Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
Madame Chalamet 2

Stepping back into the kingdom of Sarnesse that has a historical fantasy Gaslamp world that isn’t really REAL in time but oh so very real when reading this story set there. The story picks up a couple months after the first book in the series ended and continues with Madame Chalamet seeing ghosts and helping both ghosts and humans to move on when she can. It was a delight to see her interacting with the Duke de Archambeau while hoping that their slow burn romance might become more as they worked together to solve another mystery.

This series has hooked me with its characters, intrigue, ghosts, and world building. This story gave peace to ghosts and humans, dealt with a plot to kill the king, furthered a potential romance or two, saved a woman from a brute, included a cooking competition, increased information about dr. charlotte LaRue, coroner and Chalamet’s friend, and was a joy to read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

In this second outing of Madame Chalamet, Ghost Talker, she and Dr. Charlotte LaRue, coroner of the city had been invited to the king's Winter Revels, a royal food competition at Count Westergaards villa. One of the participators was the chef from the Crown Hotel, where Chalamet lodges. Also attending the king was Tristan, duke de Archambeau. When the king was almost killed, Archambeau and Chalamet again come together to find the culprit.
A quick, delightful fantasy novella where Madame Chalamet not only helps in the hunt for the revolutionary but also helps clients that need a ghost to move on to the afterlife.
Thank you NetGalley and Rook&Castle Press for this e-galley of "Delicious Death".

In the second novella of the six-part gas-lamp Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries series, Elinor Chalamet finds herself bored to death (pun intended) by the lack of deaths and ghosts in Alenbonne as of late. So when the opportunity arises to attend the Winter Revels in the southern town of Vouvant, Elinor jumps at the chance to taste delicious cuisine while also finding a ghost or two to help while there.

As a fan of Byrd Nash, I was not surprised that I enjoyed this second installment in her new fantasy novella series. Madame Chalamet is quite an entertaining character and I love the slow-burn romance between her and Tristan Fontaine, duke de Archambeau. The change of scenery for this novella introduced more interesting characters and continued to build on Nash's wonderful gas-lamp fantasy world. A delightful and fun read all around!

If you are looking for a short and easy paranormal fantasy mystery series, then this one is for you!

I received a digital review copy of this book for free from the author, Rook and Castle Press, and NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily as a courtesy.

Thwarting an assassination wasn’t on the menu. Elinor’s holiday is ruined when a poisoner targets a royal guest. What’s even more irritating? The duke thinks he can solve the case before she can.

In the southern town of Vouvant, Elinor’s goal was to eat rich food at the Winter Revels, but an attempt on the king’s life implicates her favorite chef. Between saving a young society lady and solving the problem of a widower who grieves too much, she has her hands full.

The second of a six part fantasy ghost mystery series featuring a strong female character in a slow burn romance.

I again thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this story and the interaction between Elinor and Tristian. Getting more of Dr. LaRue was also a bonus. I can't wait to jump into the next story.

This is book two of this wonderful series. Elinor and the Duke are attending the Winter Revels when an attempt is made on an important guests life. Elinor and the Duke work together again to solve the mystery and are slowing getting closer to each other. Loved it.

A fun mystery, set in an alternate world that has ghosts, great food, and interesting characters. Well-written, interesting story about the Ghost Talker protagonist and her encounters with ghosts and the living at the highest levels of society. There’s also a culinary competition and a possible romance. Enjoyable read!

I loved the first book and I enjoyed Delicious Death even more. The characters are well-established and the reader can dive into the drama from the get-go.
All is quiet with Elinor and Dr Charlotte at the beginning of the book as there have been no murders and no ghosts to occupy their time. It isn't long before they are embroiled in a whole host of dangerous plots and antics. Tristan, Duc de Archambeau always seems to be in Elinor's orbit and they inevitably find themselves trying to solve the same mystery, who is trying to kill the king. Elinor also has the problem of needing to help two spirits who need to pass over. One, a noise ghost attached to her favourite chef and the other was a ghost attached to his wife. She also helps a young lady with the more earthly problem of needing to escape the unwanted attentions of a fortune hunter.
All of these activities occur around the same event, the Winter Revels where chefs compete to create the best dishes. I liked that Elinor was involved in helping a few different people with their ghostly problems while at the same time trying to prevent a murder in the living world. The pace is quick and it found myself reading this novella in one sitting.
I am enjoying the slow-burn romance between Tristan and Elinor. I love how grumpy and jealous he gets. It's also fun to watch him argue with his disapproving sister over his friendship with Elinor.
One of the things I loved most about this book was the humour involved in nearly every scene, whether it was the antics of ghosts, the banter between Elinor and Charlotte or the dialogue between Elinor and Tristan I found myself laughing a lot.
I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.

Thanks to NetGalley - I again stumbled upon a nice little read!  Of course I should do a little better research myself because this is also the second in a series, and this is the second time I find myself venturing into a world where I am at least one book in when I haven’t read the first.  It’s not a big deal - in act in both instances I am now going out to purchase the first book I missed.  But I do prefer to read books in order to learn some of the setting first.  

