Death in le Jardin

Prior to reading Death in le Jardin, the fourth in the Follett Valley Mystery series, I had not been acquainted with this series or author Ian Moore. It took me no longer than reading the first page to absolutely fall in love with the characters, the writing style, and the anticipation of what was to come.



Insouciant, middle-aged Richard Ainsworth is living the sweet life in Saint-Sauver in the Follet Valley, a quiet French backwater, puttering around his posh B&B with sidekick gal pal, former bounty hunter, and possible assassin, Valérie d’Orçay and her pampered Chihuahua, Passepartout.

When the housekeeper of their B&B is charged with murdering her brother-in-law, who was at one time her fiancé (gotta love the French) life gets complicated. Their investigation sends them to a rather bizarre garden town/commune filled with a variety of strange and dodgy people.

In addition to being a wonderful and complex mystery, the story is very atmospheric. The descriptions were so vivid and detailed that I felt as if I were there right along with the characters. The characters themselves are rich, well developed, quirky, and strange, you name it, and you’ll find it in this book.

At this point I might add that there is no need to have read the previous books in this series (although you will definitely want to), as this stands quite well on its own.

I can’t remember the last time I had such a good time reading a book. It was a wonderful bonus that I was surprised by the conclusion of the mystery. Wonderful.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Farrago Publishing Co., and author Ian Moore for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

'Death in le Jardin' by Ian Moore.

On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about.
Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancé, turned brother-in-law. None of which the stubborn old woman denies.
Valérie d'Orçay is having none of it and their investigation leads them to a strange tourist garden village, where backbiting, recriminations and even former colleagues provide a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed.

I'm a big fan of this series and this book was just as good as the rest of them. It kept me guessing right till the end. I love the relationship between Richard and Valerie. And Madame Tablier is a fantastic character so I am happy she played a bigger part in this book.
If you're a fan of cosy crime then I would definitely recommend this series.
Thanks to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books. This is book four in the series, but you can start here. However, you will want to go back and read them all! Cozy and funny!

This is the fourth in this enjoyable series. The series is set in France which I enjoy as I like reading about the lovely locations and quirky characters. The storyline is well written and I find it more on the lines of cosy crime as opposed to gritty crime. It's a perfect weekend read which I recommend.

Before reading this, I was unfortunately unfamiliar with the series and the author, but as an existing Thursday Murder Club fan, this book was perfect! It has all the charm with the unexpected twists and turns that always keep you guessing. Anyone who’s looking for a murder mystery and a good time in one book will definitely enjoy this!

While it felt somewhat odd being dropped into the middle of a series (by my own fault, of course), there’s nothing about it that would ruin the other books nor is there any amount of prior knowledge required in order to jump right in. I’m sure there are some character developments and references for people who’ve read the entire series, but even if you didn’t, you can find yourself right at home with this one as well!

Thank you to NetGalley, Farrago Books, and the author Ian Moore for opportunity to read the advanced digital copy!

4/5

This is the latest episode in the series of books that began with Death and Croissants. In this book, Richard and his partner in crime, Valerie, are on the case after his cleaning lady, Madame Tabiler is arrested for the murder of her brother in law. Soon, a sinister picture begins to emerge around a seemingly picture-perfect village, La Chapelle-Sur-Follet. There are some absolutely absurd moments in the book – we’re far from realistic territory here, but the whole thing has a certain charm to it.
This is partly because Richard is an accidental sleuth/hero, an English dad literally stumbling over crimes in rural France. It’s a bit uncanny the way he is constantly in the right place at the right time.
His friendship/working relationship with Valerie is a real highlight of the book series. There is great banter between the two of them. For the most part, he is the sidekick, she is the real sleuth. However, I was pleased to see that he is beginning to develop into a more natural sleuth this time around. I wish Richard would have a bit more confidence in himself when it comes to matters of the heart.
Now onto the plot, we are given such a jam packed one, almost every page had some plot detail of interest in it. The book started off straight into the central storyline and maintained pace throughout.
What a good twist on the small village trope – the too perfect picture village of La Chapelle-Sur-Follet with so many secrets lurking beneath the surface. There was never a dull moment and I am pleased to say I did not guess the ending.
I thought this might be the end of the series, but it looks like we will be treated to another adventure. I haven’t read all the books but I think that these books would make a great TV series, especially with such a wide ranging cast of returning characters. Overall, another enjoyable jaunt to the French countryside.

