I'm not one for mystery books, but I like the cozy mysteries occasionally. As this one involved some priceless books, I felt I needed to check it out. It wasn't exactly what I expected and gave up on it quite a few times not intending to finish it. What was I thinking??? Any way, I did finish it, but sorry, not impressed. It really is just me. I just don't care about mystery stories. I am sure that cozy mystery readers will find it an enjoyable story, it has all the elements for one. The characters were interesting and the plot was good, so I'm guessing it will be a fun read for many. Just not me.

This is the third book in this delightful series. I would say that they should be read in order and not as a standalone. While it could be read out of order, this series is character driven and it helps to get to know them. The mysteries are a slower paced, non-violent and charming.
The five women of the WISE Enquiries Agency are a solid unit, working together, caring about each other. Plus, they are authentic people.I will be looking forward to the next in the series.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in return for my honest review.

The Case of the Curious Cook is the third novel in the WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery series by Welch writer, Cathy Ace. The WISE Enquiries Agency is made up of four women from different backgrounds; each has a specialty. Fortunately they are connected with royalty: Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, and the Dowager Duchess Althea. The Duke discovers some water damage to some books in his priceless collection and hires a local book restorer, who is the owner of a popular bookshop, Crooks and Cooks. Strange things start to happen at the bookshop, including the fact that rather than disappearing, books are showing up in the mornings when the store is opened. The restorer’s daughter who is a television chef called The Curious Cook, helps her Dad run the store; they are trying to solve the mystery of who might be leaving the books, and become involved in investigating the murder of a well-known artist. Some of the books that are appearing have some clues that may help solve the murder and show that the man accused – her brother – is innocent.

One of the charming things about this novel is the setting; Wales, and reading the book will make readers want to visit the country. The writing is good and understandable, and the novel is fast-moving. The ladies who make up the WISE Enquiries Agency are well-characterized and likeable; they enjoy the Dowager Duchess Althea, who likes to get herself involved in investigations, and welcome her as a quasi-detective. The small Welch town where the story takes place is nice, and there are ups and downs, and well as twists and turns leading up to the surprise dénouement.

The Case of the Curious Cook can be considered a cozy mystery and is suitable for all ages. It is a fast read and perfect to take on vacation or an airline trip. The book is fun, the characters are fun, and the story is fun.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

When the Duke of Chellingworth (Althea's son) hires a bookseller, Bryn Jenkins, to assess water damage to some valuable books, Bryn reveals there are some strange things happening at his shop. Instead of books disappearing from his shop, someone is leaving books. This tantalizes Althea and she convinces the WISE women to investigate.

While looking through the books, Carol discovers miniature drawings of scenes in Swansea. They look like the work of a famous artist, now dead. Lizzie Llewellyn has been missing and based on the amount of blood found at her cottage, believed dead - murdered by her brother. Her brother is serving a life sentence in jail.

Authenticating art is always a tricky process and the investigators are thorough searching for the truth. I very much enjoyed this book as the story unfolded to a startling conclusion. It is well written and the characters are nicely drawn. You know you would recognize them if you met them on the streets in Wales.

Well-written and with an interesting premise, I was excited to start this novel. However, as I hit the 30%, any hope had waned of the pace picking up, it felt decidedly pedestrian, or the characters fleshing out into people with whom I could connect. Henry and his mother's relationship is snappish without context and the other ladies seemed rote to me, There are several threads of a mysteries which should have kept my attention but it all took too long and, owing to this, I gave up reaching the end.

The Case of the Curious Cook

by Cathy Ace

The Case of the Curious Cook rather stumbled along for me until about halfway through. At that point the mystery took off and the characters gained new life. I enjoyed the occasional Briticism, the many Welsh references, and the view of upper crust life. I was particularly pleased with the conclusion of the book, giving a glimpse into the future for the characters as well as resolution to the several entwined mysteries. My reservations about The Case of the Curious Cook stem from my reading this book as a standalone. My enjoyment would have been much enhanced by a better introduction to the characters, which probably occurred in the first two books of the WISE Enquiries Agency Series.

The mystery centers around the murder of an artist by her brother, the unexplained and unwelcome donation of books, the discovery of miniatures, and strange occurrences at a retirement home. The plot and setting are excellent and the pace is quick in the last half of the book. I probably would like the main characters, a diverse group to be sure, if I felt I knew them better. I did appreciate their concern for each other and their efforts to work together respecting each other’s strengths.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: Should be read as part of the series

Publication: March 1, 2017--Severn House

Memorable Lines:

Even when he was cleansed, shaved, moisturized and dressed, he still felt grubby; that was how anger made him feel--as though he was rolling around in the filth where he’d been raised.

