Caterer Francesca Eve and her sometimes partner, computer game designer Adam Smith, are catering an upscale weekend for Keith and Mimi Chapman at which a huge business deal will be made. Things go well until Sunday morning when Keith is found dead in his study, the apparent victim of a break in gone wrong. But when it becomes clear that no outsiders had entered the house all the inhabitants, including Fran and Adam, become suspects. As Fran and Adam delve into the pasts of the residents and guests things take a turn for even worse when there is a second murder.
I wondered after the first book how scenarios for a catering solving murders could keep going without the caterer losing their business, rather like I often wondered why anyone invited Jessica Fletcher to visit since there was always a murder whenever she showed up. I am happy to see that this mystery was set up quite naturally, enough time has passed since their first case, a year, that they are not stumbling from murder to murder monthly and while Fran and Adam uncover the murderer they do so without the usual over the top antics present in so many cozy mysteries. And they work with a police woman who appreciates their help. This is a quick read and a delightful mystery series. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Rating: 3.2/5

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series ("Death in Disguise" also published as "Death by Candlelight"), which was one of the most enjoyable cosy mysteries I had read in a good while. There is also much to like about this follow-up. For the benefit of anyone who has not already read the first book in the series, I would say that you could happily read this one first - Emma Davies does a good job of slipping enough relevant background detail into the narrative to make sure that new readers are sufficiently in the picture - but it would still be preferable to read book one prior to this.

In "Death at the Dinner Party" Emma Davies has once again shown her ability to put together an entertaining cosy murder mystery with a well-considered plot. The characters of caterer, Francesca Eve and her young amateur sleuthing sidekick, Adam Smith, are still delightfully appealing and, this time around, there is very much the sense of a traditional locked-room mystery, complete with the almost obligatory country manor setting.

Although this is very capably written and makes for a perfectly pleasant reading experience, I didn't think it was quite as strong as its predecessor, which was a little more fresh and original. "Death at the Dinner Party" follows a more obvious tried and trusted cosy formula, but it is still well executed and will certainly hold plenty of appeal to fans of the genre - and I dare say I will be back for book three, too. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine this twosome cropping up in their own tv series at some point and it should certainly appeal to viewers of the likes of "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" or "Rosemary & Thyme".

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Secrets And Suspicion…
The second in a new series of mysteries featuring, event caterer, Francesca Eve and Shropshire village based. Francesca has a new event to cater - a sumptuous weekend party at a country house, providing a gourmet dining experience for the guests. The hosts are unbelievably demanding and the guests more so. When the host is found dead, however, the whole house comes under suspicion. It becomes clear that people are keeping secrets and, with another body soon in the equation, Fran needs to get to work to find a killer. With a nicely crafted cast of characters, likeable protagonists, twists and turns aplenty and a well plotted storyline this is an entertaining, enjoyable, fun read and a worthy follow up to the first in the series.

Oh I do like this pair. Francesca 'Fran' Eve and Adam Smith might be an unconventional duo - a forty something caterer and a twenty four year old computer game designer - and they certainly don't fit the usual bill of amateur sleuths, but they really do work. And you just know that any case they find themselves wrapped up in with be a blend of mystery, misdirection and really good humour. This time around we find Adam working his socks off to make sure that it's not Fran with the finger of suspicion pointed her way after it becomes clear that she was the last person to see her client, the all too recently deceased Keith Chapman, alive.

I love that Emma Davies has set her books in our home county of Shropshire, even if the actual setting of Claremont House may be entirely fictional. It actually lends itself perfectly to this story, the rambling country mansion in the middle of nowhere, suited to the over the top entertaining and clay pigeon shoots that inform the story. It's exactly the kind of place you can imagine the former Mr Chapman and his wife having as a country hideaway, and perfect for this 'locked house' mystery. I say locked house, as the place has day rooms downstairs than I have rooms in my entire house and sounds like the kitchen alone is also probably larger than the entire floor plan of my downstairs too. Emma Davies has really created that sense of place and, with it, given us a very finite set of suspects whilst keeping the potential motives wide open. Is it the obvious solution, or something more complicated, tied up in the very intricate and contentious dealings that bring the Chapmans and their potential future business partners to Claremont House to begin with.

Fran and Adam are two really special characters. Fran is definitely the mother hen., keeping Adam on the right side of wrong, just about, and reining in his enthusiasm for investigation. Adam, on the other hand, has the impetuousness of youth, an abundance of enthusiasm and all the gadgets and knowhow to make unearthing clues that little bit easier, if not entirely legal. Between them they egg each other on, driven by a mixture of self preservation and intrigue, but you are guaranteed that when they are together you get a real sense of their bond, as well as a more than healthy dose of humour. There are few scenes when it is just the two of them together that don't end with me smiling. There is just something about them that I like.

Add in DCI Nell Bradley, and the scene is set for some really classic moments, Nell having to act as Momma-bear on occasion to even keep Fran in check. Contrast this with the Chapman's and their guests ... Chalk and cheese. Not a one of them you couldn't imagine as being capable of murder or some equally dark deed. Expect the victim, clearly, although there was no doubt in my mind, from the way he was portrayed, he had his own dark secrets. As the suspect list is finite, and in spite of plenty of misdirection, conflicting clues, I did work out the correct who, even the why, but the how took longer to become clear. And it was genius. A really clever touch by the author that had me smiling.

