Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle

Chef Maurice Mysteries #1

by J.A. Lang

“They say one should never trust a thin chef. By this measure, Chef Maurice was very trustworthy indeed.”

Take one sleepy Cotswold village, mix in one Poirot-esque murder mystery, add a larger-than-life French chef with an appetite for solving crime, and season with clues and red herrings galore...

It’s autumn in the Cotswolds, and Chef Maurice is facing a problem of mushrooming proportion.

Not only has his wild herb and mushroom supplier, Ollie Meadows, missed his weekly delivery—he’s missing vital signs too, when he turns up dead in the woods near Beakley village.

Soon, Chef Maurice is up to his nose in some seriously rotten business—complete with threatening notes, a pignapping, and an extremely well-catered stake-out.

Can he solve Ollie’s murder before his home-made investigation brings the killer out for second helpings?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Humor, Amazon, Food

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

J.A. Lang is the author of the Chef Maurice Mysteries, set in the fictional Cotswold village of Beakley, conveniently located within driving distance of her home in Oxford, England. She lives with her husband, an excessive number of cookbooks, and a sourdough starter named Bob.

Her favourite authors include Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett.

When not at her writing desk, she enjoys cooking, eating, travelling to places with good food, drinking good wine, and thinking about her next meal. (Please note that any similarities between J.A. Lang and her main character, Chef Maurice, are purely coincidental.)

Reviews

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another free cozy on Kindle with some of my favourite themes, a murder mystery, food, and a pig (there’s also a great dane), not to mention a dash of humour. This is a first in series (of three books) and introduces us to French Chef Maurice Manchot who lives in the village of Beakley, running his restaurant Le Cochon Rouge. His team comprises Sous Chef Patrick and commis Alf. When his supply of mushrooms runs out and his supplier, forager Ollie fails to appear as usual, Maurice thinks nothing of breaking into Ollie’s and retrieving the mushrooms meant for his restaurant. But he finds not only that there has already been a break-in, but that Ollie was in possession of a valuable stock of white Alba truffles. Managing to pinch a sample, he realises the source is local and is determined to trace it. Helped along by his friend restaurant critic Arthur Wordington-Smythe, a nice person but harsh reviewer and the latter’s dog Horace, Maurice first sets out to acquire a truffle-dog but instead ends up with a truffle-pig Hamilton. The search for truffles leads them no closer to the supply but instead they come upon Ollie’s body. He has been shot a few days earlier. Maurice still wishes to find the source and begins to look into the murder but when he begins to get too close, poor Hamilton is pig-napped. Soon enough it is obvious that the local police aren’t getting anywhere except for the information Maurice has tracked down and recovering Hamilton would mean tracking down the murderer, the Chef perseveres bringing things to a close in a Christie-esque denouement with all concerned gathered around a dinner table.

Chef Maurice is larger than life, a bit exaggerated, big-mouthed but a fun character who lets his obsession with finding the rare Alba Truffles take possession of him completely. This results in him breaking-in to his forager’s cottage a couple of times, attempting theft, and ultimately setting off on a wild goose (or rather wild truffle) chase with his pet pig Hamilton. He doesn’t always stay within the bounds of law and Arthur often has to stop him from blurting out too much in the nick of time. The author pays a tribute to but also in a way parodies Poirot (the pork-pie hat, his moustache, his way of speaking, one of the characters asking Maurice whether he is Belgian remarking, “I knew a Belgian once, a little fellow. He asked a lot of questions too.”) I also enjoyed the sections narrated from Hamilton’s pov (initially we aren’t told who he is). There’s also a bit of romance thrown in with Sous Chef Patrick falling for PC Lucy. Light, quick, and very good fun!

p.s. There was one little detail that didn't sit quite right in the explanation but that doesn't really affect the fun of it all.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cosy mystery! French Chef gets involved with the investigations of the murder of his mushroom supplier. Set in a village in England well stocked with quirky characters. Dogs are stolen, pigs are pig napped, and a police detective who can't cook accidentally puts the wrong mushrooms in her risotto! Lots of laughs until the final revelation of the murderer!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 star read.

