Jenny Starling, freelance cook, has been engaged to cater for the joint 21st birthday party of Alicia and Justin Greers. On her arrival at their home she finds that the police are on the grounds at an accidental death. But on the night of the party the police are back when at least one of the guests dies in suspicious circumstances. Inspector Mollineaux believes he recognises Jenny from somewhere, but finds she becomes invaluable to unmasking the killer.
An enjoyable mystery, a good solid start to a new series. I look forward to reading more in the series.

4 stars

Jenny Starling is a caterer extraordinaire. She is catering the birthday party for Alicia and Justin, but as she arrives at the posh mansion, the police are on the scene. A young man has hit his head and fallen into the pond. He is dead.

So begins a new series for writer Faith Martin.

Although she is 6’ 1,” Jenny is comfortable with herself and her job. She likes “real” cooking, not the goofy stuff her father, another chef, cooks. Jenny has a talent for investigation as well. She becomes invested in solving the death of the young man, especially after one of her birthday party guests drops dead at the party.

This is a well written and smoothly sailing novel. It is a departure from her DI Hillary Greene series, but it’s okay. The book moves right along as the reader gets to know Jenny and her background. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in this exciting series.

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great little cozy mystery for me to read, enjoy and review.

This is the first book in a new series by Faith Martin featuring a travelling cook called Jenny Starling, and if this book is anything to go by it's sure to be another huge success. Jenny has taken a job catering for the joint birthday party of wealthy twins Alicia and Justin, but on arriving at their parents' country house it transpires that there has been a tragic death and the police are in attendance. Is it an accident or something more sinister? Despite displaying a pronounced talent for investigation and detection, Jenny determines not to get involved, particularly having once been caught up in the murder enquiry of a previous employer, and concentrates on the cooking job in hand. Which would have been fine except for the murder and attempted murder which takes place during the party itself, whereupon Jenny finds herself unable to resist a little sleuthing. As always with this author, the book is well written and rich in colourful characters. Jenny Starling is an admirable heroine and I am already looking forward to reading about her next adventure.

Absolutely loved the Hilary Greene series , so was a bit dubious as to whether this new series starter would be any good... boy was I seriously impressed. Jenny Starling the travelling cook arrives at what seems like a nice family residence only to discover that murder stalks the grounds. Can not rate this book high enough and totally enjoyed and engrossed by the storyline

Even if I read other books by this author this is the first one I'd define a cozy mystery.
It's a very good start for a new series, exciting and entertaining.
Jenny, the heroine, is a very interesting and well written character. I liked how she feels good in her skin and her personality in general.
The cast of characters is likeable and reminded me some mystery of the Golden Age.
I loved the description of the postcard perfect village with the gossips and the small town lifestyle.
The mystery was engaging, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
It took me some times to get into this book but then I couldn't put it down.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this very good series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Joffe Books and Netgalley for this ARC

I was sad to say goodbye to Faith Martin's Hillary Greene in Hillary's Final Case. The Birthday Mystery introduces a new character Jenny Starling, so I didn't also have to say goodbye to an author whose writing I enjoy. Jenny is a traveling cook who has been hired to cater and an extravagant 21st birthday party for twins Alicia and Justin. When Jenny arrives, the police are swarming the property as a young man has been found dead. Was it an accident or murder and could there be a connection to anyone who lives or works in the house? When the body count rises and the police are baffled, Jenny's sleuthing skills are revealed. She is not only determined to serve a fabulous meal, but she will also do what the police can't and figure out whodunit and why.
Jenny is an interesting character. She is very good at her job and it was apparent by the little bits of information the author shared about her past, that there is much to learn about not only her choice of career but also her ability to solve a crime. The supporting characters were well written and the location reminded me of the type of quaint village that I know so well from Midsomer Murders. Unless something changes, Jenny will keep traveling, so I doubt we will see this place or these other characters again. This was a great start to a new series and even though I did figure out whodunit, the why was still a surprise. I look forward to more adventures with Jenny!
I received a DRC from Joffe Books through NetGalley.

