Curry & Chips: A Huddlestone Cozy Mystery: A Huddlestone Cozy Mystery, #1

By Aya Mughal

The scent of curry spices and freshly baked scones should signal comfort, but in Huddlestone, nothing is that simple anymore. Whispers of murder and hidden scandals linger in the Yorkshire air, as thick as the fog rolling in from the moors.

 

Meet Aisha Khan and her Spice Squad, the lunchtime legends of Huddlestone School. Razia, with her sharp tongue and endless supply of local gossip; Zara, tech-savvy and always two steps ahead; and Priya, the gentle observer whose quiet insights hold the key to untangling mysteries. But these ladies aren't just experts in shepherd's pie and perfectly brewed tea. They've become the unlikely detectives of their sleepy mill town, and their latest case hits close to home.

 

Betty, their beloved fellow dinner lady, always quick with a smile and a Werther's Original, is found dead. The police call it a mere accident, but the ladies know better. Betty harbored secrets, whispers of a hidden past and a connection to the town's untouchable elite, the Featheringtons. As the Spice Squad digs deeper, using their power walks, kitchen camaraderie, and surprising connections, they find themselves in a battle far spicier than anything on the school lunch menu.

 

From the shadowy corners of the old mill to the grand halls of Featherington Manor, they follow a trail of missing lottery tickets, scandalous affairs, and long-buried resentments. They navigate a tangled web of feuding families, forgotten secrets, and simmering tensions that threaten to tear Huddlestone apart at the seams.

But don't underestimate the ladies who lunch. Fueled by friendship, a fierce sense of justice, and a side of piping hot samosas, these ladies are about to bring their unique brand of spice to a town that's sadly lacking in flavor. Because if there's one thing the Spice Squad knows, it's that even in the coziest corners of England, a little murder can leave the worst aftertaste.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Qasas.Pub
• Release date: Apr 17, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223275299

Book preview

Aya Mughal

Curry & Chips: A Huddlestone Cozy Mystery

Copyright © 2024 by Aya Mughal

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

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Contents

1. Bhajis and Bangers

2. A Spoonful of Secrets

3. The Spice Trail

4. Simmering Tensions

5. A Naan and a Prayer

6. A Pickled Past

7. Papadoms and Prejudice

8. A Samosa Surprise

9. A Cuppa and a Clue

10. A Curry in Crisis

11. Pakoras and Panic

12. A Cheeky Chapati

13. A Celebration of Unity

14. A cup of Yorkshire Tea

1

Bhajis and Bangers

The Yorkshire wind whistled through the skeletal trees, a symphony to the rhythmic patter of trainers against weathered cobblestone. Aisha Khan, her dupatta held tight against the chill, led her small troop of determined ladies down Huddlestone’s high street. Behind her, Razia Begum’s laughter punctuated Zara Patel’s rapid-fire tech updates, while Priya Singh kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. For these four British-Asian women, in their mismatched shalwar kameez and trainers, the daily power walk was more than exercise. It was sisterhood in sweat.

Mark my words, those leggings will be the death of us all! Razia’s voice, breathless but cheerful, cut through the wind as she struggled to keep up with Zara’s brisk pace.

Death by hideous fashion, more like it, Zara retorted, her ponytail swishing as she checked her smartwatch. Heart rate up, step count soaring – this is what progress looks like!

Aisha smiled, enjoying the friendly banter. They’d been walking together for years, rain or shine, ever since Doctor Behari had warned them about cholesterol and the dangers of too many pakoras. Today though, a sense of unease prickled her skin beneath her woolly cardigan. Huddlestone, their sleepy mill town, felt…off. The usual greetings from shopkeepers were tinged with hushed whispers. Even Ernie, their resident curmudgeon, had merely grunted as they passed, and not his usual, "Morning, ladies. Don’t you lot have homes to