Til Daph Do Us Part is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Phillipa Nefri Clark. Daphne (Daph) Jones is a mobile celebrant who, along with her husband John and their faithful caravan Bluebell, travels the countryside performing required celebrant duties.
Long time readers of Clark’s works will recognise Daph, who first appeared in The Stationmaster’s Cottage, book one of Clark’s highly successful River’s End series. Daph then made appearances in each of the subsequent River’s End Series books, as well as making a brief appearance in Deadly Past (one of the Charlotte Dean Mysteries).
As many authors will tell you, characters have a habit of taking on a life of their own, and so it was with Daph who insisted that she deserved her own series.
In this first book, Daph and John have headed to Little Bridges for Daph to officiate at the wedding of Lisa Brooker and Steve Tanning. But when she arrives there’s a strange undercurrent in the air. Steve is the third brother in the Tanning family that Lisa is marrying, with both prior grooms dying in strange circumstances not long into their marriages. Steve’s family are refusing to attend the wedding, and Lisa’s family doesn’t seem over-enthused about it.
When Steve is found floating in the swimming pool before the day’s end, Daph finds herself trying to find a murderer.
Waiters changing wet clothing, family members who make it clear that Daph is not welcome, strange goings-on around the caravan at night, and long-time family rivalries. This whodunnit has it all. But when the events start to affect Daph’s future bookings nothing is going to get in her way of solving this mystery and saving her business.
Clark’s latest offering is definitely more cozy mystery and less suspense than her previous works, but it is a fabulous read. With hints and red herrings galore you will be enthralled as you try to work out who did it, and why.
In addition to the wonderful story, I must make mention of the gorgeous book cover by Jade Erica of Steam Power Studios. who has captured the essence of Daph perfectly, a simple yet stunning cover with so much detail the closer you look.
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the Daph series. A 5 star read from me.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Til Daph Do Us Part by Phillipa Nefri Clark. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
Author: Phillipa Nefri Clark
ISBN: 978-0-6488652-2-3 (paperback)
Copy courtesy of Phillipa Nefri Clark
I love to read, for many years my passion has been science fantasy but recently I’ve discovered many fabulous Australian women authors and am devouring all the new genres I am being exposed to.
In addition to reading and reviewing books I enjoy photography, spending time with my husband, daughter, grandson, 2 dogs and a cat and am an aspiring author.
Til Daph do us part – Phillipa Nefri Clark
Daphne Jones is a marriage celebrant who travels around the state in her renovated caravan, Bluebell, with her husband John to perform weddings.
She absolutely loves her job and spending time with her adoring husband. That is until she visits the Bride and Groom, Lisa and Steve and Lisa’s family the day before their big day.
Daphne gets a really bad feeling about these people especially after she discovers that this is Lisa’s third wedding to a member of the Tanning family and that both of her previous husbands had died soon after their weddings.
Despite her concerns the wedding goes smoothly. But when she hears Lisa screaming she knows something is wrong. When Steve is pulled out of the pool, dead, Daphne decides she needs to solve the case of his murder.
Celebrant turned sleuth! Daphne uncovers lots of secrets about these two families and the town they live in.
This is a lovely book(despite it being about murder) that will keep you guessing until the end.
A light hearted read, and quick read, but for me it was a mildly irritating storyline.
Daph and her hubby are a loving couple, but in my eyes, she is so annoying. A ‘wanna be’ sleuth and a celebrant, currently in town to officiate a wedding ceremony, where a murder takes place.
Over the course of the story, more murders will occur and be investigated, and Daph drives the Police nuts with her interfering in their murder enquiries.
She does however, solve the murders, purely by all the notes she has made in her notebook. Not a single shred of Forensics or actual Policing is needed, as this retired, middle aged busy body, solves the mysteries herself..
It is a light hearted read, even though about a few murders in some very disfunctional families, and their long history.
I also noted many errors in grammar, as well as spelling, which I also found irritating. Things like that make me wonder if copyediting and proof reading are done anymore?
If there are more books in this particular series, I woud not read them as the characters are toi annoying for my liking..
Thank you Beauty and Lace, for the opportunity to read ‘ Til Daph Do Us Part’ by Phillipa Nefri Clark
Daphne Jones is a celebrant. She travels around with her semi-retired husband John in their caravan, following the work. But she cannot help sleuthing if there’s a mystery to be solved. As I read I realised Daphne is in several previous series Philippa Nefri Clark has written – but obviously such a popular character the author decided to give her her own series. Sometimes it was a bit hard to connect the dots when the previous series were mentioned, but you get the gist. Daphne and John are a pleasant loving couple who’ve never managed to have their own children – and it seems like she herself had difficult experiences as a child, which in the past has led them to foster. Now Daphne’s big heart has led her to become a celebrant, to help families experience the big moments in their lives. When a murder happens at a wedding – within an hour of the ceremony (!), this tale kicks off into high gear. Daph is a good sleuth! This was a pleasant read with a few twists and turns and revelations you don’t see coming. Thanks to Beauty & Lace bookclub for the review copy.
