You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Everyone has been reduced to their barest characteristics and it was really frustrating. I don’t mind being able to deduce the ending, but knowing it over 150 pages before the end? That’s hardly fun at all (and I’m like 80% that this was an Agatha Christie plot, and to have Agatha Christie as a character…not a big fan of that, honestly)
I hope the next book takes a turn back to interesting characters and fun plots, or I might be done with the series
I hope the next book takes a turn back to interesting characters and fun plots, or I might be done with the series
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really disappointed in the last book. Bought this one when it first came out but didn't get around to reading till now. Mostly I was interested in the gardens.
I know many people still enjoy this series. Myself I find Georgie's constant whining 'that I'm not good at hiring staff' and her 'Gollys!' to be annoying. Dread every time Queenie comes on the page. Her being a disaster is getting old. And now we added two dogs to the chaos. Lost track of how many times Darcy and Georgie said 'we're going to train them" but never do.
I am curious to see where Georgie's mother's storyline goes. Not quite ready to Bail but this series is going to become borrow not buy for me.
I know many people still enjoy this series. Myself I find Georgie's constant whining 'that I'm not good at hiring staff' and her 'Gollys!' to be annoying. Dread every time Queenie comes on the page. Her being a disaster is getting old. And now we added two dogs to the chaos. Lost track of how many times Darcy and Georgie said 'we're going to train them" but never do.
I am curious to see where Georgie's mother's storyline goes. Not quite ready to Bail but this series is going to become borrow not buy for me.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lady Georgiana “Georgie” Rannoch and her husband Darcy O’Mara are expecting their first child. Though Georgie is a cousin to Kind Edward VIII and therefore connected to the royal family, the couple is distant enough that finances are tight. Georgie and Darcy live on her godfather’s estate in the English countryside. Their current struggle is dealing with the deeply unappetizing food cooked by Georgie’s former maid Queenie while they wait for their new chef Pierre to arrive. Once Pierre takes over the kitchen, Queenie stays on as his assistant (to some initial bumps in the road when Queenie won’t stop flirting with Pierre or accidentally throwing out his ingredients).
Georgie and Darcy are finally able to throw a dinner party, and Pierre wows their guests with his delectable cuisine. So much so that author Sir Mordred Mortimer asks Georgie if Pierre can cook for his fundraiser to raise money for orphans. Sir Mordred hosts the dinner party at his infamous estate. The house and gardens are beautiful, but the real draw is his famed poison garden—a garden filled with poisonous plants. Fitting for an author of gothic horror novels!
Sir Mordred’s party goes off without a hitch, but the next day several of the guests are sick. When one of the guests dies, the death is quickly traced back to some poisonous berries that were in the tarts at dinner. Suspicion quickly falls on Georgie’s chef, Pierre—he prepared the dinner the guests ate. Georgie is convinced Pierre wouldn’t poison the guests, but it may be up to her to find out who did (with a little help from fellow dinner guest and detective, Agatha Christie).
The Proof of the Pudding is a light and engaging historical mystery. The poison garden was a great setting to build a story around—it’s such a fascinating and dark hobby. Sir Mordred Mortimer is quickly revealed to be a bit much to handle for more than a dinner party. Still, the charity he is supporting is an admirable cause.
The interesting part of the mystery was piecing together why the two victims ended up as the victims, while most others experienced temporary symptoms of the poison. Since the poison was linked to berries in the tarts, there was a snag in the investigation because Georgie turned down her tart. It was then given to another guest, and that changed the order the tarts were served in. Does this mean that someone else was the intended victim? Thankfully Georgie has Agatha Christie (such a fun cameo in the book!) to assist her in using logic and reasoning to find killer and the motive.
It took a while into the book for the mystery to really kick off, but I found that it didn’t detract from the experience. The beginning was quite humorous—especially the dynamic between Pierre (who is talented but a bit of a diva) and Queenie. The mystery had plenty of space for leads to be explored and suspects to be cleared. Readers will find themselves enjoying the story from start to finish.
A great historical mystery with a fun premise and a delightful cameo!
Georgie and Darcy are finally able to throw a dinner party, and Pierre wows their guests with his delectable cuisine. So much so that author Sir Mordred Mortimer asks Georgie if Pierre can cook for his fundraiser to raise money for orphans. Sir Mordred hosts the dinner party at his infamous estate. The house and gardens are beautiful, but the real draw is his famed poison garden—a garden filled with poisonous plants. Fitting for an author of gothic horror novels!
Sir Mordred’s party goes off without a hitch, but the next day several of the guests are sick. When one of the guests dies, the death is quickly traced back to some poisonous berries that were in the tarts at dinner. Suspicion quickly falls on Georgie’s chef, Pierre—he prepared the dinner the guests ate. Georgie is convinced Pierre wouldn’t poison the guests, but it may be up to her to find out who did (with a little help from fellow dinner guest and detective, Agatha Christie).
The Proof of the Pudding is a light and engaging historical mystery. The poison garden was a great setting to build a story around—it’s such a fascinating and dark hobby. Sir Mordred Mortimer is quickly revealed to be a bit much to handle for more than a dinner party. Still, the charity he is supporting is an admirable cause.
The interesting part of the mystery was piecing together why the two victims ended up as the victims, while most others experienced temporary symptoms of the poison. Since the poison was linked to berries in the tarts, there was a snag in the investigation because Georgie turned down her tart. It was then given to another guest, and that changed the order the tarts were served in. Does this mean that someone else was the intended victim? Thankfully Georgie has Agatha Christie (such a fun cameo in the book!) to assist her in using logic and reasoning to find killer and the motive.
It took a while into the book for the mystery to really kick off, but I found that it didn’t detract from the experience. The beginning was quite humorous—especially the dynamic between Pierre (who is talented but a bit of a diva) and Queenie. The mystery had plenty of space for leads to be explored and suspects to be cleared. Readers will find themselves enjoying the story from start to finish.
A great historical mystery with a fun premise and a delightful cameo!
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2024/04/11/the-proof-of-the-pudding-by-rhys-bowen/
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another entry into the Royal Spyness series and it delivers everything we have come to expect from this cozy mystery author. Interesting side characters, funny situations, a fun puzzle that isn’t too hard to play along with, and a happy romance between the F and M MCs. These books are like meeting old friends - except with murder.