I love it when I find a new cosy mystery series that not only is wonderfully written but has warm memorable characters you can't help but love, foibles and all. Add in a well plotted murder that keeps you guessing and giggles galore and you have yourself a delightful morsel of a read that you can't put down!
I must say I'm quite partial to anything British and I found it delightful to have this series set in the Cotswolds, with a little French Chef called Maurice as protagonist, (Every time he talked in the book I found myself using Hercule Poirot's accent) and his newly acquired truffle finding micro-porker Hamilton (So cute!)
While it is a foodie themed murder mystery it's written with a fine balance so that the foodie side of the story never becomes cheesy (pun not intended). I particularly loved the parts of the story told from Hamilton's viewpoint and the cover of the book is superb. An excellent start to a new series that I have now put on my To Read List.

[Aisling · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this month's bookgroup theme I ordered a book by a British author I had never heard of--J.A. Lang. The series (of three so far) features a French chef called Maurice who lives and runs a small restaurant in a fictional Cotswolds village.
I chose the book since the reviews promised lots of humour and I love the Cotswolds. As far as cozies go, this was right up my alley; no cliched love triangle but a burgeoning sweet romance nontheless between a sous chef and the female police officer.
Chef Maurice of course tends to jump in and try to help solve the murder since it was his mushroom supplier who was killed (and Chef Maurice wants the truffles he found.) Truffles in the UK? Unheard of! The Chef is also motivated when his adopted truffle sniffing pig is kidnapped.
I did not think the humour was laugh out loud funny but this was an enjoyable book. I enjoyed Chef Maurice and the other characters, the mystery was decent, and I learned about truffles (the mushroom kind, not the decadent chocolate kind!)
I would definitely read another in the series (Chef M and the Wrath of Grapes is #2 and CM and the Bunny-Boiler bake off is #3). A very solid 4 stars

[Nerdish Mum · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This book was just what I wanted it to be, it was simple, humorous and light. The writing was ok but at times felt a little clunky. I liked the over the top characters, particularly Chef Maurice. I'm not sure if this is a spoiler or not so I'll hide it just in case I enjoy the occasional point of view from Hamilton the pig, I think it's done really well. It was a very quick read and I do plan on checking out the next books in the series if only for their quirky titles.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

CM: Snatched from below our noses!
AW-S: It was three days ago, Maurice. Our noses weren't even out of bed.
~Chef Maurice; Arthur Wordington-Smythe

When Chef Maurice plunges into the realm of investigation, all he thinks he's going to find is a new source of a very expensive truffle. What a coup for Le Couchan Rouge, his little restaurant in the south of England! But before he knew where he was, he had landed smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation and had acquired a mini-pig in the bargain. Hamilton, the mini-pig, was, of course, necessary--since Chef Maurice needed a champion truffle finder to help him track down the source of the mysterious truffles. But the murder he could certainly do without. After all, the victim was Ollie Meadows his wild herb and mushroom supplier and how was Chef Maurice supposed to make all those delectable mushroom dishes if Ollie was no longer delivering various forms of fungi? Things get serious when Hamilton is pignapped and the inquisitive chef receives a threatening note. He convinces his friend Arthur Wordington-Smythe to play Hastings to his Poirot (no, really--this book is an obvious hat-tip to Christie's creation) and the two are off, Camembert and crackers in hand, to track down the miscreant. The two amateur detectives will encounter a missing dog, a stolen map, an angry gun-totin' uncle, and magic mushrooms before they get to the bottom of the mystery.

I have the Puzzle Doctor at In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel to thank for bringing J. A. Lang's delightful cozy mystery series to my attention (click link for his review of Truffle). And he didn't steer me wrong. This book which offers a tribute to Agatha Christie has a plot that definitely follows in her footsteps while injecting a good deal of humor. I laughed out loud several times throughout the story just picturing our heroes in their detective efforts. And this is one of the few times when an author writes from animal points of view and it actually works. Hamilton's take on the world and brief snippets from Wordington-Smythe's dog and a few cows are great fun. Chef Maurice is over the top, but in a good way--he doesn't distract from the plot and, at bottom, he seems like a very nice guy. The supporting case--from his Hastings-like side-kick to his assistant chefs to the local PC--are great fun and the book serves as a very good introduction to Lang's cast of characters. ★★★★ for a fun, cozy series debut.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang is a humorous cozy featuring Chef Maurice and his friend and restaurant critic, Arthur Wordington-Smythe. It's the first in a series of mysteries with these characters. The staff at the chef's restaurant also make appearances as do the local constabulary.

