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Corinna Chapman #5
Forbidden Fruit
Corinna Chapman, owner of Earthly Delights, detests Christmas. The shoppers are frantic and the heat oppressive. Neither of which this perfect size 20 with a genius for baking breads finds congenial. She's dreaming of quiet, air-conditioned comfort but instead finds herself dealing with a rose-loving donkey named Serena, a maniacal mother with staring eyes, a distracted assistant searching for the perfect muffin recipe, her friend the fearless witch Meroe, and the luscious Daniel with whom she'd like to spend a lot more time.
But Daniel is on the hunt to find two young runaways, Brigid and Manny. This simple Romeo and Juliet romance though is not as straightforward as it seems and they will go a long way to ensure they're not found. When Corinna and Daniel find that Brigid is on the streets, heavily pregnant and in danger, the stakes rise.
With the help of a troupe of free-spirited freegans, some very clever internet hackers, and a bunch of vegans, Corinna and Daniel go head-to-head with a sinister religious cult on a mission and a band of Romany gypsies out for revenge in a wild and wonderful chase against the clock.
But Daniel is on the hunt to find two young runaways, Brigid and Manny. This simple Romeo and Juliet romance though is not as straightforward as it seems and they will go a long way to ensure they're not found. When Corinna and Daniel find that Brigid is on the streets, heavily pregnant and in danger, the stakes rise.
With the help of a troupe of free-spirited freegans, some very clever internet hackers, and a bunch of vegans, Corinna and Daniel go head-to-head with a sinister religious cult on a mission and a band of Romany gypsies out for revenge in a wild and wonderful chase against the clock.
8 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2009
168 people are currently reading
742 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Greenwood
86 books2,540 followersKerry Isabelle Greenwood was an Australian author and lawyer. She wrote many plays and books, most notably a string of historical detective novels centred on the character of Phryne Fisher, which was adapted as the popular television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. She wrote mysteries, science-fiction, historical fiction, children's stories, and plays. Greenwood earned the Australian women's crime fiction Davitt Award in 2002 for her young adult novel The Three-Pronged Dagger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
February 7, 2017
With the rush of Christmas on them all at Earthly Delights in Melbourne, Corinna Chapman, the very anti-Christmas owner was looking forward to it all being over. She was closing her shop for the whole of January, and as she hadn’t had a holiday in three years, she was keen for the next few weeks to pass quickly. In the meantime, she and her apprentice Jason, along with Goss and Kylie baked and sold from 4am till close.
Daniel, Corinna’s beloved was searching for two young people who had run away – Manny and Brigid were only sixteen, but they had gone to ground and Brigid’s father hired Daniel to find her. Enter the freegans, a group of vegans, some gypsies and an evil cult and Daniel and Corinna’s life was about to get rather complicated. With Brigid pregnant and nearing her time, their search was becoming desperate. But things were not as they seemed. Was Brigid’s life in danger? Would they find her before it was too late? And would Corinna cope with the baking rush at Earthly Delights?
Forbidden Fruit is the 5th in the Corinna Chapman series and I enjoyed it as much as the previous four. And I’m delighted to discover there will be a 7th (I've read #6) following sometime this year! Always filled with light humour, lots of food (and recipes), much mystery and plenty of cats, the characters are wonderful as well. All in all, Forbidden Fruit was an excellent read which I highly recommend.
Daniel, Corinna’s beloved was searching for two young people who had run away – Manny and Brigid were only sixteen, but they had gone to ground and Brigid’s father hired Daniel to find her. Enter the freegans, a group of vegans, some gypsies and an evil cult and Daniel and Corinna’s life was about to get rather complicated. With Brigid pregnant and nearing her time, their search was becoming desperate. But things were not as they seemed. Was Brigid’s life in danger? Would they find her before it was too late? And would Corinna cope with the baking rush at Earthly Delights?
Forbidden Fruit is the 5th in the Corinna Chapman series and I enjoyed it as much as the previous four. And I’m delighted to discover there will be a 7th (I've read #6) following sometime this year! Always filled with light humour, lots of food (and recipes), much mystery and plenty of cats, the characters are wonderful as well. All in all, Forbidden Fruit was an excellent read which I highly recommend.
