Dollycas’s Thoughts

Pies! Pies! Pies! Carrie Ann Cole is baking pies for a bridal shower to be held in the Orangery at the palace. She has one pie left over and leaves it for the chef usually in charge of the Orangery. When a waiter is found dead with his face in her pie she knows someone tampered with it. All the evidence points to Carrie Anne and when another chef is murdered she realizes it is up to her to find the real killer before she loses her dream of being the chef for the Duke and Duchess and their wonderful family.

Carrie Ann Cole is an American chef in charge of one of the palace’s four kitchens. Her kitchen prepares meals and teas for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. She also is asked to do the food for events her royals host like the bridal shower in this story. In addition to her normal duties, she has been asked to participate in a televised cooking competition for charity. After that event concludes several people on one of the other teams get sick and again Carrie Ann is a suspect. She does have two men watching out of her, the kitchen gardener and the palace’s chief of security. She also has a new assistant that is determined to help her clear her name.

All of Ms. Hampton’s characters leap off the pages. Carrie Ann is getting comfortable in her new position but is worried about being terminated with all these dead bodies that just seem to pile up around her. She is starting a romantic relationship with Jasper, the gardener but there is also romantic vibes between Carrie and Ian, the security chief. I also liked the way she and her new assistant got along and her friend that tries to show Carrie Ann some of the area’s nightlife.

There is never a dull moment at the palace or in Carrie Ann’s life. The story has a fast pace, the pages on my Kindle where flying. Twists and turns, peeping Tom’s, a cheating chef, a cranky chef, murders, secrets and lies and or so many pies held my attention from word one. Cleverly written, Nell Hampton gives readers a mystery we can sink our teeth into. An inside look at palace life is just the meringue on the top of the pie.

Readers of Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef Mysteries will love these characters and their story. I recommend this book/series to all cozy mystery fans!

Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton is the second tale in A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series. Carrie Ann Cole is the personal chef to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Kensington Palace. Carrie Ann is busy preparing for a pie themed bridal shower being hosted by the Duchess for Penny Nethercott’s sister on Saturday. The gathering gets moved to the Orangery and Carrie Ann will be using Chef Wright’s kitchen. After the event, Carrie Ann leaves a lemon meringue pie as a thank you to the chef and his staff. Early the next morning, Penny awakens Carrie Ann because there are police at the Orangery. A waiter was found face down in Carrie Ann’s pie. The pie was poisoned, and Carrie Ann is the prime suspect in the man’s death. Carrie Ann sets out to clear her name and reputation before she loses the job she loves. After competing in a pie competition, Chef Butterbottom and his staff end up severely ill. Carrie Ann is the runner up, and she is once again under suspicion and in the tabloids. While at the Orangery talking to the sous chef, Carrie Ann learns that Chef Wright has disappeared. They find the flirtation chef dead in the walk-in freezer. The bodies are piling up and the common denominator is Carrie Ann. Can Carrie Ann find the person responsible before she ends up in the tower?

While Lord of the Pies is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. Lord of the Pies is a busy book. What I mentioned above in my summary is just a drop in the bucket. There is a stalker, clubbing, baking, another new assistant for Carrie Ann, pie competition, tabloid photographs, Carrie Ann goes out for drinks with Jasper, cooking, chatting, eating and gallons of tea. I thought Lord of the Pies contained good writing, has a steady pace and a great theme (working for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington). The author has a conversational writing style that engages the reader and soon has them engrossed in the story. I like Carrie Ann as the main character. She is well-developed and has excellent cooking skills. She does, though, need to wise up to the ways of the world and proper etiquette (rules) when working in a royal household. I am not so enamored with Penny. I am amazed she can get out of bed for work after a night of drinking and dancing (returning home in the wee hours). The mystery is intriguing. You never knew who the next victim would be (I kept hoping Chef Butterbottom would not recover). Many readers will be surprised when the solution is revealed. There was, though, too much supposition. Carrie Ann with Agnes (her latest assistant) and Penny speculating on the crimes. Some of the same details kept getting repeated. I could have done with less romance between Carrie Ann and Jasper. Her falling into his arms after a harrowing ordeal did not seem believable since the pair have yet to go one a real date (only went out for drinks once). I did not feel any spark between them. Now Carrie Ann and Ian are another story. I am giving Lord of the Pies 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The mouthwatering descriptions of pies along with the recipes at the end of the book will have you digging out your pie pans. If you are looking for an entertaining cozy mystery to read, then look no further than Lord of the Pies.

This is a great mystery, with memorable characters. This series is set in England and the Royal family is mentioned quite often. I liked the flow of this book and the way the author described food is dangerous when your hungry. The mystery had great twists and I highly recommend this book.

