The Baguette Murders is the third Brittany cozy murder mystery by Anne Penketh. Released 28th Jan 2025 by Joffe Books, it's 234 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is a nice village cozy, set in Brittany and featuring an ensemble cast of expat Brits and locals from the area. The author does a nice job of showing the daily issues and occasional frictions of locals vs. incomers, without being at all preachy or strident. It's a pleasant read and the mystery (if a bit over the top in the details) is well constructed and a good puzzle to work out during.

It works perfectly well as a standalone with the codicil that the returning characters have a history with one another from earlier books and there will be minor spoilers if read out of order. It is perhaps a tiny bit more graphic than the run of the mill village cozy (head injuries with blood described on page), and there is some moderately strong cursing occasionally, but overall it's not egregious.

Four stars. Eminently readable and entertaining. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home readers, and a good series binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

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Review for 'The Baguette Murders' by Anne Penketh

This is the first book I have read by this author but it will not be my last! It is also the third book in Anne's 'A Brittany Murder Mystery' series but can be read as a standalone.

Well done and thank you Anne on, and for, a brilliant cosy mystery and a fantastic introduction to this series for myself!!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly.

Anne's amazing and evocative writing skills really brought everything to life all throughout the story ensuring I could see the characters, the surroundings and feel everything the characters were feeling. In this cracking book Anne transports the reader to beautiful Brittany where we meet Pippa who runs the village bakery in Louennec. Pippa is delivering some baguettes to retired GP, fitness instructor and expat Derek and his wife Solenn's home when she discovers his body leaning over the piano with blood dripping from his head. When she calls the ambulance they declare him dead and the Gendarme are called in. When bread crumbs are discovered on Derek's head suspicion lands on Pippa being a local baker as well as being an expat herself. Pippa is determined to prove her innocence and discover the real killer. Can Pip and her friend Jennifer find the real killer before they it is too late for Pippa? Grab your copy of this delicious delight to find out for yourselves and I can guarantee you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with beautiful settings, larger than life characters, murder, humour, mystery, crime, twists and much more what are you waiting for? I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book but I do have to admit there was one part that did put me off and that was in regards to the way slaughtered animals were used for humour. Personally, I thought this was completely unnecessary and a bit sickening so it was a shame to include it. Anne's evocative writing skills ensures the readers are absolutely sucked into the stunning storyline with the atmosphere and characters coming to life all around them. I absolutely fell in love with Brittany and the settings and Anne's vivid descriptions are absolutely perfect and evocative. I am just glad that I am returning to Cornwall in April otherwise I would be looking at holiday booking sites by now!! I became so invested in this book that it actually felt like going on a holiday and I absolutely dreaded coming to the end where I had to unpack my suitcase and get back to reality. I always say it is better to read books that are part of a series in order but that is not always possible as sometimes, like myself in this case, when you see a book you just have to read it regardless of what number in a series it is!! There is a silver lining to reading books in a series out of order and that is while you are waiting for the next superb book in this series to come out you can go back and read the previous books in the series. That is exactly what I am planning to do as I am yet to actually read the first two books in this series. I am planning to read them before the fourth book in this series is published. Anne has included a Glossary of English Usage for U.S Readers which, although not needed for myself, I thought was a brilliant idea so well done Anne on that thoughtful addition. The book is fast paced with one thing happening after another and I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. Every time I told myself just one more chapter it ended in a way that I just had to read one more and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book around in one sitting. I was walking around with my kindle glued to my hand as I just could not put it down!! Anne's fantastic evocative writing skills really bring the surroundings and characters to life and it makes you feel that you are standing right next to them throughout. I really enjoyed the majority of this book , apart from what I have stated previously, and I am so pleased that I can go back and read the first two books in this series!! All of the characters are realistic, have their own unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses and are all very well developed. Grab your copy of this fantastic book and discover for yourself how great this book is and trust me, you will not regret it and if your anything like me you will find a new author whose work you will fall in love with!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. It is well constructed and traditional and what starts off as one mystery becomes quite multi layered with all the characters backgrounds coming out. It was a very compelling read and I would never have guessed who did and was hiding what and I was completely shocked by the mega twists. An absolutely fantastic read filled with suspense, mystery, twists and much more (I can't say much more as I don't want to spoil it for future readers) Congratulations Anne, it is getting harder and harder to surprise me and you did just that!!! I loved the addictive storyline and the fantastic characters and I really am looking forward to getting stuck into the rest of your books!! With a fantastic storyline, unforgettable characters and twists and turns this book is perfect to devour in front of a fire on a winters day or relaxing on the beach under the sun! Regardless of where or when you read this book Anne transports you to Brittany at the turn of a page!

