Death and Fromage - Ian Moore

Death and Fromage by Ian Moore is the second book of four, set in the imaginary Follet Valley in France.

I hadn't read the first book, but easily caught up as to who was who. Brit Richard Ainsworth runs a B and B in Follet Valley and likes his routines. He also likes his customers - especially Valérie. They have 'worked' together on a previous 'case'. And it looks like they've got another whodunit to look into.

 

It starts with a food critic and 'a bland imposter' - vegan goat cheese! The nerve. Then comes the death by suicide of the goat cheese supplier.  And that sets the tone for the rest of the book. Moore skewers Michelin ratings, foodies, chefs and more in Death and Fromage - especially cheese. 

Moore's dialogue is full of gems. Mostly from Richard. Veronica as well, but her's is a little sharper. The two of them make for wonderful amateur detectives. Veronica has an edge as she is also bounty hunter. Of course! The town is full with wonderfully quirky supporting characters. Again - lots of comedic situations and dialogue. 

I adore cosy mysteries and this is a perfect choice. I'd be happy to read the other books in this series.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice - Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan is back! Elle Cosimano has just released the fourth book in this series - Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.  

This latest picks up exactly where number three left off - with our lead characters Finlay and Vero in the middle of another crazy situation. This time they're in a rundown hotel in Atlantic City. With Finlay's mother, her kids, her ex, her sister, four policemen, a mob boss, Vero's beau, a bookie, a teen computer wiz and...so much more. Whew! 

The two leads bounce off each other and complement each other with different outlooks, strengths and weaknesses. Their dialogue is short and snappy. And I really like Finlay's inner thoughts.

Is this a dark murder mystery series? Well, no, it's not dark, despite the trail of dead bodies that seem to follow the pair. Also woven into the novel is a romance for Finlay. Did I mention she's a romance author as well.

Yes, the plot is over the top and there's a wealth of characters, but that's the fun with a read like this. Just go with it and see where Cosimano takes you. Keep your eyes for Kevin Bacon!

Many loose threads are tied up in the final chapters ... except that one... I look forward to the next book!

It was easy for me to jump back into the ongoing plot as I've read the previous three entries. I do think that a new reader would enjoy the series more if they started with book number one.

Fans of Janet Evanovich would enjoy this series. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun - Elle Cosimano

Elle Cosimano has just released Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun - the  third entry in this fun, light hearted crime series. 

I would suggest starting with the first book, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, as each new entry builds on the one before. That way, you'll know how she got into this mess....

Finlay is a mom of two and writes romance novels as her job. All is well in her world...until it's not. Through a series of crazy events, she and her nanny Vero are now adept at hiding bodies, but aren't killers. Somehow though, a lot of dangerous people think she's - well - a contract killer. 

What ensues is laugh out loud chaos - in all three books. The predicaments are far fetched, but honestly, the more preposterous the plot is, the more fun it is to read. This latest has Finlay and Vero still trying to fix what's gone before. Perhaps attending a community police camp might help them in finding and appeasing the 'real' bad guys. And bonus points for the sexy detective running the camp. He and Finlay have a complicated relationship. And really, Finlay also needs to do some research for her latest romance novel. Right?

It's impossible to not like Finlay as a lead. I'm not always so sure about Vero. I think there's much about her that we don't know yet. There's a large group of supporting characters that appear in each book.

If you're looking for a fun, light-hearted, escapist read, you'll find in this series. 

When I read the first book, I immediately thought of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. Indeed, Evanovich has provided a blurb for  this latest...."Fresh, heartfelt and witty, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is a twisty page-turner, and its relatable heroine Finlay Donovan is irresistible!" —Janet Evanovich.

I Told You This Would Happen - Elaine Murphy

I Told You This Would Happen is the follow up to Elaine Murphy's debut novel, Look What You Made Me Do. 

Quick catch up...

Carrie and Becca are sisters with very different temperaments - and interests. You see, Becca is a serial killer and over the years Carrie has helped her dispose of quite a few bodies. It's hard to say no to Becca and there's no telling what would happen if Carrie did refuse..... I'll stop there and let you discover what happens in book one on your own.

Both books are told from Carrie's point of view. In this second book, Carrie is finally able to take a deep breath as Becca seems to have left the area - at last. (Canadian peeps, if you live in Brampton - beware.) A group of local crime solving sleuths come up with a clue that may incriminate Carrie and disrupt the small window of peace she's finally found. And so begins another cat and mouse game featuring Carrie as both cat and mouse.

So, yes, you're going to have to suspend belief with some of the plotting. Despite Murphy's dropping of many victims along the way, this isn't a serious murder mystery. Instead it's a fun romp that would make a great addition to your beach bag. Which sound wrong, doesn't it? There's a lot of dark humour as well! 

I do think that reading the first book before diving into this one would give you a better reading experience. I wonder if there will be a book three? Read an excerpt of I Told You This Would Happen.