Ian MooreDeath and Croissants: The most hilarious murder mystery since Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club

Death and Croissants is the first of the Follet Valley Mysteries and is a crazy, quirky, comic, and slightly over the top cosy mystery. In the book, we meet Richard Ainsworth, a middle-aged Englishman who has moved to the bucolic Loire Valley where he runs a Bed and Breakfast or rather a chambre d’hote. Richard is dejected, slightly boring even, and his only interest in life is old movies, so much so that the hens in his establishment are named after actresses—Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner. He is estranged from his stylish wife Clare who found nothing to keep her in France and has returned to England. Life goes on monotonously for him, most days being pretty much the same, only his cantankerous (but observant) cleaning lady, Madame Tablier for company. And he doesn’t really mind this life—in fact, he is quite comfortable in it.But one morning Richard’s life turns topsy-turvy. A guest at the B&B, old man Grandchaps has gone missing leaving a bloody handprint on his room wall (also broken, blood covered specs as they later find), and while Richard is inclined to leave the matter alone (why should it bother him, after all?), another guest, the glamorous, beautiful and domineering Valerie d’Orcay decides they must investigate, and browbeats Richard into agreement. (He becomes more keen on joining in when Ana Gardner is targeted). At first it seems like Richard is simply being dragged all over the place by the (over) enthusiastic Valerie—trying to track Grandchamps to his village (where an interesting surprise awaits them), following clues, and suspects (among them, an Italian couple), but before long he realises that this is the most fun he’s ever had in his life. But yes, there is a murder to solve, and the danger that can put them into is very real!This was a fun, crazy read with everything from cranky twins (or at least one crank among them), a not-so-bright (or so it would seem) village policeman, swingers, dubious dealings, the Italian mafia, a mysterious Texan (complete with hat), hens, chimpanzees, and also a chihuahua called Passepartout (belonging to Valerie)! As you can well make out, the characters are (as they sound) pretty eccentric, their antics crazy, but at the same time, (as I was glad to see) the mystery is very real. Not only that, there are quite a few twists and turns along the way, a nice fat one particularly that I didn’t see coming, so I enjoyed it very much indeed (some of my guesses was not completely on track either, right but in a different way than I’d thought). But like another reviewer has also said, we never do discover who it was that killed poor Ava Gardener!Given’s Richard’s love of films, all the references to old movies were good fun and I liked the idea of Richard considering himself the equivalent of IMDB before it existed. I also loved the reference to The Avengers and Mrs Peel, especially because lately whenever I see the Avengers referenced, it ends up being the Marvel Comics one, not the old series and film (that was equally quirky and crazy but one I enjoyed very much but really, I’m digressing now).The humour and the quirky characters were great fun for the most part, but may be a bit over the top sometimes. Still I liked both Richard and Valerie (and the dog Passepartout) very much, and look forward to their further adventures.I do wish Valerie did like cats though!(Copy received via NetGalley)

I picked this as an option for a small book club. It is an ok read. I just didn't get the humor. The mystery part is good. Overall not a bad read.

I had the gall to read the entire text. It's silly, amateurish, full of stereorypes and clichés, the plot can't get its act together, a real mess! Its "existentialist' pseudo angle is simply riduculos! Please don't peddle this kind of crap anymore!

French murder mystery written by a British bloke about a British bloke living in France. It's funny and warm, with likeable characters and the mystery, while not quite at the Agatha Christie level, is still plenty engaging. There's a touch of Allo-Allo, Inspector Clouseau about the Franglais it's written - they're presumably all speaking French to each other, but in a very British way! Makes me wonder what it would be like translated into French? That might be hilarious. The missus says it's like the Richard Osman books, but I'll probably never read any of those so you're on your own with that one.

Great as a summer read. Lots of slapstick and action with very likeable characters but a bit far-fetched for me.

Book is of good quality and had quick delivery. The plot & writing style tho... 3/5 stars at best haha