The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective

This was a thoroughly enjoyable cozy murder mystery that features a loveable gaggle of oddball neighbours who live in small cottage community in Santa Barbara, California. The cottages are owned by Mrs. B - the matriarch who reigns over her little enclave with a big heart and a hearty dose of nosiness. She rents her cottages to an odd assortment of tenants and when a dead body is found nearby, the tenants work together to solve the murder.

This book is the whole cozy mystery enchilada. It blends humour, heart and community with a cast of characters who tell share their own stories and have secrets they'd rather keep hidden. 

I loved the short chapters, the cottage collective setting and how the story was told using multiple POVs, giving readers a chance to get to know the tenants well and see their relationships grow. 

This is a murder mystery but it's also a sweet story about community, found family, and the importance of finding a safe place where you belong and can be loved for being 100% yourself. Filled with funny bits, poignant moments and a solid mystery, if you love cozy murder mysteries and a quirky, memorable cast you'll want to pick up this book.

A great pick for fans of Only Murders in the Building.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Minotaur Books for the complimentary digital advanced copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Jo Nichols

Genre: Mystery

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Minotaur Books

First Published: August 19, 2025

Read: July 29-31, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: The perfect summer read, full of charm and heart, written in the vein of The Thursday Murder Club or Only Murders in the Building but with a southern California twist.

Mrs. B, the landlady of The Marigold Cottages is a stubborn idealist who only rents to people she cares Sophie, an anxious young playwright with a dark past; Hamilton, an agoraphobe who likes to overshare; Ocean, a queer sculptor raising two kids alone; the perfectionist Lily-Ann; and Nicholas, a finance bro who’s hiding secrets.

The tenants live contentedly in their doll-house bungalows in Santa Barbara, just minutes from the beach, until their peace is shattered when Anthony, a quiet, hulking, but potentially violent ex-con moves in. Three weeks later, a dead body is discovered on the streets of the peaceful neighborhood. Anthony is arrested, and the tenants heave sighs of relief. Until Mrs. B, convinced that he's innocent, marches down to the police station and confesses to the crime herself. The tenants band together and form “The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective” to save their beloved landlady. As clues are unearthed and secrets are revealed, the community of misfits only grows more tight-knit...until a second body is found. Full of eccentricity, humor, community, The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective will keep you hooked until the last page.