June 29, 2012
As if the hot, windy Christmas weather weren't bad enough, Corinna attracts one colorful, crazy character after another. They range from irritating to hateful to downright insane. The schemes in this one were pretty implausible, and if you read these books too close together you start noticing a lot of repeat sentences, descriptions, and cleverness. But I like Corinna and the Insula cast, and the descriptions of delectable meals and baking make me drool every time.
Note to the illustrator: Glace cherries are candied in syrup, not dipped in chocolate.
Note to the illustrator: Glace cherries are candied in syrup, not dipped in chocolate.
July 17, 2018
Set at Christmas time in the sweltering Melbourne heat, Corinna find herself embroiled in a religious cult, freegans, vegans and hackers while trying to help Daniel find two runaways.
Once again Corinna dips into the weird and wacky edges of society, but we also get more development in her relationship with Daniel, and also her friendship with Jason and Meroe.
It wasn't my favourite in the series, as it was quite convulted, but I really do enjoy these books and will be sad to get to the end :(
Once again Corinna dips into the weird and wacky edges of society, but we also get more development in her relationship with Daniel, and also her friendship with Jason and Meroe.
It wasn't my favourite in the series, as it was quite convulted, but I really do enjoy these books and will be sad to get to the end :(
March 9, 2021
Forbidden Fruit is Kerry Greenwood’s fifth novel in the Corinna Chapman series, and features all our favourite characters from the Earthly Delights bakery and Insula, plus a few new ones. The audio version is read by Louise Siverson. Corinna is suffering the December heat and dreading the Christmas chaos; the delectable Daniel is on the hunt for a pair of teenage runaways, the girl heavily pregnant; Jason is on a quest for the perfect glacé cherry, falls in love with a blonde and becomes the temporary carer of a large Dutch rabbit; resident witch Meroe threatens to curse a few offensive characters;
Horatio performs with his usual feline grace and Heckle of the Mouse Police performs a manoeuvre that makes his a starring role; also featured are the Freegans (living on free food and accommodation as they can), the carolling choristers incorporating a few animal libbers, a sect of fanatical “Christians”, some gypsies and a rosewater-addicted donkey.
A few charming Christmas analogies appear. Mouth-watering muffins and cakes abound; one can almost smell the bread baking. As with all the Corinna novels, this one is a delight to read, will leave the reader feeling good and probably the best so far. Readers will be looking forward to “Cooking the Books” to continue their Corinna fix.
Horatio performs with his usual feline grace and Heckle of the Mouse Police performs a manoeuvre that makes his a starring role; also featured are the Freegans (living on free food and accommodation as they can), the carolling choristers incorporating a few animal libbers, a sect of fanatical “Christians”, some gypsies and a rosewater-addicted donkey.
A few charming Christmas analogies appear. Mouth-watering muffins and cakes abound; one can almost smell the bread baking. As with all the Corinna novels, this one is a delight to read, will leave the reader feeling good and probably the best so far. Readers will be looking forward to “Cooking the Books” to continue their Corinna fix.
January 11, 2013
It's always a pleasure to read a book set in my hemisphere. Christmas is a summer event and those hot dry winds can drive you nuts. Kerry Greenwood is a favourite author. The 1920s Phyrne Fisher series have quite a following in the Northern hemisphere as well as down under. 'Forbidden Fruit' is one of her Corinna Chapman contemporary series, a lighthearted romp with some eccentric characters and hilarious plots.
I've read all of them and consider them what I call great 'flu books. Just the thing to read when depressed, stressed or stuck in bed with a disgusting cold or the 'flu. Kerry Greenwood has a lovely Australian way with words, a real Aussie wit, and a way of poking fun at the established order of things. She also likes to see how far she can go and still carry her readers with her.
Christmas, a pregnant runaway - and how did she become pregnant? - donkeys, mad Christmas shoppers and those ghastly Christmas songs belted out as musak in stores, all add up to a light-hearted reminder and dig at the way many people turn Christmas into a commercial spend up. In 'Forbidden Fruit' we have all the usual characters from the Insula, a most unusual block of flats, a nice range of food and recipes to enjoy and Corinna and Daniel solving a mystery.
