Jodie Parker (nickname ‘Nosey Parker’) served in the Met Police but when she finally gave up on her horrible husband, she returned to the Cornish village in which she’d been born and bred, taking her daughter, Daisy, with her. Jodie also decided on a career change and had always loved baking, so she did a college course with the intention of setting up a catering company.

An ex-boyfriend, Tony, urgently needs a caterer for his wedding so Jodie agrees to help him, and this is the first booking for her new company. However, the dead bodies then start to appear, and Jodie crosses paths – and swords! – with DCI Withers.

I absolutely loved this book and was pleased to discover that it’s the first in a series, so I can’t wait to meet up with the characters again before too much longer! The category of ‘cosy murder’ is apt because there are elements of comedy and drama in it, as well as murders. A similar style to ‘Midsomer Murders’.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

A humorous tale, despite being based around a murder, or two? An ex policewoman returning to her home town, and reuniting with old schoolfriends.
Plenty of red herrings, dodgy characters and people who remember her 'copper' father, plus a couple of interested gentlemen.
An easy reading story to pass the time away. I look forward to future stories
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Well that was fun! I couldn't really take the crime aspect of the novel all that seriously but I thought it was a great murder-mystery romp! This is the first book I've read by Fiona Leitch and I'll happily read more. I bought into the characters and would like to know what happens with Jodie, Tony and DCI Withers.

Lighthearted cosy mystery that is as comfortable as a hot chocolate and a warm blanket. Great characters and plot, I didn't guess the murderer, which is a great point in the book's favour. If you like a 'Midsomer Murders' type of story, the you will love this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Fiona Leitch and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC of Murder on the Menu. This is my personal review.
I am always on the hunt for cozy murder series. I am so happy to find this series The Nosey Parker Mysteries and the author is one I have never read before. I was hooked from page one.
Jodie Parker – nickname Nosey – quit her job with the London police force and moved with her daughter back to her hometown.
She opens a catering company, and her first job is for an old high school friend. The day of the wedding this is when her police background will be of great help- a dead body is found and it- which happens to be the groom’s ex-wife- and the bride- to- be has gone missing.
Every character in the book fits together perfectly. I like Jodie and can not wait to read more in the series. The author did an excellent of job getting me into the story and keeping me reading.

Funny. Smart. Quick enjoyable read.
Jodie moves back to her hometown, Cornwall. After a tense situation, Jodie promises her daughter, Daisey, to leave the police. After finishing chef college, Jodie buys a house and they move.
Shortly after her return, Jodie runs into her long time friend, Tony. He's about to be married, but the caterer bailed. Jodie gets a job - and a mystery to solve.
The morning of the wedding, Tony's ex-wife is found murdered and no one can find the bride.
Determined to prove Tonya innocence, Jodie works the case, much to DCI Withers' chagrin.
Great, loveable characters. Romantic tension. Family love.
Great read.

Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and Fiona Leitch for my arc of Murder on the Menu in exchange for an honest review.

Published: 15th January 2021

The first book in the Nosey Parker cozy mysteries series, Murder on the Menu introduces us to Jodie 'Nosey' Parker. Recently divorced and having left her job as a sergeant in the Met Police, Jodie has returned to her hometown of Penstowan in Cornwall, to set up a catering business. But things go awry when her first catering job at a grand wedding ends up with a body in the car park and a missing bride. Can Jodie keep her promise to daughter Daisy and stay out of trouble or will her ' nosey Parker' ways put her deep in the heart of the investigation?

I really enjoyed this first book in what I think could become a favourite series for me. I'm a big fan of cosy mysteries and really liked the characters and setting of Murder on the Menu. Jodie's character is a lot of fun as is the banter she shares with everyone from her equally funny mother and daughter to the friends and foes she finds around her. Jodie isn't bothered by much which makes her character very refreshing. I think the mystery element was done well too I didn't guess 'whodunnit' which is always good as I'm usually excellent at cracking a fictional case. I'd definitely read the next books in this series.

Murder on the Menu is a new, fun cozy mystery series that you will enjoy! Jodie Parker, aka Nosey Parker, is an ex London copper. She and her daughter move to Jodie's hometown in a Cornish village, where Jodie opens a catering business. Her first big job is catering the wedding of her high school friend. However, on the morning of the wedding, a body is found and the bride is missing. Unconvinced that the new, but very handsome, Detective Chief Inspector will find the real killer, Jodie, with the assistance of a great cast of characters, sets out to solve the mystery. I had a little trouble with some of the British terms but I think the author did a decent job of cluing the reader into what she was talking about. And, I love reading books that give me a glimpse into a different part of the world.

