Brilliant plot, excellent main characters that you invest in. I read this book in one sitting and I would highly recommend it.

When cook Jenny Starling is asked to cook for a weekend on a private riverboat there is more on the menu as well as delicious food when one of the guests is found dead. The police are called but no-one knows how the guest died but the plot thickens as Jenny tries to find out what happened.
This book is just what you would expect from Faith Martin a great read with twists and turns which keeps you guessing to the end

cosy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, England

I really hoped someone would murder the blackguard but was afraid it would turn out to be another Orient Express! That's how well each character was portrayed, especially our redoubtable freelance cook who is as capable of providing excellent meals as using her observations and acute logic. The plot is twisty and diabolical, the ride on the Thames beautiful. And it made me aware of the narrowed thinking that had me thinking that paddlewheelers only cruised the Mississippi! The publisher's blurb is pretty good, but doesn't convey the clarity of it all. I read it straight through because it made me!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you for introducing me to this author's writing!

Another eclectic cast of characters for Jenny Starling, the enigmatic travelling cook to cater for. I didn’t like this story as much as the first two in the series, maybe because the murder doesn’t happen until halfway through the book?

Jenny is on top form as the reluctant detective, and the police detectives she pits her wits against are clever than most. There are so many suspects and lots of sub-plots in this story and aside from the parrot, who is wonderful, it is difficult to empathise with any of the passengers or crew on the Riverboat.

The plot hides its secrets well,. I didn't work out whodunnit, but Jenny does in her own unique way.
A story that takes a while to get going, but worth the wait for the intricate ending.

I received a copy of this book from Joffe Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I did enjoy this book, actually it kept me reading well into the morning. It is very likeable in every way with characters, setting and plot. The ending was clever, although one could see it coming, but that is what a good mystery is about - the reader has a fair chance of working some of it out. It wasn't all straight forward, by any means there were some good red herrings. Mostly I really like Jenny the main character and reluctant detective.
One the old style mystery readers will enjoy.

Jenny Starling is a six foot tall, substantial lady, a first class head chef at St. Baptista' College in Oxford and seems often to land in the middle of murders. She is one classy lady. But most of the police in her neck of the woods know her by reputation and hate to see her at a murder scene - afraid she will out-think them as she often has in the past.

Lucas Finch is an old soldier, active in the Falkland War and was a very poor cockney lad until he made his fortune in English tea biscuits. Now that he is able, he indulges himself on several fronts - he owns a one-of-a-kind paddle steamship which he keeps docked at his country home situated in the village of Buscot on the River Thames. The Stillwater Swan is a lovely ship. He employs both a full time captain and first-mate for the boat, housed in converted stables on his estate, and enjoys both solitary sails with just himself, his talkative Scarlet Macaw, his manservant Lester and the boat staff, but occasionally he enjoys showing off his remarkable riverboat to friends and occasionally enemies. And for a weekend cruise with passengers to impress, Lucas hires a temporary chef. Jenny doesn't do vacations well and tries to find temporary jobs over the summer. From early on, she is aware that Lucas Finch has a marvelous galley on this ship and a good relationship with local suppliers, making her job simple and fun. And that Lucas Finch does seem to have more enemy's that friends on this particular cruise.

I received a free electronic copy of this British Police Procedural On February 2, 2019 from Netgalley, Joyce Cato, and Joffe Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I am pleased to have found another author with excellent British police procedurals. The Riverboat Mystery, though third in a series staring Jenny Starling, is completely stand alone.

A short and entertaining crime read from Faith Martin in the 3rd of her amateur sleuth, Jenny Starling series, that was orginally published under the title, Dying for a Cruise. Jenny is a shrewd and practical woman, a travelling cook, feeling bored when she accepts an assignment that has her on a boat on the River Thames. She has been employed by the rather shady wealthy cockney, Lucas Finch, to cook for his guests on a steamboat. Before long, Jenny stumbles on a dead body in the store cupboard. Of course, Jenny once again investigates, has a host of suspects and secrets, and a dead man that was not very well liked. Will she be able to get to the truth before the police? This is an entertaining and solid addition to the series, humorous and with a central character that most likeable. I can definitely see this appealing to many crime fiction readers. .

