Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney

#VowsandVillainy #NetGalley

One’s wedding day is supposed to be a happy and memorable one. However, in this latest entry in Penney’s series, instead there is murder and mayhem when a Shakespearean themed wedding goes awry. How will a murder be solved? Will the weddings take place?

Readers of traditional mysteries know the answers but the fun is in getting there. It was enjoyable to spend time with these characters and their lives in Cambridge, England. Those who have read other titles in the series will want to look for this latest entry while, those new to the series, may want to read every one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 25 November 2025

Review written on 16 December 2025

Description:

from the publisher

Vows and Villainy is the fifth book in Elizabeth Penney’s delightful Cambridge Bookshop series set in Cambridge, England, where celebrations are about to commence.

It’s wedding season in Cambridge, and Molly Kimball is thrilled that it’s almost time for her best friend’s special day. With the help of her boyfriend Kieran Scott, she is determined to be the best maid of honor for Daisy and Tim. Daisy’s heart is set upon a Shakespeare-themed wedding to be held at Hazelhurst House, Kieran’s family’s home. The Scotts are also hosting a Shakespeare troupe for the summer, and the actors have kindly agreed to be part of the festivities.

But all goes awry with the discovery of Sir Nigel Peck, a famous actor with a checkered past and present-day misdeeds, floating dead in the moat with flowers strewn around him, à la Ophelia. When Kieran’s brother Alan becomes a top suspect, Molly and company must investigate to uncover the ugly truth behind this picturesque scene . . . before more bodies pile up.

Can Molly solve the murder before Daisy and Tim say “I do”?

About the Author:

from Amazon

ELIZABETH PENNEY is the author of more than two dozen cozy mysteries, including the Apron Shop, Cambridge Bookshop, and Ravensea Castle series. The first in the Cambridge Bookshop series, Chapter and Curse, was a 2022 Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee. Elizabeth spent her early years in England and France and now lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she pens novels and tries to grow things.

Praise for the Cambridge Bookshop series:

“A complex mystery featuring the historic charms of Cambridge and a likable, clever sleuth.”―Kirkus Reviews

“Penney adds to her list of popular, feel-good reads with the start of a new series . . . will please her fans and everyone looking for a diverting read with a pleasantly nostalgic British cozy, a keep-’em-guessing murder mystery, and a lighthearted romance.”―Booklist