In the thoughts of Chef Maurice, "The good citizens of Beakley mostly confined themselves to the wholesomely legal highs of alcohol and gossip." So why then is there a dead body? His mushroom dealer is dead in a ditch. Who could have possibly wanted him dead?

Certainly not Chef Maurice who wants the mushrooms that his loyal supplier owes him. This leads him into trouble. Even though the mushrooms were destined for his table, he has trouble convincing Lucy that he is trustworthy and should be allowed to take them right away,

Best line from the synopsis: "They say one should never trust a thin chef. By this measure Chef Maurice is very trustworthy."

Chef decides that he and Arthur must investigate the death of Ollie, Along the way they meet several interesting people and acquire a pig.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book. Even though it is a serious enough crime, the undertaking of all involved trying to solve the mystery is quite funny. Chef Maurice's speech is peppered with words of French. That's no problem for me, but I could see where potentially it would confuse some of the other readers. It's all about execution. I don't think anyone would really have much trouble following it.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's a good mystery and everything you need to solve it at the same rate of the chef is given to you as he receives his clues and makes his deductions. It was enjoyable to watch his mind at work.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. A marriage of proper mystery plot, charming characters and laugh-out-loud humour. Don't be put off by the cozy tag, puzzle fans, this is a fair-play mystery. A brilliant debut.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had great fun reading the first book of this series. Chef Maurice had me in stitches and trying to pronounce his French as I read because he is a French chef living in the Cotswolds in England.

Ollie Meadows is Chef Maurice's mushroom supplier for his restaurant, Le Cochon Rouge. Ollie is quite the shady character and it seems that he is involved in some low down and dirty schemes as of late. Intruders are in invading Ollie's residence more than once and a certain chef of a certain kind of truffle, I might add.

Where could have Ollie have gotten these expensive truffles you ask not possibly in England so Chef heads to the pet shelter to buy himself a "truffle hunting micro pig"named, Hamilton along with his friend and food Critic for the newspaper, Arthur. They then venture into the woods to start to try to track down these so called truffles and maybe try to find forager, Ollie.

To Chef Maurice and Arthur's surprise they find Ollie shot in the chest dead in the river. A killer is out there and Chef Maurice is on a culinary quest to find this person and could there be a possible connection between these truffles and Ollie's killer?

The suspects start adding up and Chef Maurice will not quit his search. His pig, Hamilton has son been "pignapped" and Chef Maurice will stop at nothing to get his beloved Hamilton back and find a murderer post haste.

I love British Humor and author J.A Lang writes it brilliantly with Chef Maurice, his friend author and his fun loving pig Hamilton. It is written seamlessly and very humorous, with a dash of murder and abundance of food and a mystery filled with wit. There's also more to Hamilton than meets the eye as I soon found out after reading this book that will have you amused. I can't wait to read and review the next in this series, Chef Maurice and the Wrath of Grapes.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been some time since I’ve read a book quite like CHEF MAURICE AND A SPOT OF TRUFFLE. This book doesn’t fall in step with today’s cozy mysteries. It’s more in line with traditional British mysteries which makes since because author J. A. Lang is British and she captures the genre perfectly.

This mystery was so intriguing and had an original concept. It was an enjoyable read that flew by too fast. Ms. Lang has a very fluid writing style that drew me in and made me want to keep reading.

Chef Maurice, owner and head chef of Le Cochon Rouge, is quite a character. Think Hercule Poirot, Columbo, and a robust French chef all rolled into one. There were many times his scenes had me laughing out loud. I can imagine knowing someone like him would be both fascinating, frustrating, and exhausting, but you would still have the utmost respect in him.

The end of the book, the reveal, brought images of scenes from an Agatha Christie novel. The setting, delivery, and accusation were all done with the same Christie flare.

