"From the bestselling author of Death and Croissants comes a murder mystery perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Julia Chapman, or MC Beaton.

On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about.

Then crisis hits his posh B and B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancé, turned brother-in-law. None of which the stubborn old woman denies.

Valérie d'Orçay is having none of it and their investigation leads them to a strange tourist garden village, where backbiting, recriminations and even former colleagues provide a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed."

I mean, I think Madame Tablier would be totally justified in the killing, but that's just my opinion.

British Cozy-sh Mystery set in France in which an English film historian turned B&B owner and his French partner investigate his housekeeper's former fiance turned brother-in-law's murder.

4/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Moore's Follet Valley Mysteries series, which is a British Cozy-ish Mystery that features a middle-age English film historian turned B&B owner who teams up with his mysterious French lady bounty hunter partner and permanent guest after his housekeeper's accused of her former fiance turned brother-in-law's murder. With plenty of twists and turns, Moore has crafted a mystery that balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Moore's writing and character work is great; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Richard's a bumbling, go-along type of guy who unexpectedly seems to be able sleuth out killers. It's great catching up with him, Valerie,Madame Tablier and the folks of the Follet Valley. I have to say I love that Richard's a film historian and that Moore liberally sprinkles the book and series with tons of film facts and trivia. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Death and Croissants.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books; Farrago Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Hilarious as always!
It's just fun to accompany Richard, Valery and Passepartout on their adventures and to experience the change in their relationship.
As a big fan of Madame Tablier, this case was particularly exciting and captivating.
This instalment of the series did not disappoint either and I hope there will be many more to come.

Thank you to NetGallery and Farrago Books for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy.

Death in le Jardin the fourth book in the Follet Valley series of cosy mysteries.
Richard Ainsworth owns a bed and breakfast establishment in rural France, and murder and mishaps keep happening around him. He investigates crime with his long-term guest Valérie d'Orçay. Although Richard has insecurities, he seems to stumble across clues, while Valerie has the experience and knowledge to uncover the mystery and culprit.

On this occasion, to add to the confusion, the B&B’s housekeeper is arrested for the murder of her former fiancé/brother-in-law in a strange garden village. A cast of quirky characters, backstories, old scores, and arguments provide appropriate twists and turns.

I enjoyed this story, having read one of the books in the series before. Being back in rural France was a delight, and I could easily imagine the B&B with wonderfully named chickens and driving around the countryside through quirky villages and towns.
The main characters continue to provide an entertaining story, and we learn more about their lives this time. Overall, it is a cosy read, with the right amount of humour and jeopardy to keep the reader entertained.

I am sure there has been some final editing before publication.

This is the fourth in this enjoyable series. The series is set in France which I enjoy as I like reading about the lovely locations and quirky characters. The storyline is well written and I find it more on the lines of cosy crime as opposed to gritty crime. It's a perfect weekend read which I recommend.

Before reading this, I was unfortunately unfamiliar with the series and the author, but as an existing Thursday Murder Club fan, this book was perfect! It has all the charm with the unexpected twists and turns that always keep you guessing. Anyone who’s looking for a murder mystery and a good time in one book will definitely enjoy this!

While it felt somewhat odd being dropped into the middle of a series (by my own fault, of course), there’s nothing about it that would ruin the other books nor is there any amount of prior knowledge required in order to jump right in. I’m sure there are some character developments and references for people who’ve read the entire series, but even if you didn’t, you can find yourself right at home with this one as well!

Thank you to NetGalley, Farrago Books, and the author Ian Moore for opportunity to read the advanced digital copy!

4/5

Prior to reading Death in le Jardin, the fourth in the Follett Valley Mystery series, I had not been acquainted with this series or author Ian Moore. It took me no longer than reading the first page to absolutely fall in love with the characters, the writing style, and the anticipation of what was to come.



Insouciant, middle-aged Richard Ainsworth is living the sweet life in Saint-Sauver in the Follet Valley, a quiet French backwater, puttering around his posh B&B with sidekick gal pal, former bounty hunter, and possible assassin, Valérie d’Orçay and her pampered Chihuahua, Passepartout.

When the housekeeper of their B&B is charged with murdering her brother-in-law, who was at one time her fiancé (gotta love the French) life gets complicated. Their investigation sends them to a rather bizarre garden town/commune filled with a variety of strange and dodgy people.

In addition to being a wonderful and complex mystery, the story is very atmospheric. The descriptions were so vivid and detailed that I felt as if I were there right along with the characters. The characters themselves are rich, well developed, quirky, and strange, you name it, and you’ll find it in this book.

At this point I might add that there is no need to have read the previous books in this series (although you will definitely want to), as this stands quite well on its own.

I can’t remember the last time I had such a good time reading a book. It was a wonderful bonus that I was surprised by the conclusion of the mystery. Wonderful.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Farrago Publishing Co., and author Ian Moore for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

'Death in le Jardin' by Ian Moore.

On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about.
Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it's the murder of a former fiancé, turned brother-in-law. None of which the stubborn old woman denies.
Valérie d'Orçay is having none of it and their investigation leads them to a strange tourist garden village, where backbiting, recriminations and even former colleagues provide a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed.

I'm a big fan of this series and this book was just as good as the rest of them. It kept me guessing right till the end. I love the relationship between Richard and Valerie. And Madame Tablier is a fantastic character so I am happy she played a bigger part in this book.
If you're a fan of cosy crime then I would definitely recommend this series.
Thanks to NetGallery UK, the publishers and the author for letting me read a copy in return for an honest review.

Richard Ainsworth is an Englishman who runs a B&B in Follet Valley in rural France. Madame Tablier, a housekeeper at the B&B, is a suspect in the death of her brother-in-law, Duval Cuistot, a stunt motorcyclist who died because of a stunt gone wrong causing his decapitation. I read on to find out why Madame Tablier is accused of murder when Duval Cuistot’s death appears to have been accidental. Valerie d’Orçay, a permanent resident at the B&B with her dog Passeoartout, is Richard’s business partner as a private investigator doing security work. I want to learn what she and Richard find out.



I enjoy the British-style humor and, at times, find myself laughing aloud like when Richard, having been a film historian, names his chickens after actresses from the Golden Age. In my mind, quirky characters are interesting and fun to read about. Thank you…

Perfect for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books. This is book four in the series, but you can start here. However, you will want to go back and read them all! Cozy and funny!