Till Death do us Part by Phillipa Nefri Clark.
I loved the cover and the quote at the beginning “ To living a life which makes you happy and helps you bring happiness to others”.
Daphne Jones is a celebrant. She has been booked for a wedding in Little Bridges.
This was her dream come true! To travel in their caravan “ Bluebell” with her retired husband. Her new career to help people celebrate the happiest and the saddest times of their lives.
Little did Daphne know it would all be happening on the one day for bride Lisa Brooker. Her husband of less than an hour, Steve Tanning, is found dead as the wedding reception begins.
Was it an accident or murder?
As her next booking is cancelled, to save her new business, Daphne starts sleuthing or as she calls it assisting the police.
The two families have a long running feud….not helped by the fact that Steve is the third member of the Tanning family Lisa has wed…….and they have all ended up dead!
This book is a fun, easy to read, with twists and turns that keep you guessing as to the “who done it”.
I look forward to more of Daphne’s sleuthing !
Till Daph Do Us Part by Phillipa Nefri Clark was a fun, easy book to read. I think it would be good for people who don’t like to read, or those who don’t have much time to read. The storyline reminded me of Rosemary and Thyme – if you’ve ever watched it – a regular person who things happen around and then they feel compelled to solve the mystery despite the police telling them to stay out of it. It’s not a deep and meaningful mystery/thriller, but a light ‘fun’ one. There was a big twist in the end too, which was a nice surprise and not expected. Thank you Beauty and Lace for letting me review this book >:o)
Thank-you Beauty & Lace for giving me the chance to read & review ‘Till Daph do us part’ a soft mystery by Phillipa Nefri Clark.
Daphne (Daph) is a wedding celebrant travelling around with her husband John in a little renovated caravan ‘Bluebell’. Being a romantic at heart she really enjoys celebrating the special day with the newlyweds. That is until she meets the Brooker and the Tanning families; where weddings, murder and mystery come together.
I’m sorry to say but I really didn’t enjoy this read, it was a bit too sweet like the icing on the wedding cake. The characters I felt were shallow people, which meant that I didn’t really care about the outcome of their trajectories. The twist in the end of ‘who done it’ was interesting but alas again I did not care much about the final outcome. However, if you are looking for a light hearted book that you can read and forget, this is for you. Thank-you ‘Beauty & Lace for the chance to review.
Daphne is a celebrant her husband John is retired they travel to Daphnes jobs in their beloved caravan who they have called Bluebell
They arrive at a town called Little Bridges
Daphne meets the couple and family who she is to marry the next day, this is when a murder takes place straight after the wedding
To me Daphne is a nosy parker meddling and annoying the police ( though she did solve the murder )
Thanks for selecting me to read this book I have read other books by this author and unfortunately I just found the characters in this book too annoying
I haven’t ventured into the cosy mystery genre so wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was a fun story about Daphne, a marriage celebrant, and her husband who take their caravan Bluebell around small towns or wherever the work of Daphne takes them.
The story wasn’t challenging to read and was a good distraction from life’s reality. While I was hoping some of the characters would be killed off, the quirkiness of the town and characters was enough to let me forgive the author for some of the more annoying ones.
The description of the town transported me there and while there were some errors throughout, it didn’t distract me from the story.
I would happily read more of Daphne and John’s adventures.
This was an enjoyable, relatively quick read for me, the first of Phillipa’s books I have read, I loved the quirky artwork cover, with a hint of clues, it has its very own appeal, and I have no doubt will be jumping off the bookstore shelves into the arms of discerning readers.
Daphne, while not your typical Mrs Jones, reminds me of a bumbling version of Brenda Blethyn in ‘Vera’ minus the attitude, or an annoying eccentric meddling caring, well-meaning aunt similar to Hyacinth Bucket.
Not having read any of Phillipa’s previous books I wasn’t familiar with either John or Daphne the lead characters, but I did warm to this endearing couple straight away, not your typical quasi retiree’s. Life is a rolling adventure for the long-married duo, leisurely exploring one town after another in their beloved Bluebell, John happily lazing by the river with his fishing rod for company, whilst Daph keeps herself busy as the spokesperson for couples tying the knot or by delivering eulogies at funeral services.
There were enough twists and wrong turns and family filled drama along the way to hold my interest, and Daphne and John certainly aren’t ‘keeping up with the Joneses.’ They’re just a pair of childless sweeties going out of their way to help people and often Daphne whilst well-meaning can’t help literally being in the way.
Thank you so much Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to provide an honest review of an ARC digital version of Phillipa Nefri Clark “Til Daph Do Us Part” and I’m looking forward to reading Daph’s ongoing adventures when number two in the series is released.
Thank you for giving me the chance to read this book. This is the first “Daphne” book I have read.
I found the story to be quite interesting although not riveting. Daph can be quite irritating and I doubt I could live with her. She’s a wannabe detective/sleuth and does come to some clever conclusions.
I would recommend this book if you want a very light easy read.