I think I'm going to like this series - Nosey Parker is my kind of girl!

Jodie Parker has come back home. After serving as a police officer in the Met. she wants to spend a quieter life with her daughter Daisy. Having retrained for a new career, Jodie is setting up her own business and, as luck would have it, her first job is catering for an old friend's wedding. When the bride vanishes, Jodie can't help but get caught up in the ensuing investigation - is it a missing person or could it be murder?

In the spirit of all cosies, this is a grand read with a good cast of characters. Fiona Leitch has written an excellent mystery with plenty of suspects, doubt, red herrings and the cutest dog ever! It's all going on between the pages and although I had my suspicions (just about everyone!), I was nowhere near working out what happened. Jodie herself provides plenty of amusement - I was so happy to be reading this one out of bed as my husband has been disturbed enough by me shaking with laughter when he is trying to sleep! A really good all round read, recommended to all lovers of this genre. Four well earned stars.

Murder on the Menu is the first instalment in The Nosey Parker Cosy Mystery series, set in a seemingly serene Cornish coastal town. Jodie ’Nosey’ Parker is excited to have upped sticks and moved back to her small hometown for a slower pace of life having served in the Metropolitan Police force and fought crime across the teeming city for longer than she cares to remember. Ex Kennington-based officer Jodie was used to getting caught up in some rather dangerous situations back in the big smoke and had promised her 12-year-old daughter, Daisy, that when she retired they'd move to a picture perfect town and so here they are as new residents of Penstowan. Having always wanted to own and run her own catering company as she has always had a passion for baking, Jodie has retrained as a caterer and follows her dream by setting up Banquets and Bakes. Then one day she decides to take a trip to Penhaligan's department store nearby and bumps into friend and old teenage flame, Tony Penhaligan. He informs her that he is soon due to be married, however, the caterer has cancelled leaving them in the lurch - after all, what is a wedding with great food and drink? Jodie ends up taking it as the first real event for her fledgling business venture. But during the all-important rehearsal dinner Tony's ex-wife Mel attacks his fiancée and wife-to-be, Cheryl, and Jodie being the Good Samaritan gets in between them to stop the ridiculous fighting.

Most put it down to a moment of silliness but the mood rapidly changes when the following day Mel is found dead and Cheryl has vanished. Of course, the local police are called in to investigate both instances and Jodie is eager to lend her expertise in whatever way she can, but unfortunately the copper in charge, DCI Withers, is very much a misogynist and implies she should be sticking to working in the kitchen. But Jodie is no shrinking violet and won't put up with his vile treatment of her; she'll certainly not accept being shut out of the case, especially when Tony becomes the prime suspect as Jodie knows that he isn't capable of anything as heinous as murder. Eventually, after a lot of back and forth proving her worth as an investigator, Withers becomes comfortable with her helping him out and she begins to share snippets of what she's uncovered with him. This is a riveting, compulsive and much grittier cosy than most on the market and where people often expect them to be lacking in mystery, intrigue and captivating plot twists, Murder on the Menu has each in spades. It still manages to emanate that rustic, delightful charm and the chocolate-box setting was the perfect place for it all to happen. I loved the witty banter and had some really good belly laughs throughout and the characters were so individual they leapt right off the page and into my heart; well, most of them anyway. A scintillating cosy mystery with enough pep and pizazz to keep you glued to the pages. Highly recommended.

Still spinning from the hustle and bustle of life in London, ex Met police officer Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is glad to be back in the Cornish village she calls home & the change of pace means she can finally start her dream catering company and raise her daughter, Daisy, somewhere safer.
But there’s nothing like having your first job back at home to be catering for the wedding of Tony an ex-boyfriend. When the bride, Cheryl, vanishes Jodie is drawn into the investigation, realising that life in the countryside might not be as quaint as she remembers. With a missing bride on their hands, there is murder and mayhem around every corner but surely saving the day will be a piece of cake for this not-so-amateur sleuth?
A new author to me & a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy mystery, it was well written with strong characters & a story that never lagged. Jodie lives up to her schoolgirl nickname & constantly butts heads with dishy DCI Withers. There are plenty of twists & turns before all is revealed. There also could be a burgeoning romance for forty year old divorcee Jodie, I look forward to more in the series. I do hope Jodie managed to use all of those sausages!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I thought this was a pretty strong entry into modern cosy crime.

