Death and Croissants- A Novel by Ian Moore
Product Details
Web ID: 15421210A madcap mystery set in the Loire Valley
Death and Croissants is the first in Ian Moore's cosy mystery series featuring British expat Richard Ainsworth, the middle-aged proprietor of a chambre d'hôte (B&B) in the (fictional) Follet Valley - a "quiet corner" of the popular Loire Valley region in France. Recently-separated Richard is trying to hold things together as he manages the running of his accommodation business, Les Vignes. A former film historian who loathes IMdB with a passion, Richard likes nothing better than to commune with his chickens, avoid sexually-adventurous fellow Britons and B&B proprietors Martin and Gennie Thompson, and live a relatively ordered life. With the assistance of his irascible and formidable femme de ménage (domestic help) Madame Tablier, he's just about coping. Then all hell breaks loose - an elderly goes missing from his room, leaving only a bloody handprint and a broken pair of spectacles. Worse, Richard's favourite chicken is senselessly slaughtered in her run soon afterwards. Is this a warning, and who exactly is - or was - the mysterious M. Grandchamps? Another guest, the rather fabulous Valérie d'Orçay sashays onto the scene on cue, encouraging Richard to buck up and solve the mystery. Ripped from the rut in which he'd been existing, Richard finds he's secretly revelling in the adventures Valérie leads him on, as their madcap adventures take them on a chase through the streets of Tours, on a Loire Valley pleasure cruise, an escape from a pleasure dungeon and into a confrontation with a pair of mafia assassins. Death and Croissants is a light and entertaining romp, which I'd characterise as Peter Mayle meets Agatha Raisin. Featuring diffident Richard and flamboyant Valerie as an unlikely detecting duo, this promises to be the start of a great series. I'd recommend Death and Croissants to any reader who enjoys action-packed cosy mysteries, especially those with Francophile tendencies and a love of classic cinema. My thanks to the author, Ian Moore, publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Reminds me of an English Janet Evanovich
Death and Croissants by Ian Moore reminded me of an English Janet Evanovich. There were tons of wacky characters and some crazy moments, but it was a bit more reserved in regards to the laughs than Evanovich would have been, and that gave the book even more charm. Richard and Valerie are an unlikely combo for being friends, let alone solving a mystery, but they work well together. Valerie brings urgency to Richard’s laid back manner and Richard often ,unintentionally, says something that helps Valerie figure out something in regards to solving the case. While they both seem to be attractive and intelligent people I really hope that Moore decides to keep them as friends and doesn’t delve into a romance with them. While I enjoy that type of tension and have been known to read some really steamy books, I don’t feel like every male/female relationship needs to have that…. But that is just a personal opinion and if Moore did decide to go in that direction I would still continue reading, and I’m looking forward to Death at the Chateau when it comes out later this year.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
So Funny!
Dollycas's Thoughts This is the first book in the Follett Valley Mystery Series. It features Richard Ainsworth, a middle-aged Englishman living in France and running a small B&B as he goes about living his boring life and he is very happy doing just that. He has a vast knowledge of old Hollywood movies and watching them keeps him entertained. His wife has left him to find a more exciting life which shouldn't be too hard. He stays in touch with his 27-year-old daughter, Alicia, via FaceTime but the conversations are usually pretty short. He also has 3 chickens, Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, and Joan Crawford. Nothing much exciting happens in his life. Then an elderly guest disappears, leaving behind a pair of glasses and a bloody handprint and a beautiful Italian woman checks in with her dog named Passepartout for an open-ended stay. The woman, Valerie, takes one look at the handprint and easily persuades Richard to join her in investigating the elderly guest's disappearance. From that point on Richard's life is new longer his own and it is far from boring. Mostly dazed and confused he follows Valerie hither and yon to solve the case of the missing guest. _____ Oh, my stars! Ian Moore puts his comedic talents to very good use in a tale that will have you laughing out loud and shaking your head as you read this twisted-up mystery. Laid-back Richard is a feckless individual that gets drawn into a web of mystery complete with the Italian Mafia and nudist swinger B&B owners as femme fatale Valérie d'Orçay drags him deeper and deeper into the world of crime. It is not long before Brigadier-Chef Principal Philippe Bonneval enters their lives along with Chez Bruno and Judge Grandchamps and they find they end up with more questions than answers. I also have to mention Richard's cleaning woman Madame Tablier. She is a hoot! All these characters are cleverly created and intriguing in their own right. Mr. Moore wraps his characters in a madcap mystery with so many secrets, twists, and turns I totally lost count and just hung on tight and enjoyed the ride. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the French countryside and the village of Vauchelles and every other place Richard and Valerie traveled. The people and the food and drink were well described as well. When I started the book I wasn't sure if it was going to be my "cup of tea", and truth be told I had seen some reviews that almost kept me from reading it, but I couldn't stop reading, Death and Croissants had it all. A lighthearted mystery, quirky characters, laugh-out-loud funny, and unbelievably crazy situations, along with a few chickens. I escaped right into this story and I was delightfully entertained. Now I hope we don't have to wait too long for the series to continue but I don't know how the author would top this story.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A humorous mystery set in Loire Valley
DEATH AND CROISSANTS is the first book in the Follett Valley Mystery series by Ian Moore. The story is told from the first-person perspective of expat Richard, a middle-aged Englishman who prefers a boring life while running a B&B in the Loire Valley. He’s so boring that his wife has left him to return to England. But the humor and action ramps up when a beautiful French woman, Valérie, checks in and another guest disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint. Overall, I enjoyed the book, once it got going, with lots of quirky and over-the-top characters. And how could you not love Richard’s hens named after famous actresses like Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, and Lana Turner? He’s also a walking encyclopedia of old movies and actors/actresses. The way Richard uses his knowledge to compare current day situations, and to the investigation, adds fun to the narrative. The author, who is also a comedian, writes laugh-out-loud one liner zingers that kept me turning page, looking for the next one. As far as the mystery goes, Richard would just as soon not have anything to do with it and it’s Valérie who drags him into the investigation. The complex plot had some twists I didn’t see coming, and the conclusion wrapped up most of my questions, except one very important one: who killed Ava Gardner?! If you like dry humor, quirky characters, and zany situations, then I’d recommend Death and Croissants. I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
“That was Tuesdays. Not wild goose chases..."
When an intriguing Frenchwomen upsets Richard’s ho hum life as an innkeeper during her visit to the Loire Valley he finds himself living out his wildest noire film fantasies as they search for a missing guest with mafia ties. An entertaining and complex mystery that while slow at times, proved to be worth the effort!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fun & Cheeky Mystery
Ian Moore delivers a fun and cheeky mystery with “Death and Croissants,” the first in his Follet Valley Mystery series. Richard Ainsworth gets more than he bargains for while running a bed and breakfast in the French Loire Valley. When an elderly guest goes missing, leaving behind only a bloody handprint and a broken pair of glasses, he joins forces with another guest, the intriguing Valerie D’Orcay to figure out what happened to the missing Monsieur Grandchamps. What follows is a quirky, zany adventure filled with hilarious moments that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Moore creates delightful characters who aren’t always what they seem, including an adorable chihuahua named Passepartout and hens named after Golden Age Hollywood actresses. He creates a fun yet thrilling plot that also offers some good themes, like revenge; mistaken identities; and merely existing versus truly living. Fans of series like Richard Osman’s “The Thursday Murder Club” and Robert Thorogood’s “The Marlow Murder Club,” as well as authors like Agatha Christie, will enjoy “Death and Croissants,” which is due out March 14 and does contain occasional mild cursing. Five stars out of five. Poisoned Pen Press provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
What a fabulous debut!
Richard is a Brit who is running a B&B in the Loire Valley. It’s midlife and he and his wife are living apart and his life has become boring and routine. He rather enjoys running the B&B and yet being aloof and not having to engage with the guests. When the room of a recently frequent guest is empty with just a bloody handprint and a broken pair of glasses, another guest steps in and has Richard joining her in trying to figure out what happened to the man. With more adventure than Richard has had in awhile, he finds himself torn between wanting his old routing back and admitting he loves the new adventures he is having as they try to figure out what happened to the man. When I saw this was a novel and started reading I thought, “This would have made a great series!” When I got to the end, I found out it IS the first in a new series, and I am thrilled. because…What’s better than a British cozy mystery? A Brit in France cozy mystery! Can’t wait for the next book in this series!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com