It's a while since a book made me cry with laughter quite as much as "Death and Croissants" has done. That this far-fetched comedy about a Brit expat running a B & B in the Loire Valley area of France is written by British comic Ian Moore who himself owns a B & B in the same area begs several questions about the life of a B & B owner! Ian has created a vast cast of eccentric, fun and loveable characters. From swingers/nudists, Italian Mafia to cleaner's that would run any good business into the ground.

The disappearance of a guest in highly suspicious circumstances is one thing, but you just don’t mess with a fellow’s hens! There is humour throughout, with Richard bearing the brunt of the jokes. He does seem to get himself in scrapes, if you can call hunting for an old man who may have been murdered a scrape. He finds he’s caught up before he knows it but soon realises he’s having more fun than he has in years and that Valérie and her unorthodox ways have given him a new lease of life.Middle-aged Englishman Richard Ainsworth runs a B&B in the Loire Valley, where nothing much ever happens and if he’s honest, he rather likes it that way. That is until a guest goes missing, leaving a bloody handprint on the wallpaper, firmly putting paid to the quiet life. Ian Moore is apparently a successful standup comedian in The UK and once I read that upon finishing the book so many things made sense to me. I would like to thank Netgalley and Farrago Books for an advance copy of Death and Croissants, the first novel to feature Bed and Breakfast owner Richard Ainsworth, set in the Loire Valley.

Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valérie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance. 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 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. Disclaimer: Please note I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.Richard is a middle-aged English man living a perfectly non-exciting life and running a B&B in France. He's got a hobby that might be considered "boring" by many, a general disinterest to the world at large, and a sense of humour that is in a distinctly English way. His perfectly boring life in France got upended by a charming French woman, Valerie, who is a guest staying at his B&B and could best be described, in Richard's opinion, as "a force of nature". Before He knows it, he was deeply involved in a murder investigation, dealing with hitmen, breaking into houses, and on a mission to avenge one of his hens; all the while trying to deal with his failing marriage and disillusioned adult daughter. What a fantastic series debut! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Death and Croissants. Quirky characters, a dash of humor and a (murder) mystery to keep guessing till the end, this book is an absolute delight for mystery lovers. France, boutique hotel, missing guest, murdered hen, cunning women and brothers, not to forget all the movie references and other jokes. Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens… and you don’t mess with a fellow’s hens! One of the best descriptions of Richard comes from Valerie. He is a man, who perhaps comes across as older than he really is because he is tired of life. He is indeed like ‘an old hunting dog’, looking for a quiet life. However, I was convinced that there was something left in Richard that indicated he hadn’t quite finished with the excitement of life yet. He is completely bewitched by Valerie from the start and I had no doubts that he would follow her on any adventure she chose to have him on.