This is a great next in series for this delightful series.
Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton is the second book in "A Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series."
Carrie Cole is the personal chef to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Kensington Palace. She is busy preparing for a pie themed bridal shower being hosted by the Duchess. The gathering gets moved and after Carrie Ann leaves a pie as a thank you to the chef. The next morning A waiter was found face down in Carrie Ann’s pie. The pie was poisoned, and Carrie Ann is the suspect. Carrie Ann begins to work to clear her name and reputation . She soon has a set of clues and suspects who may place her in danger.
This is a fun series and this new release will leave you craving pie ! I love the well crafted sleuth, the food descriptions, the location and the quirky fun characters. It is fun to read this series about cooking for the royal family. This series is always a enjoyable reading experience.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my personal review.

If you're a reader of cozys you KNOW Carrie Ann did not poison the pie that killed the waiter or Chef Butterbottom, not matter things look. What sets this apart from others is that it's set in Kensington Palace! I know, I know, just go with it. It's an entertaining read, complete with recipes, btw but it's really good because of the characters. There's workplace conflict, there's a little workplace romance (Ian? or Jaspar? Hmmmm) and there's a delightful light tone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I liked the first in this series very much = but be assured you can read this as a standalone- and I'm looking forward to the next one. Try this!

I read the first in the series and loved it so I was hoping it would hold tight in book number two. It did not disappoint. I enjoyed it very much.

4.5 stars, actually.

Although I've never been a huge fan of cozy mysteries, they're perfect for when I've grown weary of blood, gore, shoot-'em-ups and books with "girl" in the title. But usually, by the 50 percent mark - sometimes even sooner - the heroine has annoyed me so much by poking her nose (and the rest of her body) where it doesn't belong that I'm more inclined to smack her upside the head than finish the book. What a joy it was, then, to read about the delightful, entertaining and very capable Carrie Ann Cole, an American chef who works for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (think: William and Kate) at Kensington Palace.

It is, I must add, not the first in the series; but I had no problem whatsoever following this one despite not having read the other. In fact, Chef Cole isn't a stranger to murder - she once found an assistant dead under a bed of kale. Here, though, everything seems to be going smoothly, at least until she sees a man peeking into her kitchen window. Not long thereafter, that man is found not only dead, but apparently from an unusual cause: Poisoning by eating one of Carrie Ann's delicious pies. He was found in the Orangery at Kensington Palace following a bridal shower that Carrie Ann had been called in to cater.

Readers, of course, know Carrie Ann is innocent; still, with her fingerprints on the pie pan, she's got to find a way to prove she's not a murderer lest the Royal Family sends her packing. For the moment, she's got support from a couple of hunky guys (oh, did I mention Carrie Ann is beautiful and single?), namely the palace head of security, Ian Gordon, and Jasper Feldman, the kitchen gardener. But following a pie-making contest that generates jealousy from her chef peers, her primary rival and a few of his staff become ill (another suspected poisoning). And when yet another chef is iced, guess who becomes a prime suspect once again?

Through it all, Carrie Ann's behavior never once insulted her intelligence (or mine), nor did the story challenge credibility (though I do wish the characters could find another way to react to situations besides wincing - roll their eyes once in a while, perhaps?) And if I must nitpick, I'd say there was an overabundance of the characters' speculating about whodunit and why. But the twists, turns and kneads were plentiful and fun (no, I didn't guess the ending), to the point that unquestionably, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 2 in the Kensington Palace Chef series and it's a great addition to the series. Carrie Ann is not a newbie any longer and she's loving cooking for the Prince William and his family. When an employee of the palace is murdered with one of Carrie Ann's pies she must prove her innocence or leave in disgrace. When another chef is murdered and another is poisoned Carrie Ann is the only chef left. Intrigue and "politics" in the kitchens make for a fun read. Can't wait for book three, this is becoming one of my favorite series. I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you for allowing me to receive a review copy via NetGalley

A cozy set in Kensington Palace? All over this one! Little did I know that this is the second book in the Kensington Palace Chef Mysteries but fear not, Lord of the Pies can be read without the first book (although, I will be grabbing Kale to the Queen ASAP!).

The excitement in the kitchens of Kensington Palace for Carrie Ann, the chef. Peeping toms, scandals, and murder whip up more than a meringue for Carrie Ann! The mystery deepens and the author does a great job of building up the mystery, the setting, and the characters without giving away TOO much about WHO the murderer is.

Who killed the peeping tom? I guess you will just have to read the book to find out! Highly recommended!

