This was a cozy thriller set in France with British man as a protagonist.

Honestly I found this book slightly boring. Not much twists or turns and I nearly DNF the book. But the ending was ok and I do like the setting of the book. Overall this book worth 2.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion

This book was absolutely NOT for me. It was boring, banal and a half hour after I finished the book I found I could only remember 4 things from the book [the guy lives in France, there is a dog and there was a man in a freezer <--I honestly don't remember how he got there and a beloved chicken is killed {and you NEVER find out who killed it} ]. That is it. I am so thankful there was an audiobook already on Hoopla as I would still be reading this [or TRYING to read it] at Christmas because I am sure I would pick it up and put it right back down - an audiobook makes it easier to get through a book that is so MEH [I will say here that this author should absolutely NOT be narrating his own books. A good narrator he will never, ever, be], but I will say, there is 6+ hours I will never, ever, get back. I will not be reading anymore of these [which is disappointing, because they had potential to be really amazing. Alas, no].

Thank you to NetGalley, Ian Moore, and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TLDR: I thought about DNFing this book at 25% and after finishing regret not doing so.

This book is rather dreadful. A Basil Fawlty like hotel owner who has one staff member who he is very rude to, gets pulled into investigating the disappearance of a guest. The reader is never given a reason to care about anyone or anything in this book. The female main character Valerie's main personality characteristic is that she is French. Apparently all french women have the same manner?? One of the other character's actions (being greedy and murderous) are identified and explained by her being like her mother. And I'm pretty sure the broad generalisations and inclusion of the mafia were either lazy or racist or both.
The approach to sex in this book is bizarre. It felt like the mid 80s. There is a couple who are swingers who are described in many negative and giggling ways, as well as constantly referring negatively to their bodies. Yes, sex negativity and fat shaming in two characters, who are the only ones who are having any fun.
After Richard and Valerie drive around the countryside a lot they solve the mystery. It didn't make any sense to me, but by that point I was speed reading, because it was either that or DNFing.

Ian Moore delivers a fun and cheeky mystery with “Death and Croissants,” the first in his Follet Valley Mystery series.

Richard Ainsworth gets more than he bargains for while running a bed and breakfast in the French Loire Valley. When an elderly guest goes missing, leaving behind only a bloody handprint and a broken pair of glasses, he joins forces with another guest, the intriguing Valerie D’Orcay to figure out what happened to the missing Monsieur Grandchamps.

What follows is a quirky, zany adventure filled with hilarious moments that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Moore creates delightful characters who aren’t always what they seem, including an adorable chihuahua named Passepartout and hens named after Golden Age Hollywood actresses.

He creates a fun yet thrilling plot that also offers some good themes, like revenge; mistaken identities; and merely existing versus truly living.

Fans of series like Richard Osman’s “The Thursday Murder Club” and Robert Thorogood’s “The Marlow Murder Club,” as well as authors like Agatha Christie, will enjoy “Death and Croissants,” which is due out March 14 and does contain occasional mild cursing.

Five stars out of five.

Poisoned Pen Press provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

When one of his B&B guests disappears leaving behind a bloody handprint, Richard is dragged into a hunt for the truth of what happened by another mysterious and flamboyant my guest.

I really wanted to love this book - set in France the story takes a lot of twists and turns leaving you constantly trying to guess what happened and who is responsible.
I enjoyed Richard's grumpy nature as he is reluctantly persuaded to help discover the truth, and the author did well to not suddenly turn him in to a super detective.
However, it felt more like a cat and mouse story to me rather than a clever murder mystery. I sometimes struggled to see how they came to the conclusions they did and it felt like there were a lot of clever guesses added in to move the story along.
I also think a big question was left unanswered (justice for Ava Gardner!)

In summary, a good read for someone who wants a lighthearted story (and if you're a classic movie expert even better as there were a lot of references that I didn't quite get), but it may not hit the spot if you want a clever detective story.

Teaser post at https://wellreadpiratequeen.blogspot.com/2023/02/death-and-croissants-by-ian-moore.html

I have yet to read Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series. I know, I'm as shocked as you probably are. I'm sure I will eventually but there has been sooooo much hype that it has felt kind of like Harry Potter did when it first came out. I didn't read that until many many many years later when my kid decided we should, and even then we never bothered to finish the series.