Jodie 'Nosey' Parker moves back home to Cornwall with her daughter after leaving the met police and becoming a caterer instead. The idea is to have a quieter, safer life. Then she caters for an old friend's wedding and the next thing she knows there's a dead body on the ground and the local police refusing to look in the right directions! Naturally she has to get involved.

Jodie has a strong voice and the crime is interesting enough to keep you turning the pages. The author has a nice sense of humour and has created a fascinating new Cornish village with characters to match.

A nice diversion from the cold and miserable world outside!

What a great Cozy Mystery! I enjoyed getting to know “Nosey Parker” her daughter, mother and all of her friends who helped solve her mystery. I look forward to seeing the characters again! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Jodi is forced to cater her ex boyfriend's wedding. While doing so the bride goes missing. The suspense was killing me. I had to read the book until I finished it. I really loved it.

Murder on the Menu is a refreshing take on a British cozy mystery that delights with its fast pace, genuine characters, and ingenious narration.

What I Loved

I loved the characters, particularly Daisy, daughter of Jodie "Nosey" Parker. She is wise beyond her years, loves animals, and has spunk and sass that is endearing and fun to read. She is a preteen with all the intricate layers of a much older character. I also can relate to her mother, who made the tough decision to give up her career in the police force to take a much safer path of starting her own catering business in the village where she grew up. They are a delightful pair that make me anxious to read more tales featuring the little family unit.

Jodie narrates the story, and I loved the first-person narration with little asides directed at the reader. These asides are the primary source of humor in the novel as Jodie reflects on the things going on around her with wit and cynicism that often had me laughing out loud. It also acts as the most significant misdirection as I found myself engrossed in her thought process rather than looking at the story with my discerning eye.

The story stays focused on the murder mystery and does not get side-tracked with the catering business's different components. I found this particularly enjoyable as I often get frustrated with cozies that are as much a cookbook as a murder mystery. Though, I wouldn't mind some recipes being thrown in at the end in future novels. I always love discovering good recipes.

To Read or Not to Read

I am very excited to see where this series goes. I could see the potential for some very intriguing plotlines in future novels, which has me eagerly anticipating the next book. If you love a good cozy mystery- one that pays homage to the master of the genre, Agatha Christie – you will love this new series by Fiona Leitch.

The excellent start for a new cozy series. I just ended the first and I'm ready for the second
I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in one setting, it's highly entertaining and engrossing.
The plot is fast paced and tightly knitted, full of twists and humour.
I loved Jodie, an interesting and well written heroine, and the cast of characters is well thought and likable.
The mystery is full of suspects and the solution came as a surprise.
I can't wait for the next installment, highly recommended.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I requested this as an ARC from Netgalley and One More Chapter because I liked the idea of the Cornish village setting and always enjoy seeing a protagonist changing careers and making a new life for herself. And as a summer cozy read it was just what I had hoped for. Jodie is an engaging amateur detective, and quite funny at times. I also liked that she's in her forties and has a twelve-year-old daughter. The mystery is fun, with plenty of bodies piling up before the final solution, which was just twisty enough without being too complicated. And the secondary characters are all well-drawn and interesting. I'm looking forward to meeting them again, along with Jodie. A great start to a new series.

Jodie Parker is an ex-copper with that wry humour that so many officers have, combined with the ability to keep a cool head in a crisis. So it's hardly surprising that when a body turns up at her first-ever catering job she wades in to help out - much to the annoyance of the satisfyingly handsome but officious detective in charge of the investigation.

From the first page I sank into Murder on the Menu knowing that I was going to love the Cornish setting, the snappy dialogue, and the twists and turns of the story. I'd have liked to see more of the supporting characters - Jodie's mum and daughter - but I expect that will develop in later books. I'd recommend Murder on the Menu as a great lockdown read - especially if you can't make it to Cornwall this year.

Oh wow what a wonderful read this was. It was as such a gripping read with the right dose of humour and seriousness needed. Simply perfect

An entertaining English cozy. Jodie Parker quit the police force to move back to her small peaceful hometown to start a safer career in catering for the sake of her daughter. However, her first job results in her being involved in a murder and she soon finds that old habits die hard.