This is the third outing for Jenny Starling, beautiful statuesque traveling chef. Much emphasis is placed on Jenny’s appearance, and her ability to outthink the local cops, though perhaps not as much as in previous books. Much to Jenny’s dismay, she finds herself involved in another murder. Jenny is hired to cook on a grand riverboat. The owner is a wayward cockney who has made a fortune in a dubious manner, he is joined by his lawyer and his wife, and another couple, a retired military man with his younger, glamorous wife. The other inhabitants being the ship captain, the engineer, and the butler. Jenny finds the body in her pantry and has to narrow down who had the strongest motive. I have to admit, I was suprised by the culprit.
Many thanks to netgalley and Joffe books for an ARC, all opinions are my own. Recommend.

Travelling Cook Mystery #3

Jenny has got herself a job on a luxury paddle steamer working for a wealthy businessman. All she has to do is cook for his small number of guests. But then there is a murder on board. Lucas Finch is the owner of the paddle steamer who had invited two couples to join him onboard. But it seems they all had something' to hide. Jenny was the person who found the body, she just needs to find out who the murderer was and why the murder was committed.

This book was originally called Dying Dor A Cruise and written under Faith Martin's pen name Joyce Cato. Everyone on board has a reason to want the victim dead. Jenny is quickly gaining the reputation for being able to solve crimes and the police are in a race with her to solve the case before Jenny does. I'm beginning to like Jenny as much as I liked Faith Martin's other character Hillary Greene. This is a real cosy mystery series. This book can be read as a standalone, but as I always do I recommend that you read the first two books in this series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Faith Martin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Faith Martin has quickly become my favourite mystery author, and the character of cook Jenny Starling is one of the reasons why. Each book takes place in a different location, as Jenny is in demand for short term private chef functions. Unfortunately for Jenny, she is gaining a reputation for being on the scene where murder takes place. Leave it to Jenny to figure out "who dunnit".

This is the third book in the Jenny Starling series, but can easily be read as a stand alone book.
This book stars Jenny as she is hired to be the chef on a paddle steamer for a wealthy businessman, but soon is embroiled in a murder mystery where only she can solve it before it's too late.
I should firstly start by stating that if Jenny ever works for you run away as murder is not far behind her. Also if I were her I would quit being a chef for the same reason, although she would make a great Police Officer, so should maybe move into that field instead. I could see her working very well alongside Faith's other main character Hilary Green in a series of books.
I liked the way that the scene was set in the first half of the book, although this did drag in places as I was waiting for the murder to occur, and then the way Jenny investigates it was done very well, with her asking all the right questions and beating the police to the murderer and tidying up everything very nicely.
This book is very low on violence and gore, especially considering it is a murder/mystery book, but concentrates more on the mystery, making it a very cozy book to read in a couple of hours.
Some parts of the book were unbelievable and stretched the imagination a bit too much, but if you ignore this then the book is a very enjoyable read.

A very special take on the classic British murder mystery, and the great character of Miss Starling is at it again. The story is very well written, and the plot is very distinct and well thought out.

Thanks to Joffe Books and Netgally for this very enjoyable adventure. Jenny Starling, in this third adventure, is becoming a well-rounded character (no pun intended...) and she is very likable. In the best Agatha Christie fashion, there are a number of people gathered on a riverboat and it turns out that once again, Jenny has to help the police solve the murder.
I said Agatha Christie but I don't mean this story to be a little old fashioned. On the contrary, Jenny is a very contemporary woman. Not so contemporary that all she does is use her phone; she uses her wits and her brain and that is more than enough.
With so few people who could have done it, it is fun to try and find out who the murderer is before Jenny does in the book.
There is only one small thing I don't understand. Jenny is on the ship and sees a couple of ducks. And then she sets out, when the boat is moored for the night, to go and catch some ducks for dinner? What? Please don't tell me it is allowed to go duck hunting on the Thames?
Having said that, I hope that one day Faith Martin will write a 'Cookbook from Jenny' (minus the ducks).

Whilst on an enforced 2 week break from her role as Cook at a university , Jenny Starling takes a weekend job to stave off the boredom she is feeling. The role is to cater for the weekend on board the Steamboat of a wealthy but dubious businessman, once again through no fault of her own she is drawn into a murder mystery when the body of one of the guests is found in her very own kitchen !!!!!

Another riveting read by Faith Martin and another fantastic series taking shape

Please note this book was first published as “DYING FOR A CRUISE” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.

