Yes, I stayed up until 20 to midnight on a weeknight to finish this book, don't judge me. I absolutely ADORED this book. Murder mystery isn't my usual forte, but it was the most delightful & amusing read! I literally breezed through it in one evening, staying up until nearly midnight to finish it.

I recognised Orlando's name from being a foodie/watching Masterchef (and being a fan of Waitrose weekend magazine), so was excited to give this book a go. Honestly, it surpassed my expectations. It was witty, funny, touching - AND THAT TWIST?! Honestly, I had no idea until the very end! Also, as a Hampshire lass myself, I appreciated all the references to the local area!

I definitely recommend reading this when it is published, and I am so grateful to Netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for this arc in return for an honest review. My only disappointment is that I can't get it in paperback until it's published in Feb 2024! But the minute this baby is published, it's going on my bookshelves! 10/10, absolutely fantastic debut novel - made me smile so hard my face hurts. 5/5 stars. 🌟

Delicious…
What on earth has chef Paul Delamare let himself in for? Having agreed to teach at a very exclusive residential cooking school in Belgravia to assist an old friend, every fibre of his being is telling him that it is a mistake - but he’s already agreed and he can’t let his old friend down. After all, it may well do him some good. Right? Hmmm, probably not. It’s not long before events are to take a fatal turn. Chaos soon ensues and with the place crawling with police, a group of unlikely but very possible suspects each acting in a distinctly fishy manner, a killer on the loose and Paul himself under suspicion- after all he is a skilled knife master in the kitchen - what is a chef to do? A delicious first outing in what is billed as a new series of cosy crime, this is a real joy with a frothy plot populated with an eclectic and deftly drawn cast and with a perfect setting for a murder or two.

Celebrity chef Christian has had a bit of a mishap. How can he teach at an exclusive residential cookery school with a cast on? He manages to persuade his friend Paul Delamare to cover for him. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

A dead body, for one. Which Paul stumbles across.

With a confined list of suspects, all of whom are behaving less than normally, can Paul get to the bottom of this? He needs to - he's a suspect too.

Great fun :)