of fun, even though some of the twists felt a bit contrived at times.

Mrs Sidhu is a delightful character. Her wit, charm, and unique approach to solving mysteries made the book a pleasurable read. Pannu has created a memorable protagonist who stands out in the crowded field of amateur sleuths.

While the story had its ups and downs, and some parts felt a bit predictable, overall it was an enjoyable read. If Suk Pannu decides to write more Mrs Sidhu adventures, I'd definitely be interested in following her escapades. This book is perfect for anyone looking for a light, entertaining mystery with a charismatic lead.

terracottalily's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

nikkisbooknook's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I loved the radio show of Mrs Sidhu Investigates so when I saw that I leapt at it!

Does it help that I knew the character of Mrs Sidhu and her police buddies already. Probably. The story does start saying that she had been a thorn in the side of the local police for a while with her amateur sleuthing. But I really didn't mind that as I drop into the middle of series all the time and just go for it. LOL

I had Meera Syal in my head narrating as I read which again helped me to solidify the character in my brain. The pacing is well done and there are more than a few twists and red-herrings. I love the lazy lump that is Tez - he reminds me so much of my son! An easy to read, witty and a study in cultural differences and similarities.

I'm not sure what vexes Mrs Sidhu most - the murder or the dreaded sister-in-law coming to stay. I must say I did thoroughly enjoy all their barbs and the "temporary office" situation was a hoot.

whatkatisreading's review

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

‘Mrs Sidhu’s “Dead And Scone”’ by Suk Pannu is a thrilling whodunnit novel set in a cosy and wealthy Berkshire village, featuring a village fete, a raffle and amateur sleuth (of Radio 4 fame) Mrs Sidhu. Almost soon as she arrives to her new catering job at a luxury mental wellness retreat, our investigator extraordinaire is pulled into a murder mystery, and when the police name their prime suspect her cooking knowledge suggests the crime scene doesn’t match up to their theories. As the death toll rises and strange links appear to a pair of historic deaths, Mrs Sidhu is determined to solve the case!

I liked the clever plot of this one, including a shocking twist I didn’t see coming. I also really liked this introduction to Mrs Sidhu as a character (I think many readers may pick this up because they listen to the Radio 4 show, but I can assure you it is not essential). The quaint setting was well-described and the potential victims and suspects of interesting.

I found the scene jumps within chapters a bit chaotic at times (though it did add to the admiration I felt for Mrs Sidhu’s ability to live a double life as a caterer/mother and a crime-solver!) It also took me quite some time to get fully immersed as the start was quite slow, and there wasn’t as much baking featured as I expected from the cover.

All in all, it was a 3.5 read for me. Recommended if you know and love the character already or enjoy slow burn cosy mysteries featuring unique sleuths!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Harper Collins UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.