No, the novel is not Great Literature, nor is it intended to be. It's a good humoured, laughter inducing look at life in contemporary Melbourne though the eyes of a good natured, hard working middle aged woman. I'd recommend you start with the first novel and work your way through the series, especially if you are not familiar with the Australian culture or idioms.
I've read all of them and consider them what I call great 'flu books. Just the thing to read when depressed, stressed or stuck in bed with a disgusting cold or the 'flu. Kerry Greenwood has a lovely Australian way with words, a real Aussie wit, and a way of poking fun at the established order of things. She also likes to see how far she can go and still carry her readers with her.
Christmas, a pregnant runaway - and how did she become pregnant? - donkeys, mad Christmas shoppers and those ghastly Christmas songs belted out as musak in stores, all add up to a light-hearted reminder and dig at the way many people turn Christmas into a commercial spend up. In 'Forbidden Fruit' we have all the usual characters from the Insula, a most unusual block of flats, a nice range of food and recipes to enjoy and Corinna and Daniel solving a mystery.
No, the novel is not Great Literature, nor is it intended to be. It's a good humoured, laughter inducing look at life in contemporary Melbourne though the eyes of a good natured, hard working middle aged woman. I'd recommend you start with the first novel and work your way through the series, especially if you are not familiar with the Australian culture or idioms.
December 19, 2014
It's hot, very hot indeed in Melbourne in the week before Christmas and baker Corinna Chapman is struggling to keep up with demand for her baked goods, ably assisted by her enterprising apprentice Jason. Not only that but she is helping her hunky partner Daniel look out for a pair of runaway teenagers living on the streets, one precariously close to giving birth. With the usual cast of residents (witches, people and cats) from the building, a band of freegans, a donkey with a penchant for rosewater muffins, a large Dutch rabbit and a gypsy curse Corinna somehow survives the Christmas season. This lighthearted romp with its feel good ending will have you smiling too.
June 10, 2015
Opening Sentence: ‘…Four am is not an ideal time, especially if someone is trying to have a conversation with you about glace cherries and the desirability of making our own…’
Forbidden Fruit is the fifth in the Corinna Chapman series. Owner of the very successful bakery, Earthly Delights, Corinna also finds herself reluctantly investigating various mysteries. In this adventure she is assisting her lover, Daniel, locate a missing teenager couple, the girl being heavily pregnant.
Weird Christian sects, fanatically rabid vegetarians, freegans, a cat with revenge in his little heart, a lost bunny and a rose loving donkey all have their parts to play in this madcap investigation in a hot steamy Christmas week in Melbourne. Christmas is not what it was – but despite not following a belief herself, and living with a Jewish man, Corinna bring the message of Christmas home. Good friends, good food, kindness and good times are what the season is all about.
Forbidden Fruit is the fifth in the Corinna Chapman series. Owner of the very successful bakery, Earthly Delights, Corinna also finds herself reluctantly investigating various mysteries. In this adventure she is assisting her lover, Daniel, locate a missing teenager couple, the girl being heavily pregnant.
Weird Christian sects, fanatically rabid vegetarians, freegans, a cat with revenge in his little heart, a lost bunny and a rose loving donkey all have their parts to play in this madcap investigation in a hot steamy Christmas week in Melbourne. Christmas is not what it was – but despite not following a belief herself, and living with a Jewish man, Corinna bring the message of Christmas home. Good friends, good food, kindness and good times are what the season is all about.
December 17, 2009
FORBIDDEN FRUIT is the 5th book in the Corinna Chapman series by Australian author Kerry Greenwood (probably best known for her Phryne Fisher series). These books are set in modern day, inner Melbourne, are also on the cosier end of the scale. There are enough elements that coincide in both series to make fans of one feel somewhat comfortable in the other. Having never read any of the earlier books in this series, though, I can't comment on whether FORBIDDEN FRUIT is particularly representative, so I comment on it in isolation.
Corrina is a woman who has turned to baking after a life in the professions. Happier, content to the point of delirious, she is even able to just cope with the 4.00am starts. Living in very idealised circumstances, she has a happy home life in a building full of bohemian type characters, all living their own somewhat unorthodox lives. A content love life with Daniel, the main thing making Corinna grumpy in this book is Christmas.
