Third in this cozy mystery series ,I enjoyed this story the twists and turns the characters kept me turning the pages.Looking forward to more from this author.#NetGalley #murderonthemenu

The third in a cosy crime series featuring three best friends and female detectives. I had not read any of the previous novels and could not connect with the characters. Unfortunately, I have read several books with a similar theme, trapped on a small island so felt there was no novelty to the story.

Loved this book! I’m a big fan of the remote island setting with limited suspects and this was no exception. I loved the slow unraveling and mysteries that were uncovered throughout. The trio is always hilarious and I loved reading more about that then. I will say I tend to be able to guess the killers in Marsh’ books but it doesn’t make me enjoy them any less. It was a tad cheesy at times but not bad. Overall a fun and quick read I’d recommend to fans of the series, as well as fans of the Finley Donovan series! I got this book as an ARC through net galley.

I am not only new to this series, but I am also new to this author. Katie Marsh serves up a delightful blend of mystery, humour, and friendship in Murder on the Menu, the latest instalment in the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency series. With its captivating setting and clever plot, this cosy mystery is as satisfying as a perfectly plated gourmet meal.
The story begins with Amber, the spirited leader of the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, being whisked away by her best friends and fellow sleuths, Jeanie and Clio, for a much-needed retreat at a castle on an island. What promises to be a weekend of fine dining and relaxation quickly spirals into a murder investigation when the renowned chef, Amelie la Fontaine, is found dead in her locked tower bedroom.
The castle setting adds a rich layer of atmosphere to the story. Marsh brings the eerie yet enchanting location to life, from its grand dining hall to the claustrophobic tower where the crime takes place. The sense of isolation on the island heightens the tension and makes the locked-room mystery even more tantalizing.
Amber, Jeanie, and Clio are a dynamic trio whose banter and camaraderie are a joy to read. Their distinct personalities shine through, with Amber’s determination, Jeanie’s sharp wit, and Clio’s unflappable optimism creating a perfect balance. Their friendship is the heart of the story, and watching them navigate the twists and turns of the case together is entertaining.
The mystery itself is a well-crafted puzzle. Marsh lays out clues and red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the final reveal. The locked-room aspect adds a classic whodunit flavour, and the motive behind the murder is both surprising and satisfying. The suspects, from castle staff to guests with hidden agendas, are all vividly drawn, adding depth and intrigue to the story.
What sets Murder on the Menu apart is its lighthearted tone. While the murder is central, the book never feels too dark or heavy. Marsh strikes a balance between suspense and humour, making this an ideal read for fans of cosy mysteries.
Murder on the Menu is a treat for cosy mystery lovers. With its engaging characters, atmospheric setting, and cleverly constructed mystery, Katie Marsh delivers a story that’s as comforting as it is compelling. Whether you’re a fan of the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency series or new to their escapades, this book will leave you eagerly anticipating their next case.

For a murder mystery, the tension and suspense were surprisingly absent. While certain scenes were set up for thrilling moments, they often failed to deliver. The major plot twist around the 70% mark felt unnecessary, tying back to the main characters’ storylines in a way that felt forced rather than meaningful.

That said, the killer’s reveal was genuinely surprising, and the unraveling of the mystery itself was enjoyable. The investigative elements were detailed and well thought out, though the story dragged toward the end with excessive dialogue and an overly drawn-out conclusion.

Overall, while the concept was engaging, the execution felt amateurish, leaving a promising story feeling flat.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is the third book in the series and although it isn’t important to have read the first two, it would have helped to give the three main characters some distinct personalities. As it was, it took me far too long to work out which one was which, causing a disconnect from the characters. Therefore I saw the flaws in the book, instead of being gripped by the plot.

This book had an intriguing premise—comedic mysteries and whodunits are always a draw for me. The story follows three middle-aged best friends who run a small detective agency. What begins as a weekend getaway with celebrity chef Valerie quickly turns into a murder-filled mystery.

Unfortunately, the execution fell short. The pacing was off, with the first murder occurring before sufficient character and world-building took place. While there were attempts to establish deep lore and playful banter, these efforts did little to make the characters feel multidimensional or engaging. Their relationships with one another and the plot felt surface-level, leaving the narrative lacking in emotional depth.

For a murder mystery, the tension and suspense were surprisingly absent. While certain scenes were set up for thrilling moments, they often failed to deliver. The major plot twist around the 70% mark felt unnecessary, tying back to the main characters’ storylines in a way that felt forced rather than meaningful.

That said, the killer’s reveal was genuinely surprising, and the unraveling of the mystery itself was enjoyable. The investigative elements were detailed and well thought out, though the story dragged toward the end with excessive dialogue and an overly drawn-out conclusion.

Overall, while the concept was engaging, the execution felt amateurish, leaving a promising story feeling flat.

The Bad Girls Detective Agency #3

Amber, Clio and Jeanie have won a trip to a luxury castle retreat on a remote island, but a relaxing break is not what they get. The retreat owner, Valerie Fontaine, turns up dead. The Bad Girls start investigating the case.

This is a lighthearted read. This murder mystery had me guessing throughout. There were quite a lot of suspects to choose from. The pace is fast in this twisted read. This book can be read as a standalone.

