Lord of the Pies is the second book in Nell Hampton’s A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series.
Let me start by say I LOVED the first book, so when I saw the second book was out I couldn’t wait to read it, and this book was as equally enjoyable!
I enjoy the palace setting in this series. The mystery is well written and there are multiple suspects to keep you guessing as to “whodunnit?”The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is I sense a romance triangle brewing, and I’m just not a fan.
I would recommend this book to all cozy fans!
Thank you Netgalley & Crooked Lane for a copy of this book. The thoughts expressed are my own.

I anxiously anticipated this new offering by Nell Hampton in her Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series, and it was worth the wait. Once again Carrie Ann is involved with intrigue that results in two murders and many suspects. I was reasonably certain I had the culprit, but I was totally surprised by the ending. There is a good mix of behind-the-scenes palace life, romance and suspense. The author does a great job in teasing the next story, so I am back to anxiously anticipating.

Carrie Ann Cole is an American Chef working for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Yep, Wills and Kate! While she is a fabulous chef who captured the interest of the Duke and Duchess when they were visiting the US, not all of the other palace chefs are that impressed.

When Carrie Ann caters a shower being thrown by the duchess, one of her pies kills a palace employee one that shows up as being poisoned. When it appears the murderer may be targeting palace chefs, Carrie Ann must find the murderer either before she becomes the next target or the Duchess no longer feels safe with her cooking for the prince and princess.

I love how the author wraps an American into the British royal household. This is a fun and fast paced read. While the second book I. The series, it’s perfect as a stand alone...though you will want to read the first book after finishing this one.

a book close to reality because it is about the royals in london. no fantasy people but rela human beings. and mixed in a story about a chef cook and two murders. very entertaining.

There’s only one thing that keeps interfering Carrie Ann Cole’s dream job as personal chef to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – a murder in Kensington Palace. Nell Hampton’s second adventure in her Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series presents two murders and one non-fatal poisoning that require solving.

What makes it extremely difficult for Chef Cole is that she is an American who is three months into a 12-month contract to provide meals for the family of four. Not only is she a stranger to England, her apartment is in Kensington Palace and she has little knowledge of what’s expected living and working in the royal household.

Ms. Hampton has created a spunky American character and dropped her into a formal, traditional and very royal household in London. This unusual situation offers ample opportunity to explore the cultural differences and the author takes great advantage, often with just a touch of humor.

The series is off to a good start with Kale to the Queen and Lord of the Pies. Ms. Hampton has established a core group of characters that include, Chef Cole;
Palace Security Chief Ian Gordon; Penny, personal secretary to the Duchess; Jasper Feldman, head greenhouse gardener; Mrs. Worth, the household manager; and Chef Butterbottom, head chef for Kensington Palace. The small community relationships are authentic. Dialogue realistic. The plot-line in this second adventure is well conceived, red herrings plentiful, and a nice brisk pace.

It is not necessary to read Kale to the Queen before reading Lord of the Pies, but it provides a context that makes the second adventure just a little richer.

This was a fun and quick installment in the Kensington Palace Chef cozy mystery series. I've read the first two books, and while I don't think I'll continue with the series, I do thank Netgalley for providing me with an arc. Who wouldn't want to work for Will and Kate?? ;)

This book didn't feel British enough for me, if that makes sense. I really couldn't picture hardly anyone with British accents and mannerisms -- I felt like this story could have taken place practically anywhere else in the world. Kensington Palace came across as a veritable rabbit warren of mazes and hallways, but the Orangery sounded really pretty.

I loved all the descriptions of food, and my favorite part was the pie contest that Carrie Ann took part in for charity.

Chef Carrie Ann Cole fears losing her job as a personal chef to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when a waiter at a wedding shower she catered is found face down in her lemon meringue pie - a victim of poisoning. She needs to clear her name and prove that she is not a murderer.