Delicious Death by Byrd Nash is also the second in a series - dubbed the Madame Chalamet Ghost Talker mysteries, there are a few things that seem to have been lost - that is, not specified - in this second installment.  Here, it isn’t a big deal for the most part.  I was intrigued by the setting - what seems to be a Victorian era fictional country similar to France.  I was intrigued by not only the main character but Madame Chalamet’s doctor friend as well.  Like with April Asher’s Not Your Ex’s Hexes, I am eager to read more of these characters and this world.  

This installment finds a Ghost Talker (aka medium), a single woman in a time where that isn’t as acceptable, attending a cooking competition being held by the country’s King, at the estate of one of the King’s relatives.  Some of the descriptions of the food being served up as part of the completion was definitely mouth watering.  And the competition was a nice little reason to bring all the characters together and definitely made for an interesting plot device.  

This seems to be what I would categorize as a cozy mystery.  It’s a fun little read, with a mystery (here, an attempted regicide), not a ton of the right facts to let even a eagle eyed reader solve it, 2 nice female characters including one where I would love to see drawings of what her outfits would look like, a hint of some romance, a ton of Victorian class snobbery and a little bit of ghosts thrown in too.  It was right up my alley!!  It also wasn’t a read that took much time, but it was fun and entertaining.  And those are the types of things I like to read best.

A new author and series to me, I was excited to see where this mystery went!

Entertaining, great characters and ghost. Did I say ghost? Yes, Elinor Chalamet is a spiritualist and solver of mysteries. When she attends the Winter Revels, wanting to eat some fabulous food, she gets a lot more than that!

Looking forward to reading more!

Until I’d connected with NetGalley to find pre-released writings to review, I’d never encountered this author. This book stands alone from the first one in the series. Having said, I had to read the first section several times to grasp what was going on in the kitchen with the ghost and then on the train when Lady Tulip and Dr. LaRue exchanged clothing that didn’t quite fit. All in all, a fascinating fictionalized angle on how ghosts and humans respond to each other during the Victorian Era. The interactions between the characters, both human and ghostly, kept my attention. I loved the concept of the chefs’ competition during the Winter Revels. The guests (with French and British names) were from ‘high’ and ‘low’ born society and were invited using a lottery system. I imagined the Crown Hotel in Harrogate, England, since it’s been there for three-hundred years. However, I didn’t catch whether this story was in that crown or another.

Ghost talking, jealous kitchen ghost throwing things, poison, a goat, and pennies falling from the ceiling. So many delicious things are going on. Along with clever sentence constructed such as a ‘dress with more glitter than the chandelier’ or ‘a hawk folding a songbird’ (referring to a man firming holding a woman’s arm). Generally, the women’s personalities and capabilities came across more strongly than I’d expect for the era when men controlled most women’s money and they were placed in arranged marriages. There were some spelling usages that perplexed me throughout and I had to stop and research them with marginal success: Mysir for sir/mister, Mys for Miss, and Nyght instead of night. Additionally, ‘aristos’ instead of aristocrats seemed like more of a modern term. In the back, the author explained a few things to some extent, along with providing a helpful character list. Having said, I would still highly recommend reading this author’s works for the sheer pleasure.

Delicious Death is another fast-paced, well-written, thoroughly entertaining instalment in the Madame Chalamet mystery series. Subtle foreshadowing that was cleverly interwoven with red herrings meant I was soon caught up in the story. Some new characters and pleasant side plots brought extra colour to this tale.


Whilst this book could be read standalone I would recommend first reading Ghost Talker, for maximum enjoyment. The author has created an intriguing world, a Victorian-style pseudo-France, albeit if there had not been a revolution, along with some sympathetic characters. Whilst I would have liked to have seen more of Tristan in the book, I felt we got to know him more than we did in the previous book. The final scene between them was everything I've been waiting for!


I'm hoping we don't have too long a wait until the next instalment as I'm already missing Elinor and her Duke.

This is a mixture of a fantasy world and a cozy mystery with paranormal elements. The author has created an interesting world that would be similar to a Victorian or Edwardian period. Madame Chalamet is a strong character and secure in her own powers but less sure of a developing, unlikely relationship with the Duc. There is plenty of action here to keep a reader of any genre engaged. I look forward to reading more in this world.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

I'm loving Byrd Nash novels as they're always solid, funny, and well written. This one was no exception and I loved it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Once again Byrd Nash did not fail to disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. I loved the mystery elements and the slow burn romance was swooon worthy and had great development
Tropes: slow burn, gas lamp fantasy, jealous guy, detective/mystery, historical:/regency

Elinor’s holiday is ruined when a poisoner targets a royal guest. What’s even more irritating? The duke thinks he can solve the case before she can.
In the southern town of Vouvant, Elinor’s goal was to eat rich food at the Winter Revels, but an attempt on the king’s life implicates her favorite chef. Between saving a young society lady and solving the problem of a widower who grieves too much, she has her hands full.
Trained as a medium by the elite Morpheus Society, Elinor Chalamet uses her skills to aid the police while she hunts for her father’s killer.
She is a ghost whisper.
I haven't read a book by this author before. I don't think that I will want to read another.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I giggle when Elior meet Tristan again, well she hit him with her bicycle! It is obivious Tristan Fountain The duke de Archambeau eager to spend time with Elior. Well they seem to miss each other but dismiss it. Its been two months with silent radio!!