The first book in a new series was funny, with a good plot, and an enjoyable mystery. I look forward to reading the next installment and seeing what other trouble Jodie gets herself into.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and the author for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

A very enjoyable read. Jodie, a copper in London, decides to return to Cornwall with her daughter to run a catering company. On her first catering job, the groom's ex-wife is found murdered. Jodie cannot resist getting involved with the murder investigation.

The book is written with a refreshing, light touch and a sense of humour. A great holiday or Christmas read. I look forward to reading more in the series.

I wasn’t sure what a cozy murder could be! However, I soon became immersed in the story and brilliant characters (except for a female dog who cocked her leg). Set in Cornwall where all the villagers know what goes on was an added bonus. Some good twists in the plot. Next please?

You can have the girl leave the police but the police won't necessarily leave the girl! Jodie Parker has policing in her blood but she has given up her job in the Metropolitan Police, retrained, and moved with daughter back to her home town in Cornwall.

All is going well, Jodie has set up a new catering company and has her first clients; old school friend Tony and his bride to be, Cheryl. When a body is found on the morning of the wedding Jodie is introduced to the new Detective Chief Inspector who has the job which used to belong to her dad and it's clear he has no idea how a small Cornish community operates.

Putting her recently retired skills to use Jodie is soon knee deep in trouble but determined to find out whodunit so DCI Withers doesn't arrest the wrong person. The fact he is devastatingly handsome can't have anything to do with her enthusiasm, can it?

The first in a new series this book is really good and succeeded in making me laugh out loud on more than a few occasions which hardly ever happens. Jodie is a great main protagonist who with her mum, daughter and the unfortunately named DCI make up a formidable team. The only gripe is having Jodie's female dog cock her leg to pee when they squat.

This is the best cozy crime I've read in a while and I'm delighted to see there will be two more books released fairly soon after this one. I will absolutely be reading them both as soon as possible.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I recommend this book very highly.

Murder on the Menu by Fiona Leitch brings murder, disappearances and some humor to a new cozy mystery series set in the Cornish town of Penstowan. Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker has moved back to her home town after leaving the London police force. Her 12 year-old daughter Daisy wanted her to do something less dangerous so Jodie retrained as a caterer and is going to start Banquets and Bakes, her own catering company. What Jodie didn’t expect is that her first job would be catering the wedding of childhood friend and ex-boyfriend, Tony Penhaligon. When the bride-to-be disappeared the night before the wedding after a fight with Tony’s ex-wife, Jodie is drawn into the investigation.

Jodie’s sense of humor and warmth was a delight. She was a likeable and friendly character that I connected with quickly. Her interactions with DCI Withers varied from witty to serious and a little bit of everything in between. Is there a romance in Jodie’s future? The secondary characters were well developed for a first novel. Instead of quaint characters, there were realistic characters that added to the realism of the story. How much have your high school friends and neighbors changed?

The writing style was imaginative and flowed well. The author did a good job of transporting me to the Cornish countryside and its small towns. She did a great job of ‘showing’ versus ‘telling’ which made the novel more enjoyable. The story had several twists and there were a couple of surprises at the end. It was definitely not predictable. Additionally, having a sleuth that was not an amateur brought a depth to the novel that is often lacking in cozy mysteries.

Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Jodie’s world. It was a fun, appealing and entertaining read with a solid mystery to unravel and a fresh take on the protagonist. All of the major plot points were resolved satisfactorily, the atmosphere was just right, and there are some threads to be explored in future books.
This is the first book in the Nosey Parker cozy mystery series, and I recommend it to those that enjoy the genre. It was a fun and relaxing read and I can’t wait for the next book featuring Jodie. It even includes a recipe at the end of the book. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it won’t be the last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Fiona Leitch via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 15, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Full of humour, laugh out loud cosy murder.

Jodie returns to her home town in Cornwall with her 12 year old daughter after giving up her job with the MET police.
Her first job is catering for her old boyfriend Tony's wedding, then Tony's ex wife ends up dead at the venue.
Jodie finds it hard keeping her nose out of trying to find the murderer.