When Chef Butterbottom, a rival who doesn't think Carrie Ann is worthy of working for royalty, is poisoned at a pie cook-off for charity where Carrie Ann is also a contestant, suspicions rise again. And when another Kensington Palace chef - Chef Wright - is found stabbed to death in the walk-in freezer of his kitchen, Carrie Ann becomes even more determined to clear her name.

As she investigates, she discovers a lot she didn't know about the denizens of Kensington Palace. Married Chef Wright seems to have made a habit of having affairs with the various personal assistants who work there and seems to be targeting Carrie Ann as his next conquest which makes two of his earlier conquests jealous of her. Another personal assistant, who may or may not have had an affair with Chef Wright, is caught selling recipes to a visitor who has a contract to write a cookbook showing the famous dishes he's eaten at Kensington Palace. And it turns out that the waiter may have been planning a second career as a blackmailer.

Between investigations, Carrie Ann is also juggling her friendships with a handsome gardener and the head of palace security. Oh, and she is cooking for her employers too. The story does end with a couple of recipes for pies that sound tempting but a little above my skill level.

This was a lovely cozy with a great setting and interesting characters. I can't wait for Carrie Ann's next adventure.

What a fun read!

This is the second book in the Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series, but it stood alone very well. The characters are witty and engaging with a delightful setting.

I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series!

This is the second in Hampton’s Palace Chef series and it is just as satisfying as the first. At least Chef Carrie Ann, personal chef to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, doesn’t have a body in the royal garden this time, just her lemon pie. Face down in her lemon pie. The pie is left over from a bridal shower she catered for a school friend of the Duchess that happens to be the sister of Carrie Ann’s best friend.

Hampton’s knowledge of the workings within Kensington Palace gives you a realistic peek behind the scenes. Her continued rendering of the egos of the different chefs is fun and adds to the ongoing story. Everyone loves the drama! Hampton’s recurring characters are easy to like and you want to meet. At least those who are friendly. The prickly ones make you glad you don’t have to work with them. The recipes at the end sound good. I would like to see more included. (I’m not a pie person. Cookies perhaps?)

Cozy mysteries are my guilty pleasure. I loved the suspense and the fact that I didn't know who the murderer was until the very end. I will definitely take seconds on this series.

As an American Chef in a Royal British household, Carrie Ann Cole faces bias every day, especially from the other chefs at the palace. Carrie is undeniably an excellent chef and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge love her cooking.

As the book begins, a Peeping Tom is caught taking photos of Carrie as she works late making pies in her kitchen. When he falls victim to a killer, some of the photos hint at suspicious exchanges taking place near another kitchen on the palace grounds.

Secrets, jealous lover’s, and scandals all play a part in the mix of ingredients that make this cozy mystery one to indulge in. There’s a plethora of juicy suspects and gossip to delight and entertain, plus a romance begins for Carrie. The author does a great job of concealing the murdering foe until the reveal. I truly enjoy this yummy series which includes recipes.

Carrie Ann Cole is enjoying her role as Chef at Kensington Palace to Kate, William and the kids. She has been asked to cook for the bridal shower of her best friend's sister. Unfortunately, someone did not fair so well later that night. The next morning a waiter if found face first in her lemon meringue pie. All eyes look to Carrie. Can she clear her name before another body is found?

I have not read the first book in the series, Kale to the Queen, but you can guarantee that I will be very soon. I have fallen in love with Kensington Palace and the chefs. Carrie Ann is a spunky American who seems to find herself in quandaries quite often. Luckily for her she has Chief Ian to rescue her when needed. Chief Ian is the head of security at Kensington Palace. It is strongly hinted that there may be a romance brewing between Ian and Carrie. Only time will tell. Hopefully by the time the romance does brew the gardener, Jasper, will have blown away with the wind. Yes, as you can tell I am not a fan of Jasper's.

I was totally surprised at the conclusion as I had guessed who the killer was incorrectly. To me that makes a perfect cozy mystery. I do not like to figure out the who and why too early as it ruins the book for me.

