Jenny Starling, travelling cook and reluctant sleuth, has found a job where she might like to stay. Life as a cook in a castle full of historic artefacts, for people who appreciate her skilled cookery, seems like a dream come true. Unfortunately, Jenny's penchant for attracting murder means that someone dies in mysterious circumstances and Jenny finds her detective skills are needed once again.

This is a murder mystery reliant on detective skills, which Jenny has in abundance and the police detectives, less so. Set apart from the world of forensics and psychological profiling, this story will appeal to those who like a cozy mystery, concentrating on knowledge of people and what motivates them and a dazzling array of suspects, clues, red herrings in an atmospheric, vivid setting.

This is an enjoyable read, with an enigmatic main character reminiscent of Miss Marple with Mary Berry's cookery skills.

This is the fourth in the Jenny Starling series but reads well as a standalone. A perfect escapist read.

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

Jenny Starling feels everything is good for the future when she is appointed cook for Lord and Lady Avonleigh. All is going well until one of the staff is found murdered and the police are called. There are many twists and turns while she finds out who could be responsible but how did they do it?
This is another great book by Faith Martin just the kind of mystery to curl up and lose yourself in.

This is the fourth in the series of Jenny Starling, traveling chef. I have read the previous three and have enjoyed all. Jenny has secured a post in an art filled castle near Oxford. The Avonsleighs have lived in the castle for centuries and are reknown for their vast and valuable collection of paintings. The current Lord and Lady of the castle appreciate their responsibility as caretakers toward their collection, but don’t have that great of an interest in art. What they enjoy is their food, especially traditional english fare. Enter Jenny Starling, chef extraordinaire. Everything is going well, Jenny has clients who enjoy her food, she has a helpful kitchen maid., Elsie. The castle staff, Meecham the butler, his daughter the lady’s maid, Gayle, Janice, the parlor maid, Eva the governess, Malcolm the art tutor, and Lady Roberta, granddaughter of Lord and Lady Avonsleigh are all friendly and appreciate her cooking.
On Jenny’s second day at the castle, Eva, the governess is found dead, stabbed with a priceless dagger in the conservatory. One of the household is responsible, and Jenny is once again reluctantly there to assist the local police. Many motives are uncovered along with a few red herrings. I was pleased to see Jenny becoming more like Miss Marple and less like Agatha Raisin.
Readers who enjoy traditional cosies will enjoy this series
Many thanks to netgalley and Joffe books for an arc. Recommend

I've followed the Hilary Greene series by this author and, having enjoyed them muchly (except for the re-publication using a different title all too often!), and thought I'd try this one. Enjoyable in a different way. Murder yes, lots of suspects who all seem to have both motive and alibi yes and lovely setting yes but without the overt police drama of the other series. The cook is a great success as both a cook to the Castle and as an amateur sleuth. The Police are not quite as sparky as they could be but they work and I'm sort of assuming that the series is set some time ago as there is a calm flow to life rather than the modern frenetic thrash - or perhaps it's just set somewhere away from too much modernity. The cook is almost a modern day Miss Marple, always there and listening with a sympathetic ear but seeing the personalities rather than just the apparent facts. Plenty of twists and turns. I'll certainly look out for others in the series. It lost a star because, for once, I worked out what and who "done it" far too early on. I just loved Henry! My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Publishers for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A couple who know and enjoy good old fashioned cooking ….These describe Jenny Starlings new employers to a t but do they enjoy knowing a murderer lives amongst them ?

When Jenny takes on the position of cook in a stately castle she is looking forward to showcasing her culinary talents to a new variety of clients but yet again Murder gets in the way of her new role and before she knows it she is once again acquainted with another detective and on the look out for the murderer

Absolutely love these books and as soon as it is on the Kindle it is being read avidly

Originally titled An Invisible Murder, Faith Martin once again takes into the world of Jenny Starling, freelance cook, destined to investigate murders as a amateur sleuth. Jenny herself is an attractive central protagonist, shrewd, intelligent and practical, and this time she has the perfect assignment when she is hired by Lord and Lady Avonsleigh, and finds herself working in a real castle! Written and structured in the style of classic golden age of crime, this is a light and entertaining read with little in the way of blood and gore. Things are not as they should be amongst the staff in the castle, and the stage is set for the murder of a member of staff, stabbed by a treasured jewelled dagger. The strange thing is that the murder took place amongst witnesses, none of whom noticed a thing. In a case where nothing is as it should be, Jenny has to sift through a host of suspects, as she uncovers secrets. As usual, this is an engaging and enjoyable read, with a great set of characters, I particularly liked Lord and Lady Avonsleigh. Looking forward to the next in the series.

