Death A L'Orange

Carolyn Blue Culinary Mysteries #3

by Nancy Fairbanks

It's a culinary tour de France for Carolyn Blue and her family as they travel through Normandy and the Loire Valley with a group of academics. Where better to write about food than France? But when murder shows up on the menu, Carolyn is once again investigating crime as well as cuisine-and trying to stay one step ahead of a killer with an insatiable appetite. C'est la vie...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, France

273 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 4, 2002

About the author

A pseudonym used by Nancy Herndon.

Series:
* A Culinary Mystery with Recipes

Reviews

[Lukas Kawika · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! I actually really liked this one. I bought the first 3 in this series all at once and went through the first two, and was..... fairly unhappy with those but figured I'd go through since I'd already paid for 'em, so maybe part of it is that I had pretty low expectations going into this one.

But it's fun! It's a little goofy and far-fetched like all of the most fun mysteries, and this one's also structured more like the "classics". It's interspersed with journal entries from the perpetrator with the occasional name-drop of other characters throughout, so it's a real fun time using that and looking at everything else that happens to try to guess who it is.

I do think there's a few too many characters to keep things easily straight, though. Of everyone here there's really only a couple of "main" characters who play into the story and the plot, while everyone else is kind of in the background until they -have- to become important for a scene or a conversation, but that also just adds some further layers of fun to figuring it out.

Also the blurb on the back, with the whole "and soon there's murder" thing? That doesn't happen until the last 20 or so pages of the book, so don't hold your hopes out for that.

But yeah! This one was better than expected going into it! If I see the next in the series I think I'll actually go and pick it up.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this trip in France with the Blues. Their trips are never boring. I enjoyed that this wasn't the typical solving a murder. I also like having one of their kids along. Lots of fun and I look forward to traveling and eating with them again.

[Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read...although, helpful if you enjoy food descriptions and French history. The idea is far-fetched, as too many things happen for a tour to have stayed together...the storyline is creative but overplayed.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first ever "foodie mystery". I hadn't ever even heard of the genre before but this was a nice start. The characters were cute, the recipes tasty and there was no adult content. The plot was a bit predictable but over all it was a cozy read.

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Blue, food writer, is off with her husband and son on a tour of France. The group is made up of faculty and family members of Carolyn's husband's previous university. The tour is through the Normandy and Loire Valley, not only will there be history but also fine dining. At least that is the plan.

Among the travellers are three faculty members who are vying for the position of dean of the college of arts and sciences. Professor Childeric, a pompous man with a huge ego; Dr. Hugh Fauree, who is being pursued by another faculty member for romantic purposes; and Dr. Laura de Sorentino, who is married to a plastic surgeon who seems to only have his mind on what could be done to make other tour members look better. Also thrown into the mix is a 16 year old girl who is going through that rebellious stage and has eyes for the Blue's son Chris.

From the start there seems to be frequent accidents happening, the first at the luggage carrousel when Professor Childeric goes to retrieve his luggage. Immediately he charges that Dr. Fauree is the instigator. Childeric seems to be the target, but who is causing these accidents and why are the big questions. It doesn't help that Carolyn seems to be one of the victims in a number of them. Is someone out to get her? Why?

Various tour members may have reasons for wanting Childeric out of the way, but no one is telling. Along with trying to figure out who it is, there is also a number of not-so-tasty meals that all have to endure. Seems that the tour company does not have the highest standard of taste.

A cosy mystery set in some of the most historic and beautiful parts of France. It keeps you guessing who is the instigator and why. There are entries from the person who it is, but you still don't know till the end, but you do get an idea of why.

There are also recipes for a few of the dishes in the book, for those who like that.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early entry in the series. Carolyn and Jason are in France on a university tour. Someone keeps putting a professor in danger - almost like they want him dead! Unfortunately, this puts Carolyn at some risk. Can she figure out who wants the professor dead before someone really does wind up murdered!

I had forgotten (since it has been awhile since I read this series) that the perspective of chapters goes between Carolyn and Jason. While it tells the story chronologically, the change in narrative takes some getting used to.

I figured out somewhere around chapter 37 who the perp had to be. Turned out I was correct. A sad but plausible story as to why they held the prof in so much disregard (or hatred).

Anyway, good story and well written.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the location but the mystery became tedious, possibly because there were too many characters to keep track of & there was a lot of repetition as events were related by three people. I enjoyed the first book many years ago but this one was a bit too irritating.

Carolyn, Jason & Chris are on a food & literary tour of France with a bunch of academics when a series of "accidents" escalates, culminating in a death. There's the usual academic in-fighting but the tale is mostly fluffy, light reading, & there are some interesting titbits along the way.

2.5★ rounded up.

