This is my first book by this author, and the 4th in a series about professional English cook and amateur sleuth Jenny Starling, but it reads well as a stand-alone mystery and I don’t feel I missed anything important by not reading the previous books. I don’t read a lot of cosy mysteries, as the tendency to treat someone’s death as a curious puzzle to be solved, rather than a heinous crime, bothers me, and this prejudice was completely reinforced here - Jenny takes pleasure in getting one over the police rather than apprehending the perpetrator as soon as possible. However, it is sometimes good to step away from the darkness of traditional crime thrillers to read something lightweight.

Jenny arrives for a job interview at a stately home and with a few well chosen menu suggestions to the elderly aristocrat owners, secures the position and is rapidly ensconced in the kitchen, to the delight of all concerned. Barely a day has passed before one of the other employees is found stabbed to death in the conservatory with a valuable ornamental knife. The police are initially apprehensive because of Jenny’s reputation for beating them to the solving of murders in other towns, but are soon charmed by her, and allow her to run a parallel investigation, but who could the culprit be when everyone has an alibi and no one has a motive?

Jenny is an engaging heroine although I got tired of the repeated references to her physical attributes - she’s tall and curvy with blue eyes, we get it. I guessed whodunnit, how and why pretty early on, there are a few too many clues for an avid crime reader, but sometimes the fun is in seeing if one is right. I’m not really a fan of traditional English cuisine, which is just as well, as the culinary descriptions would’ve left me salivating otherwise. There’s an amusing range of characters, and a tortoise with superpowers, the writing is smooth and it’s not overly long, so overall I would recommend this to fans of the cosy genre.

My thanks to NetGalley for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review.
The Castle Mystery is available now.

Jenny Starling is a beautiful, intelligent woman who is not only a glorious chef of fine British pudding, but she also doubles as an amateur sleuth. In this installment (Book #4), she has a new job as Head Cook at Avonsleigh Castle; a large ‘Downton Abbey’ type mansion with rooms and rooms of rare paintings and antiques. One of the art pieces in residence is a jewel encrusted Indian dagger. Can you say murder weapon?

A castle resident is promptly murdered on Jenny’s first week on the job, between lunch and tea, and like a game
of Clue, the playing board is set:

Where did the victim get killed?
What was the murder weapon?
Whodunit?

Is it the butler? The maid? The Lord of the Manor. Everyone is a suspect!

I like this read because it delivers on what it promises - a classic whodunit without any fuss. It really reminds me of classic Agatha Christie type mystery novel. Organized plot, multiple potential motives, but ultimately logical explanation with many telling signs mixed with the red herrings.

I read this out of order, and did not read the first 3 books. I can say it worked out just fine, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything as far as plot.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Castle Mystery is the fourth book in this series and the first I have read by this author. This enjoyable cozy mystery with enjoyable characters. I will go back and read the others since I enjoyed this one.

Jenny Starling, travelling cook, lands a job in a big, big castle. With a small family living in it, who try and make ends meet by open the castle for the public. 'Their nibs' as the staff calls them, are old-fashioned but honest and friendly English people, born and very well-bred in the countryside. Jenny is the new cook, and there is also a larger than life butler, his daughter the chamber maid (no English lady would think of filling her own bath), a kitchen help with a shady past, and not to forget, the daughter of the house (Lady Roberta), her art tutor and her governess.
Of course, one of these people gets murdered (not Jenny) and one of the others is guilty. As soon as the police arrive they have to inform the lord and lady of the house that Jenny helped the police before. With good results.
So in between cooking delicious English food, Jenny goes to work and hunts for clues.
The reader can hunt with her. The Castle Mystery is the fourth book in this series; we are getting to know Jenny better and better. And her dishes of course. Don't read this book on an empty stomach because you'll get even more hungry.
A fine entertaining read, and not to forget: it was a very clever murder!

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a digital copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book. it kept me guessing and I wanted to read quickly to figure out who did it. I was very pleased by this mystery and was happy with the ending. I found it very well written and I would love to read more of Faith Martin's books. I think she is a fabulous writer and I thought it brilliant to have a glossary at the end, in case you aren't sure what the characters are talking about, there is a reference guide.