Jenny Starling, the raveling cook finds herself working for a wealthy businessman aboard his paddle streamer. Her duties are only cooking scrumptious meals for the guests over the weekend as they trawl the river.

She has a wonderful time ... until she finds one of the guests dead in her pantry.

The dead man was not well liked and the suspects are many. There's the wealthy businessman, the man's wife, a solicitor and his pregnant wife, and the engineer and captain of the boat. Motives can be almost anything with this bunch ... from blackmail to jealousy and everything in between.

Jenny, being an amateur sleuth, and having been in this situation before, is really good at reading people and the investigating detective knows of her reputation all too well.

There are twists and turns and secrets galore. This is a well-written complex mystery with a great cast of characters. Jenny is an absolute unforgettable character .. not only for her looks but for a creative mind that misses nothing.

Although third in this series, this one can easily be read as a stand alone. I do recommend starting at the beginning .... it's a terrific series.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

4.5 Stars

Reminiscent of novels published in the Golden Age of detective fiction, The Riverboat Mystery by Faith Martin presents the reader with a delightful "whodunit". Jenny Starling, the "junoesque" protagonist with acerbic wit and a dominating presence is hired to work aboard the Stillwater Swan. As a professional chef, Jenny takes the task seriously and plans a delightful weekend of meals that will surely satisfy any guest aboard this magnificent passenger riverboat.

What follows is a delightful tale that introduces us to a dynamic cast of characters, each with their own challenges and secrets. When someone on board is found dead, Jenny takes it upon herself to carefully think through the events that have taken place and to help find the murderer.

This novel is the third installment of the Jenny Starling series. Although there is some mention of the characters past and previous dealings in the other novels, I did not feel that I missed out on anything only having read this title.

The flow of the novel is exceptional. Told through various perspectives it is quick paced and leaves the reader wanting to finish in order to discover just who committed the heinous crime.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a delightful cozy mystery more in the style of Agatha Christie and other whodunit authors.

My sincerest thanks to Joffe Books and Netgalley for this arc.

Jenny Starling, the junoesque travelling cook, is amazing. I suppose that cooking gives you plenty of time to think and people are happy to talk in front of her, after all she's only the cook. More fool them! She's observant and intelligent and when a murder happens, she's able to point the police in the right direction.

A book well written and worth spending time with.

Traveling cook Jenny Starling is back! Seems she has some vacation time to use, and she answers an ad for a weekend cook. What she doesn't realize is that she will be cooking on a riverboat, and an extremely fine one, with the name Stillwater Swan. Lucas Finch is the proud owner, and he has invited 2 couples to join him, but it seems each of them has something to hide. Of course with Jenny on board, murder never seems to be far behind her, and in short order, Jenny finds a dead body and then has to figure out whodunit and why.
I am a huge fan of Faith Martin's Hillary Green books, and while sadly that series is over, I am quite enjoying the Jenny Starling series. Jenny is feisty and tough as nails, and while this time I did figure out who the murderer was, I had only a brief guess as to the how and why. I can only assume that where Jenny goes, trouble will follow. I do hope we get some more of her backstory, as I hate to see Jenny without friends!. A good read and I look forward to more.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.

I do enjoy the Jenny Starling stories and I'm not really a big fan of the "cozy" mystery these days. But these are more the quiet sort of logic puzzles and psychological studies than true "cozy." There is no graphic violence or over-the-top James Bond/Jason Bourne technology and antics. Nor are there any "zany and mad-cap" characters tossed in for interest. Just nice solid mystery and reliable mystery reads. In this one, Jenny takes a week-end cooking gig on a private paddle boat rather than the real vacation her job tells her to take. Given that I'm such a reluctant cook, it just amazes me that she would spend her "time off" working. But she does and the story sails off from there.

Nicely developed characters and a satisfying resolution in a slow and quiet package. Great bedtime story.

This new series by Faith Martin is set on a recreation boat on the Thames, where chef Jenny Starling has been hired to cook for a weekend’s outing. Starling is a new character to me, but apparently she is not new to the police in the region, with whom she is famous for her amateur detective skills. She puts those skills to work to solve a murder in between cooking some pretty delicious sounding meals.
Although I wish a little less emphasis had been put on Starling’s size and weight, which had very little if anything to do with the plot, I enjoyed this afternoon’s read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.