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A Wicket of Lies: A British Cozy Murder Mystery
(A Cotswold Antique Mystery)
by Victoria Tait
A Wicket of Lies: A British Cozy Murder Mystery (A Cotswold Antique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Setting – Cotswold, England
Publisher : Kanga Press
Publication date : July 11, 2025
Digital ASIN : B0DNKN1W7P
ISBN-13 : 978-1917168328
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Summer is in full swing in the Cotswolds… but not everyone is playing fair.
Dotty Sayers, antiques expert and amateur sleuth, is looking forward to an idyllic afternoon of sunshine, cream teas, and village rivalry at the final of a local ladies’ cricket festival.
Keya Varma, café owner and part-time crime scene expert, is delighted to be on the pitch with family and friends. The stakes are high but it’s all in good spirit… until a teammate is found dead.
At first, the death seems like a tragic accident, but when Keya is appointed crime scene manager and evidence starts turning up outside the boundary, suspicion begins to spread.
With lies spinning like a tricky googly and secrets lurking in the outfield, Dotty and Keya must team up with the local police to cut through a pitch of grudges, hidden motives, and long-buried betrayals.
Off the pitch, Dotty is facing doubts of her own. Can she let go of her fears and commit to a future with Zach?
With a murder to solve and the game underway, can Dotty, Keya, and their unlikely team of village cricketers spot the real villain before someone else gets bowled out?
A Wicket of Lies is the second book in Victoria Tait’s Cotswold Antique Mystery series, a feel-good whodunnit brimming with village life, vintage treasures, and cricketing rivalries. With determined sleuths, loyal friendships, and a community bound by justice, it’s a wonderfully English mystery with heart.
Keep your eye on the ball and uncover the truth in A Wicket of Lies today!
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Cricket Team Tea Recipes
The theme of cricket is prominent in A Wicket of Lies. One British tradition associated with the game is the match tea, even if it is served at lunchtime or throughout the afternoon rather than strictly at teatime.
In this story, my lead characters Dotty Sayers and Keya Varma, along with Mick, who works in Keya’s Waterwheel Café, prepare food for a cricket team tea. Here are the recipes for three of the dishes they serve.
🍗 Chicken Satay Skewers
This is one of Dotty’s go to recipes when she needs a savoury item for a picnic or afternoon tea. It is best served cold, with a tangy peanut dipping sauce on the side.
Ingredients (serves 4–6):
• 500 g (1 lb) skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Juice of ½ lime
• Wooden skewers (soaked)
Peanut Sauce:
• 3 tbsp peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce or honey
• Juice of ½ lime
• 1–2 tbsp water to loosen
Instructions:
- Mix all the marinade ingredients together, then add the chicken strips and coat them well. Leave them to marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- Thread the chicken onto skewers and grill or bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and cooked through. Allow them to cool before packing.
- Mix all the sauce ingredients together until smooth.
- It can be served hot, or for a picnic, cold, with the sauce on the side or drizzled over the chicken skewers before serving.
🧁 Mick’s Raspberry Custard Slices
This is a classic retro treat with a fresh twist, which Mick baked after discovering some raspberries that needed using up in the cafe. It is a fun and attractive addition to any cricket team tea.
Ingredients (makes 12 slices):
• 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry
• 300 ml (1¼ cups) whole milk
• 300 ml (1¼ cups) double or heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 egg yolks
• 50 g (¼ cup) caster sugar
• 30 g (¼ cup) cornflour or cornstarch
• 100 g (¾ cup) fresh raspberries
Icing:
• 150 g (1¼ cups) icing sugar or powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp water or lemon juice
• A few crushed raspberries (optional, for colour)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or 400°F.
- Bake the puff pastry sheet flat on a baking tray for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and crisp. Allow to cool, then cut into two equal rectangles.
- To make the custard, heat the milk, cream, and vanilla in a pan until steaming but not boiling. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and cornflour. Gradually pour in the warm milk mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the pan and stir over low heat until thickened. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
- Line a 20 x 20 cm (8 x 8 inch) tin with baking paper. Place one pastry rectangle in the base. Spread over half the custard, scatter with raspberries, then spread the remaining custard evenly on top. Chill for at least 1 hour until set.
- Place the second pastry rectangle on top. Mix the icing sugar with enough water or lemon juice to make a smooth glaze. Add a little crushed raspberry for a pale pink tint, if desired. Spread over the top and chill again until set. Slice carefully to serve.
🍯 Flapjacks (Golden Oat Bars)
These are sweet, chewy, and make a nice change from a chocolate or cake-based dessert. Aunt Beanie insists they are even better two days after baking.
Ingredients (makes 16 squares):
• 200 g porridge oats (2¼ cups rolled oats) – I like to include some larger jumbo oats
• 125 g butter (½ cup plus 1 tbsp, or 1 stick plus 1 tbsp)
• 125 g light brown sugar (⅔ cup)
• 2 tbsp golden syrup (or light corn syrup or honey)
• Optional: 50 g chopped dried fruit or dark chocolate chips (⅓ cup)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or 350°F.
- Melt the butter, sugar, and syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the oats, along with any fruit or chocolate, if using.
- Press into a lined 20 cm square tin (8 inch) and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden at the edges.
- Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then mark into squares. Leave to cool completely before removing.
I hope these make a tasty addition to your picnic or cold buffet, especially on a warm sunny day. To find out more about the team tea, my characters, and the mystery they uncover, take a look at A Wicket of Lies.
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About Victoria Tait
Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, where she developed a lifelong love of tea and British traditions. Inspired by the works of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder, She Wrote, she writes cozy mysteries infused with her signature British charm.
Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative. With intrigue, surprises, and gentle humour, Victoria’s page-turning stories are the perfect blend of mystery and charm, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
Victoria has recently been exploring the world, drawing inspiration for her books from remarkable places including the Azores, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Morocco, and Malta.
You can find Victoria at VictoriaTait.com
Author Links: Website / BookBub / Instagram / Pinterest / Goodreads
Purchase Links. Books2Read – Amazon
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