Basically the story is that Daniel, the private investigator, is trying to track down two teenage runaways. Pregnant Brigid and the father of her baby Manny. Neither parents approve of either of the couple, Brigid has been locked up at home awaiting the birth of the unwanted (by her family) child, when she escapes and hits the streets with Manny. Daniel wants to find them because he's been asked by her parents, Corinna wants to find them because she's worried for Brigid's health. Along the way they are assisted / distracted by nuns who run a soup kitchen bus, freegans, maniacal mothers, thunderstorms and naked dancing witches, a donkey named Serena, glace cherries, the heat of a long hot Melbourne summer and meals which are described in somewhat minute detail.
Whilst it could be that all these distractions - and to be frank - meandering down a simply astounding number of irrelevant byways and cul-de-sacs is part of the charm of these books, in FORBIDDEN FRUIT, it just seemed to go on, and on, and on, and on. As did the none-too-subtle hinting about the joys of bohemia and alternative lifestyles and finding your inner whatevers. Not that I'm opposed to any of the elements that were raised by this book - but I just found that the constant bombardment and distractions ended up, well tedious. Every time the plot tried to progress a little, the reader was suddenly down one of those cul-de-sacs with a whinge about something (really, if you don't like Christmas decoration shopping then just don't do it!), or a lauding of "insert bandwagon here". Yes, I know these books are fictional and idealised, and maybe that's part of the problem - I prefer idealised fiction that "shows" rather than "crows".
There are some glimpses of parallels between elements of these books and the Phyrne Fisher series that were interesting - a similar sort of independent, feisty female character with an abandonment of normal conventions. But in FORBIDDEN FRUIT everything just seemed a little too over the top, a little too arch, a little too preachy for comfort. Perhaps this is a book for fans of the series, perhaps there's something about not reading the earlier books that means I missed the point.
Corrina is a woman who has turned to baking after a life in the professions. Happier, content to the point of delirious, she is even able to just cope with the 4.00am starts. Living in very idealised circumstances, she has a happy home life in a building full of bohemian type characters, all living their own somewhat unorthodox lives. A content love life with Daniel, the main thing making Corinna grumpy in this book is Christmas.
Basically the story is that Daniel, the private investigator, is trying to track down two teenage runaways. Pregnant Brigid and the father of her baby Manny. Neither parents approve of either of the couple, Brigid has been locked up at home awaiting the birth of the unwanted (by her family) child, when she escapes and hits the streets with Manny. Daniel wants to find them because he's been asked by her parents, Corinna wants to find them because she's worried for Brigid's health. Along the way they are assisted / distracted by nuns who run a soup kitchen bus, freegans, maniacal mothers, thunderstorms and naked dancing witches, a donkey named Serena, glace cherries, the heat of a long hot Melbourne summer and meals which are described in somewhat minute detail.
Whilst it could be that all these distractions - and to be frank - meandering down a simply astounding number of irrelevant byways and cul-de-sacs is part of the charm of these books, in FORBIDDEN FRUIT, it just seemed to go on, and on, and on, and on. As did the none-too-subtle hinting about the joys of bohemia and alternative lifestyles and finding your inner whatevers. Not that I'm opposed to any of the elements that were raised by this book - but I just found that the constant bombardment and distractions ended up, well tedious. Every time the plot tried to progress a little, the reader was suddenly down one of those cul-de-sacs with a whinge about something (really, if you don't like Christmas decoration shopping then just don't do it!), or a lauding of "insert bandwagon here". Yes, I know these books are fictional and idealised, and maybe that's part of the problem - I prefer idealised fiction that "shows" rather than "crows".
There are some glimpses of parallels between elements of these books and the Phyrne Fisher series that were interesting - a similar sort of independent, feisty female character with an abandonment of normal conventions. But in FORBIDDEN FRUIT everything just seemed a little too over the top, a little too arch, a little too preachy for comfort. Perhaps this is a book for fans of the series, perhaps there's something about not reading the earlier books that means I missed the point.
