THE OXFORD MYSTERY is the fifth in the Faith Martin series featuring Jenny Starling. In this novel, Jenny has accepted a summer position as head cook for an Oxford University that opens its doors during the summer to groups and organizations for retreats and conferences. The school’s idea is to add much needed funds to their coffers, the organizations like having the prestige of meeting in a well respected institution and Jenny’s idea is to have a confirmed place to live and guaranteed income for a few months. None of them are planning for a murder, but that’s what they get.
Maurice Raines, president of a taxidermy society Jenny dubs “The Great Jessies”, is murdered on the first day of the conference. The murder occurs in the main hall where the group meetings are held and when classes are in session the students and faculty assemble for meals, meetings, etc. Because the hall had been emptied of people either rushing to enjoy an unexpected buffet set up by Maurice or attendees participating in other lectures or demonstrations, the question arises as to who other than Maurice was in the hall. With everyone seeming to have a solid alibi, the police are stumped.
Once again, Jenny is plunged into the middle of an investigation, and once again she encounters a reluctant Detective Inspector and his Sergeant. This time, the bursar of the college has gotten wind of Jenny’s previous successes in solving murders and he is focused on as quick a resolution as possible to save the college any embarrassment. He quickly pushes Jenny into the middle of the investigation, telling the staff to take any suspicions they have directly to her. While the detective’s on the case aren’t enamored of Jenny’s help, her reputation has grown enough for them to realize she may be of some assistance. Their goal is to discover the perpetrator before Jenny, a feat their colleagues have been unable to accomplish.
Possible murderers range from a jilted lover to a jealous spouse. Who would want Maurice dead? He was pompous and often saved the plum assignments and lectures for himself, but was that any reason to murder him? Sure, he had engaged in his share of extra marital affairs, but was his wife, who was having an affair of her own, resentful enough to have murdered him? What about the wife’s lover? Did he get rid of Maurice in order to clear the way for his relationship to become more than an affair? Did one of the other taxidermists want to do away with Maurice in order to further their career?
From the beginning, there are some clues that stand out as being important, however, no one other than Jenny seems to know how they fit together. As in the previous novels featuring the junoesque cook, nothing is quite as it seems until she explains everything to the authorities. Then the reader, along with the detectives, may be sitting there wondering “How did I miss that?”
As in the other books in the Jenny Starling series, this mystery stands alone. Jenny is the only recurring character and there is only a brief reference to her earlier exploits. The mystery is well crafted, both with clues and red herrings, although I had reached the correct conclusion about the murder and other events, it was still enjoyable to read how Jenny reached her solution.
My thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. The opinions stated her are entirely my own.

Thank You Net Galley, Joffe books and Faith Martin for a chance to review this book.

I would really like to thank Linda Strong for having led me to Faith Martin coz it was her reviews in Good Reads that made me check it out and I am glad for once to have read such a beautiful and simple mystery and by simple it is by no accounts elementary or child's play. But when there's so much of bewitching of minds and ensnaring of our senses like Snape would say by the plethora of psychological thrillers out there, it was quite pleasant to read this impressive mystery by Faith Martin.
The Oxford Mystery is Book 5 in the series but it can definitely be read as standalone as I had no trouble in following the trails of Jenny the traveler cook and amateur detective. Jenny has accepted a summer job in St Bede's college for a team of taxidermists but unfortunately lands up with a dead body in her hands. Maurice Raines is not liked by any of his fellow society members but who had reason enough to murder him? I loved Jenny's character and her no-nonsense approach to things and look forward to catching up with other books in this series. (Sigh) There are so many good books out there!

Jenny Starling has been hired to cook for the summer at St Bede's. The first conference is a taxidermy group. The first 24 hours brings a murder and Jenny is the one who found the body. Everyone has an alibi it seems when the death happened. Who and why are the questions Jenny is trying to find to solve the murder as soon as possible.

Again a very well written murder mystery in the series about Ms Starling. Not too complicated plot this time, and the characters are very good, as always.

This is a fun book, quick to read, with a smart and clever strong female protagonist in Jenny the cook. I don’t usually like to read series books like this out of order, but I enjoyed this one so much, that I’ll go back to the first four!

My first Jenny Starling book and a great introduction to the series.Jenny Starling is a sort of freelance chef,travelling the country and taking short term contracts in various locations.This time she is in St.Bedes college Oxford.She also has a bit of a reputation as a detective having assisted the police on a number of occasions.
Here the college is home to a conference of Taxidermists and it is one of these who is murdered.the list of suspects is long as the man was not popular ,the list includes his wife and her lover the treasurer of the society and a number of other taxidermists ,The plot is ingenious with a number of red herrings and a clever solution.
Faith Martin is an appealing storyteller with likeable characters and there is a nice vein of humour in spite of the gruesome subject.
If you like murder mysteries that hark back to those 'golden age' novels in that there is nothing too graphic and the setting is delightful this could well be the book for you,The central character is sort of sleuthing Nigella Lawson and the police are neither neanderthals or inept .All in all a great little read.

Please note this book was first published as “DEADLY STUFF” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.

Jenny Starling is a traveling cook and somewhat an amateur detective. When she snags a summer job working at Oxford College, she fervently hopes and prays that no murdered bodies show up. However, those prayers are not answered.

When the body of a not-particularly liked president of the taxidermy society is found with a knife in his neck, Jenny once again gets involved.

