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.
If you are looking for a nice easy read, Till Daph Do us Part – Weddings, Funerals and Sleuthing is the read for you. Phillipa Nefri Clark is a writer of mystery and suspense and her latest is a cozy mystery.
What is a cozy mystery you may ask? I know I did actually google it when I first heard about this genre a few years ago. “Cozy mystery (or cosy mystery, in British English) is the gentlest subset of the broad genre of crime writing. As its name suggests, it’s a comfort read that leaves you satisfied and at one with the world, rather than scared to sleep alone with the lights out.”
This book is set in Victoria where Daphne and her retired Husband John travel from town to town in their newly renovated caravan named Bluebell. Daphne is a Celebrant and has bookings that allow her to travel with John. Daphne attends weddings, funerals, and any other events where she may be required while John likes to fish.
Daphne arrives the day prior to the Wedding of Lisa and Steve and immediately feels uneasy, Lisa is stressed and acting like a Bridezilla while Steve is just rude especially to Daphne. There is so much tension in the air for what should be a happy occasion. The Wedding Day dawns and Daphne arrives hoping to be done and out of there as soon as possible when not long after kissing the bride and saying “I do” the groom is found dead in the pool.
Daphne thrives on helping and seeking out clues so is compelled to assist the police in any way she can, she thinks of herself as an amateur sleuth and is determined to get to the bottom of the murder.
I found this a great read that had enough twists and turns to keep me reading. Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Philippa Nefri Clark for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
this is of story will have a question in mind and when you finished reading it you will know the twist of the story… A good book that will leave a reader a message The truth always comes out in the end, no matter how hard anyone tries to hide it or stop it. Lies are just a temporary delay to the inevitable.
Just because you don’t say anything its doesn’t mean you don’t know…
I leaned from a story a tongue has no bone, but it can break your heart by knowing the truth so be ready for it!
Daphne Jones is from a small Victorian town and is on the road in her caravan with her husband to travel the state in her new job as a wedding celebrant.
The first town they stop in for her to marry Lisa and Steve ends in disaster as there is a death at the wedding. Daph then tries to solve the murder. I honestly did not overly enjoy this book as I couldn’t warm to Daph as I found her annoying! The murder is linked to a long standing family feud and then another murder happens.
For a book with two murder it’s quite lighthearted.
I won’t be reading anymore books in the Daph series as they are not my ‘cup of tea.’
Thank you Beauty and Lace, for the opportunity to read ‘ Til Daph Do Us Part,’ by Phillipa Nefri Clark.
I absolutely love the cover of this book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and kept me guessing until the very end!
I loved the relationship between Daph and John, John has the patience of a Saint. I think some people will find Daph annoying, I absolutely love her! I look forward to reading the next one.
Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a light-hearted and fun mystery.
Thank you to Beauty and Lace and to Phillipa Nefri Clark for the opportunity to read and review Til Daph do us Part.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It was a light, easy read. As most reviewers have said, Daphne is a mildly irritating, middle aged woman who seemed to thrive on gossiping about other peoples lives.
Possibly, this book should be changed to a teenage book where young teens would thrive on this kind of drama, like in Gossip GIrl.
I would say that the book is more aimed at reluctant readers, not “book club” readers.
I have never read one of Phillipa Clark’s books before, and unfortunately, I wouldn’t read them again.
Happy to send you a free copy of a standalone crime suspense of mine. Very different genre and style than the Daphne series which is written for cozy mystery readers.
Phillipa Nefri Clark’s Til Daph Do Us Part is a light hearted and entertaining tale about love, marriage, murder and intrigue in a small town. I found Daphne and John’s relationship touching and really quite gorgeous, along with their new found routines for life on the road in ‘Bluebell’. They certainly get more drama and adventures than they were counting on in Little Bridges, a picture perfect hamlet where a long standing family feud simmers just below the surface. There were quite a few extended family member to keep track of during the storyline, a few red herrings along the way and a twist and turn here and there to keep you guessing. A very pleasant accompaniment to a nice cup of tea and a choc chip cookie.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Phillippa Nefri Clark for this charming and fun read, Til Daph Do Us Part!
Thanks to Beauty and Lace I was given the opportunity to read Til Daph Do Us Part, by Phillipa Negril Clark.
I found it an enjoyable, easy to read story. A newly appointed celebrant who obviously has a hidden desire to be a super sleuth, uncovers more evidence than the local constabulary in order to solve the crime. Why have a police force in town, when you have a visiting celebrant travelling in her distinctive caravan named Bluebell willing to unravel all the clues and put all the pieces together? She always just happens to be in the right place at the right time to gather her intelligence.
A light hearted, fun read.
‘Cozy’ mysteries are not my normal choice (I normally go for crime suspense) but for something different it was a great fun read.
The travelling celebrant Daphne somehow always manages to be right where she needs to be in order to solve the murder, but there were lot of twists and turns that kept my engaged. I look forward to reading any new Daphne books and am going to look out for ‘The Stationmaster’s Cottage’ to have a look at where she started.
Perfect book to curl up with on a rainy weekend.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read this book.
I have previously read – and thoroughly enjoyed – Phillip Nefri Clarke’s crime suspense novels. This cozy mystery is not the same genre and doesn’t have the depth and grit in it that her crime suspense novels do, however, it’s not meant to.
This cozy mystery does everything that it’s meant to do. It’s fun, yes the main character is a bit annoying – I can only imagine how she’s driven the cops crazy, they’d be happy to see the back of her – but she’s meant to be. The book is light-hearted and perfect for a quick read, it’s great escape from all the misery and stress in the world at the moment, would also be great to read on the beach or in a park in summer.
Thanks Phillipa and Beauty & Lace Book Club for allowing me to escape from it all for a while
This is a cute book and quite different from the authors previous novel. This one is light hearted fun and suspense. A cozy mystery I understand and not my usual type of book.
Daph is a marriage celebrant travelling around with her patient husband. She is a gossiper and loves the intrigue and mystery that is created when a death occurs at a wedding she is officiating. Daph is not everyone’s cup of tea but if you can take this for some fun you will enjoy it as she goes to uncover the mystery.
If you want something more serious I highly recommend her other novel. She is a great writer.
Thank you for a fun little novel.