December 3, 2017
This is the first book in the series that I read as I was looking for Christmas mysteries. I fell in love with it, though it isn't all that Christmasy and the mysteries kind of take second place to the characters and setting. I've since listened to and read this several times. As I wrote in the review of the first in the series, I shouldn't love these so much. They have a lot of elements I don't usually care for in books, and in this one Corinna clearly loathes Christmas. How can that be??? I shouldn't like her, but I do. :)
Here are the reasons I love these stories.
1. A great narrator I could listen to forever. But these books are also good to read.
2. The MC is an actual adult, who acts like one. She's not living her life in search of the perfect man or a size 2 body.
3. The hero is perfect. Absolutely perfect. :)
4. Their relationship develops. There's immediate attraction, but not instant love. They don’t jump into bed on the first meeting. They care about each other, not just what the other person is like in bed.
5. Melbourne and Insula are a wonderful setting. I feel like I've been there when I read one of these books.
6. The MC is a baker, and the author appears to actually know about baking bread. Time involved, care of yeast, etc., are all correct. I hate reading books about bakers full of silly mistakes.
7. These books are full of great minor characters. They have anorexia or they eat nachos for breakfast, some are young and some old, some have money and others don't - what a wonderful cross section of people! I love visiting them.
8. I don't have to wallow in tons of swearing or sex when I read these books. There's a little cursing but not much and the sex that happens is off screen.
9. This book is full of details that ring true. While I read them as a sort of alternate-fantasy series, perhaps because I first read the Christmas book which is quite unreal, it's a world that is firmly grounded in small details.
10. Corinna thinks she cares more about her cats than people, but she's really compassionate. She cares about the people around her and she's willing to act on their behalf. I like her a lot.
Here are the reasons I love these stories.
1. A great narrator I could listen to forever. But these books are also good to read.
2. The MC is an actual adult, who acts like one. She's not living her life in search of the perfect man or a size 2 body.
3. The hero is perfect. Absolutely perfect. :)
4. Their relationship develops. There's immediate attraction, but not instant love. They don’t jump into bed on the first meeting. They care about each other, not just what the other person is like in bed.
5. Melbourne and Insula are a wonderful setting. I feel like I've been there when I read one of these books.
6. The MC is a baker, and the author appears to actually know about baking bread. Time involved, care of yeast, etc., are all correct. I hate reading books about bakers full of silly mistakes.
7. These books are full of great minor characters. They have anorexia or they eat nachos for breakfast, some are young and some old, some have money and others don't - what a wonderful cross section of people! I love visiting them.
8. I don't have to wallow in tons of swearing or sex when I read these books. There's a little cursing but not much and the sex that happens is off screen.
9. This book is full of details that ring true. While I read them as a sort of alternate-fantasy series, perhaps because I first read the Christmas book which is quite unreal, it's a world that is firmly grounded in small details.
10. Corinna thinks she cares more about her cats than people, but she's really compassionate. She cares about the people around her and she's willing to act on their behalf. I like her a lot.
July 18, 2010
Forbidden Fruit
Forbidden Fruit defies genre categorization; the plot contains elements of comic relief, mild suspense, and a hint of mystery. Many supporting characters are main characters in their own subplots, with a few surprising twists occurring before the problems are resolved
While assisting her live-in boyfriend locate the pregnant, runaway daughter of an influential businessman and the suspected expectant father, baker and gourmand Corinna Chapman, slugging through interminable heat of Christmas season in Australia, manages to thwart the nefarious intentions of a rouge band of vegans, rescue her imprisoned beloved Daniel from a locked, abandoned warehouse, while nurturing the self-esteem of her apprentice Jason.
Having survived an unpleasant childhood, Corinna presents a cheerful personality and quips her way with witticisms through mysteries as an amateur sleuth while she helps her boyfriend Daniel with his caseload. When not sleuthing, Corinna runs her own bakery where she is surrounded by a cast of colorful characters and neighbors whose lives entwine with hers and whom she protects with a fierce determination as she rights the wrongs that they encounter, all the while cooking and baking.
Forbidden Fruit is great for the contemporary reader who enjoys an entertaining mystery where the sleuth is more ordinary than brilliant, the puzzle more intriguing than complicated, where the mystery is resolved with nary a dead body having been discovered.
