Erica’s Pick of the Week: The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective

As a fan of “later-in-life” protagonists, I’m always game to pick up a book featuring an aged detective/spy/criminal. I’m not alone in this, and publishing has responded with a veritable glut of senior crime solvers. One title that rises to the top: The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols. A feel-good mystery for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and The Marlow Murder Club, its setting, characters, and twists make it a standout.

The Marigold Cottages are a collection of vintage Santa Barbara bungalows, overseen by the gently meddlesome landlady, Mrs. B. A widow, she only rents to people she likes, resulting in an eclectic group of tenants who are (almost) all devoted to her. Despite this, they rarely cross paths – until surly, tattooed ex-con Anthony moves in. 

Anthony is unsettling, to say the least. He definitely doesn’t fit in.  And when a dead body turns up under the shrubbery, the other tenants – and the police – are quick to assume he’s the killer, despite Mrs. B’s protests. (She’s getting on in years, after all. She’s got a kind heart. She’s easily led astray.)

Determined to clear Anthony’s name, Mrs. B takes drastic action – and the repercussions force the residents to team up and find out the truth, even as it endangers their lives and the future of the cottages themselves. 

Everything element in this book works together perfectly. The characters are distinct and well-drawn, including the slightly dotty Mrs. B, aspiring playwright Sophie, trivia-obsessed Hamilton. The interplay between the characters feels authentic, especially as the case progresses and their secrets are revealed. The cottages are a quirky, charming, California coastal dream.

Best of all, the mystery is a polished little puzzle box. It keeps you guessing until the killer is revealed, then sends you flipping back through the pages to find the clues you missed. The twist is clever without being gimmicky. And while the ending wraps up all the loose ends, Nichols leaves plenty of room for another installment. It’s a good thing, too. Readers looking for a feel-good mystery with a breezy, modern spin will be eager to return to the Marigold Cottages.