I enjoyed CHEF MAURICE AND A SPOT OF TRUFFLE immensely and look forward to more adventures with Chef Maurice.

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much to say about this short little cozy.

1. OMG the cover is precious. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone! Really! How adorable is it!!!!

2. It is a quick read. Perfect for a lazy afternoon or late night reading.

3. Chef Maurice is really awesome, especially for people that like foodie fiction. He's a bit self centered, but he's oh so lovable.

4. Its the first book in the series, so no guilt about starting into an established series and getting lost. (There is a short story that's a prequel to the series though)

5. As you might have guessed from the cover, there is a pig!!!!! And the parts of the story written in Hamilton's point of view are fabulous.

6. There's a great relationship between Patrick and PC Lucy. Their first date is really laughale!

All I can say, is this British cozy is really not one to miss.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehh had potential but was undewhelmed ultimately

[Sharla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! This is a true cozy mystery. The focus is on setting and characters as well as solving a mystery. There is not a lot of exaggerated action or suspense or heavy-handed violence. It is a nice, relaxing, entertaining and often humorous book. The fact that it's free from Kindle is a nice bonus. I've already bought the next two in the series and hope there will be more!

[Winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this novel. I wish the author was still writing.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of cozy mysteries, I was ready to read Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle. As a lover of British comedies, I was quite at home with the appearance of a French chef in a small town (how do you say, "'Allo, 'Allo"). I was not prepared for the laugh-out-loud humor ... but I LOVED IT!

When I read the parts where Maurice spoke, I heard him speak with a French accent. That could be because I had 5 years of French in public school as well as a course or two at the university. Or it could be because my mother was born in Switzerland and taught French at home while I was growing up. Whatever the reason, it added to the humor and hilarity of Spot of Truffle in a delightful way.

The novel starts with a short scene from the life of Hamilton. By the way, Hamilton is a pig who has nightmares about bacon. He is worried perhaps that his next trip will be to visit Madame Guillotine. But fate, and Chef Maurice, have a different plan in mind for the porker. Pigs have long been used to hunt truffles, and item said to look like a mushroom or potato, but is prized by epicures.

So Maurice shows up to his restaurant one day, and voila, he has no mushrooms. He goes to call on Ollie, his forager, who is supposed to deliver to Le Cochon Rouge (The Red Pig), but has not shown up. Amongst the items found in Ollie's cottage is a bag of what Chef Maurice suspects are the coveted White Alba truffles, worth thousands of pounds.

"Back in the moonlit kitchens of Le Cochon Rouge, Chef Maurice brushed the last specks of soil off his newly acquired prize, with all the love and care of an archaeologist in a hitherto undiscovered royal tomb.
It was only a single truffle, Arthur having forcibly restrained him from 'liberating' more than one sample, but it was a beauty, nonetheless. he lined a small wooden crate with straw, tucked the turffle in and surrounded it with eggs to keep it company.
Balancing on an upturned bucket, he placed the box reverentially onto the highest shelf in the walk-in fridge, then went to bed." (Chapter 3, Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle; J.A. Lang)
Of course, not all is fun and games. Ollie turns up dead, discovered by none other than Hamilton the pig on his first training mission with Chef Maurice. With the same care he devotes to a specialite de la maison, Chef Maurice sets about noticing clues that escape the notice of the police, (but not the murderer(s)).

Let's hope Chef Maurice and Hamilton both have a nice long run in their careers.

(Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Deepak Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the prequel and was intrigued in the langauge and the humor.
I picked this book hoping it would be as good and i was pleasantly surprised that it was mush better than the novella Chef Maurice and the Rather Fishy Tale

What makes this book great is the Humor and the language. The way Chef Maurice always interested in Food is able to solve a mystery is beautiful.

Chef Maurice is upset that Ollie has not supplied him with the Wild Mushrooms and reaches Ollie's house to find that PC lucy(Police) is around for some intrusion complaint. He find Alba Truffles and wants to take them.
Some event happen and Maurice acquires a micro-pig named Hamilton for truffle hunting.
On one of the hunts he and Arthur find the body of Ollie in wild.
The mystery moves on with Maurice and Arthur investigating the murder and Maurice interested in the Alba Truffle.
Hamilton gets pig-napped and Maurice moves his energy to find the pig-napper.
The story moves on with lovely conversations with Laithwhites and Miss Fey.
Stake out on Fainley wood and chasing a VW Beetle.