Elior get invitation to attend Winter Revels annual cooking competition. Elior bring Charlotte the doctor also bestfriend, their friendship really heartwarming. In this event, Elior have some cases who need her ability as Ghost Talker. In any chanche you can see the duke try to approach her.

Elior show some trick like talking with subcuncious to heal guilty wound. It is show sometimes human mind make it is own ghost. I like it there are an explanation behind any case, logical and supernatural too like why ghost can go to afterlife, why ghost cant be summon.

When Elior heard about Tristan and his sister fight, she feel humiliated. Ouch. This slow burn to slow.. man.. i cant wait for book number 3!

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#DeliciousDeath #ByrdNash #RockandCastlePress #IndependentBookPublishersAssociation #IBPA #NetGalley #ARC

Elinor Chalamet's adventures continue as she attends a competition for chefs held by the king at an estate. There's an attempt on the king's life and a few side plots that demand Elinor's ghost talking skills. Interestingly, the main plot doesn't require her skills at all, but she and the Duc d'Archambeau work to discover his attacker.

This installment of the series places the stories firmly in "cozy" fantasy territory for me. The dialogue is fast and action never stops so we get a lot of action and information in a short book. The writing is tight and at times a little abrupt, but this is somewhat necessary in a novella. The cruelty of the aristocrats of this world are on display in this book. At times, it feels a bit to much, like some of the characters are so mean that they become caricatures of villainous, rich people.

The slow burn of Elinor and the duc's relationship is a high point. There was one point where they reverted to first names and it felt out of step, but they retreated to formal names soon after.

Another enjoyable, witty book with a touch of paranormal from Byrd Nash. It's a fun series. In this book we find out a little more about the main characters. The romance is moving very slowly, but it is progressing.

This is the second in the series but it can be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this ARC. This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars
One Liner: Witty, entertaining, and fun

Elinor is bored. There don’t seem to be any gruesome deaths that need solving. However, she is excited to enjoy her holiday in a small town, Vouvant, and take part in the Winter Revels event. Why would she say no to delicious food?
But Elinor is not without projects for long. She has to save a young society lady from a society brute and help a grieving widow. What’s more, she also has to step in when her favorite chef is implicated due to an attempt on the king’s life. Elinor has help from Dr. Charlotte. But the duke feels he can solve the case before she can.
Elinor, being her, has to prove him wrong. But can she handle all issues at once and not end up risking her life?
The story comes from Elinor’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
The book is the second in the series and another fast-paced novella where Elinor is entangled in crimes of the nobility. The book should work as a standalone, though I recommend reading the first to get a better idea of the characters.
There wasn’t a death in this book though we had ghosts in plenty. How can there not be a dramatic ghost to create a scene and maybe help Elinor?
I enjoyed the dynamics between Elinor and the duke. This book has more chemistry and sparks, showing that their track is slowly progressing… you know. ;)
Dr. Charlotte had a bigger role in this book. It was great to know her a little more. Maybe we’ll get some backstory about her in one of the next books?
A certain subplot was pretty much ignored in this book. Also, an issue with a ghost seemed to be resumed (as a presumption).
The writing was easy and flowed well. The blend of genres was seamless and just the way I liked it. The depiction of nobility, their superiority complex, and the disconnect with reality were well-presented without shadowing the main plot.
There was a teaser for book three, which showed that the bar had been raised higher. I’m also hoping the book throws light on the subplot.

To summarize, Delicious Death is a fast and wholesome entertainer if you like mystery and ghosts in a historical setting.
Thank you, NetGalley, Rook and Castle Press, and IBPA Member Titles, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

When her love of great cuisine put her on the tracks of dangerous beings…

As soon as I got my hands on this copy I had to read it.
The romance might appears as frustrating as there is no real progress, it is stalling but in some way, the shared moment between Elinor and Archambeau show they are quite complementary even if the path before them appears as an impossible one.
Whatever, the different affairs landing at her feet are so entertaining, the romance recedes in the background.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first.
Elinor shows an other aspect of herself here, mixing her cunning intellect and real talents to help persons in need but also those she cares about.
Her friend Charlotte is also fun to get to know, her dry wit and view of life add some spice to this adventure.
This book is a fun adventure mixing historical vibes, paranormal and mystery with a one of a kind tough heroine and her male counterpart, who needs to have his head bashed from time to time.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 none

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.