A cosy murder mystery in the style of Agatha Christie. English manor setting with several possible killers and red herrings. Enjoyable

Each time a new Jenny Starling tour arrives in my email I get really excited. Faith Martin never fails to impress me with her lighthearted writing style and her lovable characters. With The Castle Mystery she’s more than done it again. I have to say that this one is my favourite so far.

Jenny arrives to a more permanent position than usual working as a cook to the Avonsleigh family. It doesn’t take long before Jenny begins to notice a little tension amongst the staff and surprise! surprise! Before long there’s a seemingly unmotivated murder! Using her usual charm, wit and instinct, Jenny sets out to solve the murder by looking closely at all the suspects and so finds not everything is as it seems. With many suspects having motive and an impossible task of figuring out the how, can Jenny solve this one?

Ms Martin always chooses the most beautifully English settings for her novels and it’s one of the reasons I love this series so much. I love the insight into the lives of castle dwelling, boat owning people and the settings are describes so well, I am always transported there. This book is no different and for a few hours – I lived in that castle amongst the works of art, the grand halls and the beautiful surroundings.

The Lord and Lady are such likable and mischievous characters I fell in love with them easily. There’s nothing as fun as mischievous older characters with a bit of a spark. Jenny of course is such a brilliant woman, down to Earth and no-nonsense with a talent for cooking the most mouth-watering meals to the point that I often sit daydreaming about her dishes in the middle of reading.

I had great fun contemplating all the little clues that are scattered throughout the story. There are so many red herrings to work through it’s almost impossible to fully work out the who, the why and the how until it is revealed but it’s rare to actually have so much fun reading a book – it becomes a very interactive experience.

If you love a good cosy, locked room mystery then I highly recommend this series. They don’t need to be read in any order so check out the one that tickles your fancy the most and start there.

I’m wondering now where Ms Martin will take us for Jenny’s next adventure.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series.

Once again a special take on the classic British murder mystery, and this time it really is a question if the butler did it. Luckily, 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.

This is such a fun book, a real page turner and with a twist in the mystery. This book is the second book in the Jenny Starling series, and in my mind, the best series. I really found it this book entertaining, charming and the characters all had a secret, maybe a little contrived, but added the red herrings in the plot.
It was just a good, fun read and I can't wait for the next one. Oh, and you don't have to read the series in sequence, all are stand alone books.