I enjoyed both the humor/sarcasm and the unknowns that keep you speculating until the end. It is a first in the series but I felt that knew Jodie (Nosey) early on in the story. I look forward to more books in this series. Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Murder on the Menu is a delightful new cozy mystery from Fiona Leitch. Set in Cornwall we follow Josie as she can't seem to give up the sleuthing she was meant to leave behind after returning home. The book had so many funny moments and honestly kept me guessing until the end. The pace of the story was perfect, giving me just enough about the people and the town while keeping the story moving. It's basically everything I love in a cozy mystery.

4/5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful, cosy mystery, based in beautiful Cornwall. Some really likeable characters and at times an amusing storyline, even though it was also a murder investigation. It had a comfortable conclusion and was an enjoyable read.

This was the first time I have read a Cozy Mystery novel and I really enjoyed it. Right until the end I was wondering who had done it. It had humor, is set in a wonderful location and is good detailed. This was also the first book by Fiona Leitch I have read and I will definitely be reading more as I found out there will be more of Nosey Parker coming soon.

This is the first in a new series Nosey Parker mystery series. Jodie (nicknamed Nosey) Parker has moved back to her hometown in Cornwall to start a new catering business. Jodie was a met police officer in London and decided to leave the force to ease her-daughter Daisy’s worries. She decides to step into a local department store Penhaligon’s and runs into an old friend from school Tony Penhaligon (a boy she dated briefly for 2 weeks as a teenager). He is about to get married and the caterer has cancelled and he asks Jodie to do it. She agrees and begins her new business. Unfortunately at the rehearsal dinner Tony’s ex-wife Mel attacks Cheryl Tony’s fiancé and Jodie jumps in and stops the fight. She talks to Mel and then decides to check up on Cheryl who appears to be packing and as rude as ever to Jodie. The next day Cheryl is missing and Mel is found dead. Jodie wants to help but DCI Withers the detective in charge is demeaning and says she is a chef not a copper. This infuriates Jodie and when Tony becomes the prime suspect Jodie knows that Tony could not possibly have done this. She butts heads with detective Withers but eventually she wins him over and he begins to share some information with him. Jodie aka Nosey really lives up to her nickname but she is keen on observing things and reading people. This is fun quick paced mystery that keeps you engaged in the story. I am looking forward to the next installment.

A delightful mystery from Fiona. The story begins to take off when Jodie is preparing to cater for a wedding. I felt this was beautifully written and was swept along with events as they happened. Will definitely look out for more mysteries from Fiona.

This is the first time that I have read a book by Fiona Leitch, and I have found it to be quite entertaining. It certainly isn't high-brow literature, but it doesn't pretend to be.

The Nosey Parker is Jolie who has recently left her life as a detective in the Metropolitan Police, to return to her childhood home town in Cornwall.

I found the style of writing to be entertaining and rather amusing. The storyline is fairly unbelievable, yet I still enjoyed the Agatha Christie-esque red herrings which abound along the way to discovering who had killed whom at the wedding in a country hotel.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for a copy in exchange for this review. I will keep my eye open for future books in this series.

Very enjoyable first in a new cozy mystery series by Fiona Leitch.

We are introduced to our heroine, Jodie (aka Nosey) Parker, who has left the bright lights of London and her job at the Met to return to her childhood home in Cornwall and a new life as a caterer and chef.

As in all of these types of mysteries Jodie finds herself almost immediately immersed in local life and offering to cater for the wedding of an old school pal and one time love, Tony.

At the party pre the wedding the bride, who has not taken to Jodie and the feeling is mutual, is confronted by Tony’s ex wife, both of whom subsequently disappear.

Jodie gains a pooch along the way and enters into her own investigation and knocks heads with dishy detective Withers.

A great start to a new series abs I can’t wait to see where this will go and what adventures Nosey Parker will have abs who she will have a romantic encounter with.

Great and likeable characters and very easy to read.

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

Loved this,all the ingredients for a great whodunnit! Interesting characters, good location, spattering of humour...a nice easy read..with a few twists and turns. Liked Jodie and her approach! Will look forward to reading more by this author.