Congratulations Anne on an absolutely fantastic and successful cosy mystery and I cannot wait to get stuck into more books in this promising series especially the first two books to meet some of these amazing characters from the start!!!

Overall a quirky, fun, page turning, intriguing murder mystery that will keep you hooked!

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Brittany, amateur-sleuth, friction, friends, friendship, expats, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, small-town, murder-investigation, murder, local-politics, family-drama, family, family-dynamics, multilingual, infidelities, cultural-differences, cozy-mystery****

The British glossary at the end is fantastic and the most complete I have ever encountered. But. I was hoping for a simple one for the Bretons and the differences in the way the towns and jurisdictions are named. The mystery is well done, but the terminology is less well defined. The characters are clear and well developed.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley.
#TheBaguetteMurders by Anne Penrith @penkaroo @joffebooks #NetGalley @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble **** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #Brittany #BrittanymurderMysteriesBk3 #crimefiction #whodunnit #cosycrime

An enjoyable cosy mystery set in a village in Brittany , France .
Pippa is running her own bakery in the village which is a far cry from her previous life of corporate career girl .
Whilst delivering her baguettes she finds one of her customers dead and it looks like murder.
People begin to blame Pippa for the death and she must find the culprit in order to clear her name and can she stop the killer striking again?
An easy read in a beautiful setting with a nice mix of English and French characters .
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books.

'Meet Pippa. She’s feisty, forty-something — and living her best life in the charming little town of Louennec, Brittany.' That made me interested in this book. Sounds fun and intriguing. This is a great cosy murder mystery and one I really enjoyed reading. I did love Pippa and found her quite endearing. Love the French setting and more than anything I loved the ease of reading, the flow and how it drew me in and made me want to read more.

Entertaining, fun, mysterious and cosy. What more do you want!

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

In the tradition of some of my favourite guilty-pleasure TV shows, this is Brits abroad solving cosy murders in picturesque Brittany, France. Although this is 3rd in the series and I hadn't read the previous 2 books, I had no trouble catching up with who's who, and where they fit in.

Retired GP and British expat, Derek, is murdered in his own home while waiting for his regular fitness class clients to arrive. First on the scene is Pippa, the local baker and amateur sleuth. This is kind of awkward because Derek's fatal wound is surrounded by breadcrumbs! Sacré bleu!

Derek's death is a shock to the whole town of Louennec, but to the substantial Brit population in particular. Pippa and her best friend, Jennifer, start to make discreet enquiries. When two more bread-related deaths occur, the investigation ramps up to try to clear the suspicions that arise as to Pippa's involvement.

This was a fun, easy read with likeable characters and a lovely setting. My only real difficulty as a reader new to the series was figuring out who the (i.e. sole) investigator was. Once I realised it was both Pippa and Jennifer, I was able to settle back and enjoy the ride. I'll most likely return to the beginning of the series now, to catch up.

Set in a charming French small town, we have a mix of English imports living alongside their French neighbours. There is as expected a certain animosity towards the outsiders who have walked into French territory and with no small effort and hard work set up businesses of their own.

Pippin is one of them with a successful bakery but who has to face Tristan aka Bucky who is antagonistic as he considers her a rival who is doing very well. The murders that follow point the finger at a baker as the weapon is hidden in a baguette but the sheer interest for me was the daily interactions and how life played out in a small town. There were extra marital affairs galore, vendettas lasting generations, everyone was related or connected and there was no way to keep secrets. These added so much variety to an otherwise normal cozy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Anne Penketh for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Baguette Murders coming out January 28, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love cozy mysteries. I have read all kinds of them. I definitely need to go back and read the other books in the series. I haven’t read a lot of cozy set in France. I enjoyed experiencing a new setting. I think Pippa is an interesting character. The bakery definitely feels cozy. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

The Baguette Murders by Anne Penketh is the third delightful installment in the Brittany Murder Mystery series, and it offers everything a cozy mystery fan could hope for—quirky characters, a charming French village setting, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Pippa, the 40-something expat Brit and bakery owner, finds herself at the center of chaos when her beloved baguettes are turned into murder weapons. With multiple deaths involving her bread, Pippa becomes a prime suspect. But true to cozy mystery fashion, she teams up with her friend Jennifer to solve the case and clear her name. Along the way, we’re treated to a mix of humor, local color, and the unique dynamics of expat life in France.

Anne Penketh does a fantastic job of immersing readers in the picturesque Brittany village, complete with its family feuds, expat-local tensions, and delightful gossip. The characters, from the charming but suspicious locals to Pippa’s supportive (if occasionally bumbling) friends, are endearing and relatable. Pippa’s relationship with her boyfriend, a member of the local Gendarmerie, adds another layer of intrigue and heart to the story.