A great read full of humour and great lovable characters definitively recommend this lovely cosy murder book, looking forward to reading more of her books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
posted to goodreads

2.5 ⭐️

Murder on the Menu is the first in the new Nosey Parker cozy mystery series set in Cornwall.

This was a cute story that kept me guessing until the end. Unfortunately, that’s about all I can say about the good points of this book.

Cornwall is such a beautiful part of the world yet all I know about the setting in this book is it’s a small town and there’s a beach. There wasn’t any scene building like you normally find at the beginning of a cozy series. I also felt that, more than not, the story was either her thoughts on a single sentence from another character or an explanation of what she really means when she says something. Even though the description says this book is written in “British English, there isn’t enough of a difference in vernacular to require that much explanation. No one things she’s literally
going to jump in the shower, that doesn’t need to be explained. My biggest turnoff in this book, however, is the term “copper”. Although this term is occasionally still used in the UK, it mostly brings to mind 1920’s movies and seems out of touch with the rest of the story.

I really wanted to love this book but it just fell completely flat.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading it but it was just a bit too quirky for me. Too much interfering which at times which was annoying but a few twists and turns to keep me interested. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Fiona Leitch is a new author for me and Murder on the Menu is the first in a new series of Nosey Parker Cosy Mystery Novels.

I have to say I flew through this book. I loved the main character Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker. She’s an ex met police cop and has returned to her hometown on the beautiful Cornish coast with her twelve year old daughter. Along with her new life back in Cornwall, Jodie has set up a catering business and ends up catering her ex-boyfriends wedding. But when the bride goes missing, Jodie finds herself drawn into the investigation.

This book is well written and I enjoyed the writing style with its humorous anecdotes thrown in. Very enjoyable and I can highly recommend. I would rate this book 4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.

Such a great read. I really enjoyed the plot of the story. I felt like I was a character interacting within the story.

A wonderful mystery and suspense novel. A former copper has moved home and finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery that involves her first boyfriend. It seems to be a standalone in the series and I look forward more adventures with the copper (former)/chef/private detective. It is a one sitting read that you will enjoy on any night.

This book totally took me by surprise. I have to confess to being a little in the dark about this ‘cozy Murder’ genre and have expected it to embrace gentler and possibly a little blander reads. This one is neither bland nor gentle - it has bounce! From start to finish I totally enjoyed myself! Jodie is an ex-cop turned cook, ex-Londoner now Cornwall dweller. Having been caught up in some dangerous incidents on duty in London, she has promised her daughter Daisy to avoid danger in future. Of course her first catering job at a wedding brings a corpse encounter and her days of sleuthing are reborn! Mel the ex- wife of the groom, Tony, is murdered and his bride to be disappears. This is such an entertaining read, largely because of the character of Jodie - she’s sassy and so funny and she’s surrounded by a cast of lovely family members and friends who you’d just love to enjoy a picnic with and who are happy to tag along with the detecting. Throw in a lovely dog and a will they won’t they love interest and you’ve got the perfect formula. A little Midsummer Murder like, it’s a really enjoyable read. With thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for a digital copy of this book.

Murder on the Menu is the first in the Nosey Parker series. When I saw that it was a cozy mystery being offered by One More Chapter, I scooped it up.

Jodie “Nosey” Parker has moved back to her Cornish birthplace with her 12-year-old daughter, Daisy in tow. After a decade as a cop in London and a divorce from her cheating husband, Nosey was anxious for a fresh start and a new career as a caterer.

It doesn’t take long for Nosey to be caught up in privately investigating the murder of her childhood friend, Tony’s ex-wife on the eve the wedding to his new fiancé. When all signs lead to Tony being the murderer, Nosey is convinced of his innocence and makes sure she gets in the way of newly appointed police supervisor, DCI Withers (who also isn’t hard on the eyes,) to put him on the right path of who the true killer is.
For the first in a series, this was quite good. It made me laugh with Leitch’s witty writing and continued to capture my attention and was entertaining.

I also really enjoyed Nosey’s character. Her self-deprecating humour had me in stitches and is something I can totally relate to because that’s exactly my personal sense of humour. Her mother and their forced-to-adopt dog, Germaine were quirky and the perfect secondary characters to the story.

Again, as with the cozy mysteries that I love, there is a hint of romance to come for Nosey. There’s also a suggestion of a possible love triangle! I’ll be looking forward in reading how that will all play out.