A select list of recipes is collected in an appendix for the foodies who might be interested in sampling authentic Australian cuisine. I look forward to following the future adventures of Corinna Chapman and her cronies as the wrangle their way out of mishaps and misunderstanding resolving a mystery or two along the way.
March 9, 2021
Forbidden Fruit is Kerry Greenwood’s fifth novel in the Corinna Chapman series, and features all our favourite characters from the Earthly Delights bakery and Insula, plus a few new ones. Corinna is suffering the December heat and dreading the Christmas chaos; the delectable Daniel is on the hunt for a pair of teenage runaways, the girl heavily pregnant; Jason is on a quest for the perfect glacé cherry, falls in love with a blonde and becomes the temporary carer of a large Dutch rabbit; resident witch Meroe threatens to curse a few offensive characters;
Horatio performs with his usual feline grace and Heckle of the Mouse Police performs a manoeuvre that makes his a starring role; also featured are the Freegans (living on free food and accommodation as they can), the carolling choristers incorporating a few animal libbers, a sect of fanatical “Christians”, some gypsies and a rosewater-addicted donkey.
A few charming Christmas analogies appear. Mouth-watering muffins and cakes abound; one can almost smell the bread baking. As with all the Corinna novels, this one is a delight to read, will leave the reader feeling good and probably the best so far. Readers will be looking forward to “Cooking the Books” to continue their Corinna fix.
Horatio performs with his usual feline grace and Heckle of the Mouse Police performs a manoeuvre that makes his a starring role; also featured are the Freegans (living on free food and accommodation as they can), the carolling choristers incorporating a few animal libbers, a sect of fanatical “Christians”, some gypsies and a rosewater-addicted donkey.
A few charming Christmas analogies appear. Mouth-watering muffins and cakes abound; one can almost smell the bread baking. As with all the Corinna novels, this one is a delight to read, will leave the reader feeling good and probably the best so far. Readers will be looking forward to “Cooking the Books” to continue their Corinna fix.
October 26, 2015
Let me preface this by saying: I LOVE books with crazy religious aspects. This one is EXCELLENT.
I still measure them all against Earthly Delights which was superb, but this comes a close second to being my favourite in the series.
Following Corinna and Daniel as they try to solve the mystery of the missing pregnant teen and do battle with militant vegan hussies was a really enjoyable experience.
I HATED Sarah the vegan because she used Jason and tried to feed everybody something that was not only in contradiction with her vegan ideology but absolutely appalling and probably the most horrendous act of militant protest against the eating of meat I've ever encountered.
The contrast with the Manny and Birdget aspect of the plot was excellent, two major storylines woven together like they were meant to be told alongside each other. The whole religious zealot thing with Bridget's family. OH. MY. GOD. Pardon the pun.
Excellent book, I'm starting the next, but I really don't want the series to end.
I still measure them all against Earthly Delights which was superb, but this comes a close second to being my favourite in the series.
Following Corinna and Daniel as they try to solve the mystery of the missing pregnant teen and do battle with militant vegan hussies was a really enjoyable experience.
I HATED Sarah the vegan because she used Jason and tried to feed everybody something that was not only in contradiction with her vegan ideology but absolutely appalling and probably the most horrendous act of militant protest against the eating of meat I've ever encountered.
The contrast with the Manny and Birdget aspect of the plot was excellent, two major storylines woven together like they were meant to be told alongside each other. The whole religious zealot thing with Bridget's family. OH. MY. GOD. Pardon the pun.
Excellent book, I'm starting the next, but I really don't want the series to end.
December 4, 2016
Forbidden Fruit by Kerry Greenwood is the 5th book in the Corinna Chapman mystery series. Corinna Chapman, owner of the bakery Earthly Delights, helps her lover Daniel look for two runaway teenagers, one who is heavily pregnant, at the same time as coping with Christmas preparations and baking. I enjoyed this book very much and I thought it represented Christmas in Australia very well with the extreme heat and crowds. I loved catching up with all the quirky inhabitants of Insular, and I think it helps to have read the series from the start in the order they were written. Corinna is a strong, sensible and very capable character and this has become one of my favourite series.