The mystery itself is cleverly plotted, with plenty of red herrings and surprising twists. While there’s a moment or two where Pippa and Jennifer’s sleuthing veers into “too-stupid-to-live” territory, the overall investigation feels engaging and believable. The humor, especially surrounding the absurdity of murder by baguette, is a welcome touch that keeps the story light and entertaining.

For newcomers to the series, The Baguette Murders works well as a standalone, though returning readers will appreciate the development of ongoing relationships and recurring characters. Anne Penketh’s witty writing and vivid descriptions make this a quick but thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books, and Anne Penketh for the ARC. I’m looking forward to the next adventure in this delightful series!

Death by Baguette..
The third outing in the Brittany Murder Mystery series finds Pippa firmly entrenched in her bustling bakery business with no idea that bodies are about to begin piling up - and that her very own bakery baguette will become a murder weapon. Worse still, suspicion is about to fall upon her head. An enjoyable and entertaining instalment to the series with a likeable protagonist, a colourful cast and a well imagined setting and a solid mystery at its heart.

My first read of the series but hopefully it won't be the last. Pippa a 4o something expat Brit has made a good life in Brittany and is happily running her bakery. But now her baguettes are being used to murder people! Bread! This is classic cozy territory with the twist of being set among a community of expats in France (as well as with French locals). It's pleasantly twisty and I liked the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A cosy crime mystery set in Brittany. My first introduction to the author and series but keen to read more. I enjoyed the story, characters and the setting plus the culture clash between the British and the Bretons.

This is a fun cozy mystery set in a picturesque village in Brittany and is the third book in the series. The book is full of humour, as well as the usual twists and turns expected from a mystery full of clues and the odd red herring to keep you guessing.. The quirky characters doing the sleuthing add to the humour as does the typical differences and issues between the ex-pats and the locals. Another enjoyable instalment. in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Pippa is enjoying her life in Brittany, France. She owns a bakery and when one of her favorite customers Is found dead and Pippa is suspected, she must find out who killed him and why. This is the third book in this fun mystery series.

This was everything that I was looking for from a mystery novel, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the way the story was told. The characters had that feel that I was hoping for and was engaged with what was happening. Anne Penketh wrote this perfectly and I hope there is more in this world.

The British ex-pats are back - some loving and embracing French life, others less sure. Pippa (loves Brittany) now owns her own artisan bakery and has a boyfriend in the local Gendarmerie. She finds Derek, ex doctor now yoga teacher, dead killed by a baguette! Then an old lady who bought some of her pastries dies, having choked on crumbs, closely followed by the death of Bucky, a rival baker - again by baguette. Naturally she is a suspect and naturally (it is a cozy mystery) she goes off with friend Jennifer trying to solve said murders/deaths Jennifer is more settled now that she has a new man, although ex-husband is still around (thought he was heading back to Blighty) and her adopted daughter is growing into an interesting character. The characters are quirky but mostly with hearts of gold, the local politics are only as they could be in Brittany - family feuds go on for generations after all. There is the usual French-ex pat tension but, other than the local politicians/mayor, not a rife as in previous book. Some humour, twists and red herrings. All in all a quick but enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Another new series and author for me. This book takes place in Brittany and centers around a group of British ex-pats who have settled there. Pippa, who owns a bakery, discovers the body of a friend Derek, who was a medical doctor, but since relocating teaches fitness classes. Out to deliver his fresh baguette, she finds the back door open, as he was expecting a class, but he has been struck and killed. Because the discovery of the murder weapon was a steel rod sheathed in a baguette, Pippa became a person of interest, maybe not as much with the police, she is dating a member of the Gendarmerie, but with the locals. While her British and a few French friends work with her to find answers, things get even more tense when a fellow baker from another town is killed in the same way. This was an interesting mystery and one I enjoyed. There was one moment when Pippa and her friend Jennifer had a TSTL moment, but the rest of the time, information was discovered in more practical ways. I will definitely revisit this author again. Thanks to #Netgally, #JoffeBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read! #TheBaguetteMurders #AnnePenketh #The BrittanyMurderMystries #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Meet Pippa. She’s feisty, forty-something — and living her best life in the charming little town of Louennec, Brittany! God book! This was sort of a cozy mystery thriller! It had suspense, great mystery, murder, a great who done it, even funny at times! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I love this delightful quirky series which is set in Brittany. There's plenty of drama and dark secrets exposed in everyday rural life. I like how it is set in the present day with references to modern day issues. In all a thoroughly enjoyable read.