Mini Review – Death and Croissants

From Goodreads:

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.

One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valérie, 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!

You can tell that Ian Moore was a stand-up comedian, you can even gauge the era of his comedy career from his writing style. You can easily picutre Vic Reeves or Bob Mortimer in the role of Richard the main character there is something very much of that era in comedy about the chracter.

Richard is kind of detstible and a bit of a irritable ass but you can’t help but like him. He is as has something almost Mr Bean-sh about him too. It works well with just how off the wall this little story is. You have to suspend disbleif a little as you follow Richard and his new femme fetal of a sidekick (or is he hers) Valerie as they try to solve the mystery of the elderly guests disappearence and the murder of Ava the chicken.

It really is a cozy mystery, easy to read with a nice glass of french wine in the sun as the beautiful descriptions of southern france mix with so very british comedy. The mystery itself is rather thin but the charaters make up for it as it is the banter between them all and how Valerie and most of the towns people run rings round Richard that makes this so entertaining. I would recommend this to someone that is just looking for a relaxing fun read for their summer holidays.