Death and Croissants: The most hilarious murder mystery since Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club (A Follet Valley Mystery)

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I loved the setting of this humourous cosy murder mystery. Set in a B&B in the Loire Valley. A hapless ex-pat Brit is drawn into a search for a missing guest after finding a bloody handprint on the bedroom wall, and a pair of broken spectacles. He is aided and abetted, or rather bossed about and led by a beautiful and strong willed Frenchwoman, Valerie de Orcay. While I wasn't tempted at any point to not finish this, it did seem like a much longer read than it actually is. I don't think I will be reading any more of this series. Everything its author is: immaculately turned out, sharp and consistently hilarious.’ Mark Billingham

I ran across this on Audible as one they recommended for fans of The Thursday Murder club. It did not have that subtitle - only Goodreads has it and it is ridiculous, I would have skipped it if I have seen it. The highlight of Richard's day is feeding his hens, Lana Turner, Joan Crawford and Ava Gardner. He also enjoys watching old movies and drinking whiskey. This man loves his whiskey! And, the quiet life! This book is described as an "Unputdownable mystery...", but I put it down many times. It has lots of quirky characters, which I love, but I didn't connect with any of them. I tend to lose interest if I don't care about the characters. 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.

Advance Praise

My heads still spinning from the idea of a slightly outdated gentleman running a B&B in the Loire Valley. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper and broken bloodied glasses in a bin . Another guest, the enigmatic Valerie, along with her pampered pooch, Passepartout persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance. ABOUT 'DEATH AND CROISSANTS': Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it.

Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a quiet B&B in the Loire Valley in France. His life is uneventful and that’s the way he likes it, until one day, his peace is interrupted by the disappearance of an elderly guest and the appearance of a bloody handprint on the wall. Another guest, the undeniable Valerie, persuades Richard to investigate the disappearance with her. After reading the blurb, I was expecting something along the lines of The Thursday, or even The Marlow, Murder Clubs. That’s very much what I got only much more over the top and a whole lot sillier.Death and Croissants is a far funnier book than a story about a bloody murder has any right to be’. Josh Widdicombe I’m sorry to be critical, but I just got fed up and gave up around half way through. It’s possible that I missed a comic masterpiece in the second half, but I doubt it somehow. Farrago do an excellent job in bringing us a lot of both new and neglected humorous writing, much of which I have enjoyed very much. This one, though, wasn’t for me. Richard is enjoying a quiet early retirement, running a B&B and watching old movies, but that changes when he finds a bloody handprint in one of the bedrooms and no sign of the guest. Persuaded by another guest, the glamorous Valérie Dorçay, to investigate he soon finds himself caught up in all sorts, the mafia, nudity and murder most fowl.

Given’s Richard’s love of films, all the references to old movies were good fun and I liked the idea of Richard considering himself the equivalent of IMDB before it existed. I also loved the reference to The Avengers and Mrs Peel, especially because lately whenever I see the Avengers referenced, it ends up being the Marvel Comics one, not the old series and film (that was equally quirky and crazy but one I enjoyed very much but really, I’m digressing now). The humour and the quirky characters were great fun for the most part, but may be a bit over the top sometimes. Still I liked both Richard and Valerie (and the dog Passepartout) very much, and look forward to their further adventures. Richard Ainsworth runs a B&B in the Follet Valley. He likes the quiet life, doesn’t really enjoy his guests , but adores his hens, all named after classic film stars. He is separated from his wife, Clare, and his only member of staff seems to be Madame Tablier, who is a foul mouthed

Richard is a middle-aged English man living a perfectly non-exciting life and running a B&B in France. He's got a hobby that might be considered "boring" by many, a general disinterest to the world at large, and a sense of humour that is in a distinctly English way. His perfectly boring life in France got upended by a charming French woman, Valerie, who is a guest staying at his B&B and could best be described, in Richard's opinion, as "a force of nature". Before He knows it, he was deeply involved in a murder investigation, dealing with hitmen, breaking into houses, and on a mission to avenge one of his hens; all the while trying to deal with his failing marriage and disillusioned adult daughter. I’m afraid that, despite warm endorsements from a lot of comedians whom I like very much, I didn’t like Death And Croissants. Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens ... and you don’t mess with a fellow’s hens!

Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B and u0026B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that’s the way he likes it.One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valerie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance.Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens … and you don’t mess with a fellow’s hens!Unputdownable mystery set in rural France, by TV radio regular and bestselling author Ian Moore – perfect for fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, Julia Chapman, or M.C. Beaton. Death and Croissants (A Follet Valley Mystery, #1) by Ian Moore – eBook DetailsJust 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 Policeman is top notch, I have met several like this during my many years in France, but only when you can actually find an open rural police station!! Disappointingly, I have not met any Echangistes, but I’m sure they exist!! A quiet British expat B&B owner Richard Ainsworth lives in rural France and turns sleuth when one his guests disappears in this witty whodunit. This is the first in the Follett Valley series, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club. I truly liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who loved the Thursday Murder club by Richard Osman. In fact Valérie reminds me of Elizabeth. They have the same personality.