What does any of this have to do with Death and Croissants? Easy : I have absolutely no preconceived notions. I could care less about those who claim it's "perfect for fans of Thursday Murder Club" or those who claim it's just a poor knock-off. I saw it on NetGalley; went "ooooh a new one to beg Poisoned Pen Press for;" got giddy because it would cross off a spot on my Craving for Cozies Library Card (Cozy Written by a Male Author) and put France on my Literary Escapes challenge list; got the approval and here we are.

I have other books on my NetGalley shelf that are being released sooner (or are already out -- whoops), but this just felt like it would be the perfect palate cleanser after the "holyomigoodnesswhatthehellwasthat" of Lisa Unger's Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.

Even from the first few pages it was clear that I made the right choice. We have as our "hero" Richard Ainsworth, former film historian (WOO-HOO!!! Score one for classic film references out the wazoo!!!!), who now runs a bed & breakfast (score two from the girl who has worked in hotels for 2/3 of her life), and really doesn't seem to like people very much (I feel you, man .... deep in my soul .... that should give, like, ten scores all on its own). And we have Valérie d'Orçay, a guest at the b&b who ends up being so much more .... but what, and exactly who, is a bit of a mystery all of its own.

It feels a bit like classic Agatha Christie (serious The Man in the Brown Suit vibes for me), with some Remington Steele (speaking of Stephanie Zimbalist ... if you know, you know) type chemistry with a far less debonair hero. Farrago has already released two novels and a novella and the first is about to get its reprint from Poisoned Pen Press .... and I'm already for more.

Maybe someday I'll get around to reading Osman.

Right now Moore is more than adequate.

What could possibly go wrong for a ho-hum middle-aged man operating a B&B in the Loire Valley? A bloody handprint on the wall and missing person, of course! Not only that but enter Sicilian mafia, impersonations, housebreaking and chicken capers and Richard's life goes from ordinary to the extraordinary in no time flat. Thank goodness for Valerie who gets investigations going. She cracks me up!

British humour often has me cackling which it does at times in this book (especially Richard's views on "dirty laundry", chicken humour and comical stealth involved). There are witticisms around every corner. However, my wish for a stronger mystery element was a wee bit deflated which did not hold with my expectations. In spite of the humour, something just didn't connect. However, the book was still enjoyable. Clever cover, too.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this whacky novel.

This is a series debut featuring an ex-pat Brit operating a B&B (although he doesn't like that term) in France. Richard is altogether an unremarkable man, tepid in character and appearance. It seems as though it was hoped he would be a Basil Fawlty like figure, but somehow it never quite happens.

Richard is more or less estranged from his wife Claire. He has a mysterious and beautiful Frenchwoman with some interesting spy like skills staying at his hotel. Another of the guests disappears, leaving only a bloody handprint.

It's a bit madcap but doesn't quite succeed. Incidental characters include a neighboring couple who run a naturist hotel with a sideline in bondage and wife-swapping.

For me, much of the humor was forced and dated. It's hard to connect with Richard and the mystery itself is often confusing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Okay, so I'm a huge cosy mystery fan, so an opportunity to review this could not be turned down. From the blurb, I expected an amazing read. I didn't get amazing, but I got enjoyable. It's an enjoyable book -definitely ticks a lot of the the cosy boxes - but I don't know if this would encourage me to continue with the series.

I did like the main character, Richard Ainsworth. He felt real, well constructed, and he had this low-key approach to things. He was interested, but also felt put out with the need to investigate. That intrigued me. The other character that won me over is the housekeeper of his Bed and Breakfast, Madame Taliber. She felt like real salt of the earth, without a filter. She added something to this book that other characters did not.

Richard's life is about to get exciting after an elderly guest disappears. The only clues are a bloody hand print and broken glasses. Then, somebody cuts out the hand print from the wall and steals the glasses. Richard is drawn into this, not because he wants to be, but because of Valerie d'Orcay. Valerie is flamboyant, she's persuasive, and she convinces Richard that he wants to find the elderly guest who vanished, one Vincent Grandchamps. Is he still alive?

What ensues is a story that feels part mystery and part farce. I'm not sure what other readers will think, I felt the author was heavily influenced by Fawlty Towers and Keeping Up Appearances. I get the feeling this book wants to push the boundaries of the absurd, and I'm not sure if I want that in a cosy. Whenever I see mysteries that need to be absurd, it makes me think of the Stephanie Plum series, which take the prize for absurd over substance. This book has enough to keep it from being too over the edge.

I still have one question after reading this: who killed the chicken? It's never answered, and it makes me question why it's even in the book.