The Birthday Mystery, first published as Birthdays Can Be Murder in 2010 under Faith Martin's pen name Joyce Cato, is the perfect start to the Jenny Starling series. As is often the case in Ms Martin's crime fiction she makes the chocolate-box village in the countryside a character in its own right and it reminded me a lot of the village of Midsomer in Midsomer Murders. It had me hooked pretty darn quickly and racing through the pages to discover what actually happened and who the dastardly culprit was. There are twists and turns galore, and the writing flows so effortlessly that it's very difficult to put the book down.

The characters, as always, are well developed and admirable in their intentions. They are believable and come across as the type of people who could be anyone's friends or family. Jenny is a capable, intelligent and assured amateur sleuth who is determined to get to the bottom of the murder and save her reputation in the process. This is classic crime fiction which is ideal if you prefer your reads to be clean, and this is up there with some of the best novels that pay homage to the greats such as Agatha Christie. If you appreciate Christie's books then you'll find a lot to like here. A thoroughly enjoyable story with subtle clues scattered throughout to let the reader play along in identifying the killer. All of these ingredients result in a very tasty read indeed.

Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

I love Faith Martin as an author. I adored her Hilary Greene series and was sad when it ended. I am absolutely thrilled that she has a new series beginning. I really enjoyed the characters and found the mystery believable and the protagonist was very easy to relate to. Very likeable. I highly recommend this book to lovers of English Mysteries.

* I would like to thank the author / publisher / netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book, I hope it is the start of a new series. Jenny Starling is a private chef, she has no fixed abode, but travels around in her decrepit old van As her cooking skills are formidable, she works for mainly wealthy clientele. In this instance she is hired to cater a 21st birthday party for twins Justin and Alicia. The setting is magnificent, the food sublime, everything is magical until Justin drops dead of poisoning and Alicia is left clinging to life. All the suspects have to remain in the grand house while the police investigate. All in all a good read and one that is easy to recommend.

A story revolving around a travelling cook. Jenny is in her thirties, junoesque, a wonderful cook and has an analytical mind, which helps her to unravel the murder at the birthday party she is catering for. Knowing her reputation the local police ask her not to investigate, but really she just can't help herself.

A story very much in the way of Agatha Christie. Enjoyable but not too heavy.

Meet a fantastic new main character in this excellent book by F. Martin. Great plot and story make a good mystery, very believable characters and a few witty situations make it the total package.

Jenny Starling has arrived to cook for the twin's 21st birthday. A young man has drown in the pond not long before Jenny arrives. The evening of the birthday celebration the twins are poisoned with the champagne. Who did it and when was the poison put in the champagne. Jenny has some ideas but the detectives do not want her help. There are a number of suspects. The story follows the suspects and finally Jenny is asked to help. When the poison was added is the most important clue. Great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.

What a great character study! I went into mourning when Hillary Greene retired... what am I going to read next?? What's there to look forward to??? I was thrilled to see Faith Martin has a new series -- Jenny Starling!
Jenny is a "contract cook" (please don't confuse "cook" with "chef"). She's down-to-earth and plain spoken when need be, but would normally rather be in her own head planning the next menu or in a kitchen baking. Rambling around the country from kitchen to kitchen, she's seen a lot and is naturally curious (and observant).

While this wasn't as fast paced as the Hillary Greene stories, it focused on only one crime (and apparently a necessary pre-cursor). Probably even more atmospheric than the Hillary stories, but a great good cast of characters!.

4.5 stars rounded up

Jenny Starling #1

Jenny Starling is catering for a 21st birthday party for a pair of twins. But when she arrives at their parents country house, she discovers that a young man has drowned in a pond. Then just after midnight, everyone gathers for a champagne toast. But one of the guests drops down dead. With a party full of suspects, the police are baffled.

This is the first book in a new series by the author Faith Martin. I liked Jenny Sparrows character. She's not a detective but I'm not sure whether it's a police ans nose she's got or if she just likes poking her nose into other people's business. Watching the body being pulled out of the pond and then a guest drops dead at the party, do any of the deaths have suspicious circumstances? What a nifty plot this story has. It felt (in a way) like I was reading a young Miss Marple., with Jenny's straight talking and the way she solved the mystery. It looks like we are in for another great series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Faith Martin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.