If you are a foodie you will enjoy this book as it talks about the different types of pies between America and Britain. There are recipes in the back of the book if you would like to try cooking some of the food mentioned.

Get you a spot of tea and curl up by the fire and immerse yourself in a warm mystery for a cold night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy in exchange for my honest review in my own words.

Even if I liked the plot and the settings, I did not liked the heroine that sometimes seems to be clueless and able to place herself into trouble.
Well written, interesting settings and cast of characters but not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley

A cute concept. I well written cozy mystery set in England. I think people who enjoy things about the British will enjoy it. The cooking aspect is fun and gives a reasonable plot to why the main character is in the castle.

Lord of the Pies is a great cozy mystery. I loved the plot and the characters. Enjoyed the author’s writing and look forward to reading more of her books. I recommend to fans of a good mystery.

Lord of the Pies is the second installment in the A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series featuring Chef Carrie Ann Cole, personal chef to the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge. Having moved from her home in Chicago, Illinois to take a position at Kensington Palace things didn't go well for Carrie Ann at first but she's finally settling in to life with the royals and is looking forward to catering a bridal shower for best friend Penny Nethercott's sister.

It's not long before Carrie Ann sees a man staring through her kitchen windows taking pictures, a member of the waitstaff turns up dead, a Chef is poisoned and another is killed in the walk-in freezer. Finding herself once again having to defend her reputation and save her position at the Palace, she sets out against the advice of Chief Security Officer Ian Gordon to track down a killer.

A thoughtful fast paced plot with interesting characters and a behind the scenes glimpse into life behind the palace walls. However, the dreaded love triangle continues and I can only hope a resolution is reached in the next series.

I received an advanced copy of Lord of the Pies from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is book 2 of the Kensington Palace Chef series, and it's though I didn't read book 1, and it stood alone just fine.

I love the premise of an American cook being a chef for minor royalty in Kensington Palace. I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes stuff about cooking competitions and such, being a die-hard fan of the the Great British Bake Off. I also enjoyed Carrie Ann's relationships with her co-workers and friends.

What I didn't care for so much was the writing itself. The dialog seemed especially choppy, and Carrie Ann does enough dumb things that it's hard to admire her or root for her. So, I'm torn. I liked enough about it that I will try Book 3 when it comes out, and I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Carrie Ann Cole, personal chef to the royal family, is catering the bridal shower for her best friend’s sister at the Orangery at Kensington Palace. All of the attendees loved Carrie’s pie theme, and declared it a success. It was short lived when a waiter was found dead in a lemon meringue pie left as a thank you gift to the Orangery’s staff. Since it was Carrie’s pie, she becomes a suspect in the murder. After another body drops, Carrie investigates the murders before she loses her job and her freedom.
I loved this cozy mystery. It’s full of dastardly characters and an engaging plot that made you sit on the edge of your seat until the final chapter. The ending was a total surprise. The setting was beautifully described and made me feel like I was walking the halls with the main character at the palace. The romantic subplot added a welcome reprieve to the otherwise intense mystery. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Thinking I'll be picking up the companion this sequel because I enjoyed it so much. Interesting twist with the setting and rather charming. It will be interesting to see where this one goes in future books.

This is the second book in the Kensington Palace Chef series, and it's better than the first one. The concept is so interesting for a cozy series - an American chef goes to Kensington Palace to cook for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, and along the way she solves a few murders. With a few recipes thrown in, and some Palace intrigue, it should be a winning formula.

However, the writing is simplistic with very short sentences and words. The food is also very basic, and it's hard to tell how much actual food background the author has. There are many culinary mysteries out there that write with deeper food knowledge and more interesting recipes. The main character also seems to be not very bright. After being advised not to speak to the tabloid press, she goes and does exactly that and then gets in trouble. On the other hand, the plot is interesting, and I see potential in the future.

I want to love this series, and hopefully, I will in future books. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.