Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Maypole of Deceit: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
A Maypole of Deceit: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait
A Maypole of Deceit: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Cotswold, England
Publisher : Kanga Press
Publication date : May 8, 2026
Number of Pages c. 300
Digital
Spring has arrived in the Cotswolds, and bunting flutters above the village green as Coln Akeman prepares for its annual May Day celebrations.
Antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is busy at the auction house, and her friend, Keya Varma is run off her feet at her café. But when an elderly woman goes missing and a man’s body is found among the festivities, the joyful occasion takes a darker turn.
With clues as tangled as the ribbons on the Maypole, Dotty and her friends must work together to untie a knot of lies before mistrust tears their close-knit community apart.
A Maypole of Deceit, the next charming cozy mystery in Victoria Tait’s Cotswold Antique Mystery series, is a heart-warming tale of friendship, courage, and truth set in the heart of the British countryside. Perfect for readers who enjoy traditional whodunnits filled with village life, vintage treasures, and a dash of British humour.
Celebrate spring and uncover the truth with A Maypole of Deceit today!
My review of A Maypole of Deceit
Oh how I love this series! Maypole of Deceit is a must-read for cozy mystery lovers! It’s the latest book in the Cotswold Antique Mystery series. It features much loved characters from two of Victoria Tait’s other series, but even if this is the first book you read in the series, you’ll be fine! It works very well as a standalone. If you have read them, you’ll know Dotty and Keya as well as the other characters in the cozy Cotswolds.
In this book, the village is getting ready to celebrate May Day! It’s a joyous welcome of spring and the village is all set up with stalls for games, treats and of course, the Maypole. But when a body is found wrapped up in the ribbons the morning of the event, plans are thrown into chaos to say the least! It’s now a crime scene, so the coordinators, including Keya, Gilly, and Gilly’s husband Dr Peter. It’s decided that they can move the celebration to the area between Keya’s cafe and Akemans.
I just loved this so much! Reading Victoria Tait’s books always feels like a warm hug. She knows how to write a murder mystery that still has a cozy feel to the story. In this case, the murder is an unknown man, though it’s eventually revealed that several people knew him. With several suspects, it’s not so easy to figure out which one did it! I loved gathering the clues with the characters. The characters are well-written and have become like family to me. They’re also like found family to each other. I’m so happy with the way things are going in this series. There’s a very happy surprise in this one that fans will love!
I highly recommend A Maypole of Deceit for its wonderful characters, charming setting, well-plotted mystery, and cozy feeling. 5 stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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.
Read the FREE prequel to her Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series at her website.
Author Links
Website: https://victoriatait.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaTaitAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriataitauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20373879.Victoria_Tait
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-tait
Purchase Link – Amazon
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A Maypole of Deceit TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 9 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
May 9 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
May 11 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
May 11 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 12 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
May 12 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
May 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
May 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 15 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 15 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 16 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
May 17 – Sarandipity’s -CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 18 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
May 18 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW
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