January 2, 2010
Just finished Kerry Greenwood's latest Corinna Chapman mystery, Forbidden Fruit. I liked it least of all. Getting tired of the relentlessly do-gooder themes, though that is mainly what attracted me to this series in the first place. Also, the plot was pretty outlandish (not to mention downright unpleasant in places). At least there were a few good muffin recipes!
December 21, 2025
1st read 4/23/12.
Reread 1/7/14: I get so much enjoyment from these books!
As always, I was glad to have google and wikipedia ready to go. A good book for Christmas time, especially if you're not a fan like Corinna. Now finished, I'm googling all the unfamiliar carols while writing this review.
Reread 1/7/14: I get so much enjoyment from these books!
As always, I was glad to have google and wikipedia ready to go. A good book for Christmas time, especially if you're not a fan like Corinna. Now finished, I'm googling all the unfamiliar carols while writing this review.
September 23, 2009
I don't know why I look forward to these so much - they are so incredibly silly. They read like a recount, are completely unrealistic, have the most trite dialogue and spout some fairly silly ideas about vegans etc.
Had to force myself through this one, despite my excitement.
Had to force myself through this one, despite my excitement.
October 7, 2019
Christmas in Melbourne, complete with a runaway pregnant girl, a muffin-loving donkey, and a religious cult.
March 15, 2016
These books are always a fun breezy read when you need one. Though they do seem to get progressively more weird: off camera death by karmic bear is my latest favorite...
July 2, 2017
A bit like Greenwood writing a parody of her own style, Forbidden Fruit brings us Corinna and company at Christmastime in terribly hot Melbourne. The primary mystery involves a lost pregnant girl with a truly unpleasant family, and that plus the secondary mystery is the reason for the excessive sweetness - you need a lot of twee to take the terrible taste from your mouth. Not as great as others in the series but better than most mystery dreck of late. Delicious recipes at the end.
March 11, 2020
It has been many, many years since I last read a Corinna Chapman book, and I really enjoyed this instalment. If my memory serves me correctly they almost always seem to have a rather stomach-churning scene at some point, and this one was no exception. I love reading about the food – makes me want to open a bakery in Melbourne!! Rating - 8/10
November 24, 2021
The holidays are approaching, Jason is trying to perfect glacé cherries, Corinna is trying not to melt in the summer heat and Daniel is looking for 2 missing teenagers.
For some reason, possibly because I'm more tired but I found this one slightly harder to follow and slightly less enjoyable. The plot felt a little disjointed, but the characters as always are delightful and I'd love to have an apartment in the Insula.
For some reason, possibly because I'm more tired but I found this one slightly harder to follow and slightly less enjoyable. The plot felt a little disjointed, but the characters as always are delightful and I'd love to have an apartment in the Insula.
March 29, 2021
I didn't care for the overzealous vegans! I enjoyed the interaction between the main group of characters!
April 12, 2022
I find this wholesome writing so soothing. Enid Blyton for adults.
March 10, 2023
★★★★☆
August 25, 2024
Only powered through because I was on holiday and had time
September 7, 2010
I've read reviews on Amazon that say Greenwood tends to veer off in too many different directions and tangents in this series, and I admit that is true - but what a fun ride! Yes, Corinna is very opinionated and I sympathize with a lot of her views (esp. on the last American presidential administration and the subsequent sorry shape they left the world in),and she and Daniel know some very intriguing people, but for me, that's part of the charm of this cozy/eccentric series. It's like meeting old friends - and sharing a LOT of wonderful food, drink and conversation with them.
As our story opens Corinna is dreading the approaching Christmas season, which hits Australia in the sweltering summer; as usual, along with running her increasingly successful bakery, she balances relationships with Daniel her lover, her shop assistants, and the other charming/quirky neighbors in her historic Melbourne apartment building, Insula. The mystery is rather light and incidental at times amidst all the social commentary, interesting characters and witty dialogue, but I find myself willingly meandering along whatever byway Corinna cares to traverse . . . Whenever I curl up with newest installment in the series I come away with a smile and the desire to move into the next vacant apartment in Insula - or at least sit down for one of their communal feasts!
Yes, the emphasis here is definitely not on a complex mystery, but on charming, quirky characters, descriptions of copious amounts of great food and booze, and Corinna's darkly humorous and somewhat unorthodox worldview; if that sounds appealing to you, dive in and enjoy!