Oh my, it is wonderful to catch up with Richard Ainsworth, Valerie d'Orcay and her chihuahua - Passepatout, Madame Tablier and his separated wife Claire. Richard owns a B&B in Follet Valley and he keeps chickens with names of famous actresses. The story begins with the death of Mme Tablier's brother-in-law whilst performing a stunt! Shortly after, Commissaire Henri Lapiere arrives at the B&B to arrest Mme Tablier. This beings an investigation where Richard and Valerie hunt down the true culprit and to a village called La Chapelle-Sur-Follett, where all is not how it seems. I loved the writing, the descriptions and the ending! I highly recommend this book.

This is the first book I've read in this series, although the second by the author. I am very anxious to go back and catch up with this series. The characters are fun and likable as they try to absolve Richard's housekeeper from a murder charge in a small town more worried about its flowers than its citizens. Although I found the ending and final solution a little confusing and circuitous, the ride was so much fun that it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. It's definitely a pleasure read with lots of chuckles and characters I want to see more of. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This wonderful series is pure heaven for all Francophiles. Welcome back to the Follet Valley and all its strangely compelling characters. Richard is a retired Englishman who owns and manages a high end Chambre d’ hote, Valerie, his on / off girlfriend, who may be an assassin, and the formidable housekeeper, Madame Tablier.
This episode starts, not unusually with a death. Madame Tablier’s brother in law has been killed in a motorcycle accident, the official verdict is “ mort imprudence “. Death by showing off, how brilliant and so French!!
Richard and Valerie decide to investigate further, mainly to help the housekeeper and her sister, but also to annoy as many people as possible in the pristine and strange neighbouring village, La Chapelle - Sur - Follet, a place so picture postcard perfect, it looks like a film set!
Here we meet eccentric and rather unpleasant people, run up against French bureaucracy and petty squabbles, visit wonderful locations, foodies and snobbery, and have another chance to improve your holiday French language, although there are certain phrases I cannot imagine how I would work into a conversation whilst on holiday! Oh yes, there are also murders!
This is an old fashioned cosy murder mystery, but great work has gone into the characters and their secrets, and it is all such fun! Very addictive, devious schemes and outlandish events make this novel a sheer delight to read.
A five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Farrago books for my advanced copy, freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave a copy of this to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

With the warmth of the set-up and lightness of touch of the writing, Ian Moore’s novels have become something I look forward to reading every summer.
Now, maybe it’s just my perception, but "Death in le Jardin" is possibly a little more substantial than the previous 'Follet Valley' novels, both in terms of the length of the novel but also in the complexity of the plot and the characters. None of this, of course, is a bad thing – I have very much enjoyed all of the books in the series so far but as the series progresses, they are becoming more and more ‘proper’ crime novels. "Death in le Jardin" has a little bit less fluff than the previous titles (although there is still plenty of that!) and a lot more of a puzzle, both of which work for me as a crime and mystery fan.

I know some put the 'Follet Valley' novels in the ‘cosy crime’ category (a term I hate!) but I think that is, to an extent, disingenuous. Certainly, the location is bucolic and feels like where you might plan to go for holidays, and the French summer sun practically shines from the pages (rather than the British rain dripping from them…) as you read. And undoubtedly, much of this novel’s length consists of humorous character interactions, puns and one-liners, but the murders, although imaginative and occasionally verging on surreal, are never described graphically and are always integral to the plot. So, treat them as cosy if you like that sort of thing (you will probably not be too shocked) but there is a lot more going on and the writing is a lot better than most of the cosy crime out there, waiting on your hard-earned centimes.

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

We are back in the Val de Follet and this time Richard and Valerie have to content with the arrest of Madame Tablier for murder! The murder of her sister's husband no less. When they delve deeper to try to prove her innocence they discover a village that is obsessed with perfection., an old colleague of Valerie's and hidden secrets.
As per the previous titles in this series this book is great fun and laugh out loud in places.

Murder Most Foul..
The fourth Follet Valley mystery and a catastrophe befalls the B&B when the housekeeper finds herself accused of murder most foul whilst Richard and Valerie soon find themselves investigating. A veritable tangled web is about to be unleashed. Another wholly engaging and entertaining mystery with an eccentric, eclectic cast, a nigh on perfect backdrop and a fun and frothy plot laced with abundant humour and lashings of atmosphere.

"From the bestselling author of Death and Croissants comes a murder mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Julia Chapman, or MC Beaton.

