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3.05 AVERAGE
3.05 AVERAGE
A short and sweet story concerning a middle aged innkeeper named Richard Ainsworth who gets in over his head when one of his guests, Valérie Dorçay, convinces him to investigate the disappearance of another guest.
This book was funny and charming. I loved Richard, with his cinematic view of the world, and Valérie, with her nonchalant attitude. (And of course Madame Tablier and her irreverence.) It was a fun mystery and I will definitely be checking out the sequels.
My only question is, who killed the hen? The culprit doesn’t really seem like the type to kill livestock, and I don’t see a reason for it either.
This book was funny and charming. I loved Richard, with his cinematic view of the world, and Valérie, with her nonchalant attitude. (And of course Madame Tablier and her irreverence.) It was a fun mystery and I will definitely be checking out the sequels.
My only question is, who killed the hen? The culprit doesn’t really seem like the type to kill livestock, and I don’t see a reason for it either.
I was excited to have the opportunity to read an advance e-copy thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
I "picked up" this book because the cover and description struck me as being similar to The Thursday Murder Club, but in reading it I was struck that it has more the quirkiness of a Wes Anderson film. We follow Richard, a middle-aged Englishman who owns and runs a B&B in the Loire Valley of France. He and his wife are estranged, he doesn't particularly like interacting with his guests, and his life is fairly dull. But when a guest disappears and a bloody handprint appears in the bathroom, along with bloodied glasses, he follows his beautiful, forceful guest Valérie on the trail. He gets much more than he bargained for (of course!). This was a funny, quirky romp, and very well written.
I "picked up" this book because the cover and description struck me as being similar to The Thursday Murder Club, but in reading it I was struck that it has more the quirkiness of a Wes Anderson film. We follow Richard, a middle-aged Englishman who owns and runs a B&B in the Loire Valley of France. He and his wife are estranged, he doesn't particularly like interacting with his guests, and his life is fairly dull. But when a guest disappears and a bloody handprint appears in the bathroom, along with bloodied glasses, he follows his beautiful, forceful guest Valérie on the trail. He gets much more than he bargained for (of course!). This was a funny, quirky romp, and very well written.
Can't quite remember why I picked this one up. I suppose it falls into the category of "cozy mysteries," as it's fairly mild and nothing really terrible happens. Richard Armitage is a Brit who owns a B&B in France. He doesn't have any particular ambition or desire -- just wants to live his quiet life with his old movies, and maybe his estranged wife and exasperated adult daughter, and his hens named after golden-age movie stars. But then Valerie shows up and throws his life into chaos. I suppose Richard is bored, and that's why he allows himself to get swept up into a mystery with a total stranger. I was bored, and I sort of coasted through this one without really being engaged by it. The reviews mention how funny it is -- I didn't really think it was too funny. So, on to the much more interesting pile I have waiting beside my bed.
adventurous
funny
medium-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
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
Well I read this in two sittings…
A picturesque setting at a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. A series of characters that once completing I wasn’t ready to leave. Richard the B&B owner who is going through a rough patch meets Valérie described as electric, fashionable and adventurous turns Richards stance in life upside down and I truly loved that theme in the book. Like all cozies you get a sense of community through all the characters and locations introduced and this one is done with HUGE HUMOR, come to find out the author is a standup comedy. Totally makes sense.
This one totally took me by surprise and I’m eagerly waiting for book 2!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press & Sourcebooks for the gifted copy
A picturesque setting at a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. A series of characters that once completing I wasn’t ready to leave. Richard the B&B owner who is going through a rough patch meets Valérie described as electric, fashionable and adventurous turns Richards stance in life upside down and I truly loved that theme in the book. Like all cozies you get a sense of community through all the characters and locations introduced and this one is done with HUGE HUMOR, come to find out the author is a standup comedy. Totally makes sense.
This one totally took me by surprise and I’m eagerly waiting for book 2!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press & Sourcebooks for the gifted copy
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has followed the pattern of my relationship with most cozy murder mysteries that weren't written by Richard Osman. It's just not very interesting; the characters are a bit wooden, pedestrian, and just not very nuanced. The plot is sketchy at best and again, quite boring. I didn't have any strong issues with any of it but I won't be reading any more and just felt a sense of meh all the way through.