I am really starting to embrace cosy crime again and The Last Supper by Rosemary Shrager is an engaging addition to the genre. Prudence Bulstrode is attending a local fete when she gets a call asking her to step in to cater at a shooting weekend after the previous chef (and old rival) Deidre Shaw died from an apparent heart attack. Prudence is more than happy to take on the job and she takes her granddaughter Suki with her. When she gets to Farleigh Manor there is something that niggles at her and when all the guests go down with food poisoning it is clear that not everyone is being honest and there is someone who clearly wants to do harm, the question is to who and how and who is behind it all.
I liked Prudence, and if you have ever seen any of Rosemary Shrager’s programmes then you will most definitely see her personality in Prudence and if I am honest I quite often heard her voice every time the character spoke. She had a no-nonsense approach to everything except when it came to her granddaughter who she clearly loved and at times quite possibly overindulged. Suki is your typical teenager who doesn’t want to take life seriously but despite her initial complaints she seems to quite enjoy spending time with her gran and loves digging into the mystery of the past of Farleigh Manor and the events of the past certainly made things both more interesting and more complicated.
I will admit that there were one or two of the characters who seemed to have very few redeeming features and I would have been quite happy for them to be the intended victim. Along with Prudence my theories on who and why changed quite a lot over the course of the book and I will admit I did not expect what eventually was revealed but it is always good to have that air of mystery until the end. There were definitely some lighter moments usually provided by Suki and the local police officer who travelled everywhere by bike, (the thought of someone being covered with pumpkin entrails did have me sniggering) but this just added to the feel of a good old fashioned style cosy crime and I am looking forward to the next outing for Prudence Bulstrode and I hope her granddaughter Suki is still along for the ride as this series may just become my go to when I need a quieter pace and a really enjoyable read

Thank you Little Brown Book Group and Netgalley for the ARC.
This was a cosy murder mystery which was fun. I enjoyed this as it was light hearted and would recommend. I hope there will be a second one.

A light and engaging cosy mystery with fun characters and a lot of food! A really entertaining read.

I was a bit dubious about reading this as I only know Rosemary Shrager from cookery programmes on tv. Boy was I wrong!! There's a lot of cookery bits in this book (to be expected as the main character is a chef) but it's wrapped around a gripping story full of twists. It's funny, moving in places and hugely enjoyable. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys The Thursday Murder Club books or Agatha Raisin.

First in a new series. A light engaging cozy mystery to be read curled up on a Sunday afternoon.
An old fashioned country house weekend with a personal cook to produce fantastic meals. When Prudence’s rival is found dead at a shooting weekend Prudence takes up the mantle. She’s suspicious of the death somethings not right and when poisoning happens on the first night there’s a mystery to solve. A book for whoever loves food and mystery combined. Entertaining with a peek at the next in the series.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A good debut novel by Rosemary Shrager. A murder mystery with a few twists. I very much imagined the main character, Prudence being based on Rosemary herself.

This debut read by Rosemary Strager is a classic cosy murder mystery and it doesn't disappoint. The central character is very much based on Rosemary herself, whether deliberately or not (I can picture Rosemary as I read) with tastes of other celebrity cooks, and her granddaughter Suki as assistant/sidekick grows into the part as the story progresses, I look forward to more adventures with these two, and learning more about and maybe even meeting Suki's friend Numbers.

The story itself is fairly easy reading, with several twists along the way. My only real quibble was the running rhubarb thread which seemed overly complicated when you consider easier readily available ingredients in the kitchen.

This book fits the cosy mystery genre perfectly. The characters were intresting and make me want to read the 2nd book in this series.
My faults with this book is that I often got confused with who was who at Farleigh manner due to them all being men with traditional names and similar personalities. I also didn't care to much for the mystery I feel this is due to not liking the potential victims leaving me feeling I didn't care for how. It ended.
I look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series.

When i saw this i was slightly unsure what to expect.
First page in and i was pleasantly surprised.
prudence is a great character she really grew on me. I loved the setting for the story and i loved how the secrets started to unfold like an onion shredding each layer.
This book was such a good read and i can not wait for the second instalment.

The irresistible debut novel from celebrity TV chef Rosemary Shrager where cosy crime and cookery collide! Brilliant… gripping and addictive, it will pull you in from the first page… A must-read.

The excellent start of a new cozy series: entertaining, clever, and witty. I loved Prudence, a clever woman, and I loved the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
There's a lot of humour, some interesting social remarks, and a cast of interesting and fleshed out characters.
Cant' wait to read the next story
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I

Well done Rosemary Shrager. An excellent page turner, good strong characters and plot - kept your interest all the way through. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading the next book.

The last supper by Rosemary Shrager.
Prudence Bulstrode book 1.
When an old television rival, Deirdre Shaw, is found dead at the Cotswolds manor house where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence is asked to step into the breach. Prudence is only too happy to take up the position and soon she is working in the kitchens of Farleigh Manor.But Farleigh Manor is the home to secrets, both old and new. The site of a famous unsolved murder from the nineteenth century, Farleigh Manor has never quite shaken off its sensationalist past. It's about to get a sensational present too. Because, the more she scratches beneath the surface of this manor and its guests, the more Prudence becomes certain that Deirdre Shaw's death was no accident. She's staring in the face of a very modern murder. . .
A brilliant read. Great story and characters. This is a great first book. 5*.

Sixty-five-year-old Prudence Bulstrode is a retired chef and cookery show tv presenter who used to host Prudence's Home Bakes as well as Prudence's Voyages. Now she has a campervan and her own travelling kitchen. She had hoped to have an idyllic retirement after moving to the village of Chelwood Gyll with hubby, Nicholas but he sadly passed away. She has her eldest granddaughter Suki, aged 17, though, who stays in the campervan sometimes for a break from her parents, Prudence's daughter, Rose and Rose's husband, Teddy.

When Deirdre Shaw is found dead in a rhubarb patch at the Cotswolds manor house, Farleigh Manor, near Nutwood St Knowle where she was catering for a prestigious shooting weekend, Prudence gets involved in the investigation after being offered the chance to take Deirdre's place as the caterer.

I enjoyed the personality traits of no-nonsense Prudence though she could be snippy and waspish. Suki played a good part, too as did her friend, known as "Numbers". The mystery was lively and funny with surprises and I will be watching out for book two.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group UK, Constable via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Prudence Bulstrode is a retired chef and her sidekick is her granddaughter Suki . Together they make both a great cooking and sleuthing team. A rival of Prudence, Deiride Shaw is found dead at a country house where she had been employed to cater for a shooting weekend, Prudence is hired to take her place.

There is nothing like a cosy, easy, murder mystery and this didn't disappoint. A dash of mystery, mixed with suspicion and drama to give you a delicious debut! The story is entertaining, humorous and engaging. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

This book certainly has novelty value. Like other readers, it amused me to see hybrids of Delia Smith, Prue Leith, Mary Berry, and perhaps Rosemary Shrager herself, popping up - or popping their clogs! With the current explosion of ambitious home cooks and interest in cookery programmes, there is definitely a market for a murder mystery with this setting and many will enjoy the descriptions of the menus in particular. More details, eg descriptions of food preparation, would make it even better.

Having said all this, it’s too ‘cosy’ and too formulaic for me. I tired of the novelty very quickly and couldn’t wait for it to be over by less than halfway through. I have no doubts it will be very popular though.

Note: can anyone explain why Shrager refers to ‘rutabaga’? In England, it’s called swede, in Scotland turnip. I thought it was only in the USA that it’s called rutabaga.

Nothing like a cosy murder mystery and this didn't disappoint.

A dash of mystery, mixed with suspicion and drama to give you a delicious debut!

If you are a fan of Miss Marple then this is a must read for you! It was entertaining, humorous and engaging.

I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie and relationship between grandmother and granddaughter and look forward to seeing where their future sleuthing takes them.

First in the Prudence Bulstrode series and I’m already looking forward to the next book having previewed the first chapter at the end of the book.

I so enjoyed this book, at one stage I couldn’t wait to finish work so I could back to Prudence and Suki to help solve the mystery.

I really liked Prudence a no nonsense older lady and her granddaughter Suki along with her sidekick Numbers.

It’s well written combining cooking and mystery, it kept me guessing right up to the end, although I had my suspicions.

I’m so pleased I discovered this series I will definitely be back for more. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to preview this book. I absolutely loved it

A winning combination of cooking and murder.
Prudence Bulstrode is a retired chef and quite a character , and her side kick is her granddaughter Suki .Together they make both a great cooking and sleuthing team.
A rival of Prudence , Deiride Shaw is found dead at a country house where she had been employed to cater for a shooting weekend , Prudence is hired to take her place and this sets the scene for more than just cooking!
The book is well written and easy to read.
The main characters are likeable and I like the relationship between Prudence and Suki, this is a promising start to a new cosy mystery series.
Looking forward to more from Prudence Bulstrode.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK.

I absolutely loved this book, cosy crime and cooking; what else would I need. Lovely sly humour and a fantastic detective duo, plus Numbers of course. I was so pleased to discover this is a series. More please, it’s delightful.