[Sarah Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book. I love the author’s sense of humor. The murder didn’t take place until one of the last chapters (and even that wasn’t successful), but the various accidents kept you wondering what would happen next, and who it could be. Of the first three books in this little series, this one seems the most far fetched. But, you know what? That’s part of the charm of these books. They’re a little silly, and who doesn’t need that every once in awhile. I highly recommend reading these books!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read and interesting since it took place in France. However, there were lots of characters introduced early in the book and I couldn't keep them straight! Other that that, I enjoyed the story.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow moving plot and storyline. Lots of repetition, so much so it was kind of insulting. The characters were interesting and fun, but their constant complaining got old after a while making it hard to read. Okay book. Readable.

[Kyle Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the descriptions of the places that were visited in France.

[Lynn Sallee · Rating 1 out of 5]

IF YOU ENJOY ENGLISH MYSTERIES YOU WILL LOVE THIS CAROLYN BLUE CULINARY MYSTERY.
I DIDN'T














1

[Tabby Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because her husband has to undergo bypass surgery, Mrs. Atwater, a friend of the Blues, offers them their tour tickets to Normandy and the Loire Valley at a cheaper than usual price. Of course the Blues enthusiastically accept. A chance to partake in the sights and foods of Normandy is not something any amateur historian and budding food critic would willingly pass up! Another bonus is that the tour group will comprise of academics (and their better halves) from the university that Jason had been previously lecturing at. So that there would quite a few people that they actually know. The only caveat to all this is that Carolyn and Jason would also have to keep an eye on the Atwater teenage daughter, Edie. However Carolyn is sure that everything will be a breeze -- that is until she realises that 1) the tour group seems to be made up of bickering lecturers (and their equally quarrelsome spouses), three of whom are involved in a race for the deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences; 2) she notices that Edie Atwater is a budding mantrap who has attached herself firmly to the Blues' son; and 3) that a series of rather troublesome accidents seem to be dogging the group, and Professor Childeric, a medieval historian, in particular.

When the first accident befalls Childeric (he falls onto the luggage carousel at the airport), Carolyn thinks little of the accident despite Childeric's claims of having been maliciously pushed. But Childeric is soon the victim of another 'accident' and Carolyn begins to seriously wonder if someone is actually out to get the professor, as he insists. As the days pass, the 'accidents' take on a more sinister aspect, and Jason soon begins to worry about Carolyn's safety as Childeric seems to have attached himself firmly to her elbow...

[Karen A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this qualifies as a cozy mystery. Carolyn Blue is married to a Chemistry professor and they join a tour group from his University for a trip to France. Bizarre things begin to happen as soon as they land. Carolyn becomes entangeled with a professor of Mid-evil History named Proffessor Childeric. Someone in the group means him harm and keeps getting Carolyn hurt as well. There are also the many dinners that the group attends at the behest of the tour. Ironically Carolyn is a food critic and has to wince her way through many poor meals and make up delicious recipes to send to her editor. THis is a culinary mystery. The recipes are actually pretty good. Probably better than the story.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun little cozy mystery I picked up to read just on impulse. Enjoyable romp through the Tour of Normandy and the Loire from hell, as one misadventure after another happens, maybe more than are believable. Sometimes it seemed as if the author was trying to stretch out a story that was a little thin. The tidbits of French history were fun, and I liked the heroine, Carolyn. The author did keep me guessing after I narrowed down the list of suspects. The endless bickering of the academics on this tour? Well, all I can say is if it seems too silly, you've never been part of a tour group or worked with a bunch of professors.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 in the Culinary Food Writer series. Food columnist Carolyn Blue is in France for this series entry and, in the way of cozy protagonists, encounters dead bodies. There are better entries in the series.

Culinary Food Writer series - Carolyn and Jason Blue join a tour to France with a group of college professors. Accidents plague the tour and seem to focus on the irritating specialist on medieval France, Professor Jean-Claude Childeric. Suspicion is that the accidents are related to the three way competition for dean. Carolyn tries to narrow down the possible perpetrator.

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the first book there was one point of view, in the second there were two, and now in this, the third book in the series, the story is told from three points of view, which is a bit excessive for a relatively short and standard mystery. It also became rather tiresome to read the same events related from three slightly different perspectives.

[Belinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too many characters, there was absolutely no way to keep track of them all. Not to mention, that most of them were very weak characters who would suddenly rise up and have there moment of glory and then return to the woodwork from whence they had come.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read. A bit of history thrown in with the mystery. Loved the descriptions of the food the characters ate and some of the places they visited. Didn't figure out who the villain was till near the end.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little predictable, but still a fun read. Love the recipes included and the historical tidbits. Funny.

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun -- light, but not dopey

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best, but readable. Started it to read during the Tour de France.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I can skip this series. not so entertaining, and I didn't like the recipes much either

[Christy]

Fun read. Lots of places that I have been to in France, so it was fun to read about places where we have recently visited.

[Mary Havlovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit tedious: a whining in-fighting group of academics on tour in France encounter a series of non-life threatening incidents that may or my not be accidental.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many people to keep track of.

[Kris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many characters, difficult to remember who is who. The different narrations were a little confusing. Struggled to finish, just wanted to be done reading it.

[batya7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lightweight mystery. Too many characters who were not too memorable. Kept me guessing, however. I'd really give it 2.5.