The Castle Mystery by Faith Martin. Joffe Books, 2019.

Jenny Starling brings a packed bag to her interview as chef at Avonsleigh Castle. It goes well, she starts right away and has just started to settle in to her new job when a murder occurs.

The fourth in the Jenny Starling/Travelling Cook series, this engaging whodunit focuses on the murder and its victim. Jenny has a history with murder investigations and with the Detective Inspector leading the this one. Working not quite in tandem, she and the police delve into the surrounding situation and setting, the castle and those who live and work there, as they may relate to the mystery.

We hear more about meal preparation and meal enjoyment than we do the extraneous and often negative details of characters’ personal histories, or cultural and political overtones; I find this a refreshing change.

I enjoyed this well-written, engaging story.


Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Castle Mystery via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one had the detectives and even Miss Starling backs against the world and with due diligence and a stickler for the truth they happen to find that missing link that brought everything to a resounding close. An energetic and intriguing one for Jenny and with great aplomb she came through with flying colors.

Another enjoyable book featuring Jenny Starling. The twists aren't so twisty (in my opinion) as advertised, but still a charming read.

I've read other novels featuring Jenny Starling, and my opinion of her is still the same: I adore the character! I love how she's extremely competent, never getting frazzled cooking and terrific at reading human nature. She's a large woman, but that seems to be more of an issue for the writer than Jenny.

Mild Spoilers follow. . . .

But the stories she's in. . . . I think they're supposed to be more complicated than they are? For example, in this book, there's a scene where no one can figure out how the killing occurred in one room with lots of windows with several people sitting outside those windows. I thought it was fairly obvious - the first idea that came to mind. But no one in the book had any idea! Which was a little frustrating.

. . . .End Spoilers

I still enjoyed the book, still enjoyed reading more about Jenny, still am looking forward to future adventures.

Highly recommended.

This whodunnit takes you back to a more gentle time of life and stately homes. There are plenty of staff to look after the Lord and Lady Avonsleigh. Into this life comes new cook Jenny with a love of food second to none. Jenny is in heaven cooking for so many people but her second job will soon be needed as an amateur detective for murder. There are plenty of clues along the way with lovely meals thrown in for you to really enjoy this whodunnit.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Jenny Starling just wants to do her job, personal traveling chef, and enjoy life. But there always seems to be something come up. A murder that cannot be solved without her help is the central story in this series of books but they are much better than your average cozy murder stories.
Faith Martin has given us some very lively characters in her books. She continues to keep her readers happy by providing entertaining stories and still keeping our favorite characters true to the life she has given them. No matter the series, pick up one of Faith martin's books and you will enjoy the journey.
Jenny is cooking in an actual castle this trip. She meets the Lord & Lady and is hired on the spot. As she settles into the castle's kitchen, she finds much more than she was looking for. As always, we readers will follow her as she tries to do the job she was hired for, but ends up as a detective's helper. And as always, Faith Martin provides us with an excellent mystery while giving us the entertainment we have come to expect from her books.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is the first book I have read by this author and will certainly be looking out for more, a really enjoyable easy cosy mystery read

This is book #4 in the Jenny Starling Series and it is a delightful read. I enjoy this author's writing as . its atmospheric and places the reader right into the story and location. Each book takes place in a different place which lends the reader the opportunity the full experience of these mysteries. Our protagonist Jenny is a traveling cook and goes where the jobs are. This next in series is set in a mysterious castle which is the perfect setting for a murder with its strange inhabitants.

Jenny is a modern day combination of Agatha Rasin and Miss Marple as she solves the mystery by piecing together nefarious charcters and well crafted clues. I enjoy the mystery aspect of this next in series with all the mysterious clues and the descriptions of the castle. The supporting charcters all add to the story with depth and interest to the reader . I loved it and look forward to the next in series. Thank you for the ARC .. My opinion is my own. This series I highly recommend. Jenny Starling has fast become one of my favorite mystery protagonist.

