Entertaining mystery with some charming and crazy characters that results in a lighthearted and amusing read.

Richard wants the quiet life. He runs a B&B in the Loire Valley spending his days looking forward to his afternoon nap. This] charming mystery, released in 2021 in the UK, is a fast-paced, witty story for those who enjoy dry British humor." — Library Journal From the Publisher

Just like the Loire’s other great export, Sancerre, Ian Moore’s prose is reassuringly dry, beautifully constructed, and deeply satisfying. The Follet Valley series is a pleasure you’ll return to again and again.’ Marty Wilson, Australian Comic of the Year The mystery is a light one, and the book is full of delightful humorous touches. The whole thing has a very campy (in a good way) feel, from Richard’s references to his beloved classic cinema to the madcap, zany race to solve the mystery. Although I don’t read many cosy mysteries, this niche little genre is one that I would love to dive deeper into. I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club last year and I’ve been looking for books of the same ilk ever since. This new release seemed to fit the bill. First there’s Richard Ainsworth, a middle-aged Englishman running a B&B in France, looking at a future as a bachelor after his marriage has come undone. The only things bringing joy to Richard’s life are his pet hens, and his vast knowledge and love for old cinema. He has the typical self-deprecating humour of the English, and a lot of the story involves him trying to find his place in all this chaos, and his character arc is really quite lovely.

Death and Croissants is the first of the Follet Valley Mysteries and is a crazy, quirky, comic, and slightly over the top cosy mystery. In the book, we meet Richard Ainsworth, a middle-aged Englishman who has moved to the bucolic Loire Valley where he runs a Bed and Breakfast or rather a chambre d’hote. Richard is dejected, slightly boring even, and his only interest in life is old movies, so much so that the hens in his establishment are named after actresses—Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner. He is estranged from his stylish wife Clare who found nothing to keep her in France and has returned to England. Life goes on monotonously for him, most days being pretty much the same, only his cantankerous (but observant) cleaning lady, Madame Tablier for company. Richard is enjoying retirement, running his B&B and watching old films, until his cleaner Madame Tablier spots a bloody handprint in one of the bedrooms though there is no sign of the guest. Convinced by another guest, Valérie Dorçay, another guest with a dog called Passepartout, to investigate he soon finds himself embroiled in all manner of shenanigans... France, boutique hotel, missing guest, murdered hen, cunning women and brothers, not to forget all the movie references and other jokes. All of a sudden he seems to be living in one of his beloved film noirs. Murder, mafia, bounty hunters, and more. This book has it all. Moore’s writing style and use of wit and humor make this rather dark story fun and light.What a fantastic series debut! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Death and Croissants. Quirky characters, a dash of humor and a (murder) mystery to keep guessing till the end, this book is an absolute delight for mystery lovers. Richard finds himself drawn into this murder mystery in a bid to solve it despite his unwillingness. A light, very funny mystery with appealing characters in a wonderful French countryside following Richard who owns a b & b in the Loire Valley. Disclaimer: Please note I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

He had seen hundreds of films where one man tails another, yet it was sadly, and very swiftly, clear to Richard that none of the finesse or techniques of such an enterprise had rubbed off on him.’ French is my favourite language and I studied it extensively for most of my life, including the culture, cuisine, history and geography of France, for a complete and complex understanding of the subtilities of the language. Richard is a middle-aged English man running a B & B in the French countryside. He lives a mostly mundane life. until one day, he finds a bloody handprint on the wall and one of his guests missing. The first book in the Follet Valley series, set in the French Loire, this book is absolutely marvellous, a real happy tonic for these awful days of virus and misery. Death and croissants is the first installment in the Follet Valley Mystery series. I’ve read lots of cozy mysteries but none set in France so, that and the gorgeous cover (a croissant and a dead hen?!) convinced me to give this one a chance.This book has laugh out loud British humour, brilliantly eccentric characters including a pair a English ex pat swingers, a grumpy housekeeper and a mysterious femme fatale! You'd think you be allowed to relax over Christmas, but not in the world of the Thursday Murder Club.