In typical dramatic style Maurice reveals the criminal and retrieves Hamilton in the end.

The one liners written for Maurice are really hilarious and give a unique character to the Chef. "They say one should never trust a thin chef. By this measure, Chef Maurice was very trustworthy indeed" is one of the lines which showcase the Humor.
A night club named "The Office" and Arthur saying "At least it resembles the truth when a husband calls her wife and says he is at the Office " also showcase the sweet humor involved.
The side story of Patrick and Lucy is simple and delightful.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and give it
4/5

Devil D

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely amusing and cute. Just the sort of thing I like in light British fare. I enjoyed the characters all, and was especially charmed and tickled by the way the narrative even gets inside the little pig Hamilton's head... (Quite honestly I had a dream about the little creature one night... so he definitely got inside my noggin, in a nice way.)

Overall, this book reminded me of many British cozy village mysteries I've seen on the little screen, and has the same pleasant qualities as one or more other British authors I've read but I will resist the urge to name one of them, you know because comparisons like that make me shudder...

Perhaps I'll have more to say later, but meanwhile: the editing and proofreading in this apparent indie publication were good. I only found one typo. Or rather, I assume that last wodge of parmesan was meant to be a wedge of said cheese, unless I'm right out of the modern British slang loop and it was an intentional neologism... in which case I will hastily upgrade the trophy. I almost let that go without marking, truth be told: because of it, Ms. Lang missed earning a Golden Rodent award by approximately 10cm (according to my keyboard) and I kept wishing I could unsee that "o". For now, she'll have to make do with Silver, I'm afraid...

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

It makes me want to go hunt for truffles but I probably find the deadly mushrooms instead. This Chef Maurice character makes me laugh, hungry and want to own a pig. I like him. I even went and got the prequel Chef Marurice and the Rather Fishy Tale.

Chef Maurice owns Le Cochon Rouge a restraint in the Cotswolds. He is always eating. He is curious or plain snoop and passionate about food.
He is out of mushrooms. His supplier of wild herb and mushrooms has missed his delivery. He hears that he has something new to bring makes him go to his house. He gets caught going in and taking his order out of the fridge.

food critic Arthur Wordington-Smythe is Maurice good friend. He is married. They found a special truffle in his fridge and are determined to find his source. It is a rare truffle.

The setting for the book is Cotswolds village, England. We learn a lot about mushrooms and truffles.

Maurice finds a pig that likes truffles and wants to use him. He really does not like animals but changes.

There are a lot of characters that I do like and want to see more of them.

I was given this ebook to read and in return agreed to give a honest review and be part of Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef Maurice and a Spot of Trouble is set in the Cotswolds of England. He owns Le Cochon Rouge restaurant and he loves food. Arthur Wordington Smythe is a food critic for the local paper and he is Chef Maurice's good friend. When Chef Maurice doesn't receive his mushroom delivery he decides to investigate where Ollie is and he finds out Ollie Meadows the wild herb and mushroom forager is missing. So he decides to try and get his mushrooms from Ollie's house ( at night) and he is attacked. It seems someone was already in the house. Chef Maurice and Ollie have a look around and they find a bag of Alba white truffles which are worth a small fortune as they are not locally sourced and they do not come from Italy. They than decide to try to find Ollie and the truffle patch. Chef Maurice goes to the local animal shelter to try to find a truffle dog but instead he gets a micro pig named Hamilton. They find Ollie dead in a meadow and the duo armed with food and alcohol decide to try to find Ollie's killer! There is also a romance brewing between PC Lucy Gavistone and Patrick the Sous chef. I truly enjoy a good British cozy mystery Chef Maurice and a spot of truffle is a humourous well written
story. I look forward to reading more books by J.A Lang