This was my first Faith Martin mystery and I was so impressed! Jenny Starling is an incredible character and I loved everything about her in this book. This mystery had a traditional closed door, English manor house feel, but with so much humor added in. The characters were vividly written and they weren’t overdone or cartoonish, which is my main criticism with so many cozy mysteries. Jenny’s profession as chef is perfect for her character to solve mysteries because the kitchen is the heart of a house, and so she is in the best position to learn useful tidbits.

For me, this book has everything I love to see in a cozy mystery. I wasn’t impressed with the cover, but am glad I didn’t shy away from the book based on that. I just downloaded another in this series and can’t wait to read it.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of this one. It did not affect my review.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.

The Jenny Starling series are great cozy mysteries and absolute charming and gentle clean reads. Not my usual normal reading preference but a wonderful palette cleanser for me. The pacing is slow but steady, Jenny is her usual observant and analytical self (she does love a good puzzle, but regrets the dead bodies that generally accompany said puzzles). For the most part, the characters seemed all very likeable and they were all very well developed. While there were lots of red herrings, there were no great implausible plot twists. It seemed like Jenny has found a permanent position at last.

A spoiler -- Jenny was horrified at having to deal with a vegan menu and has left the castle. Her final exit from the castle and her sly trick with the turtle is not to be missed!

Oh boy, you can’t help but not like Lady Cynthia with her request of only having vegetarian dishes. Needless to say, Lord Richard’s arrival with his Bombshell wife as she is called behind her back brings some unwelcomed changes. No more British dishes in the British castle..

But, before I get ahead of myself let me tell you about the murder. Yes, murder and a dagger or was it a dagger? You will have to read the book to find out, but you will not be dissappointed.

Jenny Starling is a traveling cook and amateur sleuth. So, when there is a murder in the castle she is asked to assist in finding out who the real murderer is and how it happened. There are twists and turns in this baffling crime and it is all about the money.

Highly recommend The Castle Mystery.

This is book 4 in the Jenny Starling series.

The story begins as Jenny arrives for an interview as cook in a Castle. The Lord and Lady are friendly people who are eager for Jenny to start providing them with good wholesome food.

All is going well until an ornamental dagger is seen dripping with blood and further investigation reveals a body in the conservatory. Despite Jenny wanting to concentrate on her cooking she is dragged in to the investigation as the owners request she works with the police to find the murderer.

All the clues seem to lead to dead ends as Jenny, Bishop and Myers try to work out how the murder could be committed in the time frame and without anyone seeing anything and who was the murderer? Everyone has alibies for the time of the murder.

This is a mystery in the true sense of the word. The book moves along at a steady pace and keeps the reader intrigued.

Despite feeling I was in a game of Cluedo the book had enough to keep my interest. I found the very frequent references to Jenny's size a bit unnecessary but overall it was a good read.

I have read several of these titles by Faith Martin and have loved their calm and cosy feel, despite the murderous events that go on. The books are a wonderful antidote to the fast and furious world we live in, having the feel of modern day Miss Marple stories.

Faith Martin has quickly become my favourite mystery author, and the character of cook Jenny Starling is one of the reasons why. Each book takes place in a different location, as Jenny is in demand for short term private chef functions. Thinking she may have finally found a more permanent position with people who appreciate good food, she finds herself in a castle. Unfortunately for Jenny, she is once again caught up in murder.

This is book 4 in the cosy Jenny Starling mysteries so it is advisable that you read the previous ones first so you get the idea of how Jenny works and all the scrapes she manages to get herself into prior to this book.

In this book Jenny manages to get herself in yet another scrape, but this time she is planning on getting a permanent position working as a caterer in a castle, when someone is murdered. Again Jenny decides that she can help the police work out who the murderer was and what their motive was.

As with the other books Jenny has the amazing knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and out sleuthing the police whilst investigating the murder . There are some funny moments in the book and it does tie up very nicely at the end.

Excellent who-done-it and the home chef Jenny Starling again sets out to solve the mystery. Thoroughly recommend this book and it is very easy reading. Once again Faith Martin doesn't fail to give pleasure.