As our story opens Corinna is dreading the approaching Christmas season, which hits Australia in the sweltering summer; as usual, along with running her increasingly successful bakery, she balances relationships with Daniel her lover, her shop assistants, and the other charming/quirky neighbors in her historic Melbourne apartment building, Insula. The mystery is rather light and incidental at times amidst all the social commentary, interesting characters and witty dialogue, but I find myself willingly meandering along whatever byway Corinna cares to traverse . . . Whenever I curl up with newest installment in the series I come away with a smile and the desire to move into the next vacant apartment in Insula - or at least sit down for one of their communal feasts!
Yes, the emphasis here is definitely not on a complex mystery, but on charming, quirky characters, descriptions of copious amounts of great food and booze, and Corinna's darkly humorous and somewhat unorthodox worldview; if that sounds appealing to you, dive in and enjoy!
September 29, 2020
Oh, man. So. I really enjoyed the previous Corinna Chapman books (and adore all the Phryne Fisher books), but this one features a secondary plot line that features some “vegans” (I put that in quotes, since I’m not sure that Ms. Greenwood really understands what a vegan is or how one acts) who are painted in the worst possible light. As a vegan, I know that most books (especially books about cooks or bakers) will have non-vegan food in them. I get that. Cool. However, this book is blatantly disparaging of vegans, and has the ones who “aren’t as austere and strict and horrible” as the main vegan eat animal products here and there like it’s no big deal, and has one vegan talk about how much he misses and craves animal products. On top of that, what constitutes vegan food is very confused in this book. Honey? Not vegan. Cheese? Not vegan (if standard cow or goat dairy cheese). Gluten? Totally vegan (vegans *don’t need* gluten-free bread. Don’t even get me started on how annoying it is when people mix those two things up.) I actually had a very hard time listening to this book (audiobook version) and almost couldn’t finish it. I fervently hope the next book is better.
November 27, 2014
My favorite so far in this very entertaining series featuring Melbourne baker Corinna Chapman. This one, the fifth, takes place during Christmas season, which in Australia is in the summer. It's a well-plotted mystery, involving a rose-loving donkey named Serena, singing freegans, some fanatical animal-rights activists, a weirdly un-Christian cult of "Christians," a Romeo-and-Juliet couple on the run, and a band of vengeful Gypsies.
In addition to the story itself, I loved the cultural references and allusions to, among others, Tom Lehrer, G.K. Chesterton, Terry Pratchett, "The Wind in the Willows," "A Christmas Carol," The Chronicles of Narnia, Miles Vorkosigan, Agatha Raisin, and even Phryne Fisher. Plus references to delicious food on nearly every page! And recipes at the end. Great fun for mystery fans, cat lovers, and anyone who enjoys good food!
In addition to the story itself, I loved the cultural references and allusions to, among others, Tom Lehrer, G.K. Chesterton, Terry Pratchett, "The Wind in the Willows," "A Christmas Carol," The Chronicles of Narnia, Miles Vorkosigan, Agatha Raisin, and even Phryne Fisher. Plus references to delicious food on nearly every page! And recipes at the end. Great fun for mystery fans, cat lovers, and anyone who enjoys good food!
July 16, 2015
I love these books! Unfortunately, there is only 1 book left in this 6 book series. In this installment, it is Christmastime in Melbourne and it's a hot and windy summer. Corinna would rather ignore Christmas and the irritating Christmas carols. She and Daniel are working a case involving a pregnant teen runaway, madrigal singers, a gypsy out to avenge his brother's death, a crazy cult, vegans, freegans, and a runaway donkey! As always, there is lots of baking and good food among the inhabitants of the Insula Apartments. The characters are quirky and interesting and I love the way they all meld together and the friendships they have. Very enjoyable read.
January 20, 2010
I much prefer Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series to these - Corinna the baker, her various sidekicks and Daniel the gorgeous boyfriend solve very small mysteries. Greenwood falls into the Charlaine Harris habit of describing the miniscule details of Corinna's life which get incredibly tedious - I got very sick of the often repeated phrase, "There was bread to be baked, so I baked it." Yes, we know Corinna - you're a baker.
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