In THE CASTLE MYSTERY by Faith Martin, Jenny Starling is back and this time she’s got a job in a centuries old castle filled with renowned, museum quality artworks. The art has been in the ownership of the Avonsleigh family for generation, as has the castle. Maybe this time she’s finally found a cooking job worthy of her extraordinary talents and filled with interesting characters you might like to see in more than one book.
However, if you’ve been reading the Jenny Starling books, this is the fourth one and by now you know wherever she appears, so does murder and this one turns out to be no exception. Lord and Lady Avonsleigh are delightfully unexpected. In spite of their upper crust status, they are plain spoken and immediately attracted to Jenny who knows exactly how to woo them with her culinary skills.
The downstairs staff is filled with equally interesting likeable characters and Jenny finds it easy to settle in almost immediately. Of course, all that changes with the murder of one of their own and the insistence of Lady Avonsleigh that they work closely with Jenny. Once again, she is apparently destined to solve a case for the police and do so while trying not to alienate them.
The victim is the governess, and everyone has what appears to be an airtight alibi. She has been murdered in what should have been full sight of the Avonsleighs and their guests, yet they saw nothing. Apparently the murder was committed with a dagger the Avonsleighs have on display and was seen, no evidence of blood by them and their guests both on their way to tea and again, on their return, thirty minutes later, dripping blood.
Of course, as has anyone who is familiar with the Jenny Starling series knows, nothing is exactly as it seems, all the clues are presented but with such sleight of hand you have to be watching closely to see them, and despite the policemen’s fervent hope, Jenny will be the one to solve the murder for them. Along the way there are plenty of clues and red herrings along the way. The reader gets to join Jenny as she follows up on each one and determines what, if anything, it has to do with the murder at hand.
While I did correctly determine the murderer early in the book, that in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the book. Rather, I had the opportunity to identify clues as they happened to support my solution and enjoy getting to know some of the other delightful characters who are part of this story. This may have been my favorite setting for a Jenny Starling book as of yet, and I think it would be a treat to get to spend more time in this place and with many of these people.
While this is the fourth in the series, each book is a complete mystery on it’s on and you do not need to read the others to enjoy it. While there are some brief references to earlier books, they have no bearing on this case and primarily serve to underscore the police’s resentment of the fact they keep being bested by a rank amateur.
I have come to expect Faith Martin’s books to be written in the classic detective style, providing the reader the opportunity to solve the case along with the protagonist. While there is murder, there is little emphasis on blood and gore and some delightful character development of secondary individuals which adds depth to the book. Having read all four books in this series that have been published to date, I would be hard pressed to say which was my favorite, but this one would certainly be high at the top of the list. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a classic mystery.

I like this series and I think it improves with each new installment.
I liked this one, it was enjoyable and entertaining.
The cast of characters was as likable as usual and the plot engaging.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

The Castle Mystery is the fourth book in Faith Martin's Jenny Starling series. Jenny knows her way around a kitchen and this time she's accepted the cook's position in a castle. Lord and Lady Avonsleigh live in Avonsleigh castle with their granddaughter and all the live-in staff it takes to run. Jenny feels quite comfortable with Lady Avonsleigh and it isn't until she meets the household employees, that she detects some unpleasantness, some strange undercurrent among the staff.

If you've been following Jenny and her travels, then you are aware that wherever she goes, murder isn't far behind. Cooking maybe what brought her here, and it's no doubt that her food is first-rate, but her skills at uncovering motive may be what people remember when they think of Jenny Starling. When a member of staff is killed with a jeweled dagger, who could possibly have a motive for such a crime? Everyone has a secret and everyone is a suspect, and the police once again need Jenny's help to uncover the killer. A light cozy mystery without the benefit of forensic science, just a question of figuring whodunit and why and that's where Jenny's special skills come in.

DI Hillary Greene was one of my favorite characters from Faith Martin's Murder series. Jenny, however, might just become a close second.
I received a DRC from Joffe Books through NetGalley.

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

***** Freelance cook Jenny Starling has an intellect even more impressive than her cooking skills or her dramatic appearance and isn't hesitant to wield it along with her powers of observation and deduction. Even if the constabulary become a mite testy upon finding out that she's in residence. The mystery itself is somewhat convoluted and full of red herrings, surprises, and twists, including the antics of Henry the tortoise. I love this book and this series!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

4.5 Stars

Please note this book was first published as “AN INVISIBLE MURDER” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.

Jenny Starling is a mot unusual woman. Standing a tad over 6 feet, she's curvaceous with beautiful long dark hair, living the life she wants. She is a traveling cook and just from chance an amateur detective.

She's well known among law enforcement communities. Without meaning to, she's been involved in several murders and always seems to find the culprit before the officers can.

This time around she's been hired to cook for the owners of a real castle. She's only been there a day or two when one of the staff members is stabbed in the heart with a jeweled dagger. The castle is full of suspects ... either staff or relatives of the elderly owners.

Upon investigating with the police, they find that several of the people there should have been able to see exactly where the stabbing took place ... but no one remembers seeing or hearing anything.

There are plenty of suspects, many of whom had a motive. Several of them have secrets ... the kind of secrets that should never see the light of day.

This is a suspenseful mystery with varied and unique characters. The reader should pay attention to Henry ... he's a hoot... and he lightens the somber mood of the household.