Your mid-sixties was a time when activities like working, traveling, and even hiking and hillwalking were still real possibilities, and when there were still enough years ahead of a person for them to make plans.

It became increasingly clear Mountain Ash House was filled with widows whose children were either non-existent (rare), living too far away to visit often (more likely), or happy to ignore them (too frequent).

You can’t take books to the dump. They aren’t something you just dispose of like so much rubbish. A book means something. It does. Someone wrote it, printed it, bound it--not to mention the ones who read them, held them and maybe cried into them. I love books I do, they’ve all had a life--like a person.

The Case of the Curious Cook by Cathy Ace is the third book in the WISE Enquiries Agency mysteries, and just as wonderfully written as the first two. Althea (the Dowager Duchess) features much more prominently in the investigation in the story, and she play her part admirably! The ladies are tasked with finding out who is donating books to a used bookstore without permission from the owner, and discover in their enquiries that some of the books include very valuable drawings which are possibly from a murdered artist who couldn't possibly have done them! Lots going on behind the scenes with the ladies and their private lives (and a few other little mysteries woven in), which I won't divulge. I think my favorite thing about this series is the fact that these four women (five if you include Althea) from such diverse backgrounds work so well together and are such good friends. I highly recommend this series, and will now anxiously await the fourth installment. A+

I found this book to be delightful! Although it is book 3 in the series, it worked well as a stand alone. I don’t feel as if I missed anything by not reading the others in the series first, but I enjoyed it so much, I think it would have been a good idea to read the other two.

The characters run the gamut from a duchess to a young mother and from rich to working class. The author also added a man of not entirely reputable means, but with a caring heart it seems, for good measure. Through their conversations and actions, I felt I got to know them all and enjoyed every minute of it.

As a person who loves cozy mysteries, and has read a LOT of them, I can honestly say that this is among my favorite, and I highly recommend it.

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley.

It all starts with Henry Devereaux Twyst, eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth, finding water damage to the priceless books and with an odd comment from his restorer which lead the WISE Enquiries Agency to investigate who is leaving books in a bookshop in Hay. But bigger problems are waiting for the team.
I have not read the previous two books in the series which really didn't seem to matter with this character driven book once I knew who was who.
A good cozy mystery which kept me entertained. With some descent characters and several mysteries to solve.

The women of WISE enquiries return with another unusual case.  As always, Cathy Ace’s cozy mysteries are a delightful departure from the formulaic murder mysteries frequently served to readers.  These are character driven stories, with unexpected but completely believable plots.  In this case, the puzzle of books being left at a bookstore leads to the discovery of miniatures drawn by an artist supposedly murdered by her brother.  The drawings could be worth a fortune if only their provenance (and ownership) can be proven. The investigation leads to a luxury assisted living where the Dowager Duchess Althea goes undercover…

Cathy Ace’s mysteries are refreshingly different, and always a joy to read.  Her central characters - Christine, Mavis, Carol and Annie are real people with their own unique quirks and personalities.  Together with Althea they make an amazing investigative team.  There is normally little to no violence in Cathy Ace’s stories, and while there is emotional tension, there is little danger.  There is a small dash of romance, but nothing graphic.  All in all, Cathy Ace’s mysteries can be enjoyed by teens as well as adult readers.  (Though the slow pacing might not appeal as much to younger readers)

4 / 5

I received a copy of The Case of the Curious Cook from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

The Case of the Curious Cook: A WISE Enquiries Agency Mystery
By Cathy Ace
Severn
March 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

When a worn rubber washer results in a flood that damages the priceless library collection of Chellingworth Hall, its Duke Henry Devereaux Twyst requests the aid of book specialist Bryn Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins has concern of his own, and it is Henry’s mother who prods him into revealing it. It seems that an inexplicable number of books have disconcertedly and continually been added to his bookstore’s stock, and Bryn worries that it is for nefarious means. Crooks and Cooks, a bookshop specializing in both detective novels and cookbooks, is co-owned by Bryn Jenkins and his daughter Val, a former chef and restaurateur who once had her own television show, “The Curious Cook.” The task taking on what seems to be practical joke is not the ideal case for the professional women of WISE Enquiries Agency, but with Althea Twyst’s enthusiasm and it being an intriguing puzzle, the women accept.