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chef Maurice maybe a chef extraordinaire, but he has other talents. He has a nose for murder. When he finds himself with a mushroom shortage, he goes to talk with his supplier. The man is missing. Where is he? Why does he have extremely valuable truffles in his house? Determined to find Ollie and learn his secrets, the chef and his cohort, Arthur Wordington-Smythe, use their skills to get answers. Their investigation makes for an enjoyable and humorous adventure. I loved the quirky and interesting characters that inhabited this small English village. PC Lucy Gavistone has her hands full. I loved the setting for this cozy mystery as well as the droll, humorous dialogue. J.A. Lang made me smile. This story is well plotted and has plenty of suspects. She kept me guessing until the very end. I love the touch of romance between Lucy and Patrick, the sous-chef. And of course, I loved the truffle pig, Hamilton. I'm looking forward to Chef Maurice's next adventure. J.A. Lang has the perfect light touch that I enjoy in a cozy mystery.

[Debbie Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my stars!! This book is everything you could want in a cozy mystery! It has characters you would want to be your friends and neighbors, suspense(but not too much), humor and it was a fun read! Without giving away too much, I will say that Chef Maurice is amazing, not just for his food, but he is very smart and loves a bit of detecting thrown into his day. His staff at the restaurant is made up of three main characters: Patrick, his sous chef, Alf, who is the under Patrick in the kitchen and Dorothy, the server. Chef Maurice also has a friend, Arthur, who not is a good friend, but helps Maurice in solving the mystery.
I became attached to these characters very early on and I do hope there will be many more adventures for these characters!
Thank you, J. A. Lang, for this most excellent Chef Maurice series.

[Nese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this eBook for free from Amazon for an honest review.
This slow and steady-paced cozy has an interesting and original plot about a French chef and his food critique friend solving mysteries in the Cotswold with the help of the quirky residents of the village. The book doesn’t have any violence, explicit language, or sex and the murder mystery is used as an instruments to reveal the personalities of the characters and the dark side of human nature (Just the way a good cozy should be). The book has warm and cozy feelings all around and an engaging story telling. As the story evolves, one wants to spend more time reading about the relatable characters and their, mostly loving and kind, interpersonal relationships. Next book in the series, please!

[Teresa Kander · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new cozy mystery series set in England. Lots of humor, and a very engrossing murder mystery. I loved the nods toward other mystery writers...one character mentions a Belgian man who asked a lot of questions, and Chef Maurice gathers all the suspects for a dinner where he methodically explains why each one couldn't be the murderer--except, of course, for the one who IS the murderer.

There is also a blossoming romance which I hope we will see more of in future books...and I also hope that Hamilton (the truffle pig) will continue to be a part of the series.

[Dawn Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love British mysteries, and this one did not disappoint! It is so much fun! Poor Chef Maurice, he just wants his mushrooms, he did not get his normal delivery from Ollie, so he sets out to find out what happened. Ollie turns up dead, so Chef Maurice has more to investigate than he thought. His friend Arthur, and his new truffle hunting pig, Hamilton, are along for the ride. This book is laugh out loud funny, and I am so excited to read the next in the series!

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has renewed my faith in indie authors. Read past the section from the pig's POV, and I promise an enjoyable, well-written cozy mystery. An interesting story with charming main characters. The author sets the scene for sequels without boring the reader. She actually works in the setting and backstories while "showing" not "telling." Plenty of clues, suspects, and plot twists. The only drawback? Too much head-hopping. (And please, no more porcine POV!)

[Shelley Giusti · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review:

This British cozy is a fun read , filled with humor and with and murder that will keep you guessing to the end. You will be pulled in from the start and won't want to stop reading. The characters are well developed and the story line will leave you wanting more. Don't miss a minute of this great read.

[Harvee Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever, witty and humorous mystery set in the Cotswolds. The first in the series featuring the eccentric but lovable Chef Maurice. The chef likes to do things his own way. and he and his truffle hunting pig, Hamilton, steal the show, and the mystery. A fun read in a delightful setting.

Thanks to the author for a review copy of this book.

[Harriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just discovered Chef Maurice and I'm so glad to have found J.A. Lang ! Good mystery. Fun. Be prepared to be hungry for more.

[Nadeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little read with interesting characters. Will probably give the next one in the series s try.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful mystery.