I did like these lines from the book:

"Mornings are the cold, filthy foot bath you're forced to step through before you're allowed into the warmth and relative cleanliness of the public swimming pool"

"He was made to feel like a criminal for having exceeded a motorway speed limit at two i the morning driving through unmanned roadworks"
-I'm not saying I'm for speeding, but so many time there is road works limit, and you think why?

Thank you to Farrago Books & Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of this book review. All opinions in this review are my own

I could not put this down! This had me laughing at points because it was so funny. I absolutely am obsessed with this. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out!!
I just reviewed Death and Croissants by Ian Moore. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book - I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This book was absolutely delightful from start to finish. Richard is the perfect straight man to the madcap cast of characters in the first of the Follet Valley series.

I can see Hugh Grant playing him - it would be a fantastic series. I couldn't stop guffawing all the way through. There's plenty of action, and twists and turns. Don't try to figure out the whodunnit - it's just too crazy. Just go along for the roller coaster ride with Richard.

I can't wait for the next one.

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I found the story trite and predictable and the book not very well written. Thank you for the opportunity.

Quirky and enjoyable whodunnit. Great relatable characters and an easy read. It was an excellent holiday read and would make an enjoyable tv series. Recommended.

In Death and Croissants, middle-aged Richard Ainsworth finds himself embroiled in a mystery when one of his B&B guests disappears.

Cosy mystery with a delightful cast of quirky characters. At a little over 200 pages, Death and Croissants serves as a nice palate cleanser between longer, emotionally heavier, or more prose-dense books. On its own merit, the prose is smooth and simple, and the mystery is comfortably enjoyable.

Although this book wasn’t for me, I found a lot of charm to be had in the atmospheric French bed and breakfast. And who won’t love the chickens named for Golden Age of Hollywood film starlets?

Here we have a promising concept: Richard is a retired middle-aged Brit who runs a bed and breakfast in the "Val de Follet" (fictional) in the Loire Valley of France. He has separated from his wife Clare as their marriage had come somewhat stale and unsatisfying. Richard lives a quiet life with his trio of chickens, Joan Crawford, Ava Gardner and Lana Turner. Life takes a chaotic turn when an elderly male guest suddenly goes missing, leaving ominous clues behind - broken and bloodied spectacles and a bloody handprint on the expensive wallpaper. His flamboyant and glamourous guest Valerie decides to embark on an investigation of the disappearance and drags Richard along for a crazy and hazardous ride.

There were things I loved about this novel - the contrast of staid and reluctant Richard with the uber-confident Valerie, the quintessential French village setting, and the bewildered but tolerant estranged wife. There were some hilarious lines in here: "but for the love of God, it was a bit rich for one half of a pair of plump, tied-up rubber fetishists with bulldog clips on his nipples to question someone else's choice of evening attire".

Unfortunately, the plot resembled more a plate of spaghetti with storylines going every which way than a crisp croissant. Amusing confusion is the best phrase I can apply to this book. And I am still immensely frustrated and disturbed that I don't know who murdered Ava Gardner!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy of this book to review. I wish I could give it a more glowing review.

i would have read more but this was so boring. I wouldn't recommend like other readers I was bored stiff.

Was happy to include this book in my latest “Thrills and Chills” round-up for Zoomer magazine, highlighting winter’s best suspense and mystery reads. (see mini-review at link)

A pure delight and loads of fun. Meet Richard the newly crowned king of cozy crimes. A befuddled and overwhelmed Englishman and perhaps slightly depressed owner of a B&B set in a fictional valley and town in France who will captivate you with his reluctance in becoming embroiled in finding a missing patron of his establishment. Though initially uninterested in finding his missing guest an additional guest, a flamboyant and beautiful femme fatale, convinces Richard to join her in following the clues. After all, it is his B&B guest that is missing. A bit madcap, especially when driving over the countryside ensues, Death and Croissants is a fun trip for those in the mood for a bit of levity and old cinematic references.
As this is book one in the A Follet Valley Mystery, I will be looking out for book 2.
I would rate this 4.25 stars.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for an early copy. All opinions are mine.

I definitely found the title and cover of this lighthearted mystery to be rather appealing. What could be better than a good story accompanied by the classic French breakfast?

I was not familiar with the author who is a British comedian. That explains the tone of the story. Here is a rather hapless hotel owner who gets sucked into an adventure by an exotic guest of his establishment. It becomes a bit crazy with even hints of the Mafia. How will it all get resolved? Read this one to find out. It is a book that shows what can happen when one ventures (way) out of a comfort zone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I DNFd this book. I just could not get into it for lack of trying. I just couldn’t enjoy it. But that is my opinion.