*runs off to buy Kale to the Queen*

Carrie Ann is the personal chef for the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. Moving from Chicago, Ill, she started working at Kensington Palace in London three months prior. As part of her duties she catered a bridal shower for the sister of her best friend, Penny. The other chefs become jealous she has won this honor. Carrie Ann left a pie for the staff to thank them for their help. After eating a slice, Wentworth, the waiter, was found dead, slumped over the dessert. The local police try to pin her as they know she was upset when Wentworth was caught peeking into her windows. She was not allowed to return to the kitchen, but Carrie Ann doesn’t think her pie had anything to do with his death except offer him a delicious last meal. She needs to solve the mystery before she’s kicked out of the palace for good. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book.

American chef, Carrie Ann Cole, is busy preparing fresh, homecooked meals for the duke and duchess when she finds herself in the middle of another murder mystery. Beginning with a murder just after Carrie Ann caters a bridal shower for a friend with the duchess, there is another poisoning (although not fatal) at the pie contest, and yet another body found in the freezer of the Orangery. With plenty of suspects, twists and turns, and love triangles, Carrie Ann works to find the killer (or is there more than one?) while cooking up a storm and navigating British life.

This is a fun and fast paced read. I loved the characters and setting - a royal palace, with all of its security and procedures added a neat layer to the mystery. I loved Carrie Ann's love interests, and her friend, Penny, is the perfect sidekick for our protagonist. The mystery kept me guessing, and overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it! This is a great and unique cozy mystery series. I also loved that the author kept up the pie theme throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for review.

A great addition to a wonderful series. Poor Carrie Ann just can't catch a break. Yet again she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The mystery was very well written with great ending.

Lord of the Pies is the second book in the Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series! When we meet up with Carrie Anne again, she’s preparing for the bridal shower of her best friend’s sister. Once the shower is over, Carrie Ann decides to leave a lemon meringue pie as a thank-you gift to the staff, but the next day, a waiter is found keeled over death with his face in her pie. With her fingerprints all over the pie, Carrie Ann must clear her name before it’s too late!

I LOVE this series! If I had to compare it to every other cozy mystery series I’ve ever read, it’s definitely in the top ten, and that’s saying a lot. Just ahh. Everything about this series is wonderful and amazing. The first book was fantastic, but this one was just…. idk perfect? Yes, perfect!

Carrie Ann is just a great main character. I love her personality, and her love for cooking. The food that she creates is beautiful and just delicious. God, I want to taste it all. From her pies to her entrees to her cookies — yummy!

The other characters really help bring this series to life. They all just feel so lively and delightful. With every book so far, I feel like I get to know them better like they’re real people. Each book gives them more depth, and we get to see their unique flairs and what makes them different.

Another thing I love is the atmosphere and the setting. I’ve always wanted to go to England, so I’m in awe of the setting. It’s so much fun learning about the culture and reading the rich history and beautiful descriptions.

The mystery itself was unpredictable and utterly addicting. Once I started reading, I literally felt like I was on a roller coaster ride because this book took me through so many surprising twists and turns. It felt like every chapter had something exciting happening or some new twist.

The ending was shocking yet satisfying because I totally didn’t see it coming. And that’s why I loved it. When an author can set up an excellent mystery and surprise me while having it make sense at the same time, I’ll be their fan for life.

Overall, this is an excellent series with a wonderful second addition. I love this series, and I need the next book asap! Please hurry :)

LORD OF THE PIES (such a great title and yes, you’ll be craving pie while reading) is the second book in Nell Hampton’s Kensington Palace Chef Mystery series. This delightful addition gives the reader an insider’s peek at working for the royal family in London. The protagonist, Chef Carrie Ann Cole, is an American transplant who is hired by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a private chef for the family. While she’s making a few friends, several people view her as an outsider and it seems like someone is going out of their way to sabotage her position. Could it be the stalker who spies on her while she’s working in the kitchen late at night? Or maybe one of the other palace chefs who feel that an American shouldn’t be cooking for royalty? Carrie Ann knows she must prove she is more than capable in order to keep her job. When her pie is found to have poisoned a waiter and she’s relieved of duties while the investigation is ongoing, Chef Cole finds herself asking questions and gathering information on who could have wanted the waiter dead in order to clear her name.

Ms. Hampton weaves intrigue, spies, scandal, and a cooking competition in this page turner. I’ll admit I love hearing about Britain’s monarchy and greatly enjoyed the glimpses we see of the young royal family through Carrie Ann’s interaction. The story is well-plotted and the action provides good pace. Given how many people are keeping secrets in the palace along with the plot twists, I was kept guessing about who the killer was but also who the intended victim was. The final reveal caught me by surprise… I didn’t see that one coming at all! The satisfying conclusion gives a hint of what’s in store for Carrie Ann in the next book and I cannot wait!