On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about.

Then crisis hits his posh B and B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancé, turned brother-in-law. None of which the stubborn old woman denies.

Valérie d'Orçay is having none of it and their investigation leads them to a strange tourist garden village, where backbiting, recriminations and even former colleagues provide a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed."

I mean, I think Madame Tablier would be totally justified in the killing, but that's just my opinion.

Ian Moore is back with the fourth installment of the Follet Valley Mystery series! Set in the rural French village of Saint-Sauveur in the Follet Valley, the series follows Richard Ainsworth, a middle-aged British man who combines running a B&B with solving local crimes alongside his partner, Valérie d'Orçay.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous installments, I was eagerly awaiting the next adventure of Richard and Valérie. On a side note, when will this series be adapted for TV? I think Ian Moore himself would be perfect as the quirky protagonist, Richard Ainsworth.

Richard dislikes spring, a season that brings more work to his lazy life. When Madame Tablier is arrested, Valérie decides it's time for them to investigate. The first clue is found in the village where Madame Tablier's brother-in-law was beheaded. Yes, you read that right!

Richard and Valérie arrive at the tourist garden village and quickly realize that its picturesque appearance is deceptive. The deeper they dig, the more they uncover the village's secrets.

Peppered with humor and quirky characters, Death in le Jardin by Ian Moore is a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable read. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and I couldn't help but sympathize with Richard's personal crises.

Trouble comes in threes: an envelope from his estranged wife, his housekeeper's arrest, and an elusive family staying at the B&B. Richard's hands are full, and living with Valérie only adds to the chaos.

Both Richard and Valérie are unique and charming characters, each bringing their own quirks to the story. Ian Moore brings these wonderful characters to life with excellent storytelling and humor.

Overall, Death in le Jardin by Ian Moore is an enjoyable and entertaining read. You don't have to read the books in order, so feel free to jump into the latest installment. Once you read one, you'll be hooked on the series. It's THAT good!

I remember reading the first book in this series and wanting to book a week at the B&B. He’s entertaining, witty and really able to dig in when it comes to sleuthing. Heck, he even comes to the aid of his less than charming housekeeper when she’s accused of murder. And of course Valerie is always good for some tension as well.

Well written and truly entertaining.

British Cozy-sh Mystery set in France in which an English film historian turned B&B owner and his French partner investigate his housekeeper's former fiance turned brother-in-law's murder.

4/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Moore's Follet Valley Mysteries series, which is a British Cozy-ish Mystery that features a middle-age English film historian turned B&B owner who teams up with his mysterious French lady bounty hunter partner and permanent guest after his housekeeper's accused of her former fiance turned brother-in-law's murder. With plenty of twists and turns, Moore has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Moore's writing and character work is great; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Richard's a bumbling, go-along type of guy who unexpectedly seems to be able sleuth out killers. It's great catching up with him, Valerie,Madame Tablier and the folks of the Follet Valley. I have to say I love that Richard's a film historian and that Moore liberally sprinkles the book and series with tons of film facts and trivia. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Death and Croissants.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books; Farrago Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Hilarious as always!
It's just fun to accompany Richard, Valery and Passepartout on their adventures and to experience the change in their relationship.
As a big fan of Madame Tablier, this case was particularly exciting and captivating.
This instalment of the series did not disappoint either and I hope there will be many more to come.

Thank you to NetGallery and Farrago Books for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy.

Death in le Jardin the fourth book in the Follet Valley series of cosy mysteries.
Richard Ainsworth owns a bed and breakfast establishment in rural France, and murder and mishaps keep happening around him. He investigates crime with his long-term guest Valérie d'Orçay. Although Richard has insecurities, he seems to stumble across clues, while Valerie has the experience and knowledge to uncover the mystery and culprit.

On this occasion, to add to the confusion, the B&B’s housekeeper is arrested for the murder of her former fiancé/brother-in-law in a strange garden village. A cast of quirky characters, backstories, old scores, and arguments provide appropriate twists and turns.

I enjoyed this story, having read one of the books in the series before. Being back in rural France was a delight, and I could easily imagine the B&B with wonderfully named chickens and driving around the countryside through quirky villages and towns.
The main characters continue to provide an entertaining story, and we learn more about their lives this time. Overall, it is a cosy read, with the right amount of humour and jeopardy to keep the reader entertained.

I am sure there has been some final editing before publication.