Using surveillance to monitor the bookshop seems to be the expedient solution to identifying the book-gifter, but the case quickly veers off in an unexpected direction. Inside a number of the mystery volumes are miniature drawings done in the style of Lizzie Llewellyn, a talented artist whose brother was convicted of her murder. Lizzie’s body may never have been found, but evidence and their feuds landed him in prison. The investigators follow the trail back to Lizzie’s mother, who refuses to believe in the guilt of her son, the less talented but more profitable artist. As the WISE agents take on what has become the Case of the Murdered Miniaturist, they each follow different paths while dealing with the personal challenges of their evolving lives.

The Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and English women of WISE Enquiries Agency may differ in age, background, and nationality, but they utilize their diverse experiences and knowledge to cleverly resolve their surplus of cases. Carol Hill has the challenge of juggling new motherhood with her professional duties, Mavis and Annie both have new relationships when the least expected them, and posh Christine Wilson-Smythe must learn to trust the man continues to have very shady criminal ties. The dowager Althea Twyst herself goes undercover and discovers just how much her age and sex and made her invisible and disregarded by society. Following the lives of these women proves to be as fascinating as their cases, which are always far more complex than they first appear. This third in the series succeeds in giving each of the agents her own moment to shine, while also exploring the perception of art as merchandise, online media, and the marginalization of women. Sharp writing highlights the humor of the characters even while tackling serious topics, making this yet another very enjoyable, fun, and not-always-proper British mystery.

Fans of this series will be thrilled with this newest instalment. I found it to be okay but I may have enjoyed it more if I had read previous books in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This book is the third one in series which is new to me. It took a little bit to get everyone sorted out, but after I did, it was a wonderful adventure.

There are five women who makeup the Wise Enquiries Agency. Mavis is a former nurse and the leader; Christine is an aristocratic woman who has connections everywhere; Annie is a woman who can go undercover very easily; Carol is a new mother with the perfect baby; and Althea is a dowager duchess who has a wonderful sense of adventure. Together all of them form a wonderful unit. Each of them respect the contributions of the others. And all of them care for one another.

All of the women in the Wise Agency lead full lives away from the agency. And their friends and family members all play large parts in adding depth to the story.

The agency is investigating why someone would secretly give books to bookstores. Just as in any mystery, one thing leads to another. There was a notorious murder in the past and the man in prison for that murder does not seem the type at all. His mother wants to hire the agency to prove he is an innocent man.

One of the main things I liked about this story is the wonderful character development. We get to see the 5 main characters and everyone else as real people. No one is perfect, but each of them are interesting human beings.

Slowly but surely, the investigation moves toward the person who leaves the books. But, the person who leaves the books plays a minor part in all the action.

I enjoyed this book. It has a very British flavor. I will need to look at a map in order to put all the places in perspective. But, the reader develops a sense of traveling from place to place and enjoying the scenery.

Any reader who likes a good cozy mystery, will enjoy this book. There are wonderful characters and several mysteries which intertwine to form the story.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

3.75 stars

This was my intro to the ladies of the W.I.S.E. Enquiries Agency (standing for their backgrounds: Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English) although it was actually the third book in the series.

I like quirky cozies, and this certainly fits the bill. More emphasis on character than is the usual case, and nicely drawn individuals with distinct personalities and different backgrounds: Mavis, the ringleader, Scottish and very into taking charge; Christine, aristocratic Irish, and pre-occupied with a romance; Carol, a new mom and a tech whiz; Annie, more working class, and finally Althea, a sprightly and unpredictable dowager duchess.

This time around they are exploring some strange goings-on at a local bookstore -- books are being secretly dropped off there. Factor in an old murder case with no body and the group is off and running.

I received an ARC of this book via Net Galley in return for my honest review.

3 and ½ stars

When at the estate to give an estimate on repairing some priceless literary works, the restorer mentions strange things going on at his bookshop. This is all the Dowager Duchess Althea needs to become interested. She convinces him to attend the next meeting of WISE, an investigating group of ladies.

The group consists of Mavis, Annie, Carol, Christine and of course Althea.

It seems that someone is dropping books off at the bookstore. Rather than stealing books, this is quite the turn of events.

The ladies are off on another adventure!

This is a cozy little mystery that will delight you through to the end of the book.

Thanking Netgalley and Severn House for granting my request to read this delightful little book.