Like I said at the beginning, you’ll be craving pies as you read this book. I am happy to say that Ms. Hampton provides a few recipes at the back of the book -- and all sound amazing!

The first Kensington Palace Chef Mystery, [book:Kale to the Queen|31213510], established newcomer Private Chef Carrie Ann Cole into the kitchen for the Royal Family at Kensington Palace. In that book characters were introduced and setting established, but even though I recommend usually reading sequels in order, this one will serve fine to read out of sync if you only have the follow-up book.

Carrie is no longer a newbie to the kitchen but she’s still making waves and battling the lead head chef, this time through a cooking contest that’s filmed for charity on TV. When murder takes place and fingers start pointing toward Carrie’s pie, she has to solve the crime not only to clear up her reputation, but to prevent the body count from climbing. There’s multiple murders in this one, which pushes the mystery and the clues out through action rather than just introspective dialogue and detective skills. Carrie has clearly become a better detective since her first crime, but she still depends on the interesting and somewhat colorful staff in the Royal Palace.

As with most cozies, the violence isn’t graphic and there is humor. For the foodie fans, this is among the best since it digs into detail on various recipes, emphasizes all sorts of dishes and types, and gives a general portion of recipes at the end of the book.

Must try that pie!

As with the first novel, while the mystery is interesting enough to dig into, it’s the setting and the characters who really bring out the novel’s memorable flavor. The budding romance isn’t cheesy but it’s certainly plausible, Carrie is likable as a heroine, and the staff she employs shows realistic hardships when it comes to finding dependable chefs who put up with difficult situations.

Fortunately this one didn’t let the reader sit too long either, dishing out more action that I figured it would. I didn’t guess the villains exactly, but the twists weren’t a huge surprise – although there were some things that made me raise my eyebrows and layered the motive behind the poisonings.

If you’re a fan of cozies that retain cute humor but that avoid going overboard on being too cutesy, keeping some realism and seriousness mixed into the story – you’ll like this one. Top it off with recipes and a genuine enthusiasm for cooking, and you’ll see why Carrie is so cherished amongst the Royal Palace staff.

Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This book follows Chef Carrie Ann Cole a few months after her arrival at Kensington Palace. Several more attacks and murders take place, and once again the killer was a shock! This book was a fast and easy read. It was enjoyable and kept you guessing even after you think the crime is solved. Recommend!!

This is the second in this yummy series! Carrie Ann is a long way from her American home. Having lucked out with a job as personal chef for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. And while Carrie is thrilled, not everyone in the kitchens is happy.

When Carrie is asked to cater a shower for a close friend of the Duchess at The Orangery, she goes all out on a pie theme. Baking late into the night, when she looks up to see a face in the window. When she sees the man again at the Orangery she tries to find out what he is doing snooping on her, and with a camera no less!

When the peeping tom is found face down in one of Carrie's pies, poisoned no less, she needs to figure out what is going on and who would want pictures of her and her kitchen?

With jealous chefs, cheating spouses, cat fights and murder, the palace is not looking so hot right now. With a plateful of suspects the author had me going and guessing to the very end! Did not see that one!

This is one delicious cozy mystery!

NetGalley/Crooked Lane Books

 April 10th 2018 by Crooked Lane Books

Late last night I finished Lord of the Pies the second in the Kensington Place Chef Mystery series.This was a very fun read. I have long been a fan of the Royal Family and while I love that this is centered around their palace home, it actually has nothing to do with the Royals really themselves and is an absolutely brilliant concept. As much as I love the Royals, I often wonder about those who dedicate their lives to working for the family and to those who work in such a proximity to them. Even though I know this book is fiction it is still fun to imagine and picture everything author Nell Hampton describes so well to us in the books. This is a great read and a fun cozy mystery. I really look forward to reading the next one and many more to come!
This book is out April 10th and is published by Crooked Lane Books.

Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton is the 2nd book in A Kensington Palace Chef mystery series, and my first book by this author. Carrie Ann Cole, an American, is the personal chef to the royal family. When a waiter dies in one of Carrie's pies, she is determined to find the real killer. I found this book to be a quick read, with well developed plot and and characters. I am looking forward to reading the first next book in the series. If you love fun cozy mysteries like I do, than I recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Chef Carrie Ann Cole is the private chef for Prince William’s Family. Unfortunately since arriving at the palace, poor Chef Cole seems to have Murder follow her around. Someone has been poisoned and found face down in her Lemon Merangue pie. The tabloids are smearing her. Somehow, someway she needs to find out who is killing the people that work in the Orangery.

The book is well written and a fun read. You really don’t know who did it until the end. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly to all of my Cozy Mystery reading friends and there are a lot of us! The recipes in the back of the book are wonderful.