Pacing was great and the style, having the story start pretty well at the point of the murder with Fran recounting the course of events over the weekend to Nell as part of her testimony, really worked well. It meant clues being slowly revealed as the current day investigation kept interjecting. The sense of place was perfect, with Claremont House being so vivid in my mind I almost feel I've been there. Not sure I'd want the pleasure of cleaning it though. I'll leave that to the housekeeper ...

Another brilliant and fun mystery, with characters I am growing to love. If you like your crime on the lighter side this is definitely a series for you. Just don't read it when you're feeling peckish. So many recipes and so much food being served up by Fran, it had me hankering after the biscuits and pastries with every new chapter.

I enjoyed Death at the Dinner Party. Love the way the story goes back and forth between the present and what happens the different days. Francesca (Fran) Eve is the main character. She has a catering business. Mimi Chapman has hired her to cook at their home, Claremont House for the weekend. Her husband, Keith Chapman has invited business people to hopefully invest in his new business adventure. He is a property developer of houses and large developments. When he needs backers he throws these parties. Fran and her helper, Adam Smith who also is a computer designer, arrive to cook for the weekend. They meet Rachael Allen the housekeeper and Derek Russell the caretaker who help Fran with the weekend. Sunday Rachael goes into the study and finds Keith dead. She asks Fran to go to check it out. When checking the body Fran also sees that a painting is also missing. Fran calls DCI Detective Helen Bradley (Nell) to come as there is a death. They had met when Adam's mother was accused of murder. Nell arrives with her detective constables Owen Holmes and Clare Palmer. This is where the story becomes interesting with the supporting characters who are a strange bunch that add to the story. The dialog keeps you guessing who killed Keith and who stole the painting until the exciting ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Death at the Dinner Party by Emma Davies.
The Adam and Eve Mystery Series Book 2.
Francesca Eve, caterer extraordinaire, has come to Claremont House to work for the cream of society. but then a Keith Chapman man of the house is murdered. Who killed him? Will Fran and Adam find out who it is before another body is found?
A really good read. Good story and characters. Although I did guess who it was there was a twist in it. I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*.

The power that money brings can also destroy.

Well paced with multiple clues, likeable characters, and an deceptively simple plot, "Death at the Dinner Party" did no disappoint. I was lucky enough to have read the first in the series and was delighted to see the growth in both Francesca Eve and Adam. Adam, in particular, has grown in self-confidence and his social skills, though I somehow kept expecting him to whip out a myriad of clever gadgets as the story progressed. Didn't happen, well, there was that time....never mind. Not giving away that bit but will say it involves ants. Francesca/Fran and he make an interesting pairing, hardy to normal sleuthing duo, I'd say, but effective in their observational skills and deductive abilities. But, dang, there is that one pesky clue, a missing piece of artwork, that complicates all their theories. Who stole that piece of art? Since all the suspects are still at the estate, how did they get it out of there?

Keith Chapman is murdered in his own home. There are numerous suspects, each with a seemingly strong motive to have killed him. Fran is simply there to cater and isn't 0n Det. Chief Inspector Nell Bradley's radar until she reveals that she may have very likely been the last to see the victim alive. Adam, who has helped as asked but is mostly hanging out, researching stately homes for a computer game he is developing, only becomes invested in the case when Fran becomes a suspect. Now, true, I didn't get the idea that Nell really believed for a moment that Fran was a true suspect but Fran's sense of dread is real, nevertheless. How would you react if you were told you were at the top of a suspect list for murder? Adam is highly intelligent and his growing skills at people watching, or maybe listening, prove helpful, as do the observations of the housekeeper, Rachel.

The guests are supposedly wealthy and have it all but, as Fran observes, none of them seem happy. Heather even seems to be frightened. Why is she so worried? Is Mimi, the eloquently styled widow, as distraught as she acts? How about her tendency to, uh, collect so many male friends? What exactly is the Chapman project the guests are vying for? Who did he pick? Why was he playing games when it came to choosing who would be allowed to invest? How much must that amazing ice sculpture have cost the Chapman's? What made Richard so angry he threw his expensive phone at a courtyard wall? Did Oliver really think Mimi and he would eventually marry? Speaking of Mimi, why were her hands so red and even appearing to be burned? What is the difference between a solicitor and barrister? And, who stole that dang painting? Nope, not telling. You'll have to read the book to get the answer to that and the rest. I'm betting if you like clever mysteries that keep you turning the pages as you get to know some enjoyable characters, you'll enjoy this one as much as I did.

Thank you #NetGalley and #Bookouture for inviting me back to visit Fran/Eve and Adam again. The ending was thoroughly satisfying.

2nd book in the series I finished this in one sitting. Had to know if I was right in how it was going to end. Someone has killed twice to keep their secret safe. Fran is determined to unmask them, will this weekend turn out to be her deadliest job ever? Everything points to one person but Fran is not convinced…..Hold on to your hat and don't kid yourself that you'll be doing anything other than reading on the day that you start this one. Also, don't be thinking that you'll suss it out, this book is twistier than a bag of snakes riding a tornado, on a roller coaster!

A cozy mystery was just what I needed. A wonderfully written book. The part I liked was how Adam with Fran's help was able to put the whole pieces together. It was satisfying. Watching out for the next book in this series.

I absolutely love this mystery series. I’m already looking forward to the next one. The main characters of Hannah who deals with all kinds of customers and murder. Absolutely enjoyed this cozy mystery!