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Chef Paul Delamare Mysteries #2
May Contain Murder: A Novel
Worse things happen at sea
Paul Delamare has been roped into accompanying his old friend on a luxury cruise aboard the magnificent super-yacht Mal de Mer. It’s all plain sailing until his friend’s priceless necklace is stolen and everyone falls under suspicion.
Every chef for himself
As Paul races to catch the thief, the ship begins to drift off-course, veering into the storm-lashed mid-Atlantic. Then one of the passengers is found dead in mysterious circumstances, in a pool of coffee and surrounded by cake crumbs.
Voyage of the damned
It’s all hands on deck to catch the killer, but Paul soon discovers guests and crew are harbouring deadly secrets. And if he can’t get to the bottom of the mystery soon, he’ll be sleeping with the fishes.
Paul Delamare has been roped into accompanying his old friend on a luxury cruise aboard the magnificent super-yacht Mal de Mer. It’s all plain sailing until his friend’s priceless necklace is stolen and everyone falls under suspicion.
Every chef for himself
As Paul races to catch the thief, the ship begins to drift off-course, veering into the storm-lashed mid-Atlantic. Then one of the passengers is found dead in mysterious circumstances, in a pool of coffee and surrounded by cake crumbs.
Voyage of the damned
It’s all hands on deck to catch the killer, but Paul soon discovers guests and crew are harbouring deadly secrets. And if he can’t get to the bottom of the mystery soon, he’ll be sleeping with the fishes.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2025
73 people are currently reading
5105 people want to read
About the author
Orlando Murrin
35 books102 followersOrlando Murrin is a food writer, media personality, and author who inherited a fascination with mystery from his grandfather, a Met detective who rose to become a crack MI5 interrogator. A former editor of BBC Good Food, founder of Olive Magazine, and semi-finalist on Masterchef, he currently hosts the BBC Good Food Podcast with TV presenter-restaurateur Tom Kerridge and writes for Waitrose Weekend. He is the author of seven cookbooks, including Two's Company and A Table in the Tarn, and has served since 2020 as President of the Guild of Food Writers.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
December 2, 2025
Paul Delamere accompanies an old friend on a luxury yacht cruise supposedly to celebrate her new marriage. Paul is an intriguing character, a gay male who has lost the love of his life, a trained and talented chef and a sleuth by nature. Also a very trusting man which gets him into deep water (literally) before he manages to discover the murderer.
Paul's character is what made the book for me. The yacht turned the story into a locked room mystery and Paul's intelligence and experience kept things moving as he investigated. Some of the crew are very suspicious and most of the guests are unlikeable.
Nicely written, frequently humorous with a clever mystery. Four stars. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Paul's character is what made the book for me. The yacht turned the story into a locked room mystery and Paul's intelligence and experience kept things moving as he investigated. Some of the crew are very suspicious and most of the guests are unlikeable.
Nicely written, frequently humorous with a clever mystery. Four stars. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 2, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded up for the New Year. I've read both of these "chef-fy" series mysteries but this one was rather less successful than the previous, mostly due to a too long middle section that just drug on & on. The story was decent and I liked the super yacht setting so maybe just a pacing & editing issue. Not sure if I would read another...
December 17, 2025
Got the arc for review on Netgally.
I enjoyed this culinary cozy mystery with twist and intruiging plot. its not a 4 star read but it was fun following him around as he looked around for answers and was more twisty than some cozys I've read (but not in a thriller kind of way).
I enjoyed this culinary cozy mystery with twist and intruiging plot. its not a 4 star read but it was fun following him around as he looked around for answers and was more twisty than some cozys I've read (but not in a thriller kind of way).
Read
December 16, 2025DNF.
December 10, 2025
This second entry in the series by the professional food writer and podcaster Orlando Murrin is as delectable as the first. This time, Chef Delamare is invited to be a guest on his friend's yacht. The hired chef gets sick and he has to fill in one night, plus they have him in a crew cabin. Not cool. But then disaster strikes, and lives are at stake. It's one calamity after another, somehow expertly walking the line between neither too campy nor too overwrought. There are missing diamonds, a murder, the ocean, and chocolate cake. Oh, and there are recipes at the end - which may be a plug for the print edition over the audiobook, but the audiobook narration is spot-on (and British). I am already licking my chops in anticipation of the next Chef Paul Delamare mystery.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RBMedia, @RecordedBooks, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #MayContainMurder for review purposes. Publicaiton date: 16 December 2026. Great light holiday reading for the mystery lovers in your life.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RBMedia, @RecordedBooks, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #MayContainMurder for review purposes. Publicaiton date: 16 December 2026. Great light holiday reading for the mystery lovers in your life.
December 17, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for providing me with an ALC.
I enjoy cozy mysteries, especially the locked room type but sadly this one didn't work for me. I wasn't able to relate to the characters unfortunately and wasn't very invested in the plot. The food parts were nice, especially the recipes at the end. That was definitely a good touch, being able to recreate the recipes from the book. A lot of the stuff felt unrealistic, especially the investigation parts -- it felt too easy. A lot of things just felt like plot devices. I haven't read the first book but I think this can be read as a standalone. It's also possible that I just wasn't in the mood for this genre at this moment. I think it might have worked for me at a different time. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a food themed, nautical, locked room mystery.
The narrator did a good job of bringing the book to life, and definitely improved my experience.