There are many suspects which keeps the level of suspense qutie high as Jenny and the police start investigating. There's the wife who is having an affair ... the multitude of women who have been used by the man ... colleagues that he has insulted, bullied, and ignored. Although not a suspect, my favorite character to watch for was Norman ... who kept showing up in the most unusual places.

Once again, this is a well written mystery with memorable characters. Although this is 4th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley / Books n All Promotions for the advanced digital copy of this engaging crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Jenny Starling, traveling cook and amateur sleuth is back in the fifth installment in this series. This time she has taken a temporary job cooking for a taxidermist conference at Oxford. Wherever Jenny goes two things are bound to be on the menu, good food, and murder, and The OxfordMystery is no exception.
Maurice Raines, president of the Taxidermy Society is discovered dead with a knife in his neck. Jenny is bad luck for any murderer hoping to get away with the crime. Jenny assists the local police to find out whodunit and why from a rather large list of suspects. It's a fun mystery that keeps you guessing.
I was really missing Faith Martin’s Hillary Greene, but I have to say that Jenny is starting to grow on me. This book could be read as a stand-alone as each book( so far) hasn't occurred in the same place and Jenny is the only constant.
I received a DRC from Joffe Books through NetGalley.

Another amazing read from Faith Martin, yet again Jenny Starling is in situ when a murder occurs, ironically in Oxford University at a Taxidermist convention.... destined to once again cross swords with the local police force Jenny does what she does best.. cooking and sleuthing

Highly recommended must read

The fifth book in the Jenny Starling mysteries from the prolific Faith Martin. Jenny, travelling cook and sometime amateur sleuth, takes a Summer assignment cooking at an Oxford college. When a murder mars the tranquillity Jenny steps in. However, with an alarming array of suspects and an even more alarming array of alibis, will she be able to assist the police and the college in solving the crime? An enjoyable and entertaining murder mystery with a pleasant light hearted feel.

Another wonderful who-done-it by Faith Martin, starring the cook Jenny Starling working for a an Oxford college for the summer. The book keeps you enthralled from first to last page, leaving you guessing to the last pages who the murderer is of the president of the Taxidermy Society. Would recommend it to anyone!

Jenny Starling is back, and preparing to cook for a conference of taxidermists in Oxford. With her usual highly acute observational skills, she is perfectly positioned to help the murder squad called in to deal with the death of the head of the taxidermy society. I missed the detailed food descriptions that were a highlight of “The Riverboat Mystery”, a previous book in the series. But all in all, another Starling mystery is a great way to while away a rainy day!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jenny Starling #5

Jenny Starling has a summer job catering at a prestigious Oxford college. But she's not expecting murder on the menu. Then womanising taxidermy society president, Maurice Raines, I'd found with a knife in his neck in the dining hall. Everyone is in classes at the time of his death. So, frustratingly it seems they all have an alibi. However there are many suspects, including Maurice's wife and lover.

This book was first published as "Deadly Stuff" under Joyce Martin's pen name Joyce Cato. It seems everywhere Jenny gets a job there's a murder but then there wouldn't be this lovely murder mystery series is there wasn't. Jenny is working at St. Bede's college Oxford catering for their conference business. It's at one of the first conferences that the body of Maurice Raines I'd found. Local police officers DS Peter Trent and DI Trevor Golder are willing to accept Jenny can give them. I really like this cozy murder mystery series. Jenny is a likeable character. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Faith Martin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this series and I loved this book.
As usual it was entertaining and enjoyable, a good solid mystery that keeps you hook till the end.
I love Jenny, a well written and interesting characters, that you cannot help liking.
The mystery was solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

cosy-mystery, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, England, murder-investigation

***** Jenny Starling does it again! Lots of interesting characters, a preponderance of suspects, a Gordion knot for a plot, and even Norman the escape artist lizard. The publisher's blurb gives a simple overview without even hinting at the gigglesnort worthy bits. Although this is one of a series, the only reason to hunt up some others is to enjoy and give the old brain a workout.
This isn't really an unbiased review as I keep watching for more Jenny Starling books because I adore them. I requested and received a free ebook copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Enjoyable murder mystery set in an Oxford College. A Jenny Starling mystery with gripping twists and clues pointing in unexpected directions. Easy and satisfying read!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Oxford Mystery, the fifth novel to feature travelling cook and amateur sleuth Jenny Starling.

Jenny accepts a summer job at St Bede’s College, Oxford catering their conference business but she has been there twenty four hours when she stumbles across the dead body of Maurice Raines, chairman of the Greater Ribble Valley & Jessop Taxidermy Society.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Oxford Mystery which is a light hearted read with an ingenious solution. As ever in this series it relies on Jenny’s knowledge of human nature and ability to put snippets of fact and gossip together into a cogent whole. The information is all there but while I guessed some of it I missed the massive twist and the why. Nevertheless it is fun trying to work out where Ms Martin is going. I don’t read many cosy mysteries as they tend to lack sufficient grit and realism for my taste but I enjoy this series for the puzzle, the lighthearted tone and the gentle humour. It’s like stepping back in time to a more innocent time despite the range of human passion on display.

Jenny is a good protagonist for the series, fairly perfect in her physical appearance, intelligence and people skills. It adds to the feel good factor and lightness in the novel.

The Oxford Mystery is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.