Spectator competition winners: cosy crime with a topical twist

In Competition No. 3263, you were invited to submit a short story, written in the style of a cosy mystery novel, with a topical twist.

Subcategories in the wildly popular ‘cosy mystery’ genre include animals, crafts and hobbies, and culinary (Toast Mortem/Butter Off Dead) – all of which elements featured in a top-notch entry. Honourable mentions go to Sylvia Fairley’s Knit-and-Natterers and to Bill Greenwell’s twist on the Wagatha Christie case. The winners, printed below, are rewarded with £25 each.

The tranquil Sunday afternoon in Cumberby was disturbed only by cricketing sounds. A huge six narrowly missed Miss Patchworth, cycling to the pillar-box with a poison-pen letter before going to evensong. The ball disappeared into the shrubbery of the Wykeham Arms. Greg Hayley, Uffingham’s long off, was first on the scene, and soon found the ball. And a body. There was a revolver by the man’s side and a piece of paper in his hand.