Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney

Item: Vows and Villainy
Rating: 5
Author: karenbaron

Posted February 9, 2026 by karenbaron in Review / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Vows and Villainy

by Elizabeth Penney

Series: Cambridge Bookshop #5
Series Rating:

Published by Minotaur Books on November 25, 2025
Setting: Cambridge, England
Genres: International Mystery
Pages: 281
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Publisher
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Also in this series: Madrigals and Mayhem

Vows and Villainy is the fifth book in Elizabeth Penney's delightful Cambridge Bookshop series set in Cambridge, England, where celebrations are about to commence.

It’s wedding season in Cambridge, and Molly Kimball is thrilled that it's almost time for her best friend's special day. With the help of her boyfriend Kieran Scott, she is determined to be the best maid of honor for Daisy and Tim. Daisy’s heart is set upon a Shakespeare-themed wedding to be held at Hazelhurst House, Kieran’s family’s home. The Scotts are also hosting a Shakespeare troupe for the summer, and the actors have kindly agreed to be part of the festivities.

But all goes awry with the discovery of Sir Nigel Peck, a famous actor with a checkered past and present-day misdeeds, floating dead in the moat with flowers strewn around him, à la Ophelia. When Kieran’s brother Alan becomes a top suspect, Molly and company must investigate to uncover the ugly truth behind this picturesque scene . . . before more bodies pile up.

Can Molly solve the murder before Daisy and Tim say “I do”?

Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney is the fifth book in this wonderful series.

Will Molly keep Daisy’s big day from being tainted by this murder?

Molly Kimball

Molly Kimball is our sleuth, and I like her character. She’s a librarian-turned-bookstore owner who has the knack for solving mysteries over in England. Molly is a wonderful friend to Daisy. She is helping her get to her big day without any hassles. Not only that, but she is getting to know Kieran’s family a lot better because of it. I think I would be friends with Molly since we share our love of books. The only big difference is that I like to read about mysteries rather than to try to solve them in real life. Other than that, I like Molly a lot as a character.

Sir Nigel Peck

Sir Nigel Peck is the latest victim in the Cambridge Bookshop series. He’s an actor and the big boss of the Shakespearean troupe that is at Hazelhurst House for the summer. I didn’t like anything that Molly kept digging up about this guy, not only in Sir Nigel Peck’s past but also in his present. Sir Nigel Peck was like a big ol’ walking red flag. I guessed who did it, but wow, did Ms. Penney keep the clues coming and pointing at everyone else. Ms. Penney almost had me think the killer was a red herring because of all the clues.

Five Stars

My rating for Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney is five stars. I do recommend this series. Ms. Penney keeps me guessing every time I get into one of her books. I can’t wait to read the first three of this series one day. Ms. Penney’s characters, Molly, Keiran, Daisy, and all the others, are so much fun to read about.

Cambridge Bookshop

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

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About Elizabeth Penney

Elizabeth Penney is an author, entrepreneur, and local food advocate living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In addition to writing full-time, she operates a small farm. Elements that often appear in her novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts. She is represented by the fabulous Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Elizabeth’s writing credits include over twenty mysteries, short stories, and hundreds of business articles. A former consultant and nonprofit executive, she holds a BS and an MBA. She’s also written screenplays with her musician husband.

She loves walking in the woods, kayaking on quiet ponds, trying new recipes, and feeding family and friends.

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