I enjoy cozy mysteries, especially the locked room type but sadly this one didn't work for me. I wasn't able to relate to the characters unfortunately and wasn't very invested in the plot. The food parts were nice, especially the recipes at the end. That was definitely a good touch, being able to recreate the recipes from the book. A lot of the stuff felt unrealistic, especially the investigation parts -- it felt too easy. A lot of things just felt like plot devices. I haven't read the first book but I think this can be read as a standalone. It's also possible that I just wasn't in the mood for this genre at this moment. I think it might have worked for me at a different time. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a food themed, nautical, locked room mystery.
The narrator did a good job of bringing the book to life, and definitely improved my experience.
December 16, 2025
This was a fun and delightful cozy mystery. I grabbed it as a palate cleanser between thrillers, and it absolutely hit the spot.
I didn’t read book one in the series, but it’s billed as an interconnected standalone, which definitely held true. While Paul—the amateur sleuth and series throughline—clearly has history, the author does a good job weaving in enough background to keep you grounded without it feeling repetitive or info-dumpy. I can’t say with certainty how it compares to book one since I haven’t read it, but you get a strong sense of the characters and dynamics regardless.
I consumed this via audiobook, narrated by Sebastian Humphreys, who did a great job. He has a smooth, relaxing voice and maintains a comfortable pace that worked well at 1x speed.
Overall, I really enjoyed the ride, with its low-stakes twists and turns and the hijinks our MMC gets himself tangled in. I also appreciated the food representation—it added an extra layer of enjoyment—and the slightly grittier prose elevated the story, making it cozy without tipping into fluffy territory.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from RB Media via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
I didn’t read book one in the series, but it’s billed as an interconnected standalone, which definitely held true. While Paul—the amateur sleuth and series throughline—clearly has history, the author does a good job weaving in enough background to keep you grounded without it feeling repetitive or info-dumpy. I can’t say with certainty how it compares to book one since I haven’t read it, but you get a strong sense of the characters and dynamics regardless.
I consumed this via audiobook, narrated by Sebastian Humphreys, who did a great job. He has a smooth, relaxing voice and maintains a comfortable pace that worked well at 1x speed.
Overall, I really enjoyed the ride, with its low-stakes twists and turns and the hijinks our MMC gets himself tangled in. I also appreciated the food representation—it added an extra layer of enjoyment—and the slightly grittier prose elevated the story, making it cozy without tipping into fluffy territory.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from RB Media via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
December 7, 2025
Gosh I always forget how much I love the locked room mysteries and this one didn’t disappoint!!! And bonus points for giving recipes at the end. This one had some twists and did a great job setting up the who dunnit of it all. Really like the MMC and would actually read more of him if they did a series. So if you love a good mystery and a kooky cast of characters this one is for you!!!
April 3, 2025
loved it.ill read more of his.
January 4, 2026
Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'May Contain Murder' is a cozy mystery by Orlando Murrin, and it is the second book in the series.
The story is interesting to follow, with an endearing narrator and delicious recipes in the end.
The mystery was also enjoyable and unpredictable, with many dark twists that got quite deadly and had me on the edge of my seat.
The narration, finally, was great, as it was the production.
'May Contain Murder' is a cozy mystery by Orlando Murrin, and it is the second book in the series.
The story is interesting to follow, with an endearing narrator and delicious recipes in the end.
The mystery was also enjoyable and unpredictable, with many dark twists that got quite deadly and had me on the edge of my seat.
The narration, finally, was great, as it was the production.
December 15, 2025
Such an enjoyable cozy mystery! It’s set on a boat with a slew of fun characters! I’ve never read this author but quite enjoyed his writing style and the depth of the characters! I was not expecting the ending! I also really enjoyed the cooking aspect and all the recipes at the end tied into the story! Very clever and I can’t wait to attempt a recipe or two!
Publishes tomorrow, December 16th!
Thank you RB Media for an ALC!
Publishes tomorrow, December 16th!
Thank you RB Media for an ALC!
January 13, 2026
Paul is invited to travel with Xéra, his good friend of fifteen years, on board a private yacht as they travel from England to the Caribbean. She wants Paul to write her biography, and he is happy to spend time with her.
The trip starts out poorly, with his clothes dropped in the water, washed improperly and ruined subsequently, and his cabin located in the crew area. And Xéra is tense, which only increases when a priceless necklace of hers is stolen. And the other members of the trip, family of her new husband, as well as his friends, are self-centred, rather awful people.
Paul learns of a long held recipe within Xéra’s family for a rich chocolate cake, and which Paul decides to make for the guests, when he’s roped into helping prepare meals (something he had not wanted to do when he boarded).
Early the next morning Paul finds Xéra dead, and though it looks like she choked on some of the chocolate cake, Paul immediately senses the scene of the supposed choking looks wrong. He believes Xéra was murdered, and he begins asking questions, leading to ruffled feathers, anger, and successive attacks on him. He eventually discovers who the murderer is, after several mistakes, and also exposes a couple of other crimes occurring on board.
Sebastian Humphreys again narrates the book (I went back and forth between book and audio) and does a good job taking us through Paul's emotions. He also does a nice job with all the other characters--I liked his Sir Billy and Declan also.
