Murders at the Winterbottom Women’s Institute

by Gina Kirkham

This time around, I am choosing a light, gentle and sometimes silly read, which will hopefully have you laughing out loud!

Described as a ‘delightful romp’ and with the tagline ‘A spoonful of jealousy helps the membership go down, 'Murders at the Winterbottom Women’s Institute' is set in a quiet rural English village where nothing much happens apart from the monthly meetings of the local WI in the parish Hall. Prunella Pearce has just relocated and is looking for some excitement! She is dragged along reluctantly to the Women’s Institute and the usual round of talks, crafts and petty squabbles!

Nothing much happens, until that is, the Group need to elect a new President! Life suddenly takes on a completely different and unexpected turn, when the list of potential candidates begin dropping like flies in increasingly outlandish ways. One is found face down in a lemon drizzle cake (what a waste!), another is stabbed with a crochet hook whilst a third narrowly escapes a grisly end after an encounter with a portaloo!

The book uses many WI stereotypes but to humorous effect. A revolving door in a Harrogate Hotel almost sees the end of Pru’s best friend – the list goes on in ever more outlandish ways.

Things go from bad to worse when Pru and her friend decide to help the rather delectable detective (who certainly brightens up Pru’s mundane existence,) by doing some undercover snooping of their own. Will they come to a sticky end? And will they discover who is behind the murder of a bunch of harmless old ladies?

Having been a member of the WI for many years and having been President at one point, I found this book hilarious. It is reminiscent of WI’s from years ago – most have moved a bit more with the times, but there are still plenty of opportunities where I could make comparisons. Sadly, we never had a long list of people standing for President so rivalry never really came into the equation! Providing you are not a WI member who may be offended by the stereotypes described, you should find this book an easy and amusing read. It does not take itself seriously but sets out to portray British eccentricity, outdated thoughts on the WI being only ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ and silliness rolled into one. Despite being a book about murder, it is perfectly apt for a soggy English summer read!