I loved almost everything about it: from the setting to the two protagonists, to the intriguing plot. Anything to do with France is a win for me. So when I saw the blurb and realised Death and Croissants is a great Englishman in France kind of story, it was an instant coup de coeur. You'd think you be allowed to relax over Christmas, but not in the world of the Thursday Murder Club. Like Richard Osman in his Thursday murder club series, the main reason to read this book is for the sparkling, hilarious dialogue and inner thoughts of its characters. What do you read when you have read all of the books in the Thursday Murder Club series but you are still craving something with humor, European flair, and, yes, murder?

The pair find themselves mixed up with the Sicilian mafia, a brotherly feud, nudity, a local pair of British swingers and murder. This is a lot for Richard to take in,but before long he realises that this is the most fun he’s ever had in his life. Richard, a 50-something Englishman running a French B&B, has is quiet life interrupted when a bloody handprint is found at his hotel. Throw in a glamorous and managing French woman, a couple of Italian honeymooners, a couple of swingers who run a rival rival B&B and a pair of elderly twins who hate each other (one of whom may or may not have gone missing). Another fantastic character is Richard’s housekeeper Madame Tablier. She has the air of a Victorian matron but with none of the refined manners. I could picture her so clearly from her very first appearance and I had every faith that Madame Tablier could solve the case before Valerie and Richard had taken the first step. I would have loved to see more of her and for her to have been a more integral part of the resolution because she is certainly a formidable figure! One morning, one newlywed Italian couple, a beautiful French woman, her dog, and a bloody handprint turn Richard’s mundane world upside down. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it.” LOL I love characters like that, but then something happens. Good review.Richard Ainsworth runs a B&B in the Follet Valley. He likes the quiet life, doesn’t really enjoy his guests , but adores his hens, all named after classic film stars. He is separated from his wife, Clare, and his only member of staff seems to be Madame Tablier, who is a foul mouthed The mystery is a light one, and the book is full of delightful humorous touches. The whole thing has a very campy (in a good way) feel, from Richard’s references to his beloved classic cinema to the madcap, zany race to solve the mystery. And death and croissants gives us these characters with mad cap delight. There is something that is just best described as a frolic about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Death and Croissants, which is a fun, lighthearted read with a genuine mystery at it’s heart. It is told entirely from Richard’s point of view and that’s the source of much of the humour as Richard is a put upon 53 year old Englishman with a rather naive world view. I don’t know anything about the middle class South of England mindset, so I assume that what I took to be a rather cruel portrayal of an unassuming man will resonate with readers who understand it.

Richard is wonderfully English and the fact that this book is set in France amongst European people means that his innate Englishness really stands out. He would really much rather completely ignore the fact that a guest has left without paying and ruined an expensive piece of wallpaper with a bloodstain than find out what really happened. The English are known for being slightly awkward and hating to make a fuss, which is why Richard is reluctant to investigate the mystery himself. It’s only Valerie’s determination and intense curiosity that causes them to end up taking the case into their own hands. Encouraged by another of his guests, the enigmatic Valérie, Richard sets about investigating the disappearance. Before he knows it, he is faced with a world of nudist colonies and the Mafia. Its author, Ian Moore, is a stand-up comedian so as you’d expect, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this delightfully twisty ‘qui-dunnit’. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valerie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance.

French is my favourite language and I studied it extensively for most of my life, including the culture, cuisine, history and geography of France, for a complete and complex understanding of the subtilities of the language. A quiet British expat B&B owner Richard Ainsworth lives in rural France and turns sleuth when one his guests disappears in this witty whodunit. This is the first in the Follett Valley series, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club. New secrets, old flames, and hidden agendas are about to send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most outrageous adventure yet! He had seen hundreds of films where one man tails another, yet it was sadly, and very swiftly, clear to Richard that none of the finesse or techniques of such an enterprise had rubbed off on him.’

It stars Richard, a British ex-pat running a B&B in the Loire Valley turned reluctant amateur sleuth when one of his guests goes missing and another one, Valérie D’Orcay, compels him to investigate. Richard just wants a quiet life running his B&B in the beautiful Loire Valley, but when one of his guests goes missing he gets caught up in the action! The development of the relationship between Richard and Valerie was so fun to watch. At the start, Valerie comes across as an aloof guest while Richard is a bumbling, confused proprietor but as the narrative progresses, they ease into a very lovely friendship complete with insults that come from a good place. Richard’s adoration of Valerie is evident from the beginning and I think that Valerie learns to care for him in a charming, sexless way that makes them a great team. Rural France setting, croissants, a bossy French lady and a dog named Passepartout - now, doesn't this sound exciting? Wait, there's more - do not forget to add Italian mafia, movie dialogs and double crossing to the list. Moore's French whodunnit is an engaging caper through the Loire Valley with an expat reluctant hero mixed up with a Maigret-like rural cast, a glamorous heroine and a couple of Mafia killers. It is finely paced, truly funny and written with a wry detachment that conjures up a gentler age of murder mystery.' Charles Bremner

Featured Reviews

I love main character Richard's vulnerability, it lent his character a depth and completeness that really resonated. Richard's feeling unseen and under-appreciated and having opted for so long to do things he must do rather than what he wanted to, made me appreciate author Ian Moore attributing all that to a male character. Much of the humor here stems from cultural stereotypes, British, French and Italian; done artfully, without offense or exploitation, as perhaps only a professional comedian can pull off best. I rather enjoyed it and would be happy to see where Valérie and Richard's sleuthing leads them next. The Policeman is top notch, I have met several like this during my many years in France, but only when you can actually find an open rural police station!! Disappointingly, I have not met any Echangistes, but I’m sure they exist!!