This was a lot of fun. And funny, and tense. There were lots of twists, and it was difficult to tell who to trust on board, and Paul makes a LOT of mistakes about people because of his tendency to trust thew wrong people. But things do work out, and this was an engaging second entry in the Paul Delamare series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and to RBMedia for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
The trip starts out poorly, with his clothes dropped in the water, washed improperly and ruined subsequently, and his cabin located in the crew area. And Xéra is tense, which only increases when a priceless necklace of hers is stolen. And the other members of the trip, family of her new husband, as well as his friends, are self-centred, rather awful people.
Paul learns of a long held recipe within Xéra’s family for a rich chocolate cake, and which Paul decides to make for the guests, when he’s roped into helping prepare meals (something he had not wanted to do when he boarded).
Early the next morning Paul finds Xéra dead, and though it looks like she choked on some of the chocolate cake, Paul immediately senses the scene of the supposed choking looks wrong. He believes Xéra was murdered, and he begins asking questions, leading to ruffled feathers, anger, and successive attacks on him. He eventually discovers who the murderer is, after several mistakes, and also exposes a couple of other crimes occurring on board.
Sebastian Humphreys again narrates the book (I went back and forth between book and audio) and does a good job taking us through Paul's emotions. He also does a nice job with all the other characters--I liked his Sir Billy and Declan also.
This was a lot of fun. And funny, and tense. There were lots of twists, and it was difficult to tell who to trust on board, and Paul makes a LOT of mistakes about people because of his tendency to trust thew wrong people. But things do work out, and this was an engaging second entry in the Paul Delamare series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing and to RBMedia for these ARCs in exchange for my review.
June 29, 2025
Well written and the murder plot is good. And a lot happens—maybe too much happens. So much happens it kinda obscures some of the narrative; it’s busy but perhaps too busy.
I was let down by no one believing the main character. Not only accused of theft, everyone ignores his claims that someone tried to kill him—even the character’s own actions seem to indicate that he basically forgot the attempt on his life just the day before. As bodies pile up it becomes increasingly whacky that everyone isn’t freaking out more and taking the dude seriously. Similarly, that he’s both a guest and a de facto member of the crew seemed to stretch credulity, clearly done so that he could serve the plot demands of interacting with both sets of characters. Both of these things made him feel less like a person and more like a device for moving the story forward.
I was let down by no one believing the main character. Not only accused of theft, everyone ignores his claims that someone tried to kill him—even the character’s own actions seem to indicate that he basically forgot the attempt on his life just the day before. As bodies pile up it becomes increasingly whacky that everyone isn’t freaking out more and taking the dude seriously. Similarly, that he’s both a guest and a de facto member of the crew seemed to stretch credulity, clearly done so that he could serve the plot demands of interacting with both sets of characters. Both of these things made him feel less like a person and more like a device for moving the story forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
many thanks and gratitude to NetGalley and RBMedia for providing me with an early audiobook copy of May Contain Murder by Orlando Murrin in exchange for my thoughts and honest review.
the main character, chef Paul, is traveling on a super yacht with a friend and soon finds himself scrambling to uncover a thief and murderer. this is a smartly crafted story and there are plenty of suspicious supporting characters that kept me guessing! Paul is a character that i could easily root for. with his caring and thoughtful personality, and the curiosity that drives him through the investigation, the journey he endured to uncover the truth was a joy to read.
although this is the second book in a series, and since i haven’t read the first book, i felt the story was strong. the mystery is clever and engaging, and is suitable to be read as a standalone. i enjoyed this cozy mystery and how the humor kept the nature of the plot on the lighter side. the mystery is well written and i thought the audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Sebastian Humphreys. he performs many accents of the various characters who also range in ages and genders. the cherry on top is that the book includes recipes!
May Contain Murder will be available on December 16, 2025.
the main character, chef Paul, is traveling on a super yacht with a friend and soon finds himself scrambling to uncover a thief and murderer. this is a smartly crafted story and there are plenty of suspicious supporting characters that kept me guessing! Paul is a character that i could easily root for. with his caring and thoughtful personality, and the curiosity that drives him through the investigation, the journey he endured to uncover the truth was a joy to read.
although this is the second book in a series, and since i haven’t read the first book, i felt the story was strong. the mystery is clever and engaging, and is suitable to be read as a standalone. i enjoyed this cozy mystery and how the humor kept the nature of the plot on the lighter side. the mystery is well written and i thought the audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Sebastian Humphreys. he performs many accents of the various characters who also range in ages and genders. the cherry on top is that the book includes recipes!
May Contain Murder will be available on December 16, 2025.
December 22, 2025
Full review at www.NerdyNerdyBookBook.com
December 29, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Woot!
November 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and A John Scognamiglio Book for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of May Contain Murder by Orlando Murrin. The hardcover is to be published on December 16, 2025.
Chef turned author, Paul Delamare is invited by his close friend, Xéra de Sully, onto the private superyacht, Maldemer, for an all-expense paid trip where he will help her write her memoir. Xéra’s priceless new necklace, a gift from her husband, goes missing and Paul becomes a suspect. Then, one of the passengers dies. Was that an accidental death or something more sinister?
This novel was very much like an onion with multiple layers containing an eccentric cast of characters. The mystery revolves around the stolen necklace and the death as Paul peels back layer after layer until he gets to the root of the mystery. If this was a movie, it would be very similar to the Knives Out series. At times, the antics in the book felt very chaotic like an early episode of Hell’s Kitchen when the kitchen just has to be shut down for the evening but I say that in a very endearing way. Chaotically wild and fun!