Published 18th January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwwdBooks and the author #KatieMarsh for my ARC of #MurderOnTheMenu in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on the Menu by Katie Marsh

Started off 2025 with my first Netgalley ARC!

3.5/5

'Murder on the menu' is the third book in the "Bad Girls Detective Agency" series. I had not read any of the other books in the series prior to picking this one up but found I didn't need to.

Amber and her two best friends, Jeannie and Clio run a detective agency and head away on what is meant to be a relaxing weekend at a castle recently acquired by a well renowned chef, little did they know what the weekend would turn into when said chef is found dead.

The book was a nice cruisy read that got into the action quickly. It had a good pace but also described the characters and history enough that if you hadn't read any others in the series it didn't matter, but also didn't drag on for those who may have been familiar with the characters.

It was really enjoyable! I found myself wanting to read more about Amber, Jeannie and Clio and so have now bought the other two books in the series to read ☺️

The women who are friends and work together are supposed to spend a relaxing weekend in a hotel on a private island. But when they arrive a storm is brewing and the hotel owner is found murdered. And that is just the beginning...
This is the first book by the author that I have read and although it was the third book in the series I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone. However the story was not as gripping as I had hoped and I didn't find the Main characters very relatable. Also I felt like there were several inconsistencies like why would Jamie and Clio climb backwards in the tunnel after meeting there? All in all an entertaining mystery that had some lengths but not a must-read.

This murder mystery, whodunnit, was a fun, light read with three older, besties-for-the-resties FMCs, a spooky castle and some twists and turns.

While parts of the story fell flat with certain elements feeling overly familiar it’s still a solid pick for fans of traditional mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, it has a great plot with interesting characters. I’ll definitely recommending and looking for more of her books in the future.

The brilliant new instalment of Katie Marsh's bestselling Bad Girls Detective Agency series
The story is very gripping and wow the ending is a big surprise. I thoroughly recommend this book, another thrilling read by this talented author

Winning a relaxing weekend on an isolated island with a celebrity chef doing all the cooking is a trip not to be missed by the Bag Girls Detectives aka, Amber, Clio and Jeanie. That is until the first murder…then the second. No way off the island, no phones and a raging storm. What could possibly go wrong? I received an arc of this entertaining book from Netgalley and Boldwood books. This review is my honest opinion.

A weekend of fine dining turns deadly when a celebrity chef is found murdered in a locked tower, leaving the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency to solve the case. Packed with humor, twists, and the perfect blend of intrigue, this cozy mystery keeps the pages turning. While the plot sometimes feels predictable, the characters’ charm more than makes up for it.

I actually really loved this book. I didn't even notice it was apart of series! Well written Cozy whodunit

Since Amber started the Bad Girls’ Detective Agency, she’s felt the pressure. So – determined not to let it get to her – she whisks her two best friends and colleagues, Jeanie and Clio, off for a weekend retreat at a beautiful castle on an island.

The girls are all excited to experience world-famous chef Amelie la Fontaine’s tasting menu.

But none of them expect there to be another dish being served that revenge. And when Amelie is found, dead, in her locked tower bedroom, the Bad Girls know this is a case that only they can solve…

I had the pleasure to arc read this book!,

It was gripping I just wanted to find out who did it, I like the simplicity of there not being so many characters to keep up with

My downfall was not reading the chapter name but that was because I was to excited to get through it

I just loved this book and once I started reading this book I just couldn’t put it down. It was so good to read about the bad girls detective agency,I just love the friendship that they have and that they have each other’s back no matter what. This was such a good book and it has great characters as well and I really hope that there are more of these books as I just love this series.

I would highly recommend reading this book and the previous books in the series as they are just amazing, they have great friendships along with great characters and a great story.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

I have enjoying this series, for the most part but this wasn't my favourite instalment. It did move along at a good pace and the mystery was interesting and would have been great for anyone who hadnt already guess this. The isolated castle on an island was a nice touch. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was billed as perfect for fans of the tv series The Traitors, and as I love that I thought I would give the book a try. Unfortunately the book doesn’t have much in common with The Traitors at all, other than it being mostly set in a castle.

I didn’t realise this book was part of series, so I haven’t read the previous books. The book seemed to work OK as a standalone but I did think the characters were quite flat and boring. Maybe if I’d read the other books I would have more of a connection with them.

Ex police officer Amber runs the Bad Girls Detective Agency with her two best friends from school, Clio and Jeanie. Clio organises a relaxing weekend for them at the soft launch of a new luxury hotel on an island. When the host is found dead, and more bodies are discovered, can the agency find out whodunnit?

This was an easy read but it felt a bit basic to me. The plot wasn’t very well linked and it seemed like each character was running around the place like a headless chicken, randomly discovering things. The main characters in the story are meant to be in their mid 40s but their behaviour seems childish at times. There could have been so much tension and atmosphere in this book and there just wasn’t at all.

I’m not sure if the author took inspiration from And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie, but the trapped on a building on an island in a storm with a killer doesn’t seem a very original premise these days.

I wanted to like this book but it fell very flat for me and I was bored for most of it. I slogged through to find out who the killer was but even that was predictable so it was a bit of a let down for me. If you’ve read the previous books in the series you might enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy.