I got about 20% into the book and realised I couldn't get into it. This does not mean it is a bad book but that personally it is just not for me

This novel is well written and there are lots of twists and turns in the plot that keep you want to keep reading. Good holiday read

This was light-hearted, funny and very entertaining! I especially loved the setting, like a closed-door mystery, which really increased the tension.

Lots going on in this debut novel, although very easy to keep track of it all. Quite the mystery with a murder at the heart of it and numerous suspects. I found this to be quite an easy read and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was a strange story at times. It is based around a cookery school with a last minute chef being brought in to teach. The original teacher is killed and the police don't make a very good job of finding the killer. I love these stories when everything comes tumbling down at the end.

I love a cosy mystery.

This debut novel is well written and there are lots of twists and turns in the plot that keep you want to keep reading on.
Characterisation was good and there is a good range of oddballs and slightly strange characters in this book, its was nice to see as in a lot of books they are all similar.
Definite homage to some of Agatha Christie's stories with this one being set in a large multi story house, a group of individuals there for a week long cookery course and a brutal killing.
This is an entertaining murder mystery and a great debut. I will keep my eyes open for the next book in this series.

I really enjoyed main character Paul’s narrative voice in this cosy mystery – it reminded me a little of the snarky, self-aware style of Horowitz in the Hawthorne and Horowitz mystery series, but with the character background experience of a chef rather than an author.

In fact, all of the characters were good fun here and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them as learner chefs as well as murder suspects! I did feel a little as if I was missing some backstory between Paul and his good friend Julie, as if there had been a prequel that established their relationship before this outing, but as far as I am aware that isn’t the case and this is their first and/or only mystery investigation.

It was very clear throughout that the author was writing what he knows and loves (cheffing, not murder!) and I could have easily guessed his profession without checking, based solely on the fun he has here with the cooking aspects of the plot. Plus, of course, the recipes included with the story are a nice bonus feature!

The mystery plot kept me guessing throughout and, while the climactic showdown and big reveal were a little farfetched (a pinch or two of salt required!), the whole story is a quick and tasty treat for both mystery and cooking-fiction fans. And I could definitely manage one or two more of these…!

This genre is my favourite - a light-hearted murder mystery. It's well written with some interesting characters and a great story. The ending seemed a little rushed but that does not detract away from the cosy read it is. A great debut and I look forward to reading the next book.

Light and entertaining murder mystery starring a professional chef who agrees to help an injured friend teach a residential cookery course.

The course takes place at a prestigious central London address, not far from where Paul lives in the house he had shared with his recently deceased lover.

When the friend is found gruesomely murdered, Paul finds not only that he knew very little about his friend after all, but also that the police have him under suspicion

Certainly a bit different from my usual crime fiction. The combination of murder and learning cookery skills is a first for me. Enjoyable read. Didn’t blow me away but interesting enough to hold my attention and complete the book . Quite a clever storyline which kept me guessing along with a nice twist at the end. I even discovered an easier way of lifting a chicken from a roasting tin using a wooden spoon. It actually worked and they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

A good read, and much lighter and more funny than the suggested genres would indicate.
A great story, in many ways, with careful plotting, and some clever twists. Quite a few characters, but they are well-drawn and interesting.
I did like the biggest twists, both of method and personalities. I guessed the method, and had a pretty good idea of at least one of the people involved, but I don't think all readers will do so, and it was nice and twisty, not revealing all at once.
As well as crime readers, cooks will also enjoy this, not only for the recipes but a lot of background information was revealed in these pages.
I would definitely be interested in any more books by this intriguing author.

Lovely cosy crime which is the first of this series. It’ll make you laugh, then copying down recipes and the next marvelling at the plot that is all linked so well. Great read.

This book was okay, the writing was fine and i found it an easy read but i can't say it really blew me away. The characters felt a little flat and could have been more developed. I didn't appreciate the hinting at certain characters still to make an appearance and feel like they could've been omitted to develop the actual characters present in the story. This would be fine for a beach read as it's quick, does what it says on the tin, easy to read and doesn't leave a strong impression after you finish.

A good read, easy and a clever cozy mystery. It was unusual but very readable. Murder and cooking a funny combination. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A food centric cozy mystery with a likable MC and a solid plot that kept me interested to the end.

I did feel the story suffered by a large cast of underdeveloped characters which meant I was always questioning who our narrator was talking about.

The plus side for all those characters meant there was plenty of plot twists throughout the story and overall, a fun easy read.

I fell for the title of this book and I’m very happy I did because it made me laugh out loud sometimes. When Paul, still grieving after the loss of his husband and therefore not in a steady job, somehow ends up taking over a cookery class from his old friend Christian, you know you’re in for some surprises.
And yes, there are surprises galore! The cookery class takes place in a grand old mansion in a posh part of London but sadly it transpires the owner of the school is desperate for money. She charges and arm and a leg from mainly rich people who have not so much interest in learning how to cook fancy food, as being able to say they went to this expensive course. All characters are rather quirky, not to say quite strange but Paul tries to give them a good experience and actually teaches them something.
After a dead body is found on the premises, the whole story changes. The owner of the school and the students insist Paul stays to finish the course – after all, they are staying in the mansion during the whole course too. And so he does.
This was a very skilfully written story, with lots of surprises and engaging characters. I think it would be a good book to make a film out of (Netflix, pay attention please!). And of course, the recipes woven in between the story look all very enticing.
I hope we may soon see a second book in this series!
Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this review copy.

When Chef Paul Delamare is asked by his friend Christian to stand in for him at a cookery school course Paul is not keen, but money is tight & Christian is an old friend & won't be able to take the course with his arm in plaster, so he reluctantly agrees. Paul knows he's going to struggle a bit. Christian is, after all a famous TV chef & those on the course would be expecting him. However the pay is good. Next day when there is no sign of Christian , Paul goes to his flat & finds him dead- & being first on the scene cast suspicion on him. Paul now has more worries than discontented would-be cooks!

I do not watch TV cooking shows & must admit that I'd never heard of Orlando Murrin. However he wrote a very entertaining cosy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed (I skipped the recipes- enjoyed working out the emojis!) I do hope we meet again. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. After two disappointing reads, this was a breath of fresh air!

A fun, but at times grisly, culinary murder mystery that had me gripped and hungry throughout. I loved our main character who was arm twisted into helping out at a culinary school for a week only to find himself embroiled in a murder with a house full of suspects and some heavy personal issues too.

The characterisations were brilliant and I didn't have a clue who the killer was. The recipes scattered throughout the story were brilliant too.

I can't wait to get back to this series when book 2 is published.

The cover and title of the book was very tempting and promised of a new cozy crime series, of which I feel there can never be too many in such a great genre.

Paul is a talented chef who has withdrawn from the world of cooking and in general after the loss of his beloved husband. Tempted out by old friend and fellow chef, Christian, Paul agrees to host a culinary school class when Christian has broken an arm. When Paul arrives he finds more than he was expecting, none more shocking than the body of his old friend and a class determined to carry on cheffing!

Well written and great for the debut novel by this talented chef. Interspersed with some delicious looking recipes and tips for home cooks, this is sure to be the start of a much loved series.
I found that I enjoyed the inner monologue of Paul and his musings trying to solve the murder and enjoyed the cast of characters in the cooking school immensely.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining story that keeps the reader engaged throughout. There are plenty of clues but also plenty of suspects when a celebrity chef is murdered.
The characters are well drawn and the pace of the book is good and doesn’t falter.
A good read that I would happily recommend to my friends.