It was an absolutely fun voyage though the length could make one seasick. Paul makes for a great narrator even if he was pulled away from playing detective to assist the chef and staff with kitchen duties.
One spoiler: He does make dessert for one of the dinner services, a cake – Gâteau Reine de Saba. Thankfully, that recipe is included in the book.
Like a bowl of Lucky Charms, this was a magically delicious read!
Chef turned author, Paul Delamare is invited by his close friend, Xéra de Sully, onto the private superyacht, Maldemer, for an all-expense paid trip where he will help her write her memoir. Xéra’s priceless new necklace, a gift from her husband, goes missing and Paul becomes a suspect. Then, one of the passengers dies. Was that an accidental death or something more sinister?
This novel was very much like an onion with multiple layers containing an eccentric cast of characters. The mystery revolves around the stolen necklace and the death as Paul peels back layer after layer until he gets to the root of the mystery. If this was a movie, it would be very similar to the Knives Out series. At times, the antics in the book felt very chaotic like an early episode of Hell’s Kitchen when the kitchen just has to be shut down for the evening but I say that in a very endearing way. Chaotically wild and fun!
It was an absolutely fun voyage though the length could make one seasick. Paul makes for a great narrator even if he was pulled away from playing detective to assist the chef and staff with kitchen duties.
One spoiler: He does make dessert for one of the dinner services, a cake – Gâteau Reine de Saba. Thankfully, that recipe is included in the book.
Like a bowl of Lucky Charms, this was a magically delicious read!
Read
November 30, 2025I grabbed this because I was intrigued by the setting (a luxury yacht) and the locked room premise. The main character is Paul Delamere, a food writer who has been invited by Xera (aka Lady Hardcastle, one of the yacht's owners) to join her honeymoon trip and work on her memoir. There are around 10 passengers and a small crew.
Immediately, Xera's priceless necklace is stolen and Paul starts snooping around.
The book had a partial epistolary format which added some variety. But even with the passenger manifest, I had trouble keeping all the characters straight and just wasn't that gripped by the story. This was just not the right book for me!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Immediately, Xera's priceless necklace is stolen and Paul starts snooping around.
The book had a partial epistolary format which added some variety. But even with the passenger manifest, I had trouble keeping all the characters straight and just wasn't that gripped by the story. This was just not the right book for me!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
July 20, 2025
I've been a tremendous fan of Orlando Murrin's delectable Culinary Mysteries since the opening pages of KNIFE SKILLS FOR BEGINNERS. In fact, I credit that Debut novel with inspiring my fascination for Culinary Cozies (and subsequently, Cooking shows).
As did KNIFE SKILLS FOR BEGINNERS, MAY CONTAIN MURDER features our delightful Feckless Hero, food writer/sometimes chef/culinary expert Paul Delamare of London, a gentle Gay individual whose devotion to his friends and loved ones is without compare. Struggling to maintain the London cottage left him by his late, lamented, life partner Marcus against the depredations of Marcus' wayward son and reputation-assassin ex-wife, Paul must cope with a (suspiciously) flooded basement so accepts the offer of long-term friend Xera, a descendant of Louis Quatorze's mistress Madame Pompadour, to ghostwrite her memoir. Unfortunately the venue is a Master Yacht sailing from England to the Caribbean, which renders this a "locked-room" situation. Unfortunately, fatalities are unavoidable. Unfortunately, greed is rampant and Secrets are rife. Fortunately, Paul is like a bulldog when detection is involved; and he will never back down this side of death.
As did KNIFE SKILLS FOR BEGINNERS, MAY CONTAIN MURDER features our delightful Feckless Hero, food writer/sometimes chef/culinary expert Paul Delamare of London, a gentle Gay individual whose devotion to his friends and loved ones is without compare. Struggling to maintain the London cottage left him by his late, lamented, life partner Marcus against the depredations of Marcus' wayward son and reputation-assassin ex-wife, Paul must cope with a (suspiciously) flooded basement so accepts the offer of long-term friend Xera, a descendant of Louis Quatorze's mistress Madame Pompadour, to ghostwrite her memoir. Unfortunately the venue is a Master Yacht sailing from England to the Caribbean, which renders this a "locked-room" situation. Unfortunately, fatalities are unavoidable. Unfortunately, greed is rampant and Secrets are rife. Fortunately, Paul is like a bulldog when detection is involved; and he will never back down this side of death.
November 5, 2025
May Contain Murder: A Chef Paul Delamare Mystery, Book Two by Orlando Murrin
I requested this book based solely on its cover art, but sadly, the sharks swimming lazily in a bowl of bisque are actually red herrings; no one is eaten by a shark. Although some recipes are included at the end, there's no bisque recipe included. I read the first book in this series, Knife Skills for Beginners, as homework and in that, Chef Paul Delamare agrees to help a friend by teaching at an exclusive cooking school. In this book, Chef Paul is roped into accompanying an old friend on a cruise aboard a superyacht.
An expensive necklace goes missing, and Chef Paul races to catch the thief (because he is the leading suspect) and then one of the passengers is found dead, surrounded by crumbs of the cake he'd baked the night before *gasp!*
The setting is interesting, on board a superyacht, which means this is a locked-room mystery (I do love a locked-room mystery!). The yacht is filled with wealthy (and mostly tedious) passengers, and Paul is also roped into helping in the galley, so he has access to those who work below deck as well. The more he looks, the more he discovers about the dark secrets the yacht is hiding.
Paul does have some 'off yacht' help, in the form of emails from his friend who draws him a daily tarot card, and later, emails from her police man boyfriend when things turn ugly on board.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC. May Contain Murder by Orlando Murrin will be out in the USA on December 16 2025.
Sidebar: In other regions, the same book, under the title "Murder Below Deck: A Chef Paul Delamare Mystery," is available now.
👍 Mild thumbs up.
Body count = 1
I requested this book based solely on its cover art, but sadly, the sharks swimming lazily in a bowl of bisque are actually red herrings; no one is eaten by a shark. Although some recipes are included at the end, there's no bisque recipe included. I read the first book in this series, Knife Skills for Beginners, as homework and in that, Chef Paul Delamare agrees to help a friend by teaching at an exclusive cooking school. In this book, Chef Paul is roped into accompanying an old friend on a cruise aboard a superyacht.
An expensive necklace goes missing, and Chef Paul races to catch the thief (because he is the leading suspect) and then one of the passengers is found dead, surrounded by crumbs of the cake he'd baked the night before *gasp!*
The setting is interesting, on board a superyacht, which means this is a locked-room mystery (I do love a locked-room mystery!). The yacht is filled with wealthy (and mostly tedious) passengers, and Paul is also roped into helping in the galley, so he has access to those who work below deck as well. The more he looks, the more he discovers about the dark secrets the yacht is hiding.
Paul does have some 'off yacht' help, in the form of emails from his friend who draws him a daily tarot card, and later, emails from her police man boyfriend when things turn ugly on board.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC. May Contain Murder by Orlando Murrin will be out in the USA on December 16 2025.
Sidebar: In other regions, the same book, under the title "Murder Below Deck: A Chef Paul Delamare Mystery," is available now.
👍 Mild thumbs up.
Body count = 1
December 9, 2025
Oh wow! Who knew traveling on a boat, sorry super yacht could be so eventful and I loved every minute. There is a lot going on with a murder, theft and storms and that's just a few of the goings on that I can mention without giving away to much of the plot or the twists. Let's just say it moves at a fast pace and stays entertaining all the way through. I had guessed a few of the twists but there was still plenty of surprises. I liked the characters, Paul was a great main character whether he was investigating, cooking, writing or fighting for his life, he managed to do it with style and grace. The fact that everybody was trapped on the boat was a lot of fun and lead to some interesting situations. I will be looking out for more books by this author and definitely in this series.
Chef turned writer Paul is asked to write the memoirs of his closet friend, by joining her and her new husbands family on a super yacht as it travels to the Caribbean. Things don't go to plan and Paul ends up getting roped into helping out in the galley, preparing the food for the others guest. Then when the brides bridal necklace goes missing the fingers start pointing in his direction. Can he clear his name? Even worse can he find a killer? When his friend is found dead, Paul knows it's murder but cut off from the outside world he has no help coming and no way to prove it. With a killer on board, a storm about to hit and the other passengers keeping secrets is time about to run out for Paul?
I liked the narrator. He made the story come to life and so how made it even more entertaining.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Chef turned writer Paul is asked to write the memoirs of his closet friend, by joining her and her new husbands family on a super yacht as it travels to the Caribbean. Things don't go to plan and Paul ends up getting roped into helping out in the galley, preparing the food for the others guest. Then when the brides bridal necklace goes missing the fingers start pointing in his direction. Can he clear his name? Even worse can he find a killer? When his friend is found dead, Paul knows it's murder but cut off from the outside world he has no help coming and no way to prove it. With a killer on board, a storm about to hit and the other passengers keeping secrets is time about to run out for Paul?
I liked the narrator. He made the story come to life and so how made it even more entertaining.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 7, 2026
You would think that if a crime, like theft or murder, occurred on a yacht it would be easy to solve. Well in May Contain Murder it is anything but easy !!
May Contain Murder is the second book in the Chef Paul Delamare Mystery series by Orlando Murrin and Chef Paul is in way over his head. Chef Paul has been invited by his dear friend Xera to help write her memoir. Xera has just gotten married, and a small group of family and friends are traveling with the newlyweds on an Atlantic cruise and Paul is included so they can begin their writing journey.
Unfortunately, shortly into the cruise a very unique and expensive necklace the groom, Sir Billy, gave to this bride, Xera, is stolen out of their cabin. But before they can figure out where it is or who stole it, Xera is found dead the next morning.
Paul knows that something isn't right with the scene but has no authority and it is all a hunch plus the captain of the boat has the authority and dictates how to handle it. Xera's death is ruled an accident, and things are to continue as normal as they can.
Luckily for Xera Paul will do whatever he can to find out what really happened to her ... no matter how dangerous it gets !! Sadly, he is among strangers and doesn't know who he can trust or if he can trust anyone.
May Contain Murder is such an interesting read. With everyone stuck on the yacht, not being able to leave, you would think it would be easy to keep track of everyone ... but that is not the case for Paul. It's a good thing readers aren't there and can sit back and relax while they tag along with everyone and you don't have to worry about getting seasick.
May Contain Murder is the second book in the Chef Paul Delamare Mystery series by Orlando Murrin and Chef Paul is in way over his head. Chef Paul has been invited by his dear friend Xera to help write her memoir. Xera has just gotten married, and a small group of family and friends are traveling with the newlyweds on an Atlantic cruise and Paul is included so they can begin their writing journey.
Unfortunately, shortly into the cruise a very unique and expensive necklace the groom, Sir Billy, gave to this bride, Xera, is stolen out of their cabin. But before they can figure out where it is or who stole it, Xera is found dead the next morning.
Paul knows that something isn't right with the scene but has no authority and it is all a hunch plus the captain of the boat has the authority and dictates how to handle it. Xera's death is ruled an accident, and things are to continue as normal as they can.
Luckily for Xera Paul will do whatever he can to find out what really happened to her ... no matter how dangerous it gets !! Sadly, he is among strangers and doesn't know who he can trust or if he can trust anyone.
May Contain Murder is such an interesting read. With everyone stuck on the yacht, not being able to leave, you would think it would be easy to keep track of everyone ... but that is not the case for Paul. It's a good thing readers aren't there and can sit back and relax while they tag along with everyone and you don't have to worry about getting seasick.
October 26, 2025
Thank you to Transworld Digital and NetGalley for the earc. This mystery novel follows Paul Delamare aboard a luxury yacht accompanied by his wealthy friend Xera, her new man, and a small group of other stuck up, wealthy passengers. Paul is quickly looked down upon and ignored for his status, but he quickly becomes a person of interest when his friend Xera’s priceless necklace goes missing from her cabin, followed by a horrifying, mysterious death. Although Paul is is considered suspicious, he knows he would never hurt his dear friend and quickly gets down to detective work to uncover which of the passengers is a murderer, and whether the theft is related in anyway. As Paul discovers more clues, he finds out the yacht is hiding some dark secrets and he may be on a boat heading for danger. I rated this novel three stars. I enjoy a whodunnit mystery, especially when it’s on a small space with only a small group of suspects. I think the writing in this book was not a style that I particularly enjoyed because it was affecting my ability to focus and be present in the novel. It’s just not the style I’m used to. It also took some time trying to remember each characters name and who they were as there were quite a few people on board the yacht. I was absolutely not expecting what Paul discovered about the yacht and its passengers but it made it all the more darker. I also enjoy the little addition of the emails as it makes a book more interesting. I did notice a couple of odd grammatical mistakes and sentence structures that were very odd. Some sentences switches the order of words so it sounded a bit backward and I couldn’t tell if this was actually a normal way of speaking in other parts of the world, but it made it seem like it was inserted by a robot. For example, a sentence might read: the boy to the pool had arrived at. Ultimately I think what made me less invested was that the mystery revolved around money, jewels, and rich people being bad, which isn’t typically isn’t the most interesting concept for me. I do love a little Hercule Poirot moment when Paul announces what happened and who did it. Overall it was a decent novel.
December 14, 2025
This is a long one nearly 100 short chapters so be ready to settle in and really dive deep. The story leans heavily into mystery and whodunit territory, keeping you guessing as layers slowly unfold. If you enjoy authors like Freida McFadden, The Woman in Cabin 10–style suspense, or even Anthony Horowitz, this will likely be right up your alley.
Overall, I found this book engaging and genuinely interesting. It held my attention, kept me curious, and delivered a solid mystery experience. The audiobook narration was especially well done the narrator brought the story together nicely and made the listening experience enjoyable and easy to follow.
The only thing that held this back slightly for me was the inclusion of tarot card references. While it wasn’t a major focus of the story and was easy enough to brush past, it felt a bit unnecessary for my personal taste. That said, it’s handled lightly, and even the main character isn’t portrayed as a strong believer, so it won’t be an issue for most readers.
One fun surprise I really enjoyed was the bonus recipe at the end a thoughtful, cozy touch that added a little something extra to the overall experience.
All in all, May Contain Murder is a solid, entertaining mystery and a strong second installment in the series. If you’re in the mood for a layered, slow-burn whodunit with plenty of intrigue, this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review
Overall, I found this book engaging and genuinely interesting. It held my attention, kept me curious, and delivered a solid mystery experience. The audiobook narration was especially well done the narrator brought the story together nicely and made the listening experience enjoyable and easy to follow.
The only thing that held this back slightly for me was the inclusion of tarot card references. While it wasn’t a major focus of the story and was easy enough to brush past, it felt a bit unnecessary for my personal taste. That said, it’s handled lightly, and even the main character isn’t portrayed as a strong believer, so it won’t be an issue for most readers.
One fun surprise I really enjoyed was the bonus recipe at the end a thoughtful, cozy touch that added a little something extra to the overall experience.
All in all, May Contain Murder is a solid, entertaining mystery and a strong second installment in the series. If you’re in the mood for a layered, slow-burn whodunit with plenty of intrigue, this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review
August 10, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of Orlando Murrin's latest novel 'May Contain Murder' in exchange for my review.
Unfortunately this book almost made it on my DNF list, the only reason it didn't was because I had to know who the murderer was.
The story is burdened by too many unnecessary plot devices and the only character that was remotely interesting got killed off very early on. I found it hard to connect with the main character Paul and I can't say that I grew to like him. The story revolves around the murder of Paul's friend on a super yacht filled with rich, snobby people with serious personality issues and financial problems - and a dog. The crew are a motley bunch of characters who, again, are not likeable. Thrown into the mix is Paul's other friend Julie who sends him regular emails informing him of his daily tarot card reading. Thankfully the chapters are tiny so you can pick up and put down the book as you lose interest in the convoluted plot. Every now and then the author remembers the main character's personality revolves around food and we are treated with some culinary tips and tricks.
You'd have to read it to fully understand how tedious and unnecessary this book is. It's a shame because Murrin's previous book was very well received in the murder mystery community.
Unfortunately this book almost made it on my DNF list, the only reason it didn't was because I had to know who the murderer was.
The story is burdened by too many unnecessary plot devices and the only character that was remotely interesting got killed off very early on. I found it hard to connect with the main character Paul and I can't say that I grew to like him. The story revolves around the murder of Paul's friend on a super yacht filled with rich, snobby people with serious personality issues and financial problems - and a dog. The crew are a motley bunch of characters who, again, are not likeable. Thrown into the mix is Paul's other friend Julie who sends him regular emails informing him of his daily tarot card reading. Thankfully the chapters are tiny so you can pick up and put down the book as you lose interest in the convoluted plot. Every now and then the author remembers the main character's personality revolves around food and we are treated with some culinary tips and tricks.
You'd have to read it to fully understand how tedious and unnecessary this book is. It's a shame because Murrin's previous book was very well received in the murder mystery community.
July 1, 2025
I really enjoyed the super yacht trip. In the Maldemer this book written in Paul Delamare’s perspective - he was invited by the host Xéra and one of his closest friends and her husband sir Billy. Paul is still grieveimg the loss of his partner Marcus. The trip is a much needed get away. And Xera wants to do an autobiography having Paul to write it.
other characters on the boat -
Sir Billy daughter Elise and her husband Shaun ( ex- tennis pro)
Marje Mayham- Sir Billy sister . A talent agent
Judith and her husband Russell Tate ( he is the lawyer/ money manager for Sir Billy
Karol- Kate - dog handler/ walker for Elise and Shaun
Blue Aspray- ? assistant to Marje , plays piano
Challis - back of house maid
Captain Romer - captain
Aimee - navigator co-captain
Bernie- chef?
We can’t forget Paul’s BFF at home and her boyfriend Declan their/her emails and her attempts at tarrot card readings, and the back and forth to Paul during his time on the yacht.
From expensive necklaces stolen to an unexpected death, stowaways, and people falling over board either pushed or “accidentally falling over”…
I really enjoyed this story. Wasn’t sure who did what until the end. Felt like an Agatha Christie story. Paul was like inspector Piorot.
Happy 📖 Reading
other characters on the boat -
Sir Billy daughter Elise and her husband Shaun ( ex- tennis pro)
Marje Mayham- Sir Billy sister . A talent agent
Judith and her husband Russell Tate ( he is the lawyer/ money manager for Sir Billy
Karol- Kate - dog handler/ walker for Elise and Shaun
Blue Aspray- ? assistant to Marje , plays piano
Challis - back of house maid
Captain Romer - captain
Aimee - navigator co-captain
Bernie- chef?
We can’t forget Paul’s BFF at home and her boyfriend Declan their/her emails and her attempts at tarrot card readings, and the back and forth to Paul during his time on the yacht.
From expensive necklaces stolen to an unexpected death, stowaways, and people falling over board either pushed or “accidentally falling over”…
I really enjoyed this story. Wasn’t sure who did what until the end. Felt like an Agatha Christie story. Paul was like inspector Piorot.
Happy 📖 Reading
August 30, 2025
This book definitely contains murder but that’s just the beginning! Orlando Murrin piles on trafficking, theft, fraud, and every sort of terrible indulgence rich people can get up to, all while sailing across the Atlantic on a luxury yacht. It’s part mystery, part social satire, and very entertaining.
What I loved most was luxury yacht setting, it is full money and excess, and I kept pausing to Google all the over-the-top brands, décor, and accessories that Murrin casually drops in. It’s like getting a peek into a world that’s equal parts glamorous and rotten.
The chef element was a fun too, just like his last murder mystery, Knife skills for Beginners, plays a major role in the story, and the recipes at the end were a delicious bonus. I enjoyed the way the culinary details balanced out the darker crimes, giving the book both flavor and bite and a nod to Julia Child and Salt, fat, acid, Heat.
Overall, this is a sharp, darkly funny look at the ultra-rich behaving very badly. If you like your closed room mysteries served with champagne, caviar, and a side of moral corruption, this is a good book for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What I loved most was luxury yacht setting, it is full money and excess, and I kept pausing to Google all the over-the-top brands, décor, and accessories that Murrin casually drops in. It’s like getting a peek into a world that’s equal parts glamorous and rotten.
The chef element was a fun too, just like his last murder mystery, Knife skills for Beginners, plays a major role in the story, and the recipes at the end were a delicious bonus. I enjoyed the way the culinary details balanced out the darker crimes, giving the book both flavor and bite and a nod to Julia Child and Salt, fat, acid, Heat.
Overall, this is a sharp, darkly funny look at the ultra-rich behaving very badly. If you like your closed room mysteries served with champagne, caviar, and a side of moral corruption, this is a good book for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2025
A murder aboard a luxury yacht makes for an unusual locked room scenario.
Paul Delamare has been invited by his dearest friend Xera, to an all expenses cruise to help her write her memoirs. She assures him that he will not be required to cook, but we don’t believe that, do we?!!
Paul is aghast at the standard of cooking that first night, hardly 5 star, all dragged out of a freezer and he agrees to help. Bernie is the chef, she was only hired to cook for the crew and she admits she is out of her depths( sorry!)
When an expensive necklace goes missing, Paul becomes the prime suspect and he sets off to catch the thief and clear his name.
This is a very busy novel with so many sub plots. There is the missing necklace, electronic failures, patchy satellite reception, episodes of “ man overboard” and a Captain with almost no nautical knowledge.
An interesting voyage. The guests are mainly obnoxious hangers on and are not deserving of any sympathy.
The best parts are the snide and sarky comments exchanged throughout the book, and the recipes, who knew there were so many ways to cook eggs?
The cover of the book is misleading, no sharks, but plenty of red herrings to create tension and confusion, which leads to a very satisfying conclusion.
Paul Delamare has been invited by his dearest friend Xera, to an all expenses cruise to help her write her memoirs. She assures him that he will not be required to cook, but we don’t believe that, do we?!!
Paul is aghast at the standard of cooking that first night, hardly 5 star, all dragged out of a freezer and he agrees to help. Bernie is the chef, she was only hired to cook for the crew and she admits she is out of her depths( sorry!)
When an expensive necklace goes missing, Paul becomes the prime suspect and he sets off to catch the thief and clear his name.
This is a very busy novel with so many sub plots. There is the missing necklace, electronic failures, patchy satellite reception, episodes of “ man overboard” and a Captain with almost no nautical knowledge.
An interesting voyage. The guests are mainly obnoxious hangers on and are not deserving of any sympathy.
The best parts are the snide and sarky comments exchanged throughout the book, and the recipes, who knew there were so many ways to cook eggs?
The cover of the book is misleading, no sharks, but plenty of red herrings to create tension and confusion, which leads to a very satisfying conclusion.
January 3, 2026
A closed-circle murder mystery set on a luxury yacht. Paul, a chef turned food writer, is invited by his friend to join the trip. When a priceless necklace goes missing, Paul becomes the prime suspect. Then, a death occurs. With no way off the boat, suspicion spreads through the group, and Paul has to uncover the truth himself.
It may sound strange to describe a murder mystery as cute, but it really is. The whole book adopts a light and relaxed tone. With Paul as a chef-turned-food writer, food becomes an important element in the storyline. As a food lover, I felt delightfully surprised. Oh, and don’t forget the tarot cards! Even with these cozy ingredients, the mystery itself is not compromised at all. It is still solid and enjoyable. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read completely as a standalone.
The narrator’s tone makes the characters feel alive, especially Paul, who feels like he’s right in front of you: thoughtful, curious, and observant. The audio performance absolutely added to the experience, and the voice work definitely earned extra points.
Published on December 16, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia/Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this book.
It may sound strange to describe a murder mystery as cute, but it really is. The whole book adopts a light and relaxed tone. With Paul as a chef-turned-food writer, food becomes an important element in the storyline. As a food lover, I felt delightfully surprised. Oh, and don’t forget the tarot cards! Even with these cozy ingredients, the mystery itself is not compromised at all. It is still solid and enjoyable. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read completely as a standalone.
The narrator’s tone makes the characters feel alive, especially Paul, who feels like he’s right in front of you: thoughtful, curious, and observant. The audio performance absolutely added to the experience, and the voice work definitely earned extra points.
Published on December 16, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia/Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this book.
January 6, 2026
This was okay. If you want a locked door murder mystery with a good narrator and like when recipes are part of the plot then you may enjoy this! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was easy to listen to.
Paul, the MMC is very likeable and this is book two in a series. I have not read the first book called Knife Skills for Beginners. I didn't know what to expect but we are introduced to Paul who is a chef and his rich friend from France asks him to accompany her on her honeymoon cruise with her new husband and some friends...sound familiar? Yes, that's Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie except instead of a French detective you get a very nozy chef from London. It starts off with a theft and then escalades to murder. Again, familiar right?
There are a few twists but I didn't think I got to know the suspects on the boat well enough to draw any conclusions and the reveal relied on some very specific background information that the reader does not know about until the reveal.
I really don't see how this is a cozy mystery. The motive for murder was sad and tragic. The recipes felt out of place when there was a murder investigation going on so I think culinary mysteries are just not for me.
I received the ARC from NetGalley and these opinions are my own.
Paul, the MMC is very likeable and this is book two in a series. I have not read the first book called Knife Skills for Beginners. I didn't know what to expect but we are introduced to Paul who is a chef and his rich friend from France asks him to accompany her on her honeymoon cruise with her new husband and some friends...sound familiar? Yes, that's Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie except instead of a French detective you get a very nozy chef from London. It starts off with a theft and then escalades to murder. Again, familiar right?
There are a few twists but I didn't think I got to know the suspects on the boat well enough to draw any conclusions and the reveal relied on some very specific background information that the reader does not know about until the reveal.
I really don't see how this is a cozy mystery. The motive for murder was sad and tragic. The recipes felt out of place when there was a murder investigation going on so I think culinary mysteries are just not for me.
I received the ARC from NetGalley and these opinions are my own.
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