Although 4th in the series, this can be easily read as a stand alone. As always, I highly recommend starting at the very beginning. These mysteries are suspenseful, tossed with a little humor, delicious sounding meals, and credible characters.

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

Faith Martin is a prolific producer of crime fiction, and sometimes releasing books in such rapid succession means that the quality isn't anything to write home about (or is absolutely dire), but Ms Martin has, somehow, managed to avoid this pitfall for many a long year. Although this certainly isn't my favourite of hers, it's far from a disaster. Previously published in 2012 as An Invisible Murder under Martin's pen name Joyce Cato, this is the fourth novel in the utterly charming Jenny Starling Travelling Cook series. This instalment has the same warm characters and atmosphere contrasted by the dastardly deed carried out by the unsub responsible for the death of a local woman. But who is the killer, and can Jenny aid the police and collar him before he causes more destruction?

This is a lighthearted addition to an already popular series which I always picture as being set in the chocolate-box villages portrayed in Midsomer Murders, and there is more humour interspersed throughout than in previous episodes. One of the aspects I appreciate the most about this cosy series is that the investigations are furthered by good old-fashioned police work and there's a distinct lack of forensics and science. Basically, it's all done by following the gut and dogged hard work. I think the reason it's so enjoyable is that there's not much else on the market like this now, and I am a sucker for anything that makes me feel nostalgic. It's a very straightforward approach and all the better for it too. Sometimes less is more. A few of the surprises I guessed ahead of time, but that didn't spoil the book for me. A must-read series for those who like cosies and fun, entertaining mysteries.

Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

This story combined two loves of mine - food and mystery! Set in a castle the story couldn't have been more appealing to me.

One day after Jenny takes up an appointment as the cook in this castle, Ava the governess is found dead stabbed through the heart. Alibis abound, everyone is accounted for but it is an inside job. The Detective Inspector who is sent to find out who did this murder is clueless where to start but Jenny has a head start as she knows the atmosphere is not quite right and immediately ferrets out information to show that almost everyone other than her master and mistress have a reason to dislike the governess.

Whether dislike is enough to murder someone has got to be seen and methodically Jenny goes about uncovering the real culprit.

Very entertaining, very chatty and a lovely light read.

Jenny Starling #4

Jenny gets a job for the aristocracy living in a genuine castle, she is thrilled, envisioning nothing more arduous than days spent preparing her beloved recipes. But then a member of staff is murdered with one of the castles fabulous jewelled daggers. Jenny is once again on the hunt to discover the identity of the murderer.

Another well written Jenny Starling mystery. This is turning out to be a really good series. There seems to be no motive behind the murder of a staff member. But Jenny has her own ways of discovering the truth behind the crimes. The police know they they will have their work cut out to solve this crime before Jenny does. These are really easy books to read. I really like this whodidit series.

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

I began this book with interest having read a number of other novels by Faith Martin. However I didn't find this book to be appealing at all and stopped after reading only about 1/4 of it. The setting, characters and writing was too old-fashioned for me and I found all the descriptions boring.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Castle Mystery, the fourth novel to feature travelling cook Jenny Starling.

Jenny has accepted a post with Lord and Lady Avonsleigh where she immediately and happily feels at home. That is until Ava Simmons, the Avonsleighs’ granddaughter Roberta’s tutor, is brutally murdered in seemingly impossible circumstances and “Lady Vee” Avonsleigh drafts Jenny in to help the police.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Castle Murder which is another light, frothy cosy with a good mystery and a sense of humour. As ever the who and how are at the heart of the novel and while I guessed bits and pieces of the how I had no idea of who or why and, yet, the clues are all there. Jenny makes it all seem effortless. It is very much an old fashioned novel as it is all done by deduction with no need for new fangled forensics or any kind of technology. As a result I didn’t learn anything new but I was greatly entertained, especially by Henry the tortoise.

Jenny Starling is very reminiscent in character to Ms Martin’s other protagonist DI HIllary Greene with the same keen intellect, sense of the absurd and tall, hourglass figure. Really, the only difference is their profession.

The Castle Mystery is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.